Crownless: The Fallen World - Chapter 44

It was later that evening when countless stars started to peek down at a group of people, and a fire caged in a metal container lit the darkness as it slowly grilled the meat and boiling a large pot of soup.

The butler of Sylvia, Felix Preston, served Aires a bowl of soup and one large cut of grilled sirloin steak. He ate it slowly until he finished five servings of soup and meat. The meal was indeed sumptuous for a person who was deprived of food for a lot of hours. Why? Because Sylvia was making this sour face and decided to give her portion to Aires, who needed it the most.

After a long while, when everyone retired for the day, a lone figure was basking under the light of the million stars. Aires sat comfortably on the ground, though he could feel some of the grass poking his skin underneath his clothes while looking up at the stars as he sighed heavily.

He lightly placed his hand on chest, feeling the coldness, yet, at the same time, warm.

When he tried to stop the control of his energy in his body, he could feel the stinging cold on his chest. Too cold, in fact, that he got frostbite just from the touch. He started to flow more energy into his body and regulated his temperature.

He let his body fall down as it crashed hard on the ground.

Aires fetched a small round disk from his Holowrist and twirled it in his fingers, and then he pushed a button on it.

***

When Garnwyn finished preparing his instant Alfredo pasta, he slumped down on his swivel chair in front of his large supercomputers. The screens were flickering and a lot of wires were connected to each of the small computers behind his back. He swirled the pasta on his fork and ate it so deliciously as he slurped the remaining ones.

When he chewed it, there was a loud beep that startled him, enough for his pasta to be wasted on the floor. He could only whine and thrash on his chair like a little kid. But the alarm signal made him stop that returned him into his serious behavior; it was the energy core microchip.

Garnwyn immediately typed on his hologram keyboard, his fingers swiftly maneuvering on the three screens. When he finally got connected to it, he ran towards a large circle at the center of his room.

He was scanned with a green light as his body was surrounded by small green numbers that acted like a barrier. Minutes had passed; a surprising view of the night sky entered his sight. It was so nostalgic that made him stand in a stupor for who knows how long. His eyes were fixated towards the beautiful night canvas.

“It’s beautiful, right?”

“Yeah… it’s been… a lot of decades…” He blankly said, never leaving the sight.

Aires, on the other line, stayed silent and let the small hologram figure of Garnwyn, admiring the sight that was presented to him. Even the scientist’s initial purpose that time was forgotten.

The scientist pushed some buttons on the circle and the whole hologram screen suddenly widened. Aires could see the whole room now and his eyes turned into a sharp glint as he eyed those technologies the other male had.

“Let’s start with the fact you have a copy of the microchip. Did you steal it?” Garnwyn asked as he sat on his comfortable swivel chair, resting his chin on his hands while eyeing the younger male with hawk eyes.

“I didn’t. I made one with the exact same structure while I examined the microchip,” Aires twirl the small disk on his fingers, smiling wickedly at the older who sighed heavily.

“Then, don’t dawdle. Why did you activate it?”

“You were there with me when I was swept by the wind, and you were the one that told me about the energy rampaging and being sucked into the tornado. You were also there when I woke up from my sleep.”

“Of course. I have to be there to monitor the changes in your body and in the core.”

“What happened in my body?” Aires asked gravely, pointing at his chest where his heart was located.

“You tamed more than 50% of the ice energy, but your body was instantly frozen. When Liden came and successfully got the remaining ones, the ice around your body melted. Though the ice on your heart never melted, I tried to look into it but I don’t quite put my finger into this matter.”

“I’m basically dead, right?” He straightforwardly asked, without a speck of hesitation.

“Yeah. You’re dead, but the energy around your body was the only one keeping you alive. Though I have some records here, your body will be merely relying on the energy you have in your body. You’re not capable of sleep and hunger, but you still function normally. I advise you to expand your energy a thousandfold or just never stop expanding it.” Garnwyn was typing in front of his main computer while talking at the same time. Constantly showing Aires the records he got through the main panel.

The younger read the charts with sad eyes, still not accepting the fact that he was dead, though he was grateful that he could still function normally, but it was still a hard blow to him.

“Wait… you only got into this situation when you tried to control the ice energy inside your body… but, what if you got to control a powerful fire energy and let it thaw that frozen ice around your heart?”

“The question is; where could I find that kind of energy around here?”

“I don’t know… but I’m willing to help you through it,” Garnwyn smugly said, his wrinkled face suddenly showed the energy of his prime.

“How can you help me?” Aires suspiciously asked the male who scoffed proudly.

“Kid, I’m the main brain of the technologies in this world. You saw it yourself that I could be everywhere! Don’t you trust me?”

“Honestly, no.”

“That’s horrible… you should trust people more often! I can also help you through it, kid. I promise,” Garnwyn smiled warmly at Aires, who was staring at him as if he didn’t believe every word the scientist said.

“… kid, is it that hard to trust the face of this old man?” Garnwyn turned his face from side to side and rested his hands on his cheeks, fluttering his eyebrows.

“Now, my guts are telling me that you’re in my red alert zone.”

“… so horrible. Anyway, whether you like it or not, I’ll keep track on your body and will update you if I have some news about the thing you wanted the most.”