The cold, sterile hum of the cryogenic chamber had been Emeric's last lullaby. He remembered the soft, almost imperceptible tremor of the pod sealing, the last, tearful glance from his mother, Queen Amara, her hand pressed against the transparent wall, a silent promise in her eyes. His younger sister, Elara, had waved frantically, her small, innocent face contorted in a brave attempt at a smile that had quickly dissolved into a sob. He had held their gazes, memorizing their faces, the vibrant colors of the palace gardens shimmering beyond them, a final, poignant tableau before the darkness claimed him. "Just until the threat passes." his father, King Lunfen, had assured him, his voice thick with a resolve that had belied the fear in his eyes. "You are the future, Emeric. You must survive."
Now, consciousness returned with a jolt, not a gentle awakening, but a sudden, disorienting snap. The prince awoke, his gaze clouded with confusion, the ghost of his family's faces still clinging to the edges of his vision. His eyes, adjusting slowly to the ethereal azure glow that pulsed from the chamber's walls, darted around, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar, gleaming metal and unearthly light. Across from him, a figure stood, silhouetted against the radiant wall. Theon met Prince Emeric's wary gaze, his own expression a calm, unreadable mask, a serene counterpoint to the prince's rising tension.
"Where am I? Who are you?" Prince Emeric's voice, though groggy from his long stasis, carried an undeniable air of authority. He stood tense, every muscle coiled, ready to spring, his eyes sharp and alert.
A smooth smile touched Theon's lips, a practiced ease in his voice as he began the role he had meticulously crafted. "No need for alarm, Your Highness. My name is Varian. I am an envoy from a convoy beyond the stars. It has been many years since my last visit to Sylvan."
When reading through the database of the Sylvian Empire, Theon had carefully selected to go under the guise of Varian, an envoy that often visited King Lunfen when Emeric was a child. This meant that Emeric would have a faint recollection of the existence that was Varian, giving him some additional credibility without putting him at risk as Emeric would remember very little beyond the fact that Varian existed.
Emeric's confusion deepened, his brows furrowing. "An envoy? From where?"
Theon's voice took on a tone of practiced diplomacy. "Ah, I represent a faction with a long-standing interest in Sylvan's prosperity. Our bond with your forefathers was one that transcended the stars themselves."
The prince's eyes narrowed. "I wasn't aware of any external alliances. Why now? Why have you returned?"
Theon's tone turned grave, tinged with feigned regret. "The Nyxians, Your Highness. Their surveillance over Serenera has only recently lifted, granting us the opportunity to move without attracting their attention. I've returned to offer my assistance—so that the legacy of your people endures."
Prince Emeric's face softened, a glimmer of hope flickering in his eyes as memories came back to him and he seemed to become more certain. "You've come back for us?"
"Indeed, Your Highness." Theon replied, nodding solemnly. "It is my duty—a repayment for the many deeds your forefathers have done for mine. However…" he hesitated briefly before continuing, a calculated pause before delivering the final blow. "There were malfunctions in the other cryogenic chambers… they were beyond my control. You are the only one who survived. A stroke of fortune in these dark times."
Emeric's hopeful expression faltered. "W-what did you say?"
The prince's voice wavered as he staggered forward, his breath growing ragged. "D-did you… did you say everyone else is dead?"
Though the question was spoken aloud, Emeric already knew the answer. He had heard it clearly the first time, but his mind resisted, grasping for some alternate truth.
And before Theon could respond, Emeric's face contorted in disbelief. His eyes glazed over as if his soul was detaching itself from reality. "No, no, no—this must be a joke! How could I be the only survivor? Please… let me wake up. God, let this be a nightmare."
A sudden flash, unbidden and cruel, assaulted Emeric's mind: his mother, Queen Amara, her laughter echoing through the sun-drenched gardens of the palace, chasing him and his younger sister, Elara, around the bubbling fountains. Elara, her tiny hands clutching a handful of bright Sylvian blossoms, stumbling with a giggle as Emeric pretended to trip. The warmth of the sun on his skin, the sweet scent of the blossoms, the pure, uncomplicated joy of it all.
Without warning, Emeric lunged at Theon, his hands gripping the collar of Theon's robes. The prince's desperate, frenzied energy collided with Theon's calm composure, but Theon remained unfazed.
"EXPLAIN YOURSELF, VARIAN!" Emeric screamed, spit flying with each furious word. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY DIED? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? HOW AM I THE ONLY ONE LEFT?"
The prince's shaking grew more violent, his grip tightening on Theon's collar as his wild eyes bore into him, his knuckles white. Then, just as suddenly, Emeric's rage broke into something far more unsettling.
"Hahahaha… HAHAHAHA!" Emeric's laugh echoed off the chamber walls, manic and hollow. Theon could feel the shift—the prince teetering on the edge of madness, his grip on sanity fraying.
"It's a joke, isn't it?" Emeric's voice cracked as he gestured wildly at the cryogenic pods around them. "Nigel and Helga will jump out from behind those pods and laugh at me, right?"
Yet the only response he received was silence.
"…right?" His voice broke into a whisper, barely audible. Emeric slumped against Theon, his head hanging low, his breath uneven. "…how?"
The prince's fingers loosened their grip, falling limp as he collapsed to his knees. He buried his face in Theon's chest, his voice no more than a fragile murmur. "…how am I the only one left?"
Emeric's quiet sobs echoed through the room, each breath a ragged gasp heavy with grief. His shoulders trembled as he fought to contain the nausea rising in his throat, his despair anchoring him to the cold floor.
Theon stood silently, allowing the prince his moment. After what felt like an eternity, he cleared his throat and took a step closer, resting a hand on Emeric's back.
"Your Highness." Theon's voice was soft but firm, "I cannot pretend to understand the weight of what you're feeling right now. But this is not the time to give in to despair. Your people's legacy—your family's legacy—still lives in you. It's time to honor their memory, to carry their will forward."
The prince's sobs gradually quieted. He raised his head, blinking through the haze of tears as Theon's words began to sink in, a fragile anchor in the chaos of his mind. Slowly, he stood, his eyes regaining focus, clarity settling in place of the madness. A shaky breath escaped him, then another, a desperate effort to reclaim composure.
"You're right… Varian." Emeric said, his voice steadier now. "To honor my family and everything they've built, I will keep fighting."
He paused, and then, with a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, added, "And stop calling me Your Highness. Just call me Emeric. And… I'm sorry. For how I lashed out at you earlier."
Theon returned the smile, inclining his head. "As you wish, Prince Emeric. Your family would be proud of the strength you've shown today."
He placed a hand on Emeric's shoulder, giving him a reassuring squeeze before pulling him into a brief, solemn embrace.
'Well this will be easier than I thought.' Theon mused to himself, his thoughts as cold as his expression was warm.
'His resolve seems to be completely superficial, something momentary to keep him moving, the root of his resolve is non-existent. Even that smile….'
'It's all fake.'
As they pulled apart, Emeric wiped away the remnants of his tears and offered a thin smile. "Drop the "Prince" as well Varian, just Emeric is fine. After all, how could I be above the one who saved my life."
Theon hesitated, feigning reluctance, but before he could answer, Emeric pressed on.
"And speaking of saving my life." Emeric added, his tone brightening with an almost theatrical gratitude, "you deserve a reward."
"Your Highness Emeric." Theon responded with well-practiced humility, "I'm deeply thankful for the offer, but after everything you and your people have endured, I….I could never accept. You need all your resources now, far more than I."
Emeric waved the objection away with a flourish. "Nonsense! The Ashford family repays favors tenfold—it's our motto. I cannot let my savior go unrewarded." His smile returned, though this time his eyes glinted with an overplayed sense of righteousness. "Let me take you to the treasury, and you can choose something to your liking."
Feigning a sense of duty-bound reluctance, Theon played his role as Varian flawlessly. He gave a small, appreciative nod, letting just enough greed show in his eyes, the kind any reasonable man might have in such circumstances. "I am honored. Truly."
'I knew it.' Theon thought as Emeric turned away, leading him deeper into the facility. 'They couldn't have used up all their resources. They kept something—some failsafe for a time like this.'
Emeric walked to the back of the room and pressed his palm against a smooth, featureless section of the wall. After a brief moment, a control panel slid open, displaying complex symbols and codes. The prince quickly entered a series of passwords and commands. A faint rumble followed as part of the floor split apart, revealing a spiral staircase descending into the unknown.
"Follow me." Emeric said, taking the lead down the stairs. As they descended, the lights in the chamber below flickered to life, casting an eerie glow over the small room.
The treasury wasn't grand—certainly not the lavish vault Theon had expected. It was a modest room, lined with shelves and walls adorned with weapons. A single, unassuming bookshelf stood against the far wall, its spines worn with age. In the center, bathed in the dim glow of the room's lone light, two intricately carved rings rested on a simple, stone pedestal.
Emeric gestured to the contents of the room with a sweeping motion. "You may take anything you like. Well anything besides those two rings, those… those I must keep." Emeric said, his voice turning solemn with a hint of hurt towards the end of the sentence.
Theon quickly busied himself, feigning excitement, inspecting the weapons.
"Take your time choosing, I will be upstairs going through the terminal to catch up on the state of the world." said Emeric as he moved upstairs with a satisfied and warm smile upon his face.
Upstairs Emeric moved toward the terminal, inputting his personal details and quickly seizing control of the systems left in place, he immersed himself into the holographic screens and the reports floating in front of him.