First Intergalactic Emperor: Starting With The Ancient Goddess

Xavier stepped aside, jerking his chin toward the living room. ”Come in before the neighbors get a heart attack.”

The beastman dipped his head once, the motion sharp but respectful, then padded inside. His clawed feet clicked faintly against the floor. Xavier shut the door behind them, running a hand through his wet hair, still not bothering to cover himself fully. He tossed a towel over his shoulders on the way to the kitchen counter.

”You drink?” Xavier asked, rummaging through the fridge.

The beastman tilted his head. ”Water.”

”Simple enough.” Xavier poured him a tall glass, slid it across the counter. The beastman caught it delicately with those clawed hands, as if afraid he might crack the glass. He drank slowly, throat rumbling with each swallow.

When he finished, he set the cup down and reached over his shoulder. With a steady motion, he untied the rope binding the cylindrical container to his back. He laid it across the counter like it carried history itself.

Xavier arched a brow. ”Let me guess. Kilop’s way of saying hello?”

The beastman’s muzzle curled slightly—something between a grin and a grimace. ”The King sends his respects. And... he sends what was found.”

He unlatched the container and slid out a heavy shard, flat and jagged at the edges. It wasn’t stone in the ordinary sense—it shimmered faintly, a dark metallic surface with veins of silver running through it, like frozen lightning. The weight of it thudded against the counter.

Xavier leaned closer. ”The hell is this?”

”Remains of a fallen star. A slate carved from meteorites. It was found buried deep beneath the ruins after the attack.” The beastman pushed it toward him, his amber eyes locked on Xavier’s. ”Kilop believes it was meant to be with the fragment Bull entrusted to you. He could not risk keeping it any longer.”

Xavier picked it up. The shard was cold, unnaturally so, sending a prickle up his arm. In the center, faint inscriptions caught the light—markings older than alphabets, carved deep, glowing faintly like embers refusing to die.

”And these?” Xavier tapped the symbols.

”Credentials. Or... a key. None among us can read them. But Kilop said if anyone could make sense of it, it would be you.”

Xavier turned it over in his hands, studying the etched lines. His red eyes traced the inscriptions again, those unfamiliar lines that looked less like letters and more like scars left behind by something ancient. For a moment, he wondered if the damn thing was alive, humming faintly in his grasp.

’What the hell are you supposed to be?’ he thought, tilting it to catch the light. The markings flickered, almost like they wanted to answer. But he tightened his grip and set it back on the counter.

’I’ll let Lyra and Angel have a look later. Those two love cracking shit like this open.’

He slid the shard back into its container, locked it shut, and pushed it aside like he was done with it for now. The truth was, he could feel the pull of it even from across the counter. It wanted to be read, to be used. But he wasn’t about to open that door tonight.

Xavier turned back toward the beastman. ”Tell Kilop I got it. And tell him... I’ll figure out what it means when the time’s right.”

The beastman gave a slow nod, shoulders easing as if his duty had been fulfilled.

Xavier grabbed the towel off his shoulders and slung it around his neck. ”Do you need food? Rest? Or are you heading straight back?”

The beastman’s golden eyes glinted as he rumbled, ”I return. My king waits.”

Xavier handed some food and drinks to him and then gave a sharp nod. ”Then safe travels. And tell him next time, maybe wrap the gift in something less ominous.”

For the first time since stepping into the apartment, the beastman let out a low sound that might’ve been a laugh before bowing slightly and heading for the door.

When the latch clicked shut behind him, Xavier leaned back against the counter, eyes flicking toward the sealed container. ’Great. Another mystery sitting on my table.’

He pushed away from it, heading back to the bathroom. ’Lyra and Angel can crack their heads over it later. For now... I need a damn shower.’

A while later, Lyra kicked her shoes off and stretched with a loud sigh as she stepped inside the apartment, Lilia trailing behind her with that tired, book-drained expression plastered on her face.

”Think Xavier’s back yet?” Lyra muttered, tossing her jacket on the couch without a care.

Lilia glanced toward the kitchen and pointed. ”Well... there’s something.”

On the counter sat the container—black, sleek, and sealed shut. It didn’t look like groceries or a takeout bag, but Lyra’s eyes lit up anyway. ”Lyra thinks it’s food. He probably felt guilty and bought me something good.” She rubbed her hands together and marched straight toward it.

Before she could pop it open, Lilia caught her wrist. ”Don’t touch it. It could be something important.”

Lyra pouted. ”Yes, important food. He knows I like surprises. Probably hid dessert in there.”

”Or it’s something dangerous,” Lilia said flatly, not letting go.

Before their back-and-forth could heat up, the door to Xavier’s room creaked open. He stepped out wearing clean, casual clothes, towel-damp hair brushing against his neck. He stretched, caught sight of them, and smirked. ”Well, well. Look who is back. You took so long to eat dinner. I was getting bored, you know? Oh, by the way, how was the exam, Lilia?”

Lilia’s shoulders slumped, and she let out a frustrated groan. ”Don’t ask. I messed up. I studied all day and night for it and yet... Screw it. I don’t want to study anymore.”

Xavier raised a brow, leaning against the wall. ”So what do you want to do, then? What do you want to become in the future?”

That question landed harder than Lilia expected. She blinked, wide-eyed, then quickly looked away, a faint pink blush creeping into her cheeks. ”I... don’t know.”

Xavier tilted his head, amused at her fluster, but before he could press, Lyra waved her arms. ”Forget that! What’s in the box?”

Xavier’s grin widened. ”Ah, that? Brought it back just for you, Lyra. Some good food. You’ll love it.”

Her eyes sparkled instantly. ”I knew it!” She practically bounced to the counter, flipped the lid open—only to freeze. Instead of food, the dull, meteor-scarred slate sat inside, glowing faintly.

Her jaw dropped. ”The hell is this?!” She grabbed it as if to chuck it straight at Xavier’s head.

He dodged back, laughing. ”Easy! Don’t break it. That thing’s worth more than your stomach.”

”You tricked me!” Lyra stomped her foot, but Xavier just leaned on the wall, smirking.

”Relax. It’s something Bull gave to the Beastland along with the goddess fragment. They finally sent it over. Do you recognize it or maybe know what it is?”

Lyra narrowed her eyes, set the slate back on the counter, and leaned in closer. Her fingers traced the faint inscriptions. ”...It’s just a memory rock.”

Lilia blinked. ”A what?”

Lyra tapped it with her nail. ”Basically, a stone that stores records—knowledge, voices, maybe even visions if it’s intact enough. Old civilizations used them instead of books.”

Xavier crossed his arms, intrigued. ”So you’re saying this thing’s like a... cosmic diary?”

Lyra shrugged. ”Sort of. But whatever’s inside... might not be something you’ll like.”

Xavier’s smirk faded just a little, his eyes narrowing on the slate. ”Good. I like things people don’t like.”