“Terasupainosuminacompotium, Tera 4, or it's far more catchy brother, Magic.

Scientists hate it when people call it that, hence why they even shortened the element to Tera 4 for the public. Saying such a thing, to them, discredits all the work they’ve done relative to the material.

But honestly, when you can synthesize a material without the proper machinery, or simply conjure a fireball from seemingly nothing, it’s basically magic.”

• Quote from the interview of Yvunn Javen, after being fired from the Kytherion High-Risk Experimentations department for calling Tera 4 ‘Fucking Magic Rock’.

“Why do you enjoy resting against me so? My body is steel, and uncomfortable.”

“Because I love you!”

A warmth emanated from the sword as Darrius spoke those words, and in response, Darrius snuggled even closer.

“It’s impossible to feel uncomfortable when it’s you.”

“I… see. I ‘love’ you as well.”

If Myros had arms, they would have embraced him. Yet he knew his son was more than intelligent enough to know that already. That’s because it’s his son, crafted and forged by none other than himself.

One that deserved all of reality.

“Father, why do you use books instead of those electronic things others use to record stuff?”

Myros’s thoughts boomed in a chuckle, “Why? Because I am immensely wealthy, and what is wealth if nothing to spend it on? My entire library alone takes over two planets worth of trees to make.”

Darrius could feel the gaze shift over the place where they were now, and he followed suit. Shelf upon shelf, made by only the best, and with the greatest materials. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe for his father as he gazed over it.

“Each page of each book is merely an index of each section of the topic. Each topic is merely a hyper-compressed set of subcategories, and so forth. Thousands of hands and more money than you can imagine was used to make even the single book you now hold.”

“...More than you can imagine yet at least.”

The warmth came back, a constant comforting temperature against the purple robes he was given. It one of his first of many gifts. At least, first of many physical ones.

“My son, you are my family, and that makes you special. More than anyone else. You deserve everything you see, that is what it means to be mine, don’t you understand?”

He didn’t quite fully understand. Darrius hadn’t been able to see much at all. Lessons, puzzles, reading, constant growth for his development, and the nurturing love he always felt. He knew these things, but only read about the outside.

But he could guess well enough. A simple concept.

If he saw it, or if it existed, then it was his. For a better term, ‘divine right’.

Darrius nodded his head.

“Good… I expect nothing less.”

You could hear it when his mind sturred.

More as if an element of nature. Like the earth rumbling, lava and magma roiling, flames flickering. It was like a sound that brought the image to mind, but the sound was the image. Still, he waited patiently, like he always did.

“Darrius… It’s about time I gave you one of the greatest gifts I ever will, and some lessons to go with it.”

Grinning, always happy to stay with him. Darrius never felt another way about him. If Myros’s edge could melt to anything less than the birth of a new multi-faceted reality, it would be to that smile.

Whispers danced around the library, winding a path and galavanting down the hall. As always, he stood up, shook off the dust, and chased after it. Though the hallways were dark at times, he knew where he was going.

The darkness ran from his sight as his vision swam with waves.

Debris was scattered about the ground around him. Though shaky, he was still able to stand, using the wall as a prop to hoist his body upward.

Darrius couldn’t help but wince. Only bruises though.

Gas pockets, it seemed, were common enough in this world. Only a mile or so in did he smell a strange odor. Were one not quite as amazing as himself, their reaction speed wouldn’t have allowed them to throw the torch in time and dive for cover.

A horrible explosion was the result. Thankfully, he is quite heat tolerant down to the roots of his hair, and his equipment was well-proofed.

His eyes narrowed.

What didn’t help was that he had been breathing it in for the whole time, and went unconscious, likely tumbling down the slope he just turned to see.

Steep. Two miles. Not impossible, but not something he wanted to go up and down every time he went outside.

Wait a minute, there should be no light down here, how can I see?

Sharp hazel eyes scanned the room. No bioluminescent plant life, no heat-storing crystals, no fire… the beams look more electronic than anything else.

Breathing in and out, he let his lungs swell with what had to be air, else he’d still be unconscious, and began to walk for a ways. Evidence of him getting closer, the lumens increased and increased, just before he turned a corner.

Darrius’s chuckles… well, even he had to admit sounded a bit maniacal.

That is, intensified only by the echoing in the caverns.

Well well well, fate does provide indeed. And my curiosity has certainly peaked.

An old spaceship wreck, a starseer series no less, buried under sedimentary rock. Truly, a great find found by none other than his instincts.

“Um, excuse me, sir?”

The flow and stream of thoughts and ideas running through his head ceased. First with frustration, then confusion.

Buzzing came from a white spacesuit, leaning against some rubble before static turned into words once more.

“Excuse me, sir, could I get some help?”