Dreams of Magia and Power

Lara passed by Lucien's corner early that morning, catching a glimpse of him asleep amidst a fortress of books, his cheek resting against the spine of a particularly hefty tome on magia. Curled up near his feet was Mar, snoring softly, her small figure tucked under a worn blanket. For a brief moment, a faint smile flickered across Lara's face as she looked at the two of them, the light from the small window casting a warm glow over their exhausted forms. She took a breath, shook her head with a sigh, and quietly stepped out of the house, leaving them in peace.

But Lucien was only half-asleep, and as soon as the door closed, he stirred awake, rubbing his eyes as he slowly adjusted to the morning light. He looked over at Mar, still fast asleep, her face soft and calm as she dreamt. Watching her, Lucien couldn't help but smile. Mar, who had once been so withdrawn and silent, now looked almost peaceful, her expressions more open around him than anyone else. He gently reached over and pulled a blanket up around her shoulders before turning his attention back to the stack of books beside him.

He picked up a well-worn volume on magia and flipped through its pages, scanning for anything that would deepen his understanding of ether. As he read, the pieces started falling into place. Ether was not just energy—it was the very essence of life, an invisible force threading its way through all living things and many inanimate objects as well. But for Solarians, ether was both a gift and a curse. Their bodies couldn't naturally contain much of it. Any more, and the sheer vitality ether brought would drive them past their limits, causing their bodies to destabilize or even explode.

The solution lay in the heartstone. Lucien rubbed his chest absentmindedly, wondering if his own heartstone felt the same faint, steady pulse that the books described. The heartstone acted like a conduit, a subtle but precise regulator that channeled ether in the bloodstream, allowing Solarians to control the flow within their bodies. It enabled them to manipulate ether for magia, redirecting it into powered objects and devices. But this led Lucien to an even more intriguing idea: if ancient Solarians could control ether directly, long before the advent of modern maguscraft, had they been able to perform true magic?

The thought captured his imagination, and he leafed through more pages, searching for clues, but there were none. His mind raced, imagining what it would have been like to see his ancestors wield raw, untamed ether. The potential was staggering. He closed the book and leaned back, deep in thought. If he could find a way to manipulate ether directly, perhaps he could go beyond the limitations imposed by his body and the heartstone. Perhaps he could do something no Solarian had ever done.

As he absorbed these thoughts, another book caught his eye. This one was about the colonies and the structure of their society, especially the sprawling hive cities. He skimmed through it, frowning at the stark descriptions of overcrowded sectors and grimly regulated districts. Hive cities were truly inhumane: dense, towering structures where people lived stacked on top of one another, surviving only because they had no other choice. Resources were scarce, and everyone from the upper conglomerates to the street-level gangs worked the system to their advantage.

A section on hierarchy snagged his attention. Each hive city was run by a Hive Boss, a powerful figurehead who controlled the entire metropolis with an iron grip. Beneath the Boss was a conglomerate—a council of sorts, representing various influential figures and organizations. Further down the hierarchy lay the syndicates, shadowy alliances of the most powerful factions. And at the very bottom were gangs, who fought tooth and nail for whatever scraps they could control, oppressing the common folk to maintain their territory.

Lucien's eyebrows knitted together as he read. The people of the lower districts were oppressed and exploited at every turn. But why, then, had their family been relatively untouched? No gang members had harassed them, and even the syndicates seemed to keep their distance. He leaned back, thoughtful. Maybe Lara isn't telling me everything, he mused. Or maybe my father's past holds answers I haven't yet discovered.

He made a mental note to ask Lara about this strange immunity from the hive's brutality, though he knew it might be a delicate subject. Still, the question gnawed at him. Who had their father really been? And why was he able to acquire books and teach Lara in a world where knowledge like this was scarce and tightly controlled?

Just then, Mar stirred and opened her eyes, yawning sleepily as she looked over at him. Lucien grinned at her, and she blinked back, still half-awake.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," he teased, nudging a book towards her. "Ready to hit the streets?"

Mar gave a small smile, stretching as she pushed herself up. Together, they packed up their things and stepped outside, heading down the narrow, winding corridors of the hive city. The dense throngs of people moved around them, the noise of vendors, gangs, and street performers mixing into a chaotic symphony. As they walked, Lucien kept his gaze focused, lost in thought.

If I want access to more advanced technology, he considered, and, more importantly, to Magia relics, I'll have to take risks.

He clenched his fists, determination hardening within him. The gangs at the bottom of the hive hierarchy held little appeal; their brutality and aimlessness were antithetical to his goals. But perhaps if he joined one of the syndicates—one with resources, knowledge, and access to secrets—he could climb the ranks, making contacts and amassing the resources he needed. He could manipulate the system to his advantage, unlocking the mysteries of maguscraft and the technology that lay tantalizingly close, yet just out of reach.

The thought sparked a reckless ambition within him, one he hadn't fully realized until now. A plan began to take shape, though the details remained foggy. He could feel the weight of his previous life's experience pressing at the back of his mind, reminding him of the advantages he had here. With his knowledge of science and technology, he could bring about radical change.

And, in fact, an idea—one more radical than anything he'd considered so far—flashed through his mind.

What if I could unionize the oppressed masses of this planet? The notion seemed ludicrous, but the more he thought about it, the more it took hold of him. If I unite them, we could challenge the hierarchies keeping us in squalor. We could harness ether like never before, push the boundaries of technology, and even bring to life advanced marvels my home system never achieved—perhaps even the Celestial Time Lapse.

The Celestial Time Lapse—a concept he had toyed with in his previous life but had never had the resources to pursue. Faster-than-light travel had been just out of reach back home, but here, with the existence of ether and the potential it held, maybe he could overcome the last few obstacles. He imagined a fleet capable of traveling beyond the speed of light, capable of exploring far-off galaxies, bridging the stars themselves.

Lost in the vision of what he could create, Lucien's lips curled into a smile. His eyes held a glint of excitement and determination, a spark that hinted at the revolutionary thoughts swirling in his mind. The path was long, dangerous, and filled with unknowns, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was standing on the cusp of something monumental.

Mar, who had been watching him out of the corner of her eye, nudged him. "What are you thinking about, Lucien?"

He gave her a small grin. "Just a wild idea."

Her brow furrowed. "Another crazy plan?"

He chuckled. "Maybe. But this one... this one's different."