STARLIGHT UNBOUND by Deus Ex Machina - HTML preview

STARLIGHT UNBOUND

the air from the room.

“What?” Harun sat up straight, his usual lightheartedness nowhere to be found. “You’re leaving? Just like that?”

Jaris frowned. "Why? The sector’s starting to stabilize. You can’t walk away now."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the group, though Leona remained quiet, scrutinizing Lucien.

Lyra stepped forward, her voice firm. "This isn ’t an easy decision for either of us. But it’s not something we can ignore. Lucien... he’s been feeling a pull towards something. Something bigger than this place, bigger than any of us."

"A pull?" Corin ’s voice was sharp with skepticism. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "And what does that mean, exactly? Because to me, it sounds like you’re chasing ghosts while we’re here trying to keep people alive."

Lucien clenched his jaw, but before he could respond, Leona spoke.

"It ’s not ghosts," she said, slicing through the skepticism. The others turned to her, surprise flashing on their faces.

"I’ve seen it in him. The way he looks at the sky, the way he talks about the stars... there ’s something out there for him. Something calling him."

Harun shook his head. "And that’s worth walking away from everything we’ve built? The people we’ve fought for?"

"I know it’s hard to understand," Lucien said. "But this isn’t about abandoning what we ’ve built. It’s about trusting that what we’ve done here is strong enough to stand on its own. You don’t need me or Lyra to keep this place alive. You’re more than capable."

"That ’s not the point," Jaris said, frustration clear in his voice. "The people here look to you, Lucien. Whether you like it or not, you ’re a symbol to them. If you walk away now, what message does that send?"

Before he could answer, Lyra spoke.

"This place isn ’t about Lucien or me," she said, scanning the group. "It’s about all of you. The sector doesn ’t need one leader, one figurehead. It needs people who give a damn —people who won’t stop fighting for it. And I know you ’re those people."

Corin let out a short breath, shaking his head. "Lucien, you do realize that wherever you go, you bring chaos to stability, right?"

A ripple of laughter broke through the room, though there was something serious beneath Corin ’s words.

Lucien managed a small smile. "Yeah, I ’ve noticed."

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