Primordial Heir: Nine Stars

Khione’s pseudo-domain had evolved. Her original Frozen World was no longer just a field of cold. It was a space where she could unmake anything, reduce matter to its simplest components. It drained her, yes. But she would grow stronger. She would learn to sustain it longer, to use it more efficiently.

She looked at the frozen corpses, at the shattered totems, at the ice phoenix’s fading light. She couldn’t help but smile, time to return and rest before meeting him, soon she would reach the next realm and be closer to him.

The afternoon had softened into early evening, the sun low and golden. Nero walked toward his dorm, hands in his pockets, thoughts drifting. The silence with Lux had been good. The whiskey still warmed his chest. He was looking forward to seeing Khione later.

Then footsteps behind him.

”Nero.”

He turned. Lux stood a few paces back, his hands in his jacket pockets, his expression unreadable.

”I thought you were heading to your room,” Nero said.

”I was.” Lux paused. ”Then I thought. We didn’t really finish at the arcade.”

”We drew.”

”A draw isn’t a finish.” Lux’s lips twitched. ”One more hour. Winner takes all.”

Nero checked his phone. Khione would not be ready for another hour and a half. He had time. He looked at Lux, at the familiar challenge in his eyes, and nodded.

”One hour.”

They walked back to the arcade.

The neon lights were brighter now against the deepening twilight. The same machines hummed and beeped. A few more people had arrived, but the place was not crowded. Lux led Nero to a row of racing games, side-by-side seats with steering wheels and pedals.

”First to five wins,” Lux said, sliding into the left seat.

Nero took the right. ”Fine.”

The screens flashed. Countdown. Three. Two. One.

Their cars shot forward.

The track was a mountain course, narrow roads, sharp turns, sheer drops. Lux took the lead early, his car hugging the curves. Nero stayed close, waiting for a mistake. It did not come. Lux’s driving was smooth, confident. He knew this track.

Lap two. Nero pushed harder, taking risks, cutting corners. His tires screeched. He pulled alongside Lux, then ahead. The finish line approached. Lux’s car tapped Nero’s rear fender, sending him into a spin. Lux crossed first.

”One-zero,” Lux said, not looking away from the screen.

Nero said nothing. He reset, gripped the wheel.

The second race was different. Nero chose a city track, tight streets, traffic. He had always been better at urban courses. He weaved between cars, took shortcuts through alleys, and crossed the finish line a full three seconds ahead.

”One-one.”

They played a third race, a desert track with long straightaways. Lux’s car was faster in open spaces. He won by a nose. Two-one.

Fourth race, a night course with rain. Nero’s headlights cut through the spray. He drifted through corners, kept his speed steady. Lux spun out on a puddle. Two-two.

Fifth race, tiebreaker. Random track. The screen chose a snow-covered mountain. Nero took an early lead, but Lux caught him on the final straight. They crossed the line together. The game declared it a tie.

”Again,” Lux said.

They played three more races. Lux won two. Nero won one. The final score was four wins for Lux, three for Nero. Lux’s jaw was set. He was not gloating. He was focused.

”Next game,” he said, rising from the seat.

They moved to a fighting game, two joysticks, eight buttons each. They had played this before, years ago, in the academy’s common room. Lux had always been better. Tonight, he was better still. His combos were precise, his counters instant. Nero won one round. Lux won the match.

”Darts,” Lux said.

They found a digital dartboard, soft-tip darts. The machine tracked scores automatically. Lux threw first—triple twenty, triple twenty, bullseye. Nero threw—single twenty, triple nineteen, bullseye. Lux won.

”Basketball,” Nero said.

The hoop was small, the ball foam. They stood side by side, shooting. Nero’s rhythm was smooth, his arc high. Lux’s was faster, less accurate. Nero made twelve. Lux made nine.

”One for me,” Nero said.

”Still down overall.”

They played air hockey. The table was small, the puck fast. Lux scored first. Nero answered. Lux scored again. Nero tied. The final minute was frantic, the puck bouncing between paddles. Lux slipped it past Nero’s defense with three seconds left. He won.

”Skee-ball,” Nero said.

They rolled balls up the ramp, aiming for the high-scoring rings. Lux was methodical, each roll the same. Nero was looser, varying his speed. Lux’s consistency won. 380 to 350.

”Pinball,” Lux said.

The machine was old, its lights flickering. They took turns, single ball each. Lux’s ball bounced between bumpers, racking up points. Nero’s ball went straight down the middle. Lux won.

Nero leaned against the machine, breathing hard. Sweat dotted his forehead. He was not used to losing. But he was not angry. He was enjoying himself.

Lux was smiling—a real smile, not his usual grin. ”You’re off your game.”

”I’m thinking about other things.”

”Khione.”

Nero did not answer.

Lux clapped him on the shoulder. ”That’s not an excuse. But I’ll take the win.”

They walked to the redemption counter, traded their tickets for small prizes—Lux a plastic ring, Nero a tiny stuffed bear. They stood outside the arcade, the evening cool around them.

”Thanks,” Lux said.

”For what?”

”For this. For not being weird about it. For just... being a friend.”

Nero looked at him. They had known each other for years, fought together, bled together. But moments like this—quiet, ordinary, human—were rare. He realized he treasured them.

”Same,” Nero said.

They clasped hands, brief and firm. Then Lux turned and walked toward his dorm, his footsteps light. Nero watched him go, then looked at the tiny bear in his hand. He would give it to Khione later.

He walked toward his own room, the evening settling around him. The arcade lights dimmed behind him. The sounds faded.

The hour and a half had passed. It was time to meet his woman. But the time with his friend had been exactly what he needed.

’’I miss you so much Khione.’’, now he thought about after coming at the academy he had started to slowly change, little bit a little he was coming to understand his mother’s intention, he was glad he had followed her wish. The adventurer had just begun.