Casting the bait

Cedric sat lost in thought about his reasons for striving to become stronger. He looked out of the oval window, which provided him with a timely distraction: a stunning view of the spaceport and the surrounding space. The stars twinkled in the distance, and the hazy glow of distant galaxies seemed to be waiting to be explored. Suddenly, he was jolted out of his reverie by the sound of the shuttle door closing. Turning his gaze to the source of the noise, he saw the imposing figure of the void-knight stepping onto the vessel.

"We are departing," the knight announced before quickly making his way to the cockpit. As the ship's engines roared to life, the hum grew louder and more intense, causing the seats to vibrate. The harsh sound of metal grinding against metal filled the air as the ship readied itself for departure. With a final shudder, the vessel lifted off the platform and accelerated, passing through the membrane that served as a barrier between the station's surroundings and space debris. The membrane ensured that oxygen remained within the station's confines and protected it from potential collisions with hazardous debris.

As they left the spaceport behind, Cedric couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and apprehension about what lay ahead. He shifted his gaze back to the oval window, which still offered a view of the spaceport and the surrounding space. The stars shone like diamonds, and he could see planets and asteroids in the distance. It was a peculiar feeling being among the stars and looking out at the vast expanse of the universe. Cedric wondered what kind of adventures awaited him in the days to come.

With the ship now set on its course towards their target destination, the void-knight appears yet again, moving over to where Cedric is seated. Pressing a button situated on the armored man's neck, the helmet opens up, revealing a-- Suddenly, time stops.

Confused, Cedric looks around, trying to find the source of his unease. He notices the previously empty seat in front of him, but now a man clothed in a black, tight-fitting outfit is sitting there. The outfit clings to his skin and ends just below his head. With a white robe shining with purple cracks in the form of blades draped over him. The man, or rather, the being, with a gentle smile plastered over his face. He looks at Cedric with a piercing gaze reminiscent of silver flames. His hair colored like space, a black void that seems to pull you in if you look long enough, peppered by pulsing stars.

The mysterious being opens its mouth, seeing Cedric's fearful gaze, as if a lamb sitting in front of a wolf about to attack. "Fret not, child. I bear you no ill intent. In fact, I come to offer you a proposition."

Cedric, pulling himself together, opens his mouth to question the being: "What do you want from me?"

Cackling, the being lifts up his hand, showing his palm with a holo-recording device nestled on it. Upon activation, the device projects a frame of his mother. Baffled, Cedric inquires, "Why does she look like my mother?"

The being, seeing that he managed to pique the child's interest, continues...

"This woman was last seen ascending to the beyond. Having spent a rather long time training her ability as the Archon representing Ice. Her name is Castia. Your mother's sister."

Feeling the child's growing curiosity, the being decides to cast the bait:

"If you wish to find out more, regarding the truth of your mother's origin, or have any hope in finding her sister, I shall provide you with the answers you seek, but alas, life is not a giving mistress. In order to obtain something, you must first give in return."

Having learned how to distinguish swindlers and liars during his travels with his father, Cedric was initially skeptical. However, he found himself drawn in by the being's gentle smile and empathetic demeanor and listened intently, unknowingly accepting every word the being spoke as fact.

Cedric always wondered about his mother, never hearing a definite answer about her death from his father, Rodrick. Cedric began to suspect a couple years back, if his father was even telling the truth. As he heard his father, while drunk out of his mind, mention in passing "Wherever you are, I hope you someday get to meet our son. He is so much more than you hoped him to be."

Cedric, now resigned to complete whatever the being asks of him, once again, lifts his gaze to match the man's mesmerizing gaze.

Nodding towards the being, he lets him finish making his request, in hopes none of them involve his death, or any harm being done to his loved ones.