XCER

Prologue

Have you ever seen the Sun? Not just the distant orb in the sky, but the Sun that once cast its golden rays upon the House of Aetheria, enveloping its inhabitants in warmth and light. It was the giver of life, the sustainer of hope in a universe gripped by darkness. Yet, since the war between the House of Aetheria and the House of Vermilion, the Sun's radiant face has been veiled by a shroud of sorrow.

I remember when the Sun's embrace was a comfort, when its light infused every corner of our world with promise. Now, its absence is a constant reminder of all that has been lost. The echoes of the past still haunt me-specters in the night. The cries of innocent children, the stench of burning flesh, the voice of Crysis slicing through the air like a blade. Each memory is a dagger, carving deep into my soul, reminding me of the price we've paid.

Guilt sits heavy upon my shoulders, a burden I alone must carry. I was never the model child. I hurt many people, most of all my brother, Claytious. And now, as he lies motionless, lost to the world of the living, I'm forced to confront the weight of my transgressions.

"Irelia, you're awake." Valance's voice pulls me from my thoughts, his concern piercing through the fog that clouds my mind. "Your hair is all white now," he says softly, his worry evident. In our bloodline, the color of one's hair reflects the extent of ray used. I can feel the weight of his unspoken question, the silent plea for forgiveness that hangs between us like a veil.

Valance, the prince of Aetheria. Claytious was the eldest, heir to the crown. I was born to be Queen. Our mother died bringing me into this world. Our father... he was never the man he should have been. I often heard him cry out in the night, calling for her. I always blamed myself. Now Clay is gone too, leaving a chasm even deeper. I want to tell Valance that I'm sorry, that I never meant for any of this to happen. But the words choke in my throat, strangled by the guilt that threatens to consume me whole. How can I seek forgiveness when I can barely forgive myself?

Master Ice's arrival offers a brief reprieve from the suffocating silence. His calm demeanor and steady gaze are a fleeting solace amidst the chaos that engulfs us. But even he cannot grant absolution for the sins that weigh on my soul. "This is not your fault," he assures me, his words a lifeline in a sea of despair. But I cannot shake the feeling that I am to blame, that my actions have brought nothing but pain and suffering to those I hold most dear.

My ray -my power-has always been too strong, even as a child. My brothers tried to help me control it, to prevent the storm within me from spiraling out of control. But one day, everything changed. Everything unraveled. I remember that moment as if it were yesterday. The moment my world was torn apart by a single act of defiance.

"I'm trying, Val, please," I had pleaded, but he didn't listen. And in my desperation, I unleashed a storm I could not control. The sight of Valance lying on the ground, blood seeping from his chest, is etched into my memory-a scar that will never fade. I was consumed by fear and regret when Clay rushed in, his face ashen. "I'm sorry," I whispered, but he didn't waver. Instead, he drew me into his arms, offering comfort in a world that had just shattered.

Ethan, ever vigilant, came to my aid, guiding me to bed, soothing my troubled mind. And in the days that followed, I was sent to learn how to control my powers under Master Ice's tutelage. His presence loomed large in my life, a silent sentinel. But even as I sought to master my abilities, the guilt of what I had done hung over me like a dark cloud.

"Irelia, would you stop blanking out?" Valance's voice cut through the fog in my mind, pulling me back to the present. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I was drowning, suffocating beneath the weight of my mistakes.

"Valance, would you give your sister and me some time?" He nodded, his steps slow and heavy as he left, leaving behind a fog of pain. "Irelia, this is not your fault," Master Ice repeated, his voice steady and calm. But his words did little to soothe the storm within me. I knew I was to blame. I knew I had brought this suffering upon us.

"How come every time someone gets hurt, I'm there? Why don't you explain that?" I demanded, my voice trembling with a barely controlled fury. Master Ice's gaze softened, filled with understanding. "There are forces at play that you cannot control," he said gently, his words a balm to my wounded spirit. "Your brother would not want you to grieve like this."

"Can I see him?" I asked, my voice barely audible, heavy with longing and regret. The words hung in the air, weighted by the knowledge that no amount of pleading could ever bring back what had been lost.

And so, I am left alone with my guilt-a prisoner of my own making, condemned to a life of endless torment. How can I ever hope to find peace when the echoes of the past haunt my every step, reminding me of all I have done wrong?

But even in this darkness, a spark of hope remains. Though I am adrift in a sea of sorrow and regret, I refuse to surrender to despair. I will find a way to atone for my sins, to make amends for the pain I have caused.

I have yet to see the Sun. But I will make the Sun.