Silent Circle: The Vow of an Heir

Chapter 5: Galactic Signal

Darian’s sob caught in his throat. A dark shadow flickered at the edge of his vision, a swift, indistinct movement beyond the dim light illuminating the cottage.

The next moment, two figures cloaked in black stood in the doorway, their faces hidden behind dark hoods. Only the silhouettes of their bodies were visible, sinister and menacing.

The air suddenly grew cold, raising goosebumps on his arms. The old wooden door creaked open slowly, allowing a sliver of dim light to seep into the dark room. Darian felt his heart pound, the rhythm echoing in his ears. He smelled a strange, threatening scent.

Without hesitation, Darian rose, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He clutched the necklace given to him by Elder Surya, squeezing it tightly in his hand.

The onyx felt cold, offering a small measure of comfort. One of the cloaked figures moved, their footsteps slow but deliberate on the wooden floor, creating echoing sounds in the cramped room.

“We have come to claim what is rightfully ours,” a raspy voice echoed, flat and emotionless, sending shivers down Darian’s spine. The voice was like a snake’s hiss in his ear.

Darian didn’t answer. He was ready. He leapt, swift and precise, dodging the first attack—a long, sharp sword flashing under the dim light.

The sword’s hiss broke the silence, sending a chilling sensation through his skin.

“Clang!”

Metal clashed against metal, a loud, sharp sound that vibrated through his bones. Darian felt a sharp pain in his arm as the opponent’s sword pierced his defence. The burning sensation of hot metal seared his skin.

But he didn’t retreat. He fought back, his movements agile and powerful, dodging each attack, searching for an opening to retaliate.

“Plak!” His palm connected with one attacker’s chest, the sound loud enough to be heard amidst the fight.

“Bam!” A hard blow landed on Darian’s jaw, sending him sprawling. A sharp pain shot through his head, his vision blurring. He tasted blood on his lips, the metallic tang filling his mouth.

The two cloaked figures continued their assault, swift and precise movements like unpredictable shadows.

“Duk! Duk! Duk!”

“Clang!”

“Ting!”

The sounds of clashing swords and blows echoed in the small room. Darian fought back, but he was overwhelmed. His opponents were too strong, too skilled.

Every attack was anticipated, and every movement was blocked. He felt his ribs crack, his chest tighten, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

Seeing an opportunity, in a quick, hidden movement, Darian swallowed Elder Surya’s onyx necklace. He felt the cold stone slide down his throat, a desperate act to protect his family’s last legacy.

“Plak! Bam! Duk!”

Attack after attack rained down on him. Darian fell, his body collapsing helplessly onto the wooden floor. He felt a hard kick to his stomach, the excruciating pain causing him to lose consciousness.

The attackers stopped. They searched Darian’s body, looking for something. After ensuring nothing remained, one of them said, “Kill him… to avoid further trouble later!”

His companion laughed, “Too good to let him die immediately… let’s throw his body into the ravine to feed the animals. Hahaha!” With mocking laughter, they lifted Darian’s lifeless body.

They carried him to the bottomless, dark ravine behind Elder Surya’s house. With a single throw, Darian’s body plunged into the darkness.

They burst into laughter again, exchanged glances, and then silently turned and disappeared, leaving the cottage in darkness.

Only the echo of their laughter remained in the air, creating an increasingly tense and ominous atmosphere.

Silence returned to the small cottage, now filled with a heavier silence filled with the shadows of death and uncertainty.

Darian felt his breath growing shallower at the bottom of the dark ravine. His body was broken, and a searing pain spread throughout him.

He could barely move, not even to struggle for survival. His consciousness slowly faded, allowing the darkness to consume him.

But deep within him, something unusual was happening. The onyx necklace he had swallowed—to save it from his enemies—began to react.

The onyx, now inside Darian, though unseen, emitted waves of energy across space and time as if connecting him to something far beyond the reach of this world.

In outer space, an alien spacecraft drifted among the stars. The transparent hull reflected a soft light, emanating a peaceful atmosphere, while the air circulated with nanotechnology, maintaining stability within the vessel.

The harmonious hum of the engines and the sound of flowing water added to the tranquillity, contrasting with the tension on the holographic screen displaying an image of Darian, severely injured.

“The signal originates from the third planet in the Kepler-186f system,” said an alien in a soft, hissing voice, its eyes fixed on the hologram of the injured Darian.

“The ancient onyx… it belongs to us.” Other aliens looked at it with doubt. “Humans… they always cause trouble. We experienced this thousands of years ago. Should we interfere?”

The first alien gazed into the vastness of space, seemingly deep in thought. “But this time is different. The signal is powerful. There’s something special about this human.” It pointed to the image of Darian, still lying injured.

“We have analysed his DNA… and found a striking similarity to our race. Perhaps he is one of our descendants left behind.”

After a long debate facilitated by advanced translation technology, they agreed to intervene. Using advanced restorative technology, they prepared a serum that would change everything.

Invisible to any radar on Earth, the alien spacecraft sped towards the ravine where Darian had fallen.

Darian awoke in a futuristic rehabilitation chamber. His body felt lighter; the exhaustion and pain that had previously enveloped him were gone. He blinked, his eyes struggling to adjust to the unfamiliar new environment.

An alien approached, its eyes attentive, as if trying to read every emotion within Darian. After a few silent seconds, the alien opened its mouth, its voice deep and authoritative.

“Do you remember who you are?” it asked gently, though sincerity could be felt in its tone. “I haven’t had the chance to ask your name. Who are you, Earthling? What happened to you?”

Darian stared at the alien, confused. Strange feelings and vague memories clouded his mind. He remembered the last moments before losing consciousness—his shattered body, the sudden fear. And then, an inexplicable feeling: something more significant than mere suffering.

“My name… is Darian,” he replied softly, his voice hoarse. He suppressed the feelings suddenly welling up inside him, trying to formulate words.

“I… I fell. My body was broken. The onyx…” Darian looked at his stomach, where the necklace was, now integrated directly into him. He remembered being forced to swallow the necklace to protect it from enemies.

The alien observed closely, paying attention to Darian’s every word. It continued its explanation in a deeper, more understanding voice.

“The onyx you swallowed is no ordinary object. It is a legacy of our race, an ancient artefact containing energy and information that can connect us, even across time and space.

The stone only reacted after contacting your gastric acid, specifically hydrochloric acid (HCl), in your digestive fluids. Once the stone touched the hydrochloric acid, its molecular structure activated, rapidly emitting an energy signal we could detect.

When you swallowed it, that signal connected us to your presence; we began to sense your existence.”

Darian fell silent, trying to understand the alien’s words. It felt like so much was missing, so many unanswered questions.

The alien continued, its voice now softer but full of conviction. “We know your body was nearly destroyed. That necklace and our technology were the key to saving you. Our serum healed your body and renewed every cell, strengthening your abilities.

We have altered your DNA structure, modifying and perfecting it to match the potential within you.”