STARLIGHT UNBOUND by Deus Ex Machina - HTML preview

STARLIGHT UNBOUND

The apartment was small—barely more than a handful of connected rooms— but to Lucien, it felt like a penthouse compared to the rebels hideout and barracks in the civic hall. The kitchen walls were still lined with cracks, and the pipes carried a faint rust laced scent, but tonight, something different wafted in the air. Something foreign.

Freshly cooked food!

Lyra sat cross-legged on the floor, a steaming bowl cradled in her hands. A salvaged lantern beside them providing a comforting warmth. Between them, an old crate served as a makeshift table, holding a second bowl and a small loaf of something that almost resembled bread.

"You’re staring." Lyra smirked, glancing up at him.

Lucien blinked, realizing he ’d been watching her in silence. He gave a sheepish shake of his head. "Sorry. It ’s just... I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this." He gestured at the food.

With a laugh, she tore off a piece of bread and tossed it to him. "Don ’t tell me you’ve been living off protein blocks and synth-rations your whole life."

He caught it easily, smiling wryly. "Pretty much." The bread was denser than expected, but satisfying. He took a bite, chewing slowly. "Other than that meal at the safehouse, I think the last real food I had was when I was a kid. Before AstroSYS assigned me to the technical dorms."

Lyra tilted her head slightly, studying him. "So this is new for you."

Lucien nodded, his focus settling on the bowl in front of him. A simple stew —salvaged vegetables and some kind of preserved meat Lyra had bartered for in the market district —but to him, it felt like a feast. He scooped a spoonful into his mouth, warmth spreading through him in a way he hadn ’t realized he’d missed.

"You should thank Leona," Lyra said, dipping her bread into her bowl. "She’s been working magic with the farmers we brought in. We’re still rationing, but at least it doesn ’t taste like cardboard anymore."

"I’ll thank her tomorrow," he murmured, the sincerity evident in his tone. A moment passed before he added, "This... it feels like something we used to have. Before AstroSYS. Before all of this."

"It ’s does,” she said, voice softer now. "We’re not there yet, but we will be. One step at a time."

After that, they ate in comfortable silence, broken only by the distant sounds of movement in the hallway outside. The sector was far from perfect, but it was alive. That was something.

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