Omnixir Awakens

The Orb's Cruel Betrayal

What if what was meant to be was not they, what will you do ? The System Hubs stood tall over Eryndor's capital. Tall spires of clear crystal cut the sky. Thin lines of Aether ran through the building. The light changed from light blue to dark red as the sun went down. Small tents filled the open square below. Each tent had a sign for a family. Marston had flames in metal. Harrison had waves in silver. Bramwell had shields on frames. Brighton had eyes in gold. People packed the areas between. Some wore fine cloth. Others wore rough cloth. All came for the event that decided futures.

Zhilak Marston stood by his family's tent. He kept his hand on the old handle of his training sword. His arms and legs hurt from morning practice. The ache stayed, but he ignored it. He kept his eyes on the main stage. Black stone bases held the orbs there. The balls, small as a fist, took in Aether power. Their skins felt smooth and hard until a hand touched them.

Lord Harlan Marston walked by. His boots hit the stone hard. The leader's face showed years of control. No fear showed. "This event locks our spot," he said to the group. Kayrwin, the oldest son, stood straight. His body looked ready. His eyes looked over the rivals. Niamon stayed back. Her lips stayed tight. Seraphina pulled a string on her sleeve. Her eyes moved from one sibling to another.

Elara moved near Zhilak. Her fingers touched his arm. "Stay strong," she said in a low voice. She helped him feel calm. A soft strength against the heavy time. Zhilak saw her face. He saw the worry she hid from others. He nodded. His jaw stayed firm.

Voss, the top Luminari, went up the stage. Silver threads filled his clothes. They caught loose light. Myra stood next to him. Her skin showed lines from time. Her fingers held a thick book. Voss raised his arms. The priests' voices joined as one. The sound shook the ground. "Aether shows paths," he called. "Come forward, young ones of Eryndor. Get your fate."

The Bramwells went first. Lirael, thin and quick, put her hand on the orb. It moved. It gave off blue light. "Novice System," Voss said. "Insight Trial done: Eagle's Gaze at Level 1." Lirael moved back. Her face stayed calm. Her body relaxed a bit. Her family clapped. The sound stayed low.

The Brightons went next. Thorne, strong and firm, touched the ball. It shook. It let out green light. "Novice System. Trap Weave at Level 1, endurance Trial done." Talk spread. Brightons did well with walls, not fights.

The Harrisons took center. Dorian, tall and pointed, stepped up. The orb broke into yellow light. "Adept System. Blade Cascade at Level 10, Versatility Trial from last fight." Dorian's face got hard. Calanthor watched close. Her body stayed still.

The Marstons held breath as Kayrwin went up. The orb lit red. "Archon System. Command at Level 1, Authority Trial: led the practice group before." Harlan held his staff tight. Kayrwin came back. His head stayed high.

Niamon went after. The ball pulsed red. "Archon. Aura at Level 5, slander Trial on rivals done." She looked at Zhilak. Her meaning showed.

Seraphina waited before touching. Red light came, soft. "Archon. Shadow Mirage at Level 35, illusion Trial done in the rooms." Harlan nodded.

Riven, the far family member, smiled on the way. The orb burst red. "Archon. Strike at Level 45, absorption Trial from the last chase." His eyes stayed on Zhilak. They challenged.

Zhilak's heart beat fast. He walked to the stage. His steps stayed even. Quiet fell. Voss gave the sign. Zhilak put out his hand to the orb.

The skin felt cold on his skin. Time passed. No change. The ball stayed dark. Voss leaned close. His brow folded. Myra bent in, talking low. The still broke into soft sounds. It grew to laughs from Harrison side.

Harlan's yell cut through. "This shame?" He jumped up, pushing Voss. The old man fell back but stayed quiet. Harlan grabbed Zhilak's arm. The hold hurt like iron. "Useless. A Marston without power."

Zhilak pulled away. His voice stayed flat. "The orb."

"Turned you down!" Harlan yelled. His hand hit Zhilak's face. The hit echoed. Blood came from the cut skin. The group took breath. Then cheers came from enemies. Kayrwin laughed. Niamon joined. Riven's face showed joy.

Elara ran forward. "Harlan, stop."

"Be still!" He turned on her. His face twisted. "Or take his fall."

Voss spoke up. "Aether speaks true. No sign."

Thorne moved from the Brighton spot. His eyes on a dark shape. In his mind, Veyra's order stayed from a past image: "Watch the fall. It helps our plan."

The ground shook. Shouts came. From the edge, a Devourer scout jumped walls. Body twisted, mouth open, arms of power swinging. It ran at the orbs. Need showed.

Chaos took over. People ran. Harlan gave orders. "Archons, form up!"

Kayrwin used Command. His voice grew. Friends grouped. Hits landed. The thing roared. Arms hit. Dorian's Blade Cascade cut. But it healed.

Zhilak took a left sword. He jumped. His body fought back. Arms heavy. He cut an arm. The blade went in flesh. The Devourer turned. It threw him. Pain exploded in his chest. He hit stone. Eyes blurred.

Niamon's Aura spread. It took the thing's strength. Riven's Strike hit the center. It cried. It turned to Aether smoke.

Harlan stood over Zhilak. "You fall in loss." His foot hit Zhilak's side. Bone broke. "Take him to the keep. The family decides his end."

Guards picked him up. He saw Calanthor's face. Cold look. She turned away. A beat in his inside. Soft. Strange. Started for the first time.

The guards held Zhilak tight. They pulled him through the crowd. Whispers chased like dark. Noble faces bent in hate or sad. His sides hurt with each move. Breath came short. The square's power lights blinked. They threw long dark that moved on stone. Voss looked from the stage. His eyes tight. But he did nothing. Myra held her book close. Lips moved without sound.

Harlan went first to the Marston tent. His walk stayed hard. "Call the group," he told a worker. "This spot ends now." Kayrwin walked with him. His new Command power buzzed in air. A light red light stuck to him. "Father, the orb lied. No Marston lacks power." Niamon followed. Her Aura power new. It made air feel thick. Seraphina stayed back. Her Mirage flashed short. It made a copy of her to mix in crowd.

Riven stayed last. His Strike power's left energy popped at fingers. "Let me end what the orb began," he said low. Only Zhilak heard. The words hit like another hit.

Elara pushed the guards. "Let him go. He is your blood." Harlan turned. Finger pointed. "Blood means nothing without the system. You forget your spot." Her face lost color. But she stood. Hand out for Zhilak's.

The tent inside took them. Thick cloth blocked outside noise. Workers ran. They brought chairs and papers. Harlan sat in middle. Fist hit table hard. "Say your side, if you have one."

Zhilak leaned on a post. He wiped blood from mouth. Pain spread from side. Words came hard. "The Aether picked this. Ask it, not me."

Laugh from Kayrwin. "The Aether sees weak. You trained bad, Zhilak. No test ready you for real call."

Niamon bent forward. "We can't take this bad name. Cut him out. Let the Harrison link stand without his mark."

Riven nodded. "Or send away. Show others." His eyes shone. Fingers moved like ready for hit.

Elara moved in between. "He is your son. The system may come."

"Stop!" Harlan stood. Chair scraped. "Your soft heart hides truth. Money stopped. Things taken. You are no Marston now."

Zhilak's sight spun. The beat in chest came again. Sharp. But it gave no power. Just sick feel. He fell down. Guards caught him.

Outside, Thorne met a hooded person in a side path. "The second son lost. No system." The person. Veyra. Smiled. Teeth point in low light. "Good. Bring me his power. The Crown waits for a body."

The Devourer smoke stayed in air. Aether bits fell like snow. Zhilak tasted it. Sour. The guards pulled him to the castle doors. City lights blurred in eyes.

The tent meeting went on. Harlan paced. "This failure spreads. Harrison laughs. Bramwell and Brighton see cracks." Kayrwin spoke. "End him quick. Banish to wastes." Niamon added. "Or lock in cells. Let him rot." Riven smiled. "Give me the task. I'll make sure." Elara cried. "He trained hard. Remember his fights." Harlan stopped. "Fights mean nothing without system. He is gone." They argued more. Voices rose. Servants hid. Zhilak heard bits. Each word cut deep.

Guards took him through streets. Vendors called. "Look at the weak Marston!" Crowds pointed. Kids threw stones. Zhilak's side burned. He thought of old days. Elara teaching sword holds. "Keep feet firm," she said. Now, all lost. The beat in chest came weak. Like a far drum.

Thorne walked fast to a hide spot. He told Veyra all. "The boy has no power. Harlan breaks him." Veyra laughed. "Good. Use the break. Get his blood for the Crown." Her eyes burned. Plans turned in her head.

Voss and Myra talked alone. "The orb acted strange," Voss said. "No light at all." Myra nodded. "Aether hides sometimes. Watch the boy." They planned to follow.

The drag went long. City walls rose high. Towers watched. Zhilak felt the beat again. Strong for a second. Then pain hit. He fell dark.