Children of The Spheres

Chapter 6: New Horizons

Ahead, Melekon Prime grows larger through the shuttle's viewport—a swirling orb of silver oceans and vast green jungles. The planet's atmosphere creates a shimmering halo around its edges, a luminous ring that makes it seem almost ethereal. Scattered cities dot the landscape, their lights barely piercing through the dense canopy of foliage. I've seen planets like this on the Net and holovids, but it's surreal seeing one in person. My whole life, it's been ice, snow, rock—then this. Trees. It reminds me of Earth, the world where humanity began before ascending to the stars.

Beside me, Shiro fidgets in his seat. He's been jittery since we left the transport hub, fingers drumming on the armrest. Not that I blame him. My own nerves are frayed too. It's a nice sight, this planet, but it's soured, knowing the man in black is somewhere down there—the one who took Jace from us, who shattered our lives.

"This is it," Shiro mutters, leaning forward.

"Yeah," I say softly, but I can't help but feel a bit nervous.

A voice suddenly crackles through the shuttle speakers, smooth and professional, with that unmistakable synthetic undertone. "Welcome aboard the NATC shuttle service. We are now approaching Melekon Prime's upper atmosphere, bound for New Eros spaceport. World population is approximately two billion, primarily concentrated in the capital city of New Eros, as well as in major coastal settlements.

"Please be advised: expect dense atmospheric conditions during descent, with potential ion storms near the equator. Surface temperatures range between fifteen and thirty-five degrees Celsius. Wildlife in rural zones is considerable and may pose risks—passengers are advised to remain within protected areas. Estimated arrival in fifteen standard minutes. Please ensure all personal belongings are secured. This is a Class IV entry descent; turbulence is expected over the planet's ion belt."

Before I have time to absorb the information, the cabin's holoscreens flicker to life, and an advertisement fills the space. "ThermoCore Ignis reactor series!—providing sustainable energy solutions for even the harshest environments!" An image of the reactor rotates against a backdrop of stars, its polished surfaces gleaming. "From mining outposts to deep-space exploration, ThermoCore keeps the lights on!"

I suppress a sigh. ThermoCore again. They made the space heater back in our old apartment. Well, not ours anymore, since we gave it to Lorn—helped pay for part of the trip here.

The shuttle shudders as we breach the planet's atmosphere, the gentle vibration escalating into a more pronounced tremble. Outside, the orange glow fades, replaced by the swirling mists of the ion belt. Electrical discharges arc across the viewport, brief flashes of blue-white light that illuminate the clouds.

Shiro watches in awe. He loves this—new planet, new weather systems. He's like a kid seeing fireworks for the first time.

As we descend, the murky haze lifts to reveal New Eros sprawling beneath us, a city of lights, towering megastructures, and neon-lit streets. Elevated rail lines glide between skyscrapers wrapped in glowing ads, while below, narrow alleys and broad boulevards pulse with life. Massive holographic billboards hover like digital gods over the crowds. Glass towers and concrete giants stretch nearly as high as our shuttle, while the shadowed undercity flickers with lights. Vines creep up the walls, as if nature is trying to reclaim the city. It's meticulously planned, more vertical than Isenhold.

Then I see it—a sudden break in the city's sprawl, a perfect circle of green rainforest disrupting the endless stretch of concrete and steel. The sight is jarring, too precise, like a wound cut clean through the heart of it.

A man seated across from me notices my confusion, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You're not from around here, are you?" he asks. "That hole is where the old Skylight District used to be. Terrorists attacked it about a decade ago—Ionisium bomb, killed nearly a million."