Sil jolted awake, his heart racing, breath quick and uneven as his eyes darted around the unfamiliar room. The black abyss that greeted his eyes, devoid of any light was too surreal a welcome for his panicked eyes. He sat upright abruptly, disoriented, the rough texture of the couch's fabric scratching at his bare skin. A towel, barely clinging to his waist, reminded him vaguely of his hasty shower from the night before. He pressed a hand to his forehead, squeezing his eyes shut as memories of yesterday filtered back, grounding him. He sighed, tension easing from his shoulders as he recognized his surroundings.
He dressed quickly, movements rushed yet practiced, pulling on a fitted black shirt and trousers, followed by sturdy boots. He retrieved his small pack, sparse with possessions, and slipped it into the sleek device around his wrist, watching as it disappeared effortlessly into dimensional storage. Checking his watch, his eyes widened.
"Dammit," he muttered, instantly vanishing from the room.
The hangar was bustling with controlled chaos as Sil reappeared, easily hidden behind the large vessel chosen for their mission, out of sight from anybody in the vicinity. He glanced around slightly breathless and flushed from his rushed arrival. Vorden, Raten, and Shiro stood already waiting by the ship's entrance and talking amongst themselves. The arrival of the final party of their cohort was met with expressions ranging from mild amusement to subtle concern.
"Sorry," Sil mumbled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck with an awkward smile. "Rough night."
Vorden's brows drew together slightly, concern flickering in his eyes. Sil hastily added, "Just sleeping somewhere new. Nerves, I guess."
Raten barked out a laugh, clapping Sil hard on the shoulder. "Nerves? You? Didn't know the almighty Sil Blade was scared of strange beds. Should've tucked you in, princess."
Sil managed a half-hearted chuckle, rolling his eyes, grateful for his brother's ability to dispel the tension. Yet, he caught Vorden's continued wary glances, knowing the reassurance hadn't been entirely convincing.
Shiro stepped forward, his presence calm and comforting amid the restless energy of the hangar. "Be careful, all of you," he said firmly, locking eyes with each brother before resting a pointed gaze on Vorden. "Make sure you all come home—especially you."
Vorden nodded solemnly, warmth in his eyes. "We will."
As the three brothers climbed aboard the sleek craft, settling into the cockpit seats side by side, a silent pride resonated between the Blade brothers. Engines hummed gently beneath them, signaling readiness. They exchanged quiet glances, each understanding the weight and significance of this moment. Once again, it was just the three of them.
The ship soared into the vast openness of space, stars streaking past in dazzling lines as autopilot guided their course. Time passed slowly aboard. Raten had transformed the eating station into his personal gym, grunting rhythmically as he powered through push-ups, muscles taut and glistening with sweat. The dining table, shoved aside without ceremony, bore silent witness to his restless energy.
At the helm, Vorden watched the controls, periodically scanning the void for threats. His fingers drummed absently against the console, thoughts heavy and tangled. Family weighed on his mind, their faces vivid in his memory. But more pressing was Sil's recent behavior, his secrecy and strained expressions whenever Bliss was mentioned. Vorden sighed softly, torn between respect for his brother's privacy and the gnawing instinct to confront him.
In a quiet room at the back, Sil lay sprawled on the narrow bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. His body craved sleep, but his mind defied rest, racing in endless circles. Questions, doubts, and uncertainties echoed relentlessly, each thought louder than the hum of the engines carrying them further into the unknown. His mind returned to his memories of the time spent with Bliss, just before she was taken.
***
Over the seven days after Sil sent his brothers a message instructing them to contact Sam, Bliss and Sil meticulously planned their deceptive strategy. She labored feverishly to create a convincing replica—a false Godslayer crystal born of a high tier beast crystal, with the help of an intricately drawn magic circle from Bliss. Not to mention a whole lot of complex, laborious, not to mention highly experimental magical incantations.
Bliss instructed Sil to use an ability from his extensive collection. During his ability's activation, she was able to siphon some of his very essence to imbue the mock godslayer crystal. When it was completed the stone was clear, with flecks of blue lightning glinting within. It glowed with a golden aura. To any higher being it would give off the same distinct feeling of being in Sil's presence.
The intricacies of the scheme gnawed at her conscience, each step feeling heavier as visions of consequence and loss clouded her foresight. Setting her reservations aside, she informed Sil that once completed the crystal would slowly leak small amounts of the energy that could be perceived as distinctly Sil's signature until all of the power trapped within became exhausted.
"This should last for at least a week or two, as long as they do not attempt to use it for foraging a weapon or anything magical. By then we should have well completed our tasks."
"Should? What if we don't?" Sil's solemn question was met with silence as Bliss stared blankly into his eyes. Her gaze conveyed the answer better than words ever could. "Right." He averted his eyes as the intensity of her stare became uncomfortable. Bliss sighed.
He knew all too well what her gaze said, they had no other option, if they failed, then these gods would rain down all their wrath and vengeance in the earth. They didn't have the luxury of failure.
***
Staring up at the roof of their interstellar vessel, still unable to quiet his mind enough for the sweet embrace of sleep, Sil could only think of one thought in the end. A thought that haunted him, eating him alive from the inside out.
They, hadn't failed yet— then why did it feel so much like they had?