STARLIGHT UNBOUND by Deus Ex Machina - HTML preview

STARLIGHT UNBOUND

Lucien nodded politely, eyes still on the screen. “It’s efficient.”

“Efficient? It’s a gift,” Darius said, his voice brimming with conviction. “Do you know how lost people were before? Scrambling for meaning, ruining their lives with bad choices. AstroSYS saved us. It gives us what we could never figure out for ourselves.”

Lucien didn ’t argue—he never did. Darius’s words rolled over him like smoke, familiar and insubstantial. This was just the way things were.

As the group drifted toward the cake, Darius nudged him again. “Hey, you ’re coming to the remembrance show tonight, right?”

Lucien frowned, glancing at him. “What show?”

Darius’s face lit up as if the answer were obvious. “The planetary alignment celebration. They ’re projecting the remembrance presentation in the park—you know, humanity’s history, the Age of Discord, the rise of AstroSYS. They say this year’s visuals will be the best yet.”

Lucien ’s brow furrowed. “Sounds... grand.”

Darius grinned, unbothered by Lucien’s lack of enthusiasm. “Come on, you can ’t miss it. Everyone’s going—it’s practically mandatory anyway.” He gestured upward, his smile faint but knowing. “Besides, it’s not every day the planets align like this. Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn—four celestial giants strung together like a perfect string of pearls. You could go your whole life without seeing something like this. ”

He paused, his expression thoughtful. “You know, they say alignments like this inspired people for centuries. Ancient civilizations believed they were signs —of change, of upheaval... destiny.” His voice lowered. “I don’t believe that rubbish of course, and AstroSYS would call it orbital mechanics. But seeing them up there, so perfect, so aligned... it makes you wonder, doesn ’t it?”

Lucien hesitated. The thought of crowds already made his skin prickle, but Darius was right—expectations were expectations. Staying home would raise questions, and questions led to scrutiny. Better to show up, nod at the right times, and avoid the whispers.

He sighed. “Fine. I’ll be there.” A smirk tugged at his lips. “Maybe I’ll find some inspiration of my own. ”

Darius clapped him on the shoulder, grinning in triumph. “You won’t regret it. ”

Lucien turned back to the screen, watching the Chart spin, its intricate design capturing a life not yet lived. And what if he doesn’t want any of it? The thought surfaced unexpected, sharp and intrusive, like a splinter beneath the skin.

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