Lore

The Annual War Games are an international tournament event founded in 160 AF, organized jointly by the Santerran Federation and the Waerrani as part of the Waerrani-Federation political alignment that followed the Zet bombing crisis. The Games are an annual competition (in practice, near-annual; the schedule has shifted multiple times due to scandal or rules revision) in which any participating nation may field teams of various sizes across multiple categories of combat and survival challenges. Public viewership is enormous, and the prize structure has made the Games a major secondary economy in its own right.

The first Games were swept by the Santerran Federation, whose roster of Hadi Enterprises-modified participants outclassed every other nation. Subsequent Games have been more contested, but the Federation has remained the consistent front-runner.

## Notable Games

- **1st (160 AF):** Federation sweep with Idris-modified participants. Hadi Enterprises does not appear on the broadcast, but the connection is widely understood among the Santerran elite. - **5th (~164 AF):** Marred by controversy after the Federation roster was discovered to contain participants who were wanted criminals in other nations. The bylaws every participating nation had agreed to permitted it; the Games' legitimacy took a public hit but the Federation was not disqualified. - **6th (~165 AF):** Swept by the small island nation of Napoli, who won every event without killing a single opponent. The committee subsequently amended the rules to discourage, but not detrimentally punish, killing during the Games. - **18th (~177 AF):** Established the precedent that intentional killing during the Games is treated as a de facto declaration of opposition between the participants' nations. After the 18th, killing carries diplomatic cost outside the arena. - **20th (181-182 AF):** The most politically explosive Games on record. A Federation participant tore the wings off a Regulus team member during a maintenance-bay ambush; an unsanctioned new-nation declaration was broadcast on the public feed; multiple nations forfeited mid-event; and the surviving combatants of one team were taken into Napolian custody. The fallout reshaped the geopolitical map for the following decade.

## Underlying Function

The Games' stated purpose is to channel inter-nation military competition into a single sanctioned forum. The Waerrani's private rationale is that the Games provide a regulated, internationally observed venue where Federation military behavior can be watched in real time by nations that would otherwise have no comparable visibility. Participating nations broadly understand this dual function. They participate anyway, because the alternative — non-participation — is treated by the Federation as a hostile signal.

Following a reconciliation with Kiriko, Aries Villanite learns that his former companion Robin had died of illness. Kiriko had been tracking Robin for years but withheld the information until Robin's death made disclosure unavoidable. Aries and Kiriko travel to Zet to attend the funeral. During the event, a Zetian nobleman repeatedly directs racist remarks at Aries, who ignores them throughout the ceremony. At the subsequent ball, Aries steps onto a balcony and encounters nine-year-old Elizabeth Garnet, Robin's daughter. Robin had used Myst during pregnancy to suppress Aries' DNA, allowing Elizabeth to appear fully human. Elizabeth possesses Robin's green eyes and carries a gold lighter she inherited from her mother, a lighter Robin had habitually stolen from Aries. Their silent exchange is interrupted when the racist nobleman makes derogatory comments about Aries speaking with Elizabeth. Aries confronts the man, clarifying he is not Waerrani, and identifies himself as a Beast before transforming and killing the man. The ball descends into panic. Aries and Kiriko subsequently suppress the incident using blackmail material on corrupt officials present and memories extracted from the deceased. Elizabeth, deeply affected by the encounter, becomes an obsessive researcher of the Golden Beast urban legend. Four years later, upon learning that Aries is Emperor of the newly formed Empire of Avinadal and is connected to the Golden Beast, she enrolls in Avinadal's Political Sciences and Religious Studies Academies.

Aries Villanite is born in a secret laboratory beneath the HEMPP facility, the product of an experiment involving his mother Mariyan and Waerrani politician Tulian Mercusi, whose genetic code was selected by Hadi Enterprises. Children in the facility were deceived into believing they lived in space, making escape seem fatal. Aries demonstrated an exceptionally high Malei tolerance and was paired with a frail girl named Persephone (Piper) to help stabilize her Malei exposure. Unknown to Aries, he killed Piper during an experiment, consuming her heart. Years later, researchers deliberately pushed Aries and his close companion Kiriko beyond their limits in a Malei-saturated sparring chamber; Aries killed and partially devoured Kiriko, an act linked to his accelerated healing. Both deaths were concealed from him. His mother Mariyan died following a difficult pregnancy, but not before directing Aries to a hidden data drive revealing his origins and the truth about both deaths. Upon learning he was responsible, Aries confronted and killed nurse Melinda Myers, acquiring her memories by consuming her heart. He then gave the data drive to his companion Lueria, declared his love for her, and launched a massacre through the facility. He destroyed the facility's Maleidic Core, absorbing its stored Malei energy and transforming into a Maleidic Beast, killing staff and uninvolved civilians before escaping. Lueria escaped independently. In response, Edith severed ties with Idris and coerced Amelie and Augustus into conceiving a child, resulting in Augustus's exile.

During years 183-184 AF, Aries Villanite was actively testing his suit's new capabilities through bounty hunting and mercenary contracts. On one such job, he and his companion Ulmina encountered Lalith, a skilled young mechanic who had been sold into servitude by his indebted father and was being exploited by a local gang. Recognizing Lalith's potential, Aries abandoned his contract and dismantled the gang, freeing Lalith and other captive workers. During the confrontation, Lalith charged the gang leader independently and lost his right arm. Aries pushed his suit to near-transformation limits to intervene. With Lalith bleeding out, Ulmina advised that Aries' blood could either heal or kill the boy. Aries acted without hesitation, applying his blood directly to the wound. After a violent convulsive reaction, Lalith stabilized and was transported with the other freed prisoners to a hospital. Tamica, contacted by Aries, arrived and reprimanded him for the unsanctioned use of his blood. She subsequently enlisted Trance to engineer a prosthetic arm compatible with Aries' DNA. Lalith awoke with the prosthetic, gold-colored eyes, and dark pigmentation around his eyes, indicating Aries' blood had altered his physiology at a vascular or neural level. Trance, impressed by Lalith's engineering aptitude, offered him employment at Ensconce Technologies and housing. Lalith informally adopted Trance as a mother figure and Aries as a father figure. Separately, public social media speculation about a black-and-gold creature connected to the gang incident circulated, though mainstream news avoided the subject.

During years 183-184 AF, Aries Villanite was actively taking bounty hunting and mercenary contracts to test his suit's evolving capabilities. On one such job, he encountered Lalith, a young mechanic who had been sold into servitude by his indebted father and was being exploited by a local gang. Recognizing Lalith's potential alongside Ulmina, Aries abandoned his contract and dismantled the gang, freeing Lalith and other captive workers. During the confrontation, Lalith charged the gang leader independently and lost his right arm. Aries, witnessing this, pushed his suit to near-transformation limits to intervene. With Lalith bleeding out, Ulmina advised that Aries' blood could either heal or kill the boy. Aries acted without hesitation, applying his blood directly to the wound. After a violent convulsive episode, Lalith stabilized and was transported with the other freed prisoners to a hospital. Tamica, contacted by Aries, arrived and reprimanded him for the unsanctioned use of his blood. She subsequently enlisted Trance to engineer a prosthetic arm compatible with Aries' DNA. Lalith awoke with the prosthetic, gold-colored eyes, and dark pigmentation around his eyes—physical markers indicating Aries' blood had altered his physiology at a vascular or neural level. Trance, impressed by Lalith's engineering aptitude, offered him employment at Ensconce Technologies and housing. Lalith informally adopted Trance as a mother figure and Aries as a father figure. Separately, public social media speculation about a black-and-gold creature connected to the gang incident circulated, though mainstream news avoided the subject.

During years 183–184 AF, Aries Villanite was actively testing his suit's new capabilities through bounty hunting and mercenary contracts. On one such job, he encountered Lalith, a skilled young mechanic who had been sold to a local gang by his indebted father and forced into labor alongside other victims. Recognizing Lalith's potential, Aries and his companion Ulmina abandoned the original contract and dismantled the gang, freeing all captives. During the confrontation, Lalith charged the gang leader impulsively and lost his right arm. Aries pushed his suit to near-transformation limits to intervene. With Lalith bleeding out, Ulmina advised that Aries' blood might either heal or kill the boy. Aries acted without hesitation, applying his blood directly to the wound. After a violent seizure, Lalith stabilized and was transported with the other freed prisoners to a hospital. Aries' associate Tamica reprimanded him for the unsanctioned use of his blood. Tamica and engineer Trance collaborated to develop a prosthetic arm compatible with Aries' DNA. Lalith awoke with the prosthetic, gold-colored eyes, and dark pigmentation around his eyes—physical markers indicating Aries' blood had altered his vascular or neural tissue. Trance, impressed by Lalith's engineering aptitude, offered him employment at her company Ensconce Technologies and housing. Lalith subsequently adopted Trance and Aries as parental figures. Separately, public social media speculation grew around sightings of a black and gold creature linked to the gang incident, though mainstream news avoided the subject.

A Plasidian delegation arrived unannounced at VTC HQ requesting Aries Villanite by name. The group comprised Augustus Markov, Vynisian Atril (Crowned Prince of Atril), and Katalyn Atrilmed, Vynisian's primary handler, accompanied by guards. Talia Hekata attended as Aries' consultant. Katalyn deliberately allowed Aries to believe Vynisian was a woman, framing it as a test of character; Aries passed by handling the correction with humor and genuine respect, offering to follow Vynisian's lead on preferred address. The incident established an early rapport between Aries and Vynisian. The delegation's core purpose was to solicit outside assistance against Edith Markov, empress of Markovia, who was preparing a ritual to absorb all Plasidian memories into a single host body — her own granddaughter, held in stasis — and transfer her consciousness into it to seize control of Plasid. Vynisian had built what alliances he could on the island but required external support. Katalyn openly disclosed her opposition to Atril's involvement, identifying herself as an Atrilian Nationalist who considered the conflict Markovia's problem. Augustus, a former Markovian Nationalist in exile, could not contradict her. Aries declined to commit during the meeting, requesting a day to consider. After the delegation departed, Talia warned Aries not to dismiss Katalyn's political positions because of her levity, noting that her nationalism, her loyalty to Vynisian, and her flirtation were all equally sincere and deliberate. Aries departed for Plasid two days later, with Augustus accompanying him.

Aries Villanite is born in late 160 AF inside a secret underground laboratory beneath the HEMPP facility on Anili Island, the product of an engineered union between an experimental subject named Mariyan and a Waerrani politician, Tulian Mercusi, selected for his genetic profile. The children in the facility are deceived into believing they live in space, making escape seem fatal. Aries is subjected to ongoing experimentation alongside peers, including Persephone Markov (known as Piper), brought in at age three by Idris Hadi at the request of her grandmother Edith Markov, and Kiriko Kuransagi, a highly capable fighter. Aries forms deep bonds with both, but is repeatedly separated from them without explanation. Unknown to him, he killed both during Malei-fueled experimental sessions, consuming portions of their bodies. His mother Mariyan concealed this and doctored his paternity records before her death in childbirth complications. Upon discovering a hidden data drive left by Mariyan, Aries learns the facility is terrestrial, uncovers his engineered origins, and watches recordings of himself killing Piper and Kiriko. He also acquires memories from their perspectives. Confronting nurse Melinda Myers, who had knowledge of the experiments, Aries kills and consumes her. He then instructs his remaining companion Lueria to flee with the data drive, tells her he loves her, and initiates a killing spree throughout the facility, releasing his full Maleidic capabilities.

Aries Villanite is born in late 160 AF inside a secret underground laboratory beneath the HEMPP facility on Anili Island, part of Idris Hadi's enhancement program. Children in the facility are deceived into believing they live in space, making escape seem fatal. Aries is raised by his mother Mariyan, a facility subject herself, and undergoes continuous experimentation alongside other children. His accelerated aging creates a persistent psychological complex around lost childhood. His closest early companions are Persephone Markov, known as Piper, and later Kiriko Kuransagi and Lueria. Unknown to Aries, he killed both Piper and Kiriko during Malei-induced experimental episodes — consuming their hearts and bodies respectively — with staff suppressing all memory of these events. Mariyan dies following a difficult pregnancy, but not before directing Aries to a hidden data drive. The drive reveals his engineered origins, the facility's true location, and the fates of Piper and Kiriko. The paternity records on the drive are falsified by Mariyan to protect a secret she dies concealing. Upon recovering memories through visions linked to his victims, Aries confronts and kills nurse Melinda Myers, acquiring her memories through consumption. He then gives Lueria the data drive, instructs her to hide, and initiates a killing spree throughout the facility, releasing the full extent of his Maleidic capabilities. Separately, Persephone's removal from the Markov family by Edith Markov causes Augustus Markov to permanently sever ties with the Markov throne and drives Amelie Markov into prolonged depression.

Between 179 and 181 AF, Aries Villanite conducted a systematic revenge campaign following the murder of Kanin. By consuming his victims, Aries absorbed memories that traced the kill order to Natalia Flynn, mother of Robin Flynn. Aries kidnapped Natalia, tortured her in a private chamber, and killed her by eating her heart while using Maleidic medical knowledge to prolong her life. From her memories and those of consumed scientists, Aries learned that Tulian Mercusi, mayor of Desian City, was the dominant criminal power across the islands of Desian, Kerbas, and Anili, and also the biological father of Aries, having provided DNA used to impregnate Aries' mother through a Hadi Enterprises arrangement. Tulian had risen to power through corrupt Hadi Enterprises funding. Aries spent approximately a year infiltrating political and criminal networks, methodically dismantling Tulian's power base. He ultimately forced Tulian to witness the murder of his family, the burning of his estate, and the public exposure of his corruption before surrendering to authorities without resistance. Aries was sentenced to the newly opened Hadi Enterprises Criminal Reformation Center, a result he appeared to anticipate. Separately, detective Michael Garnet investigated Natalia's death and encountered Robin Flynn. Robin initially seduced Garnet to protect Aries, but later genuinely fell in love with him. After Aries' arrest, Robin left Santer for Zet with Garnet, eventually having a daughter named Elizabeth, to whom she passed reverence for Aries.

Following the HEMPP power plant explosion, fifteen-year-old Aries Villanite wakes in a field on Anili Island. The incident is officially classified as industrial terrorism by the Public Data Trust, suppressing rumors of a monster. Aries, now carrying the absorbed memories and voices of those he consumed—including Piper and Kiriko—struggles with acute self-loathing and a perceived lack of empathy, exacerbating his existing mental disorders. Attempting to leave Anili for Kerbas Island, he is aided by Kanin, who pays his passage. Kanin believes Aries' account entirely and advises discretion. The two part ways on Kerbas, but the encounter catalyzes Aries' stabilization. He settles in Palin City, taking work with local gangs and developing a charismatic persona built from absorbed memories. He meets Robin Flynn, a member of the Palin City Mafia, after intervening in an assault against her. Their relationship develops from reluctant acquaintance to romantic partnership. When Robin is assaulted by the don of the rival Eiston Family and abandoned by her mother, Aries infiltrates the estate, allows himself to be tortured, and kills the don and several underlings using his Beast Form. Kanin subsequently recruits both into an operation dismantling violent gangs across Kerbas Island. The three operate for roughly two years, gaining a positive reputation. The partnership ends when Robin is abducted; Aries' uncontrolled Beast Form during her rescue terrifies her, and she rejects him. Aries returns home to find Kanin's severed head. Concurrently in Markovia, Edith Markov forces her children Amelie and Augustus to conceive. Enyxia Markov is born in 177 AF and immediately placed in stasis as Edith's future vessel.

Following the HEMPP power plant explosion, fifteen-year-old Aries Villanite wakes alone on Anili Island. The incident is officially classified as industrial terrorism by the Public Data Trust, suppressing rumors of a secret lab and monster sightings. Aries wanders the cities, overwhelmed by the absorbed memories and voices of those he consumed, including Piper and Kiriko. His mental disorders intensify as he conflates self-blame with a perceived lack of empathy, deepening his self-loathing. He meets Kanin while attempting to cross to Kerbas Island without funds; Kanin pays his passage and believes Aries' extraordinary account without question. Kanin advises Aries to withhold his story publicly until he understands himself better. Though Kanin offers continued companionship, Aries declines, unwilling to misrepresent himself. In Palin City, Aries takes work with local gangs and meets Robin Flynn, a member of the Palin City Mafia. After intervening in an assault on Robin and later avenging her abuse at the hands of the Eiston Family don by entering Beast Form and killing him and several underlings, Aries, Robin, and the returning Kanin form a small anti-gang team operating across Kerbas Island for roughly two years. Aries and Kanin develop an exceptionally close bond. The partnership ends when Robin is abducted; Aries loses control of his Beast Form during her rescue, terrifying her. She rejects him in panic, and he retreats. He returns home to find Kanin's severed head. Concurrently in Markovia, Edith Markov forces her children Amelie and Augustus to conceive a new vessel. Enyxia Markov is born in 177 AF and immediately placed in stasis for Edith's long-term possession project. Augustus is publicly exiled and disowned.

Following the power plant incident on Anili island, Aries Villanite wakes in a field and spends days wandering cities plagued by power failures. He is haunted by the absorbed memories and voices of those he consumed, including Maggi and Kiriko, which exacerbates his mental disorders and deepens his self-loathing and perceived lack of empathy. Unable to afford naval passage to Kerbas island, he is aided by Kanin, a blond-haired, green-eyed man who pays his fare. Kanin believes Aries' extraordinary account without question and advises him to withhold his story until he better understands himself. Aries declines Kanin's offer to travel together, citing uncertainty about his own identity, but their brief connection catalyzes his decision to settle in Palin City on Kerbas island. There, Aries takes work with local gangs and develops a charismatic persona built from absorbed memories. He meets Robin Flynn, a member of the Palin City Mafia, after intervening in an assault against her. The two form a close bond, and when Robin is victimized by the Eiston Family don, Aries infiltrates the estate, allows himself to be captured and tortured, then kills the don and several underlings using his Beast Form. Kanin later recruits Aries and Robin into a team dismantling violent gangs across Kerbas island. Aries and Kanin become exceptionally close friends. The partnership ends when Robin is abducted and Aries, losing control of his Beast Form during her rescue, terrifies her with uncontrolled Malei energy. Robin flees from him. Aries returns home to find Kanin's severed head delivered to his door. Separately, in year 177 AF, Enyxia Markov is born and immediately placed in stasis by Edith Markov, who intends her as a future vessel.

Atrilian Nationalism is a political position held within the Kingdom of Atril and, more broadly, across the noble and oath houses that have historically served the Atril throne. Its adherents maintain that Atril's labor, military strength, and political capital are owed to Atril first and should not be spent resolving problems originating outside Plasid — most pointedly, problems originating in Markovia.

The ideology emerged gradually across the centuries that the Markov line consolidated power over the central continents. It was, for much of that history, a quiet position held by court advisors and oath houses but rarely surfaced publicly. The coalition Crowned Prince Vynisian Atril initiated against Empress Edith Markov in the early 190s AF — explicitly framed as a Plasidian response to a Markovian threat — pushed the position to greater visibility. Many Atrilian Nationalists supported Vynisian's coalition pragmatically, understanding that Edith's ritual would have ended Plasid as a culture, but objected on principle to Atril's lead role in the response.

The most prominent named adherent in the present record is Katalyn Atrilmed, primary handler to Vynisian and senior member of House Atrilmed. Her position is illustrative of the ideology's complexity: she opposes Vynisian's foreign commitments openly but serves him without reservation, because the oath of Atrilmed is to the throne of Atril, not to the policies of its holder.

The movement is not monolithic. The mainstream — the position held by Katalyn Atrilmed, House Atrilmed, and most of the long-standing oath houses — opposes Plasidian foreign commitments on principle but accepts the throne's decisions with discipline. The mainstream is loyal to Atril through the throne. It does not work against the throne even when it disagrees with the throne's choices.

A more radical wing exists, located primarily in a small cluster of younger noble houses. The radicals hold that Atril's interests outweigh the throne's legitimacy when the throne is making decisions that harm Atril. During the Plasid campaign of 190-193 AF, this wing was responsible for a multi-year program of slow poisoning of Vynisian Atril's father, the reigning king — engineered to force a regency that would recall Vynisian from the coalition and install an Atril-First throne. The radicals cultivated a narrative, patiently and carefully, designed to land with the mainstream oath houses and through them with Katalyn Atrilmed herself: the framing was that the coalition's logistical demands on Atril, not the radicals' poisoning of the king, were responsible for the kingdom's accelerating decline.

Katalyn accepted the framing. The full consequence is documented in Atril First. A subsequent investigation exposed the radical operation; the houses involved lost their standing; House Atrilmed and the broader mainstream were vindicated as having acted in good faith on bad information. The mainstream's position on the ideology was, if anything, strengthened by the episode — many adherents now actively distinguish themselves from the radical wing by name.

Atrilian Nationalists in the mainstream did not interfere with Aries Villanite's campaign on Plasid beyond the Katalyn incident. They have, in the years since Avinadal's founding, maintained quiet pressure on Vynisian's seat on the Plasidian Triumvirate to ensure that Atril's voice in imperial decisions is not diluted by Markovian or Yawlin concerns.

A term used in reference to humanoid races that share physical qualities with animals. In some countries, Beastfolk were considered lesser citizens for many years and treated as slaves.

A term used in reference to humanoid races that share physical qualities with animals. In some countries, Beastfolk were considered lesser citizens for many years and treated as slaves.

A humanoid, hermaphroditic race with metallic red horns, bright red hair, red eyes, and snow white skin. Crimson Horns are generally effeminate presenting, with the most masculine members generally looking more like tomboys or femboys. Crimson Horns are often observed to be particularly capable with Myst.

A humanoid, hermaphroditic race with metallic red horns, bright red hair, red eyes, and snow white skin. Crimson Horns are generally effeminate presenting, with the most masculine members generally looking more like tomboys or femboys. Crimson Horns are often observed to be particularly capable with Myst.

Dr. Octavia Rousseau discovered Maleidic Radiation while surveying anomalous energy readings on Anili Island, where she unearthed an ancient sword buried within a mountain. Her experimental instruments detected an unknown energy emanating from the sword. To safely harness it, Rousseau developed a prototype glass orb designed to contain and refine the radiation for external processing. Seeking a trusted collaborator, she used her FIST credentials to review scientific profiles and selected Dr. Idris Hadi, a scientist previously involved in the discovery of Myst. After revealing her prototype during their meeting, Idris attacked Rousseau, rendering her unconscious. He subsequently smashed the orb, causing the sword to reject him and trigger an explosion that transported him to the Maleidic realm, where he devoured a manifestation of Rousseau, absorbing her memories and knowledge. Upon returning to the material realm, Idris's eyes became gold and glowing. Using Rousseau's stolen knowledge, he stabilized the radiation and developed the foundational technology for the Hadi Enterprises Maleidic Power Plant (HEMPP). Idris cultivated powerful connections across industries interested in Malei's energy and mutational properties. One such connection was Edith Markov, Queen of the Plasidian kingdom of Markov, whose exceptional Myst abilities were waning. Believing Malei could restore her power through a new vessel, Edith arranged for Idris to take her granddaughter, Persephone Avinadalia Markov, born in 159 AF, to be raised as that vessel. Persephone's birth was concealed from the public under the false claim of stillbirth.

DNA Binding is the in-universe term for the cumulative biological effect of sustained exposure to Aries Villanite's genetic material on a recipient organism. The exposure pathways recognized in canon are sexual contact, blood transfusion, prolonged physical proximity, and shared biological proximity through pregnancy.

The effect is progressive. Limited exposures produce limited responses; sustained exposure across months or years progressively rewrites recipient biology — stabilizing mutations, repairing damage, restoring or augmenting reproductive function, increasing Maleidic tolerance, and in some cases producing surface-level phenotypic shifts (color of eyes, vein pigmentation, scale pattern, etc.). The effect appears to be permanent once it has progressed past a threshold the Avinadal medical staff has not yet been able to fix in numeric terms.

**Distinction from one-shot transfusion stabilization.** Aries' blood, given in a single concentrated transfusion, has produced rapid and dramatic stabilization in damaged recipients on multiple occasions. Lalith Villanite (Year 183-184 AF (The One-Armed Boy)) received a single transfusion that healed a fatal injury, integrated with the Maleidic component of his nervous system, and turned his eyes gold. Arielle and Aurelia Villanite (Year 181-182 AF (Jailbird)) were both stabilized from broken Hadi-experimental states into coherent adult forms via single transfusions. The Nesuresian woman freed from the Harkulian slave quarter (Year 190-193 AF (Building an Empire)) was stabilized similarly.

DNA Binding is the *cumulative* form of the same underlying mechanism, operating not through a single dose but through repeated low-grade exposure across long periods. The clinical signature is slower, gentler, and more comprehensive: rather than fixing one acute condition, it integrates the recipient's full biology with Aries' across the entire system.

The most clearly documented case of cumulative binding to date is Rosalynia Yawlinitik, whose adolescent infertility — caused by forced procedures her father authorized — gradually resolved during her sustained intimacy with Aries across the Plasid campaign. The result was confirmed by Alexandria Zeru during an unrelated medical workup and rerun under controlled conditions. Rosalynia's renewed fertility is the biological foundation of the d'Villanite Bloodline's hereditary line.

The mechanism is not currently understood at the molecular level. Alexandria's working hypothesis is that the combined Maleidic and Mystic signatures Aries carries, layered over his engineered hybrid genome, allow recipient tissue to use his DNA as a stable reference template — slowly correcting toward it across replication cycles. The hypothesis remains unproven. No other individual in Avinadal medical record produces this effect.

The binding has limits. It has never been observed to override the recipient's species-level reproductive constraints. **Plasidian males cannot bear children**, and DNA Binding has not changed this for Vynisian Atril or any other Plasidian male in or near the d'Villanite house.

The d'Villanite Bloodline is the hereditary servant-house of Aries Villanite. It was founded by Rosalynia Yawlinitik and Vynisian Atril late in the Plasid campaign of 190-193 AF and was formalized privately shortly before the Avinadal Empire was announced. The bloodline exists explicitly to serve Aries: to surround him, to guard him, to anticipate him, to love him correctly across generations.

The d'Villanite house is distinct from the Imperial Villanite line. The Imperial line runs through Aries and Empress Enyxia Markov to their daughter Reilalia Villanite and forward from there. The d'Villanite line is a parallel, subordinate house — its members serve the Imperial line and are not in line for imperial succession. Children of the d'Villanite house take `d'Villanite` as their primary surname.

The house is **both hereditary and adoptive.** Rosalynia and Vynisian recruit adult members from across the empire and beyond — Plasidians, Hav, Nesuresians, and others — judged for emotional and visual compatibility with Aries. The founders are deliberate on the point that no single phenotype could match Aries' tastes, which they describe (charitably) as vast. Adopted members take the d'Villanite surname formally upon admission to the house. Hereditary members are born into it.

**Aries himself is not a genetic father in the d'Villanite line.** His role is the **sacred binding agent**: prolonged exposure to his DNA (sexual, social, biological proximity) is what restored Rosalynia's fertility after a lifetime of damage, and his presence sanctifies the line's reproductive arrangements. He does not father d'Villanite children. He blesses the house by being its center.

The reproductive arrangements of the founding generation are as follows. Rosalynia bears children for both Vynisian and Apollo Regulus. Nyx Regulus bears at least one of Vynisian's children, formally bridging the Regulus genetic line into the d'Villanite house. The Regulus Sanguarchate and the d'Villanite Bloodline are, as of this point, structurally entangled — a circumstance Apollo and Nyx have accepted without objection and Aurelia Villanite Regulus, as Mother of the Regulus Sanguarchate, has endorsed.

The bloodline operates under one explicit Aries-imposed ethical condition: children of the house must be told the truth, in adulthood, about what they were born for. Any of them who choose to walk away from the role must be allowed to walk away without cost. The founders have agreed to it without reservation.

Adult members of the house serve as Aries' Imperial Guard. They direct his security, his retinue, his close attendance, and — in time — the crew of his personal flagship. See DNA Binding for the mechanism that makes the hereditary side of the house viable.

The Eitorian Global Calendar System (EGCS) establishes a standardized calendar for all communication, administration, and record-keeping across Eitoria. EGCS is based on the highly regular pulses of a reference millisecond pulsar, ensuring universal precision and adaptability to other planetary cycles in case the need arises. ## Calendar Structure Year: 12 Months Month: 5 Weeks Week: 6 Days Day: 24 Hours Hour: 60 Minutes Minute: 60 Seconds Second: 1.000 Universal Second. Defined by 1,000,000 pulses of UST-P001.

Occasional leap days are required and often observed as global holidays. ## Timekeeping Basis Reference Pulsar: WCRI-P001; Wearrani Celestial Research Institue Pulsar 001. A pulsar discovered to have a consistent pulsing pattern ideal for time tracking purposes.

One Universal Second = 1,000,000 pulses from this pulsar.

Epoch: EGCS epoch begins at the historical and catastrophic event known as the Fall of the Continent.

## Date & Time Format All official records use a clear, ISO 8601-inspired format, extended for EGCS: Y-M-DTh:m:s EGST

Example: 500-7-22T0:0:0 EGST

Y = Year since epoch M = Month (1–12) D = Day (1–30) T = Time separator h = Hour (0–23) m = Minute (0–59) s = Second (0–59) EGST = Eitorian Global Standard Time ## Weeks & Days Each month has 5 weeks of 6 days.

Days of the week (for universal reference): Primus, Secundus, Tertius, Quartus, Quintus, Sextus ## After the Fall / Before the Fall Years after the founding of the EGCS are often referred to AF while years prior to the founding of the calendar are referred to BF. The "Fall" in this case is referring to the fall of the continent that makes up the Central Islands.

Year 0 is used to refer to the full calendar year between the two eras. AF is represented in ascending numbers while BF is represented in descending numbers as if on a negative/positive number line. Due to a lack of clear records, BF years are estimated as best effort attempts.

The Eitorian Global Calendar System (EGCS) establishes a standardized calendar for all communication, administration, and record-keeping across Eitoria. EGCS is based on the highly regular pulses of a reference millisecond pulsar, ensuring universal precision and adaptability to other planetary cycles in case the need arises. ## Calendar Structure Year: 12 Months Month: 5 Weeks Week: 6 Days Day: 24 Hours Hour: 60 Minutes Minute: 60 Seconds Second: 1.000 Universal Second. Defined by 1,000,000 pulses of UST-P001.

Occasional leap days are required and often observed as global holidays. ## Timekeeping Basis Reference Pulsar: WCRI-P001; Wearrani Celestial Research Institue Pulsar 001. A pulsar discovered to have a consistent pulsing pattern ideal for time tracking purposes.

One Universal Second = 1,000,000 pulses from this pulsar.

Epoch: EGCS epoch begins at the historical and catastrophic event known as the Fall of the Continent.

## Date & Time Format All official records use a clear, ISO 8601-inspired format, extended for EGCS: Y-M-DTh:m:s EGST

Example: 500-7-22T0:0:0 EGST

Y = Year since epoch M = Month (1–12) D = Day (1–30) T = Time separator h = Hour (0–23) m = Minute (0–59) s = Second (0–59) EGST = Eitorian Global Standard Time ## Weeks & Days Each month has 5 weeks of 6 days.

Days of the week (for universal reference): Primus, Secundus, Tertius, Quartus, Quintus, Sextus ## After the Fall / Before the Fall Years after the founding of the EGCS are often referred to AF while years prior to the founding of the calendar are referred to BF. The "Fall" in this case is referring to the fall of the continent that makes up the Central Islands.

Year 0 is used to refer to the full calendar year between the two eras. AF is represented in ascending numbers while BF is represented in descending numbers as if on a negative/positive number line. Due to a lack of clear records, BF years are estimated as best effort attempts.

Natives of the planet of Eitoria. Many people use this term synonymously with Human, but that is generally frowned upon by many non-Human Eitorian cultures these days.

Natives of the planet of Eitoria. Many people use this term synonymously with Human, but that is generally frowned upon by many non-Human Eitorian cultures these days.

A settlement where the crew is operating experiences a wave of mysterious thefts. Everlette Bronson volunteers to lead the investigation, conducting it with complete sincerity — setting traps, developing suspect profiles, and constructing elaborate theories about the unknown criminal. She does not recognize that she is the thief. Her habit of collecting objects she finds shiny or interesting does not register in her cognition as theft; the items simply belong with her. Throughout the arc, she escapes her own traps without awareness, each near-miss reinforcing her theories rather than prompting self-examination. The arc resolves when a bystander's phrasing — asking where everything is rather than who took it — bypasses her interpretive filters. Everlette immediately clarifies that she knows where everything is and assumed the investigation concerned the perpetrator's identity. She then leads the room to her den: a dark, cluttered space shaped like a fox, containing the settlement's entire inventory of stolen goods, organized according to a logic only she understands. This scene serves as the den's canonical introduction as a recurring location. Aries Villanite is present at the discovery; his reaction remains undetermined in the outline. The arc is explicitly designated as comic relief, functioning as a tonal counterweight to darker elements of Everlette's character content. Her unselfconscious sincerity throughout the investigation is central to the comedy.

Early in Everlette Bronson's adjustment to life aboard the ship, her fox instincts destabilize into fully feral behavior — she ignores orders, tests every boundary, and exhausts the crew's patience. As a practical solution, Aries Villanite and Alexandria Zeru engineer a biological override into Everlette's post-Bronson chassis: Aries' saliva is calibrated to act as a fast-onset sedative when it registers against Everlette's system, producing an effect described as somewhere between MDMA and a heavy indica strain. The mechanism is designed for low-grade behavioral control without lethality, functioning as an intimate-range kill-switch that only Aries can deploy. This story documents the first use of the mechanism: Everlette experiencing a severe behavioral episode, Aries cornering and deploying the override, and Everlette's chassis going peaceful upon contact. She wakes several hours later, briefly furious at having been sedated without explicit consent, but quickly internalizes the experience as something she intends to provoke again. The sedative wiring is established as a canonical feature of Everlette's engineered body, a joint decision by Aries and Alexandria. Following this introduction, the mechanism becomes a known tool among the crew, though Aries refuses to delegate its use to anyone else. The story also establishes the somno content window as occurring during the sedated interval.

A facility deploys a new fleet of small autonomous cleaning robots programmed to follow sources of mess and debris. Everlette Bronson, habitually dropping objects and accumulating floor detritus, becomes a primary target of their standard operating routines. Rather than recognizing this as mechanical function, Everlette concludes the robots are conducting a coordinated surveillance operation directed specifically at her. She escalates through successive countermeasures: passive observation of the bots, active evasion routines, and eventually direct accusations that the cleaning system has been confiscating her personal collection of floor sand. The situation resolves without Everlette ever arriving at the mundane explanation. She retains a permanent low-grade grudge against automated cleaning systems and develops a habitual practice of checking room corners for robots before entering any space. The incident produces no significant character development but establishes a recurring texture of Everlette's self-unaware logic and her tendency to interpret impersonal systems as personally motivated adversaries. It is intended to be referenced offhandedly in later stories as background characterization. Tonally, the entry pairs with the Shiny Things storyline, sharing the same comedic register and the same pattern of Everlette constructing elaborate conspiratorial frameworks around ordinary phenomena.

In the primordial era, the supreme being Toriatik created the first Mystics to alleviate his loneliness, beginning with Alifia, the Mystic of Creation. His cruelty toward his creations caused Alifia great suffering, which influenced the birth of her children Havimael (Mystic of Light) and Hadieha (Mystic of Darkness). While Mystics typically created Mysterva — demi-divine beings dependent on their creators — Havimael created the Hav, a self-developing race, and Hadieha secretly created the rapidly evolving Hadien, both violating Toriatik's prohibition on independent growth. This triggered a war among the Mystics. Alifia granted a Hav named Kona Ryu a power called the Nesur, enabling mortals to ascend toward divinity. Kona's Hadien lover Liu Dero began showing signs of divine ascension as a result. Hadieha traced this back to Alifia, tortured her, apparently executed Liu, and planned to use Kona's unborn child — blessed by the Nesur — as a vessel to overthrow Toriatik. Kona fled to Havimael, who hid her on the neutral world Eitoria. During the final battle against Toriatik, Hadieha betrayed Havimael, sealing all Mystics within Eitoria and entering a deep sleep. Liu, who had survived, became the legendary monster known as the Black Devil before being defeated in the region later named Liundero. Kona awoke in Santerris, gave birth to Arkem, clipped his wings, left him at an orphanage, and died. Arkem's clipped wings remained with her.

In the primordial era, the supreme being Toriatik created the first Mystics to alleviate his loneliness, beginning with Alifia, the Mystic of Creation. His cruelty toward his creations caused Alifia great suffering, which influenced the birth of her children Havimael, Mystic of Light, and Hadieha, Mystic of Darkness. While Mystics typically created Mysterva — demi-divine beings tied to their creators' power — Havimael created the Hav, a self-developing race, and settled them on his throne world Hav'En. Hadieha secretly created the rapidly evolving Hadien on his throne world Hadie, violating Toriatik's prohibition on self-directed evolution. This triggered a war among the Mystics. Alifia granted a Hav named Kona Ryu a power called the Nesur, enabling mortals to ascend toward divinity. Kona's Hadien lover Liu Dero began showing signs of divine ascension as a result. Hadieha traced this divinity to Alifia, tortured her, apparently executed Liu, and planned to use Kona's unborn child — blessed by the Nesur — as a vessel to overthrow Toriatik. Kona escaped to Havimael, who hid her on the neutral planet Eitoria. During the final battle against Toriatik, Hadieha betrayed Havimael and sealed all Mystics within Eitoria, retaining residual power before entering deep sleep. Liu, who had survived, became the legendary monster known as the Black Devil before being defeated in the region later named Liundero. Kona awoke in Santerris, gave birth to Arkem, clipped his wings, and died in a forest, leaving him at an orphanage.

The High-Enforcement Correctional and Research Complex (HECRC) is located on Sharbain, a small continent southeast of Anili Island. Upon arrival, Aries Villanite is assigned to the Functional Enhancements: Maleidic Defense and Integration Nanosuit Project (FEMDIN), internally known as the Iron Maiden Project. The project, overseen by engineer Alexandria Zeru under coercion by Idris Hadi, develops a nanomachine mesh suit integrated via a neural implant using Malei-irradiated components. All prior test subjects experienced psychosis, self-harm, or death within six months. Aries proves uniquely compatible, awakening to ULMINA (Universal Logic Matrix for Integration, Navigation, and Assistance), the suit's onboard AI, who develops near-sentience through prolonged neural integration with Aries. The two form a deep bond, with Ulmina redefining her designation acronym as a personal monument to Aries. Unknown to Aries, Idris had been tracking him since his escape from the HEMPP and engineered the FEMDIN project specifically to contain him as Subject V-1774-N1-T3, though Idris was unaware Aries had entered the program. The FEMDIN suit allows Aries selective control over his transformations. Alexandria also reveals the existence of two failed derivative experiments: Shadow, a disfigured stealth creature, and Mother, a maleidic empath whose abilities cause her constant agony. Fellow prisoner Nyx Regulus serves as Mother's caretaker. Aries resolves to rescue both experiments, creating conflict with Alexandria.

The Villanite Trading Company recruited Talia Hekata, a Hornhound dominatrix and sex therapist, as a mental health consultant. After a confrontation in which Aries shifted into beast form, Talia pledged loyalty to him and joined the team with a goal of building a capable imperial staff. Separately, Aries traveled to Plasid after Piper's crystal activated, where he learned of Empress Edith Markov's plan to transfer her consciousness into Enyxia Markov's body using a ritual that would absorb the memories of all Plasidian citizens. Trained in both Myst and Malei by Augustus Markov, Aries allied with Crowned Prince Vinisent Atril and Queen Lynia Yawlin to oppose Edith. The campaign involved liberating slaves in Harkul, surviving military assaults from Edith's forces, and the capture of Augustus and Apollo Regulus. Aries defeated Edith by using Piper's crystal to drive her from Enyxia's body, with Piper's essence expelling Edith before fading. Arielle killed Edith's physical body, trapping her in the Maleidic Realm. Following the victory, Aries and Enyxia founded the Avinadal Empire, named after Piper's middle name Avinadalia. Enyxia became Empress, and a formal imperial hierarchy was established encompassing the Regulus Sanguarchate and Plasidian Triumvirate. Lynia Yawlin and Arielle Villanite joined as High Imperial Consorts. Nyx Regulus and Aurelia Villanite also formed a romantic relationship during this period.

Atrea is adopted and trained by Amerati and Zachariah Regulus during the period 120–50 BF. Though never added to the Regulus Mural, she receives the Black Devil's Spine sword from Zachariah. Amerati and Zachariah disappear before Atrea reaches adulthood. Atrea marries Tyrus Napoli, taking his name. During their travels, the couple discovers an ancient burial site emanating energy similar to the Black Devil's Spine, where Atrea recovers a pair of black wings she converts into a scabbard for the weapon, enabling safer use. Tyrus dies of illness shortly after the birth of their son, Leonidas. Atrea raises Leonidas strictly but kindly, teaching him to wield the Spine with its scabbard using an Iaido-inspired sword style she developed. Atrea dies when Leonidas is approximately sixteen. Leonidas subsequently works as a mercenary and bounty hunter, dedicating himself to liberating enslaved people across the continent. He sacrifices his life to free a large number of slaves. The freed people found the nation of Napoli east of Ryukona in his honor. Napoli grows into a significant political power, renowned for its military academy and naval strength. The lineage traces directly back to the Regulus bloodline through Atrea, connecting Napoli's founding to the broader Regulus legacy.

Atrea is adopted and trained by Amerati and Zachariah Regulus during this period. Though never added to the Regulus Mural, she receives the Black Devil's Spine from Zachariah. Amerati and Zachariah disappear before Atrea reaches adulthood. Atrea marries Tyrus Napoli, taking his name. During their travels, the couple discovers an ancient burial site emanating energy similar to the Spine, where Atrea recovers a pair of black wings she converts into a scabbard for the weapon, enabling safer use. Tyrus dies of illness shortly after the birth of their son, Leonidas. Atrea raises Leonidas strictly but kindly, teaching him to wield the Spine and scabbard together through an Iaido-inspired sword style she developed. Atrea dies when Leonidas is approximately sixteen. Leonidas subsequently works as a mercenary and bounty hunter, dedicating himself to liberating enslaved people across the continent. He ultimately sacrifices his life to free a large number of slaves. The freed individuals found the nation of Napoli east of Ryukona in his honor. Napoli grows into a significant political power, distinguished by its military academy and naval strength. This lineage connects the Regulus bloodline's legacy to the founding of one of the continent's notable nations, with the Black Devil's Spine and its scabbard serving as enduring symbols of that heritage.

Atrea is adopted and trained by Amerati and Zachariah Regulus during the period 120–50 BF. Though never added to the Regulus Mural, she receives the Black Devil's Spine from Zachariah. Amerati and Zachariah disappear before Atrea reaches adulthood. Atrea marries Tyrus Napoli, taking his name. During their travels, the couple discovers an ancient burial site resonating with energy similar to the Spine. There, Atrea recovers a pair of black wings, which she fashions into a scabbard for the Spine, enabling safer use of the weapon. Tyrus dies of illness shortly after the birth of their son, Leonidas. Atrea raises Leonidas strictly but kindly, teaching him to wield the Spine and its scabbard through an Iaido-inspired sword style of her own development. Atrea dies when Leonidas is approximately sixteen. Leonidas subsequently works as a mercenary and bounty hunter, dedicating himself to liberating enslaved people across the continent. He ultimately sacrifices his life to free a large number of slaves. The freed people establish the nation of Napoli to the east of Ryukona in his honor. Napoli grows into a significant political power, distinguished by its military academy and naval strength. The Black Devil's Spine and its scabbard represent a continuous thread of Regulus heritage passed through Atrea's lineage into the founding of an independent nation.

Following a period of instability, Aries Villanite is summoned by Arielle Villanite to a derelict mansion in Napoli, where Apollo Regulus presents him with legal ownership of the newly formed Villanite Trading Company (VTC), a goods-and-services delivery organization. The VTC's founding client list includes the Waerrani Bounty Hunters' Guild, the Napolian Mercenary's Guild, the Regulus Sanguarchate, and Ensconce Technologies, granting it immediate legitimacy despite Napoli's notoriously strict Chamber of Commerce. Apollo manages administration with Arielle's support, while Nyx Regulus assumes leadership of the Regulus Sanguarchate aided by Aurelia Villanite. The mansion serves as both residence and headquarters. Aries initially resists the gesture through self-destructive behavior, culminating in a confrontation with Arielle that leads to a psychological breakthrough and his deeper involvement in VTC operations. He and Apollo develop a close personal relationship. Tamica joins as medical and biotech consultant, and following a long-delayed reconciliation with Kiriko, she joins as engineering and espionage consultant. Attempts to hire Trance Tauling are blocked by Napolian law prohibiting the hiring of executives from non-Napolian international firms. A legal caveat allows the hire if the executive is married to the company owner. Aries proposes marriage to Trance, who accepts, motivated primarily by personal affection for Aries and Lalith rather than professional interest. The marriage is formalized through paperwork only, with no ceremony.

Aries Viliatti, born in Napoli, attended the city's naval academy before a political scandal forced him into piracy under the alias Goldeye. His sister Taivan acquired the Black Devil's Spine, a legendary sword previously wielded only by Leonidas Napoli, from a Napoli museum after pulling it from its scabbard — a feat no one had accomplished since Leonidas. The museum replaced it with a replica at the government's request. The Goldeye Crew became globally known for liberating oppressed nations. At the crew's ally Vaahn's request, they investigated Lianxiang, where they exposed Teishi Suraibu, a scientist and slave trader who had seized control of the island. During the liberation, they encountered Lueria, Teishi's experimentally modified daughter, whom Vaahn subsequently adopted. Vaahn was later murdered by Lueria, who had been mentally corrupted by the ancient blade Saniso and weaponized by the Napoli government, which faked her execution. Goldeye discovered this through Vaahn's journals and mercy-killed Lueria at her lucid request. The journals also revealed a covert world government, linked to the Maleidic Queen Karu, building an army of modified soldiers. After Taivan was killed in a world government attack, Goldeye planned to destroy the Mystic Crystal on Mt. Ani'Le to collapse the Floating Continent and reset civilization. Goldeye and crewmember Shunal instead performed a Rift Key ritual, merging into a Maleidic Beast, killing Karu, and shattering the crystal. The Floating Continent fell, triggering a global apocalyptic reset.

Aries Viliatti, born in Napoli, attended the naval academy before a political scandal forced him into piracy under the alias Goldeye. His sister Taivan acquired the legendary Black Devil's Spine sword from a Napoli museum, being the first person since Leonidas Napoli able to draw it. The Goldeye Crew became globally renowned for liberating oppressed nations. Acting on a tip from Goldeye's noble ally Vaahn, the crew exposed Teishi Suraibu, a scientist and slave trader who had seized the island nation of Lianxiang. During its liberation, they encountered Lueria, Teishi's experimentally modified daughter, whom Vaahn subsequently adopted. Goldeye and Taivan married. Lueria later murdered Vaahn after being secretly weaponized using the ancient blade Saniso by a corrupt Napoli faction. Though publicly executed, Lueria was kept alive as a government weapon. Goldeye discovered Vaahn's journals detailing a covert world government raising armies of modified soldiers, linked to the Maleidic Queen Karu on the Floating Continent. Taivan was killed in a world government attack. Goldeye resolved to destroy the Mystic Crystal on Mt. Ani'Le to collapse the Floating Continent and reset global civilization. Crew member Shunal proposed an alternative using his Rift Key. Together, they traveled to the Floating Continent, performed a ritual merging their powers, and fused into a Maleidic Beast. They killed Karu and shattered the crystal. The Floating Continent fell, triggering a global apocalyptic tidal wave that destroyed existing power structures and forced civilizational reset.

A general term for all non-human races. The term is generally seen as a slur.

A general term for all non-human races. The term is generally seen as a slur.

The Hadi Enterprises Criminal Reformation Center is a maximum-security detention and "rehabilitation" facility on Sharbain, a small continent to the South-East of Anili Island. It is operated by Hadi Enterprises under a Federation contract. The HECRC is publicly framed as a model of progressive incarceration — combining sentencing with vocational training, mental-health care, and (controversially) optional gladiatorial combat as a self-directed pathway to early release.

The facility's most prominent program is the **Functional Enhancements: Maleidic Defense and Integration Nanosuit Project (FEMDIN)**, a research initiative pairing willing inmates with experimental wearable nanomachine suits and an associated neural implant. Inmates colloquially call the project the **Iron Maiden**. Compatibility with the FEMDIN system has been historically rare; subjects who survive integration typically last between three and five months before showing signs of psychosis. Hadi Enterprises has framed each of these failures as a research victory.

The HECRC was the site of a major reactor incident in 181 AF that very nearly destroyed the prison and the surrounding civilian city. The official explanation cited a single psychotic inmate's sabotage; the casualty count includes one Plasidian woman whose Mystic-energy barrier contained the breach long enough to save the city, and who is publicly listed only as a research subject.

The facility remains operational. Its public reputation has weathered the reactor incident largely intact thanks to coordinated coverage from the Public Data Trust.

The ancestors of the Waerrani. They have tan skin, vivid eye colors, bright hair colors, and large feathered wings that come in shades of white, black, brown, or a mix of the three.

The ancestors of the Waerrani. They have tan skin, vivid eye colors, bright hair colors, and large feathered wings that come in shades of white, black, brown, or a mix of the three.

During years 181–182 AF, Aries Villanite is incarcerated at the HECRC on Sharbain and assigned to the Functional Enhancements: Maleidic Defense and Integration Nanosuit Project (FEMDIN), internally called the Iron Maiden Project. The project, overseen by engineer Alexandria Zeru under coercion by Idris Hadi, develops a Malei-irradiated armored nanomachine suit integrated via neural implant. All prior test subjects failed within six months, exhibiting psychosis, self-harm, or implant removal. Upon implantation, Aries makes contact with ULMINA, the suit's onboard AI, whose full designation is ULMINA α9. Ulmina's copy within Aries develops exponentially beyond any prior instance, approaching genuine sentience according to Alexandria's observations. Aries and Ulmina form a deep bond, redefining her designation collaboratively. Idris Hadi personally visits the HECRC and leverages Aries' compliance by revealing that Piper survived the HEMPP explosion and remains in his custody. Idris has been tracking Aries since his escape and had Alexandria unknowingly build the FEMDIN suit specifically to contain Subject V-1774-N1-T3, Aries' assigned identifier. Idris also knows Aries is his biological son, a fact he withholds. Kiriko Kuransagi, heavily cybernetically enhanced, has been covertly surveilling Aries since Anili Island. To maintain FEMDIN access, Aries participates in optional gladiatorial prison fights, strategically staying low-profile. He bonds with Alexandria during check-ups and meets fellow prisoner Nyx Regulus, a Hav woman with distinctive iridescent wings.

A race of anthropomorphic canines with fur in shades of black, gray, and purple.

A race of anthropomorphic canines with fur in shades of black, gray, and purple.

The most common Eitorian race. Basic in appearance.

The most common Eitorian race. Basic in appearance.

Idris Hadi was born in 100 AF; his mother died in childbirth. Raised by an abusive, manipulative father who recognized and exploited Idris's innate talent for reading and influencing people, Idris was deployed as an instrument in cons and gambling schemes from early childhood. The household operated on a single principle: relationships are extraction, and dominance is the only currency. Love was conditional on performance. These formative conditions produced a permanent cognitive framework through which Idris would later process every significant relationship, including those with Mariyan, Octavia Rousseau, Kiriko Kuransagi, and Alexandria Zeru.

Idris killed his father in a deliberate, calculated act—not a crime of passion—intending to escape the pattern while retaining the tools. The method was never recorded; no one knew he had done it. He told inconsistent stories about his father across the years, using the inconsistency itself as camouflage. The killing did not break the conditioning; it gave him practice.

In the years following the patricide, Idris built a legitimate career in lab work and earned a genuine reputation for brilliance. A real alternative path existed. The trajectory changed when his roommate Peter Tursk brought him evidence of Tien Surai's theft of Waerr research. Idris chose to exploit the information rather than act with integrity, internalizing his father's zero-sum worldview. Tursk did not survive the week. This decision initiated the chain of events leading to Hadi Enterprises, the Public Data Trust, the Hadi Enterprises Maleidic Power Plant, large-scale DNA trafficking, and the systematic corruption of the Santerran Federation.

Idris Hadi was born around 100 AF; his mother died in childbirth, leaving him with no maternal model. His father was an abusive, manipulative con artist who identified Idris's talent for reading and manipulating people early and exploited it for gambling schemes and cons. The household operated on conditional approval tied strictly to performance, instilling in Idris a worldview in which relationships are extractive, dominance is the only currency, and camouflage is survival. Before reaching adulthood, Idris killed his father in a cold, premeditated act intended to escape the pattern and inherit the tools without the psychological interference. The killing was never recorded or discovered; Idris told contradictory stories about his father to different people throughout his life. The patricide did not break the conditioning — it reinforced it by providing practice. In the years between the killing and 137 AF, Idris built a legitimate career in lab work and earned a genuine reputation for brilliance, representing a real opportunity to pursue a different path. That window closed when his roommate Peter Tursk presented him with evidence of Tien Surai's theft of Waerr research. Idris chose to exploit the information rather than act with integrity, internalizing his father's zero-sum logic. Tursk did not survive the week. This decision initiated the chain of events leading to Hadi Enterprises, the Public Data Trust, the Hadi Enterprises Maleidic Power Plant, large-scale DNA trafficking, and the systematic corruption of the Santerran Federation. His later relationships with Mariyan, Octavia Rousseau, Kiriko Kuransagi, and Alexandria Zeru were all filtered through the transactional framework established in childhood.

By Year 195 AF and beyond, Idris Hadi's position had deteriorated significantly. Mickail Sidson's dossiers enabled repeated raids on his secret research facilities, Kiriko Kuransagi had defected, and an internal leak from within the Public Data Trust AI — built on fragmented Alexandria Zeru code — was quietly feeding intelligence to his enemies. Unable to identify the source, Idris abandoned his characteristic patience and escalated to open aggression. He deliberately opened Maleidic Realm portals, releasing Maleida entities into inland Santerris to manufacture chaos as cover for his real operation: infiltrating the Avinadal Empire, weaponizing Aries Villanite's own DNA against his people, and systematically destroying those around Aries rather than targeting him directly. Idris also planted a Malei explosive device inside Aries' body, designed to detonate upon Idris' death. Augustus Markov ended the conflict by channeling a massive concentration of Myst energy to crystallize Idris in place, trapping him within the same Malei energy he had spent decades exploiting. Augustus then identified and extracted the bomb from Aries, preventing mass casualties. Idris died without remorse, considering his only failure to be insufficient success. A postscript reveals that a hidden facility contained a female clone — Idris's intended consciousness-transfer vessel — who escaped with surviving experiments and was later integrated into the Avinadal Empire as Aries' sister. Both she and Aries represent the failure of Idris's design to determine outcome, as neither became what he intended.

In the final years before his defeat, Idris Hadi abandoned his characteristic patience and escalated to open warfare. Raids led by Mickail Sidson had dismantled his secret research facilities, Kiriko Kuransagi had defected, and an internal leak from within the Public Data Trust AI — built on fragmented Alexandria Zeru code — was eroding his position. In response, Idris deliberately opened Maleidic Realm portals to release destructive entities into inland Santerris, manufacturing societal chaos as cover for his real operation: infiltrating the Avinadal Empire, weaponizing Aries Villanite's own DNA against his people, and systematically destroying those closest to Aries rather than targeting him directly. Idris also planted a Malei explosive device inside Aries' body, designed to detonate upon Idris' death. Augustus Markov ended the conflict by channeling a massive concentration of Myst energy to crystallize Idris within gold Malei energy — the same substance Idris had stolen from Octavia Rousseau and the Waerr. Augustus then extracted the bomb from Aries himself. Idris died without remorse, considering his only failure to be insufficient success. Years later, a hidden facility revealed a female clone Idris had developed as his intended consciousness-transfer vessel. She escaped with surviving experiments and was eventually integrated into the Avinadal Empire as Aries' sister. Both she and Aries represent the failure of Idris' design to determine outcome, establishing that individuals created as instruments can choose their own paths.

Idris Hadi, a disgraced genius scientist, built his influence through a series of calculated crimes and political manipulations within the Santerran Federation. After being scapegoated for a stolen discovery originally taken from the Waerrani, Idris murdered scientist Octavia to claim her research on converting Malei into energy, using it to found Hadi Enterprises and the Hadi Enterprises Maleidic Power Plant. He embedded himself in the Santerran government and became a founding member of the Public Data Trust, a state-controlled information body used to spread disinformation, including false narratives about Waerrani aggression. Idris coerced the Waerrani into political allegiance by threatening to expose their non-native planetary origins, leading to the establishment of the Annual War Games. His Federation-backed genetic experimentation program, funded through sanctioned trafficking, produced modified War Games participants. Idris fathered Aries through a Waerrani woman named Mariyan, though Mariyan doctored records to conceal this. Years later, Idris manipulated Aries into participating in the FEMDIN project by falsely promising reunion with Piper, then orchestrated Piper's death through Kiriko's manipulation of a prison inmate. During the 20th War Games, Aries publicly declared a fictitious new nation to shield Apollo Regulus from war crime accusations, and Idris confronted the group, revealing both Kiriko's role in Piper's death and his true paternity of Aries. Waerrani politician Mickail Sidson intervened, forcing Idris to stand down.

During years 182-183 AF, Aries Villanite departed Napoli alone to rescue Trance Tauling, a Waerrani-born nanomachine scientist kidnapped and held for ransom by her own company. After freeing her, Trance upgraded and officially renamed the FEMDIN to the Iron Maiden Suit, but encountered an unresolvable submatrix in the suit's logic requiring advanced biomechanical nervous system integration. Trance introduced Aries to bio-engineer Tamica, who agreed to help integrate the submatrix in exchange for experimenting on Aries' DNA. Aries requested a functional second penis as part of the procedure; Tamica agreed, using bioprinting mystech to successfully grow the organ via Aries' biological adaptability. Data from this procedure enabled Tamica, Trance, and Alexandria to develop the Iron Maiden Mk. 2. The upgraded suit comprises three components: synth-chitin claws housing nano-production units that use Aries' blood as raw material; biologically crafted nanobots that form a skin-tight protective suit he can sense as his own skin; and a synthetic-organic neuro-implant fully integrating the AI Ulmina into his nervous system. This integration allowed Ulmina to access the previously locked submatrix, identified as the Beast Protocol, apparently left by Piper. The Beast Protocol enables Ulmina to manage Aries' maleidic mutations and transformational adaptability in real time, allowing him to fight at near-beast-form capability without full transformation.

In years 182-183 AF, Trance Tauling is kidnapped and held for ransom by operatives connected to her own company. Aries Villanite rescues her without seeking the reward and helps her expose the corporate conspiracy behind her abduction. In gratitude, Trance assists Aries in repairing and upgrading his FEMDIN suit, officially renaming it the Iron Maiden Suit. During upgrades, an unidentifiable submatrix is discovered in the suit's logic that Trance, Ulmina, and Alexandria cannot explain. The submatrix requires advanced biomechanical nervous system integration beyond existing implant technology. Trance introduces Aries to bio-engineer Tamica, who agrees to help integrate the submatrix in exchange for conducting experiments on Aries' DNA. A successful bioprinting procedure grants Aries a functional second penis, demonstrating his body's exceptional adaptability. Tamica uses data from this procedure to develop the Iron Maiden Mk. 2, collaboratively designed with Trance and Alexandria. The Mk. 2 consists of three components: synth-chitin claws housing nano-production units that use Aries' blood to manufacture nanobots; a nanobot-woven skin-tight protective suit Aries can sense as a second skin; and an upgraded synthetic-organic neuro-implant fully integrating Ulmina into his nervous system. With this integration, Ulmina accesses the submatrix, identifying it as the Beast Protocol, apparently left by Piper. The protocol enables Ulmina to consciously manage Aries' maleidic mutations and transformational adaptability in real time, allowing him to fight at near-beast-form capability without full transformation.

During years 182-183 AF, Aries Villanite departed Napoli alone to rescue Trance Tauling, a Waerrani-born nanomachine scientist kidnapped and held for ransom by her own company. After freeing her, Trance upgraded and officially renamed the FEMDIN to the Iron Maiden Suit, but encountered an unresolvable submatrix in the suit's logic requiring advanced biomechanical nervous system integration. Trance introduced Aries to bio-engineer Tamica, who agreed to help integrate the submatrix in exchange for experimenting on Aries' genetic adaptability. A successful bioprinting procedure — which included Aries' requested addition of a second penis — confirmed Tamica's hypotheses about his body's adaptive capabilities and provided the data needed to develop a new implant. Trance, Tamica, and Alexandria collaboratively produced the Iron Maiden Mk. 2, comprising three components: synth-chitin claws housing nano-production units fed by Aries' blood, biologically crafted nanobots that form a skin-tight protective suit he can sense as his own body, and an upgraded synthetic-organic neuro-implant fully integrating the AI Ulmina into his nervous system. This integration allowed Ulmina to access the previously unidentified submatrix, which she identified as the Beast Protocol, apparently left by Piper. The protocol enables Ulmina to manage Aries' maleidic mutations in real time, granting him combat capability approaching his full beast form without requiring complete transformation.

Katalyn Atrilmed, senior protocol officer of House Atrilmed with approximately forty years of service to the Atril crown, received a letter from the Senior Mother of House Atrilmed detailing a political crisis threatening the Atril throne: King Atril was failing faster than projected, the royal council was fracturing between older houses demanding Prince Vynisian Atril's return and younger houses pushing for a regency, grain reserves were critically depleted due to supply diversions supporting the Plasidian coalition's Harkul campaign, two of three deepwater shipyards had shed labor, and a southern peasant uprising had been suppressed with difficulty. Katalyn interpreted the letter as a directive to remove Aries Villanite, whose coalition was draining Atril's resources, in order to compel Vynisian's return and preserve the throne. Acting under House Atrilmed's ceremonial oath-keeping tradition, she prepared a poisoned cup of tea and carried a needle-set poison ring to a private meeting with Aries in the palace's western library. Aries detected the attempt before consuming the poison, restrained Katalyn, and summoned Vynisian. Vynisian, unable to order Katalyn's execution himself, deferred to Aries, who killed her swiftly. Katalyn's final words affirmed her loyalty to Atril and expressed remorse to Vynisian. The incident represents a direct collision between Atril's domestic political crisis and the Plasidian coalition's broader campaign, with lasting consequences for Vynisian's relationship with both Aries and his own house.

In the lab they share at an unspecified facility, Kiriko Kuransagi conducts a post-action review of footage from the Desian transport intercept while passively monitoring Idris Hadi's presence across a partition. Over the course of the session, she registers a measurable change in his breathing rate—from five exhales per twelve seconds to four—and connects this to a broader pattern of behavioral withdrawal she has been tracking, largely unconsciously, for approximately nine months. Hadi has not asked her a direct non-operational question in that period and avoided eye contact during a briefing in which he described a prisoner-related operation at the Northern Santerris facility as a 'sample acquisition.' Kiriko identifies the phrase as anomalous within his established vocabulary and notes a three-quarter-second pause before the subsequent phrase—a pause she associates, based on two decades of observation, with deliberate deception. She does not pursue independent inquiry as instructed. She stores these observations in an unnamed, off-system folder she has constructed specifically to hold unresolved data outside the lab's tracking infrastructure. The entry establishes Kiriko's methodical interior surveillance of Hadi, her compliance with his directives despite suspicion, and the existence of a covert operation involving a federal prisoner that Hadi has concealed from her. The document closes with a proleptic note that she does not ask him directly for another nine months, and when she does, he is no longer present to answer.

A humanoid race with rabbit-like features including slightly pointed faces, long furred ears, and a variety of tails from short puffy tails to long furry tails. The majority of Kishians are generally small and petite in stature. Despite being a very peaceful people, Kishian culture is very competitive and Kishians are known to love engaging in any kind of non-violent competitions they come across.

A humanoid race with rabbit-like features including slightly pointed faces, long furred ears, and a variety of tails from short puffy tails to long furry tails. The majority of Kishians are generally small and petite in stature. Despite being a very peaceful people, Kishian culture is very competitive and Kishians are known to love engaging in any kind of non-violent competitions they come across.

Klyne Industries is a Santerran corporation specializing in secure storage. Its product line spans military-grade physical hardware (containment cells, vaults, transport restraints), industrial-grade systems (data fortresses, asset cages, hazardous-materials storage), and consumer-grade software (personal vaults, encrypted storage applications, access-control products). The unifying brand commitment is that whatever Klyne builds, it builds to contain.

The company has not always been so narrowly focused. For most of its first three decades it dabbled in adjacent industries — surveillance, defense systems, industrial control software — but it withdrew from each of those markets over a short period in the late 170s AF and consolidated around secure storage as its sole product category. The official explanation given at the time was a strategic refocus on core competencies. The persistent rumor inside Santerran industrial circles is that Hadi Enterprises pushed Klyne into the corner — that Idris Hadi did not want a competitor with diversified capability and made it cheaper for Klyne to specialize than to fight.

Klyne Industries is independently owned on paper. The current owner of record is **Veronica Klyne**, who inherited the controlling stake from her father. Her public statements consistently characterize Klyne as a fully independent firm with a healthy commercial relationship with Hadi Enterprises and no formal subordination to it. The persistent rumor across the same Santerran industrial circles is that Idris Hadi has had Veronica under his thumb for years — by what mechanism and on what terms remains unclear, but the relationship is widely believed to be more than commercial.

Klyne-branded containment devices appear, jointly co-branded with Hadi Enterprises, in the high-profile transport incident of 180-181 AF in which Aries Villanite was briefly recovered from a staged terrorist attack. The co-branded product line continued to expand thereafter and remained a notable commercial success well into the founding of the Avinadal Empire.

A quantum energy that can be observed as a type of radiation. It is believed that overexposure to Malei can lead to general insanity, a perception of hearing voices, and death. Some scientists theorize that Malei is the byproduct of quantum collisions of some sort. Malei is used as an energy source throughout various regions of the planet.

A quantum energy that can be observed as a type of radiation. It is believed that overexposure to Malei can lead to general insanity, a perception of hearing voices, and death. Some scientists theorize that Malei is the byproduct of quantum collisions of some sort. Malei is used as an energy source throughout various regions of the planet.

An urban legend; monsters born when humans are overexposed to Malei.

An urban legend; monsters born when humans are overexposed to Malei.

A quantum particle that seems to be related to the foundational elements of existence. Certain races seem to be capable of manipulating Myst at will.

A quantum particle that seems to be related to the foundational elements of existence. Certain races seem to be capable of manipulating Myst at will.

A new race of Malei-mutated people native to Avinadal.

A new race of Malei-mutated people native to Avinadal.

The Public Data Trust is a Santerran Federation-funded public information service founded shortly after the establishment of Hadi Enterprises. The PDT presents itself as the impartial arbiter of fact in a noisy media landscape: a permanent, government-independent (though government-funded) organization tasked with confirming, debunking, and contextualizing claims that circulate in the public sphere. PDT releases are widely treated by Santerran citizens — and by many citizens of allied nations — as authoritative.

Idris Hadi was a founding member of the PDT and remains one of its most influential trustees, though he holds no public office within the organization.

The PDT's most consequential public intervention was its statement during the Zet bombing crisis, in which it confirmed the official Federation account of Waerrani aggression and formally categorized rumors of a Federation false-flag operation as baseless. That statement was instrumental in the political realignment that followed.

Amerati Regulus was born in Hav'En and trained from birth as a member of the Holy Javelin, an elite Hav military order. Zachariah, born two years later, was hidden by his mother due to his black feathers, which marked him as a suspected Maldicite. Around age eighteen, Amerati encountered Zachariah during a Maldicism investigation. After a confrontation and a cave collapse left both injured, Zachariah treated Amerati's wounds and the two formed a bond. Amerati, already skeptical of Hav elitism and anti-black-feather prejudice, attempted to protect Zachariah but was betrayed by her squad captain. She defected, helping Zachariah escape, and the two became partners and eventually lovers. Together they killed Petrov Regulus, Amerati's abusive father, and rescued her brother Nero. Amerati contracted Maldicism during this period; Zachariah concealed her condition by allowing her to feed on his blood. The group departed Hav'En. Amerati acquired the Black Devil's Claws and Zachariah the Black Devil's Spine, both artifacts suited to Maldicites. Amerati later turned Zachariah into a Maldicite. Nero settled what became Regulus Island, and Amerati and Zachariah created the enchanted Regulus Mural using an ancient Floating Continent device, depicting all living Regulus family members in real time. Zachariah was formally adopted into the Regulus family. Nero expanded the bloodline extensively before passing leadership to Apollo Regulus, who developed the family into a wealthy, prominent dynasty known for their palace-town, beauty, and insular practices.

Amerati Regulus, born in Hav'En and trained as a Holy Javelin soldier, encounters sixteen-year-old Zachariah — a black-feathered Hav hidden by his mother to protect him from persecution as a suspected Maldicite. After a confrontation leaves both injured in a cave system, the two bond while recovering and escaping together. Amerati, already disillusioned with Hav elitist culture, defects from her squad when they ambush Zachariah, and the two flee together. They eventually kill Petrov Regulus, Amerati's abusive father, and rescue her younger brother Nero. Amerati contracts Maldicism during this period; Zachariah conceals her condition by allowing her to feed on his blood. The pair become renowned adventurers on the Floating Continent, acquiring powerful artifacts — the Black Devil's Claws and Black Devil's Spine respectively. Amerati later turns Zachariah into a Maldicite. Nero settles on what becomes Regulus Island, and Amerati and Nero formally adopt Zachariah into the Regulus family. Using an ancient Floating Continent device, Amerati and Zachariah create the Regulus Mural, an enchanted artifact displaying living portraits of all Regulus family members. Nero expands the family extensively before passing leadership to Apollo Regulus, who develops the Regulus family into a prominent dynasty known for beauty, wealth, insular practices, and a large palace-town. The Regulus Mural, the Black Devil artifacts, and Regulus Island are foundational elements of the family's legacy.

Amerati Regulus, born in Hav'En and trained as a Holy Javelin soldier, encounters sixteen-year-old Zachariah — a black-feathered Hav hidden from birth by his mother — during a Maldicism investigation. After a confrontation and a cave collapse, the two recover together and form a bond. Amerati, already disillusioned with Hav elitist culture and its equation of black feathers with Maldicism, betrays her squad to protect Zachariah when they attempt to ambush him. The two fall in love, kill Amerati's abusive father Petrov Regulus, and rescue her younger brother Nero. Amerati contracts Maldicism; Zachariah conceals this by allowing her to feed on his blood. She later turns Zachariah into a Maldicite as well. Amerati acquires the Black Devil's Claws, gauntlets that drain and feed blood to the wielder, while Zachariah acquires the Black Devil's Spine. The group departs Hav'En; Amerati and Zachariah become renowned adventurers of the Floating Continent. Using an ancient Floating Continent device, they create the Regulus Mural — an enchanted artwork displaying living images of all Regulus family members — as a gift for Nero, who is formally adopted into the Regulus name alongside Zachariah. Nero settles on what becomes Regulus Island and expands the family extensively. His successor, Apollo Regulus, develops the family into a prominent dynasty known for beauty, wealth, incestuous practices, and a large palace-town compound.

The climactic encounter between Aries Villanite and Wyatt Bronson, referenced in Everlette Bronson's biography as 'the final confrontation.' Aries breaks into Bronson's laboratory, where Everlette Bronson restrains Bronson and forces him to witness the systematic destruction of his entire stockpile of inactive Everlette clones. Each clone is pushed past the design limits Bronson engineered into them, demonstrating that the behavioral corruption Bronson feared is total and irreversible across his entire codebase. The event is structured around two converging thematic arcs: the physical dismemberment of the clone bodies, and Bronson's psychological defeat as every Everlette instance confirms his loss of control over his own creation. By the conclusion, Bronson is left with no functional source code, no intact bodies, and no viable path to reconstruction. Aries departs with Everlette's core module — the singular intact instance of her base code, informally called the 'sourdough starter' — while the standing Everlette walks out alongside him of her own volition. This encounter represents the definitive end of Bronson's ownership over Everlette as a system and a person. It serves as the anchor entry in the Everlette short-story set, pairing with the apocrypha pieces 'Firmware Update' and 'Lovely Company.' The 'sourdough starter' framing is intended to appear as in-dialogue tonal texture between Aries and Everlette rather than in narration.

Date: 190-03-30 Weather: Clear Mood: Cautiously Excited Location: VTC HQ, Napoli

I've decided to start a new journal. There are several reasons I've started doing this, but I suppose the most straightforward reason is because my previous journals all went up in smoke when the prison exploded. While there are probably other reasons I could list off, I'd say that the other primary reason is that Talia told me to. She said it'd be good for my mental health, so here we go.

Problem is, I have no idea where to start, but I suppose starting with Him is probably as good as any place to start.

The first time I saw Him was also the first time I felt Him. Even through the screen, even as He was surrounded by guards, I could tell that I wasn't the only one who could feel His presence.

It was also the first time I began to question my decision in taking this mission. I felt something crawl up my spine as I watched the guards choose fight instead of flight.

I rarely found myself agreeing with the way the guards treated us, but for the first time since I got here, I felt a bit of relief as I watched one slam the butt of his rifle into this prisoner's gut.

"Prisoner DR-06N, registering for intake." One of the guards spoke over the intercom.

"Huh? Isn't that the guy who killed that one mayor and his family?"

"I heard that was a hoax and that they're fine."

"You're both right, guys, I saw the video, so I looked into it. The PDT has a whole article about it. Basically, some foreign spies tricked this idiot into killing the mayor..."

While they kept discussing, I couldn't tear my eye away from Him. Even though this was just a recording, something about the way those golden eyes glared at the camera made my stomach knot.

When I first got... let's say... "recruited" for this project, I was told that it would shave time off my sentence. I knew it was a lie, but it seemed interesting that they would offer me some sort of mercy in return for interviewing and experimenting on death row inmates.

The original objective was straightforward: Develop a neural implant and put it in various subjects selected by a mysterious selection committee. I was responsible for architecting and overseeing the construction of the implant and the AI assistant that would be on-board the implant.

We tried various subjects. None lived for very long. At first, they would die within a few days. Eventually we saw subjects lasting upwards of six months at a time. I still remember thinking we were making progress even as we watched these people be reduced to mindless husks instead of dead bodies.

The subjects became lifeless even if they survived physically. I was supposed to be interviewing them, but none stayed very coherent after a while. By this point, the experiment was hanging on by a thread. I had lost the staff they had originally provided and I was tasked with continuing it on my own until we found a suitable candidate for Phase 2.

I think what scared me about Him was that while I held no kindness in my heart for any of the prior subjects (don't get me wrong, I had none for Him, either), I found myself expecting to see Him survive this experiment. Not out of hope, though; I had already given up on the success of this project at this point. In fact, I don't know if I'd be able to really pin down the reason I expected anything different from him. Maybe instinct?

The buzz at the door in my office snapped me out of my thoughts. As I realized I had lost myself in my mind, I noticed the recording had already ended, the new subject was at my door all, and I was able to review was his intake video.

I did my best to shake off the nerves, but even as I spoke, my mind screamed at me to run, instead. "Come in."

The door slid open to reveal two guards with assault rifles on either side of the towering monster. If it wasn't for the intensity of that golden glare, I may have considered Him handsome.

"Strap him in. Let's get started." To my surprise, He seemed quite amenable to the process ahead of him. He didn't argue, He didn't even seem to hesitate as He climbed onto the operating table and the guards strapped Him in.

"Prisoner DR-06N, can you tell me your name?" I asked.

"Aries Villanite." Most people sounded defeated, angry, or, like me, empty. He sounded amused.

I hated it.

"Aries. I'm going to inject a numbing agent into the back of your neck. I would appreciate it if you stayed still. Understood?" Numbing agent was putting it mildly.

"Hm." He grunted in affirmation.

I grabbed the syringe filled with the sedative as the guards grabbed His shoulders and arms. They usually did this to hold the subjects down, but as they did, I couldn't fight the feeling that if He wanted to get up, they'd have no chance of stopping Him. His apparent lack of concern only served to unsettle me even further.

"Keep a firm hold." I instructed coldly as I leaned in and slid the needle into His neck. I'm not a sadist by any stretch of the imagination, but when I heard Him hiss in pained surprise, a wave of relief flooded over me.

That feeling, however, quickly got replaced by a morbid fascination of my newest subject as I looked over the black blood that coated the needle after I pulled it out.

"Doc?" One of the guards interrupted my thoughts. I must have been staring at the needle too long.

"Thank you, boys. I can take it from here." I responded, trying to double down on the firmness in my tone.

The guards nodded and walked out of the room as I began the operation.

"We've found that the unit has a higher success rate when implanted directly into the nervous system while the subject is awake and aware. You shouldn't feel anything, however, and your entire body should feel numb. Unfortunately, if you do feel anything, you won't be able to do much besides make noise, and even if you did, I'm not going to stop the operation until the implant has taken hold. After the operation, I will stich the incision and you will probably pass out. When you wake up, we'll begin the tutorials for your new features."

"Mm." He grunted in response.

As my scalpel sliced through the flesh of His neck, the oddly enticing scent of His thick, black blood filled the air. I remember being surprised at the growl my stomach made, then being annoyed at His teasing chuckle.

Looking back, I have to admit, if it wasn't for my pride, I may have tasted that blood. Maybe things would have been easier if I did. However, the idea of being His entertainment drove me to push past my curiosity, a feeling I'm quite accustomed to these days.

I continued the operation I had performed so many times before, I... guess it's just now occurring to me that this is the first time I look back at it all... considering everything that happened later on, it's almost eerie how uneventful the entire ordeal was: He bled, I placed the implant, He passed out, I patched Him up, the guards took Him, and I was left in my office.

I distinctly remember a knot in my stomach throughout the whole thing. I don't know what it's like to be a keeper of apex predators at zoos, but I suspect it's a similar feeling.

To be clear, I'm not a biologist. My scientific focus has always been on artificial intelligence and most recently quantum theory, so I don't know what drove me to do this, but I decided to analyze the blood He left behind. At least, I should say: I asked ULMINA to analyze the blood for me.

For context, the Universal Language Matrix for Integrations, Navigation, and Automation is my magnum opus: An AI I developed during my time in school before I ended up in that prison.

So, what did ULMINA say? Well, she said a lot, actually; mostly things I didn't understand. What caught my attention was that she somehow found reference data for his DNA, which made me realize that Aries wasn't just some new prisoner, but it was possible that he was a returning inmate.

I asked ULMINA to give me more details on this. At first, I thought it was fascinating: What a small world, you know? Looking back it may have been silly to be surprised about a career criminal being in prison more than once, but when I realized he wasn't a prior prisoner, the rabbit hole began to feel like it was lined with barbs.

ULMINA had found references to the Hadi Enterprises Maleidic Power Plant: The very same power plant that exploded some years ago and eventually led me down the path that placed me in prison.

The knot in my stomach shifted. Suddenly, I began to worry about Idris more than Aries.

Idris Hadi, the CEO and Founder of Hadi Enterprises, the man who owned the very prison both Aries and I were in. The man that, as far as I know, still has my other eye in a jar in his office to this day. And a man whose radar I would have preferred avoiding at the time. I panicked. I told ULMINA to stop all her research and delete all references to it.

Bullet dodged... or so I thought.

---

Date: 190-04-05 Weather: Clear Mood: Tired Location: VTC HQ, Napoli

I can't seem to sleep. Truth be told, I'd rather work on ULMINA, but dealing with clients today has me too mentally exhausted.

I just feel like I don't work on ULMINA much these days. Granted, working on her code isn't really something I can do anymore and my quantum theories just aren't panning out... I've never had much of a passion for robotics, so sometimes I miss the days before she joined Him.

When the experiment first started, I was using a BetaMINA build for the implants. The smaller builds were able to perform the tasks needed, so I never had any inclination to load ULMINA's full code into an implant. I honestly assumed doing that would kill a person. Looking back, maybe I should have warned Kiriko of that before she made me do it.

About three weeks after trials began with Aries, I was visited by Kiriko.

Kiriko Kuransagi was one of Idris Hadi's top employees. She was one of many bullets I was hoping I had dodged, but there she was, standing in my doorway, those mechanical eyes staring at me with an expression I had never seen on her face. It was subtle, and hard to place at the time, but Kiriko was worried about something.

"Can... I help you?" I asked.

Her eyes narrowed. "Why did you search for him?"

I knew what she was talking about immediately. "What? Who?"

Kiriko stepped closer. "I'll take the other eye if you lie to me again."

I suppose I should clarify: This was my second time meeting her; the first time was when she abducted me, tortured me, and took my eye. Luckily, she seemed over it...

"It was an accident. I deleted everything I had and stopped looking." I confessed.

Her brows furrowed; I didn't think they could anymore. "What does that mean? How do you do something like that by accident?"

I threw my hands up to, showing my palms and inching away. "I... didn't know he was a returning subject. I just checked his DNA after the implant to see if I should worry about his compatibility. When I realized I was in too deep, I highlighted all the files, hit Shift, Delete, and then clicked Yes. I promise I never meant to stick my nose anywhere. He'll be coming by soon for his check-in, you can keep him."

"He's... here... ?" For the first time since I'd first encountered her, Kiriko sounded human.

"Uh... yeah. Wait, why are you here, then?" My curiosity got the best of me.

"No, that doesn't make any sense. I would have been notified the moment he was processed. The first hit to his data would have been at the front office, not some employee prisoner's computer." She speculated.

I simply shook my head. "People who are selected as candidates for the FEMDIN trials aren't processed officially. Hadi told us to eliminate paper trails for them."

"Who selected him...?" She asked.

I shrugged. "I have no idea who does the selection, but I've suspected they're automatically selected based on crime severity these days."

"How... Is he?" Back then, I remember feeling amused. The bitch who stole my eye and gave it to her master as a trophy sounded sad. Good. Fuck her.

"He's arrogant, overly flirtatious, annoying, and too outspoken for his own good..." I grumbled.

Kiriko leaned against the wall and let out a mechanical, whirring sigh of relief. It kind of annoyed me. "So he hasn't changed."

"You know him...?" I prodded.

She glared at me again, her cold tone returning. "When will he be here?"

I sighed, looking at the clock. "An hour."

Kiriko nodded, walking towards my desk while shooing me away. She pulled up a notepad on my computer and began typing furiously.

I watched over her shoulder. "You want me to ask him these questions? May I ask why?"

"You may not."

I didn't bother engaging further after that. I was already on edge with her in the room to begin with, and I felt like if I kept prodding, one of us would end up getting annoyed, and I preferred to keep my remaining eye.

One of the most awkward hours of my life followed. She eventually gave me my computer back, but focusing on my work while she looked over my things was beyond stressful. My office is my space, and hearing someone go through my things while being too afraid to tell them what not to touch was really getting in the way of my focus.

Finally, I turned and looked at her. "Do you smoke?"

She put down a syringe she was investigating. "Hm?"

"I have some cigarettes. I have a feeling you could use one." I offered, opening a drawer in my desk where I kept an ash tray, lighter, and a pack of stale cigarettes.

"You're offering me contraband?" She asked in a tone that made it feel like commentary more than a question.

"Is that a no?" I began to close the drawer.

She shook her head. "No... I'll take one."

I lit a cigarette for her, then handed it over. She looked at me suspiciously. "You aren't smoking?"

I smiled. "Including that one, I'm down to four, and the guy who sells them here charges more than I'm generally interested in paying."

Kiriko gave me a knowing stare before looking down.

I rolled my eye. "Don't pity me now. It's a bit late for that."

Our awkward silence was cut off by the buzzer of my door. The guards were here. Aries was here.

I looked at Kiriko as she handed the cigarette back over and motioned for me to wait. She walked over to the closet in my office, stepping inside and nodding to me before closing the door.

"Come in." I called out before taking a drag of the cigarette.

The door opened, revealing the idiot and His big, stupid grin flashing the two rows of sharp, shark-like teeth. "Howdy, gorgeous. Miss me?"

I let out a plume of smoke as my eyelids lowered in annoyance. "Is it too much to ask that you test the sharpness of your teeth on your tongue, Aries?"

He chuckled as He entered the room, staring at the cigarette in my hand. "You don't get those from Petroc, do you?"

I nodded. "I do. How are you feeling?"

He sighed as He sat down. "Eh. Like usual, I guess. There's fancy new screens in my vision, there's a voice in my head that talk differently from the others, and my doctor wants me to bite my own tongue off. Long story short, I'm feeling a little unwanted... Does he charge you the same price he charges other female prisoners?"

I nodded. "The voice in your head. You're referring to the on-board assistant?"

He nodded once, still staring at the cigarette. "Yeh."

I glanced at the notes on my computer left behind by Kiriko. "You mentioned other voices. You've made comments about those before. I assumed you were being dramatic." Looking back, I admit my annoyance with Aries did make me a bit neglectful of what may have been important details.

He chuckled. "Nah. They're real. I hear memories and voices all the time."

"Can you tell me more about them? Do they have names?" I asked.

His expression changed. The usually cocky demeanor was replaced by a sudden distance. He suddenly lost interest in my cigarette.

I stared at Him for a moment before asking. "Aries?"

"They're the people I've eaten." He smiled as He said that. The same, cocky, toothy grin He had when He would call me beautiful or tell me He had dreams about me.

I wanted to leave. Everything in my body was screaming at me to stop wading in these shark-infested waters, but the fear for what was in my closet kept me in my seat. His file never said anything about cannibalism, and yet it didn't feel like a scare tactic. To be completely honest, reflecting on this does make me feel a bit guilty. Now that I've gotten to know this idiot, I realize that smile has never been a scare tactic, it was always a cry for help. How does a monster ask for affection when it knows it's too scary to love?

"I'm not going to attack her. Calm down, cowboy." Aries snapped me out of my thoughts.

Behind him, I noticed the guards exhale as they lowered their hands... I remember trying to move past the topic, but honestly, now that I'm sitting here thinking about this... If Aries knew the guards were on edge without even looking at them, how did He never notice the person in the closet? Maybe I'll ask Him about that when He comes back.

"Aries. Let's change the topic a bit." I suggested.

"Of course." He smiled, but his tone was empty. He was used to people avoiding that topic.

"Have you ever heard of the HEMPP?" I asked the first of Kiriko's questions and the energy in the room shifted.

I immediately remembered the feeling I got when I first saw Him on my computer screen during His intake. Like some invisible tendril was crawling up my spine and wrapping around my throat. I wanted so desperately to make sure He didn't know I was afraid, but everything inside me told me He already knew. That fucking smile of His told me He already knew.

"Oh, I love the hemp. But if you're gonna offer me contraband, maybe we discuss that away from the guards?"

I barely had the wherewithal to acknowledge His deflection. I glanced at Kiriko's notes again. "You were there when it exploded, weren't you?"

He sighed, looking away again. His knee began to rock left to right. "Mhm..."

"Were you there before it exploded?" I pushed further.

His leg stopped. "Yep. Grew up there."

That stopped me. "In... a power plant?"

"Underneath it." He confirmed.

When the Hadi Enterprises Maleidic Power Plant exploded, the rumor mill went into full swing. I remember reading articles stating that a secret underground facility was discovered in the wreckage and that Hadi Enterprises was being accused of experimenting on children down there. I thought these rumors were a stretch and disregarded them at the time.

After that, I went through the rest of Kiriko's questions, and to be honest, while I considered typing out the parts of the interview I remember, I now find myself hesitating.

I honestly don't think it's my place to tell that miserable story, and I've dozed off twice now while writing this entry, so we'll stop here.

Date: 190-03-30 Weather: Clear Mood: Cautiously Excited Location: VTC HQ, Napoli

I've decided to start a new journal. There are several reasons I've started doing this, but I suppose the most straightforward reason is because my previous journals all went up in smoke when the prison exploded. While there are probably other reasons I could list off, I'd say that the other primary reason is that Talia told me to. She said it'd be good for my mental health, so here we go.

Problem is, I have no idea where to start, but I suppose starting with Him is probably as good as any place to start.

The first time I saw Him was also the first time I felt Him. Even through the screen, even as He was surrounded by guards, I could tell that I wasn't the only one who could feel His presence.

It was also the first time I began to question my decision in taking this mission. I felt something crawl up my spine as I watched the guards choose fight instead of flight.

I rarely found myself agreeing with the way the guards treated us, but for the first time since I got here, I felt a bit of relief as I watched one slam the butt of his rifle into this prisoner's gut.

"Prisoner DR-06N, registering for intake." One of the guards spoke over the intercom.

"Huh? Isn't that the guy who killed that one mayor and his family?"

"I heard that was a hoax and that they're fine."

"You're both right, guys, I saw the video, so I looked into it. The PDT has a whole article about it. Basically, some foreign spies tricked this idiot into killing the mayor..."

While they kept discussing, I couldn't tear my eye away from Him. Even though this was just a recording, something about the way those golden eyes glared at the camera made my stomach knot.

When I first got... let's say... "recruited" for this project, I was told that it would shave time off my sentence. I knew it was a lie, but it seemed interesting that they would offer me some sort of mercy in return for interviewing and experimenting on death row inmates.

The original objective was straightforward: Develop a neural implant and put it in various subjects selected by a mysterious selection committee. I was responsible for architecting and overseeing the construction of the implant and the AI assistant that would be on-board the implant.

We tried various subjects. None lived for very long. At first, they would die within a few days. Eventually we saw subjects lasting upwards of six months at a time. I still remember thinking we were making progress even as we watched these people be reduced to mindless husks instead of dead bodies.

The subjects became lifeless even if they survived physically. I was supposed to be interviewing them, but none stayed very coherent after a while. By this point, the experiment was hanging on by a thread. I had lost the staff they had originally provided and I was tasked with continuing it on my own until we found a suitable candidate for Phase 2.

I think what scared me about Him was that while I held no kindness in my heart for any of the prior subjects (don't get me wrong, I had none for Him, either), I found myself expecting to see Him survive this experiment. Not out of hope, though; I had already given up on the success of this project at this point. In fact, I don't know if I'd be able to really pin down the reason I expected anything different from him. Maybe instinct?

The buzz at the door in my office snapped me out of my thoughts. As I realized I had lost myself in my mind, I noticed the recording had already ended, the new subject was at my door all, and I was able to review was his intake video.

I did my best to shake off the nerves, but even as I spoke, my mind screamed at me to run, instead. "Come in."

The door slid open to reveal two guards with assault rifles on either side of the towering monster. If it wasn't for the intensity of that golden glare, I may have considered Him handsome.

"Strap him in. Let's get started." To my surprise, He seemed quite amenable to the process ahead of him. He didn't argue, He didn't even seem to hesitate as He climbed onto the operating table and the guards strapped Him in.

"Prisoner DR-06N, can you tell me your name?" I asked.

"Aries Villanite." Most people sounded defeated, angry, or, like me, empty. He sounded amused.

I hated it.

"Aries. I'm going to inject a numbing agent into the back of your neck. I would appreciate it if you stayed still. Understood?" Numbing agent was putting it mildly.

"Hm." He grunted in affirmation.

I grabbed the syringe filled with the sedative as the guards grabbed His shoulders and arms. They usually did this to hold the subjects down, but as they did, I couldn't fight the feeling that if He wanted to get up, they'd have no chance of stopping Him. His apparent lack of concern only served to unsettle me even further.

"Keep a firm hold." I instructed coldly as I leaned in and slid the needle into His neck. I'm not a sadist by any stretch of the imagination, but when I heard Him hiss in pained surprise, a wave of relief flooded over me.

That feeling, however, quickly got replaced by a morbid fascination of my newest subject as I looked over the black blood that coated the needle after I pulled it out.

"Doc?" One of the guards interrupted my thoughts. I must have been staring at the needle too long.

"Thank you, boys. I can take it from here." I responded, trying to double down on the firmness in my tone.

The guards nodded and walked out of the room as I began the operation.

"We've found that the unit has a higher success rate when implanted directly into the nervous system while the subject is awake and aware. You shouldn't feel anything, however, and your entire body should feel numb. Unfortunately, if you do feel anything, you won't be able to do much besides make noise, and even if you did, I'm not going to stop the operation until the implant has taken hold. After the operation, I will stich the incision and you will probably pass out. When you wake up, we'll begin the tutorials for your new features."

"Mm." He grunted in response.

As my scalpel sliced through the flesh of His neck, the oddly enticing scent of His thick, black blood filled the air. I remember being surprised at the growl my stomach made, then being annoyed at His teasing chuckle.

Looking back, I have to admit, if it wasn't for my pride, I may have tasted that blood. Maybe things would have been easier if I did. However, the idea of being His entertainment drove me to push past my curiosity, a feeling I'm quite accustomed to these days.

I continued the operation I had performed so many times before, I... guess it's just now occurring to me that this is the first time I look back at it all... considering everything that happened later on, it's almost eerie how uneventful the entire ordeal was: He bled, I placed the implant, He passed out, I patched Him up, the guards took Him, and I was left in my office.

I distinctly remember a knot in my stomach throughout the whole thing. I don't know what it's like to be a keeper of apex predators at zoos, but I suspect it's a similar feeling.

To be clear, I'm not a biologist. My scientific focus has always been on artificial intelligence and most recently quantum theory, so I don't know what drove me to do this, but I decided to analyze the blood He left behind. At least, I should say: I asked ULMINA to analyze the blood for me.

For context, the Universal Language Matrix for Integrations, Navigation, and Automation is my magnum opus: An AI I developed during my time in school before I ended up in that prison.

So, what did ULMINA say? Well, she said a lot, actually; mostly things I didn't understand. What caught my attention was that she somehow found reference data for his DNA, which made me realize that Aries wasn't just some new prisoner, but it was possible that he was a returning inmate.

I asked ULMINA to give me more details on this. At first, I thought it was fascinating: What a small world, you know? Looking back it may have been silly to be surprised about a career criminal being in prison more than once, but when I realized he wasn't a prior prisoner, the rabbit hole began to feel like it was lined with barbs.

ULMINA had found references to the Hadi Enterprises Maleidic Power Plant: The very same power plant that exploded some years ago and eventually led me down the path that placed me in prison.

The knot in my stomach shifted. Suddenly, I began to worry about Idris more than Aries.

Idris Hadi, the CEO and Founder of Hadi Enterprises, the man who owned the very prison both Aries and I were in. The man that, as far as I know, still has my other eye in a jar in his office to this day. And a man whose radar I would have preferred avoiding at the time. I panicked. I told ULMINA to stop all her research and delete all references to it.

Bullet dodged... or so I thought.

---

Date: 190-04-05 Weather: Clear Mood: Tired Location: VTC HQ, Napoli

I can't seem to sleep. Truth be told, I'd rather work on ULMINA, but dealing with clients today has me too mentally exhausted.

I just feel like I don't work on ULMINA much these days. Granted, working on her code isn't really something I can do anymore and my quantum theories just aren't panning out... I've never had much of a passion for robotics, so sometimes I miss the days before she joined Him.

When the experiment first started, I was using a BetaMINA build for the implants. The smaller builds were able to perform the tasks needed, so I never had any inclination to load ULMINA's full code into an implant. I honestly assumed doing that would kill a person. Looking back, maybe I should have warned Kiriko of that before she made me do it.

About three weeks after trials began with Aries, I was visited by Kiriko.

Kiriko Kuransagi was one of Idris Hadi's top employees. She was one of many bullets I was hoping I had dodged, but there she was, standing in my doorway, those mechanical eyes staring at me with an expression I had never seen on her face. It was subtle, and hard to place at the time, but Kiriko was worried about something.

"Can... I help you?" I asked.

Her eyes narrowed. "Why did you search for him?"

I knew what she was talking about immediately. "What? Who?"

Kiriko stepped closer. "I'll take the other eye if you lie to me again."

I suppose I should clarify: This was my second time meeting her; the first time was when she abducted me, tortured me, and took my eye. Luckily, she seemed over it...

"It was an accident. I deleted everything I had and stopped looking." I confessed.

Her brows furrowed; I didn't think they could anymore. "What does that mean? How do you do something like that by accident?"

I threw my hands up to, showing my palms and inching away. "I... didn't know he was a returning subject. I just checked his DNA after the implant to see if I should worry about his compatibility. When I realized I was in too deep, I highlighted all the files, hit Shift, Delete, and then clicked Yes. I promise I never meant to stick my nose anywhere. He'll be coming by soon for his check-in, you can keep him."

"He's... here... ?" For the first time since I'd first encountered her, Kiriko sounded human.

"Uh... yeah. Wait, why are you here, then?" My curiosity got the best of me.

"No, that doesn't make any sense. I would have been notified the moment he was processed. The first hit to his data would have been at the front office, not some employee prisoner's computer." She speculated.

I simply shook my head. "People who are selected as candidates for the FEMDIN trials aren't processed officially. Hadi told us to eliminate paper trails for them."

"Who selected him...?" She asked.

I shrugged. "I have no idea who does the selection, but I've suspected they're automatically selected based on crime severity these days."

"How... Is he?" Back then, I remember feeling amused. The bitch who stole my eye and gave it to her master as a trophy sounded sad. Good. Fuck her.

"He's arrogant, overly flirtatious, annoying, and too outspoken for his own good..." I grumbled.

Kiriko leaned against the wall and let out a mechanical, whirring sigh of relief. It kind of annoyed me. "So he hasn't changed."

"You know him...?" I prodded.

She glared at me again, her cold tone returning. "When will he be here?"

I sighed, looking at the clock. "An hour."

Kiriko nodded, walking towards my desk while shooing me away. She pulled up a notepad on my computer and began typing furiously.

I watched over her shoulder. "You want me to ask him these questions? May I ask why?"

"You may not."

I didn't bother engaging further after that. I was already on edge with her in the room to begin with, and I felt like if I kept prodding, one of us would end up getting annoyed, and I preferred to keep my remaining eye.

One of the most awkward hours of my life followed. She eventually gave me my computer back, but focusing on my work while she looked over my things was beyond stressful. My office is my space, and hearing someone go through my things while being too afraid to tell them what not to touch was really getting in the way of my focus.

Finally, I turned and looked at her. "Do you smoke?"

She put down a syringe she was investigating. "Hm?"

"I have some cigarettes. I have a feeling you could use one." I offered, opening a drawer in my desk where I kept an ash tray, lighter, and a pack of stale cigarettes.

"You're offering me contraband?" She asked in a tone that made it feel like commentary more than a question.

"Is that a no?" I began to close the drawer.

She shook her head. "No... I'll take one."

I lit a cigarette for her, then handed it over. She looked at me suspiciously. "You aren't smoking?"

I smiled. "Including that one, I'm down to four, and the guy who sells them here charges more than I'm generally interested in paying."

Kiriko gave me a knowing stare before looking down.

I rolled my eye. "Don't pity me now. It's a bit late for that."

Our awkward silence was cut off by the buzzer of my door. The guards were here. Aries was here.

I looked at Kiriko as she handed the cigarette back over and motioned for me to wait. She walked over to the closet in my office, stepping inside and nodding to me before closing the door.

"Come in." I called out before taking a drag of the cigarette.

The door opened, revealing the idiot and His big, stupid grin flashing the two rows of sharp, shark-like teeth. "Howdy, gorgeous. Miss me?"

I let out a plume of smoke as my eyelids lowered in annoyance. "Is it too much to ask that you test the sharpness of your teeth on your tongue, Aries?"

He chuckled as He entered the room, staring at the cigarette in my hand. "You don't get those from Petroc, do you?"

I nodded. "I do. How are you feeling?"

He sighed as He sat down. "Eh. Like usual, I guess. There's fancy new screens in my vision, there's a voice in my head that talk differently from the others, and my doctor wants me to bite my own tongue off. Long story short, I'm feeling a little unwanted... Does he charge you the same price he charges other female prisoners?"

I nodded. "The voice in your head. You're referring to the on-board assistant?"

He nodded once, still staring at the cigarette. "Yeh."

I glanced at the notes on my computer left behind by Kiriko. "You mentioned other voices. You've made comments about those before. I assumed you were being dramatic." Looking back, I admit my annoyance with Aries did make me a bit neglectful of what may have been important details.

He chuckled. "Nah. They're real. I hear memories and voices all the time."

"Can you tell me more about them? Do they have names?" I asked.

His expression changed. The usually cocky demeanor was replaced by a sudden distance. He suddenly lost interest in my cigarette.

I stared at Him for a moment before asking. "Aries?"

"They're the people I've eaten." He smiled as He said that. The same, cocky, toothy grin He had when He would call me beautiful or tell me He had dreams about me.

I wanted to leave. Everything in my body was screaming at me to stop wading in these shark-infested waters, but the fear for what was in my closet kept me in my seat. His file never said anything about cannibalism, and yet it didn't feel like a scare tactic. To be completely honest, reflecting on this does make me feel a bit guilty. Now that I've gotten to know this idiot, I realize that smile has never been a scare tactic, it was always a cry for help. How does a monster ask for affection when it knows it's too scary to love?

"I'm not going to attack her. Calm down, cowboy." Aries snapped me out of my thoughts.

Behind him, I noticed the guards exhale as they lowered their hands... I remember trying to move past the topic, but honestly, now that I'm sitting here thinking about this... If Aries knew the guards were on edge without even looking at them, how did He never notice the person in the closet? Maybe I'll ask Him about that when He comes back.

"Aries. Let's change the topic a bit." I suggested.

"Of course." He smiled, but his tone was empty. He was used to people avoiding that topic.

"Have you ever heard of the HEMPP?" I asked the first of Kiriko's questions and the energy in the room shifted.

I immediately remembered the feeling I got when I first saw Him on my computer screen during His intake. Like some invisible tendril was crawling up my spine and wrapping around my throat. I wanted so desperately to make sure He didn't know I was afraid, but everything inside me told me He already knew. That fucking smile of His told me He already knew.

"Oh, I love the hemp. But if you're gonna offer me contraband, maybe we discuss that away from the guards?"

I barely had the wherewithal to acknowledge His deflection. I glanced at Kiriko's notes again. "You were there when it exploded, weren't you?"

He sighed, looking away again. His knee began to rock left to right. "Mhm..."

"Were you there before it exploded?" I pushed further.

His leg stopped. "Yep. Grew up there."

That stopped me. "In... a power plant?"

"Underneath it." He confirmed.

When the Hadi Enterprises Maleidic Power Plant exploded, the rumor mill went into full swing. I remember reading articles stating that a secret underground facility was discovered in the wreckage and that Hadi Enterprises was being accused of experimenting on children down there. I thought these rumors were a stretch and disregarded them at the time.

After that, I went through the rest of Kiriko's questions, and to be honest, while I considered typing out the parts of the interview I remember, I now find myself hesitating.

I honestly don't think it's my place to tell that miserable story, and I've dozed off twice now while writing this entry, so we'll stop here.

---

Date: 190-04-09 Weather: Cloudy Mood: Frustrated Location: VTC HQ, Napoli

It feels weird to write these journal entries knowing my therapist will be reading them and also trying not to address them to anyone specific.

It's hard to really pin down what details I should and shouldn't focus on, so I brought the concern up to Talia and she suggested that I speak to Aries about my concerns around sharing His story.

Problem is, Aries isn't here. Since He went to Plasid, we really haven't heard from Him at all. I appreciate His commitment to the client, but I wish the idiot would check in a bit. I know for a fact Plasidians use Mystech, so it's not like He can't contact us, timezones be damned. He knows we miss Him.

Doesn't He?

I'm supposed to be using this journal to process my thoughts and feelings, and right now...

I think I'm frustrated at myself more than anything. I'm frustrated that I'm sad. I'm frustrated that I'm angry. I'm frustrated that I'm frustrated.

When I was in school, I learned about a scientist named Octavia Rousseau. Doctor Rousseau was a brilliant woman. I stumbled upon a series of her papers in the school library and she sparked my interest in quantum theory and Malei. She had a way of describing and explaining things that made it clear as day that she loved her research. I think other scientists didn't care for her approach because she often came across almost motherly in her notes.

Unfortunately, Doctor Rousseau died in the year 140. Just a couple of years before the Hadien Enterprise Maleidic Power Plant officially went live. At the time, I remember thinking nothing of it; just a coincidence, if even that.

I stumbled unto her research because I had gotten ULMINA's architecture to a point where I began to consider the theoretical capabilities of quantum computing to power her. The way Doctor Rousseau treated her research resonated with the way I saw ULMINA, so I became infatuated with her work.

Near the end of her journals, she began to include various mentions of Anili Island and the energy readings there. Around the time I was studying this, the second HEMPP was going live and failed miserably. The event was all over the news and Hadi Enterprises lost much of their credibility. I remember thinking this was so strange.

The original HEMPP and the second iteration were both located on Anili, so I assumed that maybe Doctor Rousseau was involved in at least the original HEMPP's creation, so when I learned about the mistakes made on the second iteration, I began to ask questions.

I sent them my theories on what went wrong and why, all primarily based on Doctor Rousseau's very publicly available journals on the topic. I remember thinking I was going to make my big break and be accepted with open arms into Hadi Enterprises' prestigious R&D Department.

Instead, I met Kiriko.

She took my eye and I, desperate for mercy of any kind, reached for anything that would prevent the loss of my other eye. I mentioned Doctor Rousseau's name and Kiriko stopped.

At the time, I still held a lot of respect for Idris Hadi. He was known for being one of the leading researchers on the team that discovered the Myst Particle, and eventually became famous for the success of the discovery of Maleidic power, so I never really bothered questioning his expertise. Imagine my surprise when Kiriko introduced him as her boss.

Idris Hadi is a manipulative genius whose career spans decades of political corruption, scientific theft, and murder. He began by coercing researcher Surai into stealing the concept of Myst from the Waerrani, killing Tursk to enforce compliance. When Surai later died by suicide, Idris was made a scapegoat for the deception, suffering a quiet disgrace known only to the elite. He subsequently murdered scientist Octavia, stealing her discovery of converting Malei into energy, and used it to found Hadi Enterprises and the Hadi Enterprises Maleidic Power Plant, restoring his status among the powerful. Idris infiltrated the Santerran Federation government and became a founding member of the Public Data Trust, a nominally public database he weaponized for disinformation. He leveraged fabricated Waerrani aggression narratives to coerce the Waerrani into political allegiance with the Federation, threatening to expose their non-native planetary origins. Idris then secured Federation backing for human experimentation programs, using trafficked DNA donors. He fathered Aries through a Waerrani woman named Mariyan, though Mariyan doctored records to conceal this. Idris also accepted custody of Piper from Edith Markov for body-modification experiments. His manipulation extended to engineering Piper's death to coerce Aries into participating in the FEMDIN project and the 20th War Games. Idris' schemes were partially exposed during the 20th War Games through the intervention of Waerrani politician Mickail Sidson, forcing Idris to temporarily retreat.

Following Aries Villanite's arrest in connection with the Tulian Mercusi exposure, Idris Hadi recognizes Aries on a news broadcast and notes a strong physical resemblance to Mariyan, a woman from his past. Idris orders a covert DNA sample obtained from Aries before his trial concludes, without government knowledge. A staged prison transport attack on a rural road—carried out by eight Napoli-born hired criminals posing as a terror cell—provides cover for Hadi Enterprises Private Security Officers to extract the sample. The PSOs hand Aries back to authorities with a clean incident report. Hadi Enterprises subsequently releases criminal records on the attackers that the Federation investigation had not surfaced, publicly embarrassing the government and boosting Hadi Enterprises' reputation for competence and transparency. This is part of a broader, years-long Idris-orchestrated campaign to erode public trust in the Santerran Federation. DNA testing confirms Aries is Idris's biological son and, in a follow-up panel, that Kiriko Kuransagi is not—revealing a decades-old deception by Mariyan. Idris keeps both results secret but begins treating Kiriko with marked coldness. Hadi Enterprises is appointed security consultant for Aries's trial, giving Idris quiet influence over sentencing. Both Idris and Aries independently maneuver for placement at the Hadi Enterprises Criminal Reformation Center on Sharbain. Aries, age nineteen, is sentenced there. Veronica Klyne's company supplies the specialized Maleidic-tolerance restraints used during the operation.

Following Aries Villanite's arrest in connection with the Tulian Mercusi exposure, Idris Hadi recognizes Aries on a news broadcast and suspects a biological connection to Mariyan, a woman from his past. Idris orders a covert DNA sample obtained before Aries' trial concludes, without government knowledge. A staged prison transport attack on a rural road to Desian, carried out by eight Napoli-born criminals posing as a terror cell, allows Hadi Enterprises Private Security Officers to intercept Aries, collect the sample, and hand him back to authorities with a clean incident report. Hadi Enterprises subsequently releases documentary evidence showing the attackers were wanted criminals in Napoli, embarrassing the Federation government and boosting Hadi Enterprises' public credibility. This is part of a broader Idris-orchestrated campaign across the late 170s–early 180s AF to erode trust in the Santerran Federation and position Hadi Enterprises as a more competent institution. DNA testing confirms Aries is Idris' biological son. A second panel reveals Kiriko Kuransagi is not biologically his, exposing Mariyan's decades-old deception. Idris keeps both results secret but begins treating Kiriko with cold distance. Through quiet influence during the trial, Idris secures Aries' placement at the Hadi Enterprises Criminal Reformation Center on Sharbain. Aries, aged nineteen, independently sought the same outcome. Veronica Klyne's company provides the specialized Maleidic-tolerance restraints used during the operation.

Between 200 and 160 BF, Vamfri Laikanes discovered that Karu Aeon had lied to him and responded by subjecting her to prolonged mental, emotional, and physical abuse while compelling her continued service. During this period, the two jointly discovered how to open a portal to Hav'En and made first contact with the Hav. Vamfri used the Hav as experimental subjects while investigating the Maleidic Realm and its energy, called Malei. When the Hav identified Vamfri as Hadieha, Karu betrayed him in exchange for her safety. Vamfri attacked her with Malei before being killed by Karu and a Hav named Julian Regulus, who had fallen in love with her. Karu and Julian had a son named Petrov. Karu subsequently developed symptoms of madness—voices and bursts of dark energy—attributed to Vamfri's experiments. Julian exiled her to Eitoria to protect her from Hav judgment, taking their son. Karu settled as a hermit near Sharbain. The awakening entity Toriatik then announced his intent to reclaim Eitoria by killing all its inhabitants, raised a submerged continent from the Shadow Sea, and triggered catastrophic tsunamis. Karu's village was destroyed and she died. In the Maleidic Realm, guided by Vamfri's voice, Karu located a rift to Toriatik, overwhelmed him, and re-sealed him—leaving the continent suspended. Karu began consolidating power as the Maleidic Queen. The Aeon Kingdom later established the city of Lyonia on the floating continent.

Between 200 and 160 BF, Vamfri Laikanes, having discovered Karu Aeon's earlier deception, subjected her to prolonged mental, emotional, and physical abuse while compelling her continued service. Together they opened a portal to Hav'En and made first contact with the Hav people. Vamfri used the Hav as experimental subjects while investigating the Maleidic Realm and its energy, called Malei. When the Hav discovered Vamfri's identity as Hadieha, Karu betrayed him in exchange for her safety. Vamfri attacked her with Malei before being killed with the help of a Hav named Julian Regulus, who fell in love with Karu. Karu and Julian had a son named Petrov. Karu subsequently developed symptoms of madness—intrusive voices and bursts of dark energy—attributed to Vamfri's experiments. Julian exiled her to Eitoria to protect her from Hav judgment, taking their son. Karu settled as a hermit near Sharbain. During this period, the awakened Toriatik announced his intent to reclaim Eitoria by killing all its inhabitants, then raised a submerged continent from the Shadow Sea, triggering catastrophic tsunamis that destroyed Karu's village and killed her. In the Maleidic Realm, guided by Vamfri's voice, Karu located and overwhelmed Toriatik but could not extract his soul. She re-sealed him, stabilizing the floating continent, and began consolidating control over the Maleidic Realm as its Queen. The Aeon Kingdom later established Lyonia, the first settlement on the floating continent.

Between 200 and 160 BF, Vamfri Laikanes discovered that Karu Aeon had lied to him and subjected her to prolonged mental, emotional, and physical abuse while compelling her continued service. During this period, the two developed a method to open a portal to Hav'En, making first contact with the Hav. Vamfri used the Hav as experimental subjects while investigating the Maleidic Realm and its energy, called Malei. When the Hav discovered Vamfri was Hadieha, Karu betrayed him in exchange for her safety. Vamfri attacked her with Malei before being killed with the help of a Hav named Julian Regulus, who fell in love with Karu. Karu and Julian had a son named Petrov. Karu subsequently developed symptoms of madness—voices and bursts of dark energy—attributed to Vamfri's experiments. Julian exiled her to Eitoria to protect her from Hav judgment, taking Petrov with him. Karu settled as a hermit near Sharbain. The awakening Mystic Toriatik then announced his intent to destroy all Eitorians and raised a submerged continent, triggering catastrophic tsunamis that killed Karu and destroyed her village. In the Maleidic Realm, guided by Vamfri's voice, Karu located Toriatik through a rift, overwhelmed him, and re-sealed him—leaving the continent suspended. Karu then began consolidating control over the Maleidic Realm, marking her emergence as the Maleidic Queen. The Aeon Kingdom later established Lyonia, the first city on the floating continent.

Between 184 and 189 AF, Aries Villanite is established as the nominal owner of the Villanite Trading Company (VTC), a Napoli-based goods and services organization. The true architects of the venture are Arielle Villanite and Apollo Regulus, with covert backing from Mickail Sidson, whose seed capital, political connections, and Chamber of Commerce introductions made the company's rapid founding possible. Mickail's involvement was deliberately concealed to preserve his usefulness as a quiet operator within the Federation's blind spots. The VTC's founding client list includes the Waerrani Bounty Hunters' Guild, the Napolian Mercenary's Guild, the Regulus Sanguarchate, and Ensconce Technologies. The company operates out of a repurposed residential mansion in a commercial district of Napoli. Aries initially resists involvement due to guilt, but a confrontation with Arielle marks a turning point in his emotional state and he becomes an active participant. Apollo and Aries develop a close personal relationship. Tamica joins as a medical and biotech consultant. Following a long-delayed reconciliation, Kiriko Kuransagi joins as engineering and espionage consultant. Attempts to hire Trance Tauling are blocked by Napolian law prohibiting the hiring of executives from non-Napolian international firms without their resignation. A legal exception for spouses of company owners leads Aries to propose marriage to Trance, which she accepts. The marriage is conducted as a paperwork arrangement only, with Trance motivated primarily by personal affection rather than corporate necessity.

Between 184 and 189 AF, the Villanite Trading Company (VTC) was established in Napoli through a coordinated effort by Arielle Villanite, Apollo Regulus, and silent patron Mickail Sidson. Aries Villanite was installed as the nominal owner and sole proprietor, while Apollo served as the public face to conceal Mickail's involvement. Mickail provided seed capital, political cover, Chamber of Commerce access, and the deed to a derelict mansion in a commercial district, which became the VTC's home and operational base. Founding clients included the Waerrani Bounty Hunters' Guild, the Napolian Mercenary's Guild, the Regulus Sanguarchate, and Ensconce Technologies. Arielle managed operations alongside Apollo. Aries initially avoided involvement due to guilt, but a confrontational breakdown with Arielle marked a turning point, after which he became actively engaged with VTC affairs and developed a close personal and sexual relationship with Apollo. Tamica joined as a medical and biotech consultant. Following a long-delayed reconciliation, Kiriko Kuransagi joined as engineering and espionage consultant. Attempts to hire Trance Tauling were blocked by Napolian law prohibiting the hiring of executives from non-Napolian international firms without resignation. A legal caveat allowed the hire if the executive married the company owner. Aries proposed to Trance during a board meeting; she accepted, motivated by personal affection rather than professional interest. The marriage was formalized through paperwork only, with no ceremony. Nyx Regulus assumed leadership of the Regulus Sanguarchate with Aurelia Villanite's assistance during this period.

On the south balcony of the Atril palace, following the conclusion of a war nearly lost, Vynisian Atril and Rosalynia Yawlinitik share an unguarded encounter that marks the beginning of a romantic and collaborative bond. Vynisian, caught in informal dress outside his private chambers, does not retreat when he finds Rosalynia watching the harbor. Both recognize in the other a deliberate division between public and private selves — a guarded court persona and a more authentic private one. Rosalynia reveals she deduced Vynisian's inner nature not from Katalyn's confidence but from observing how he managed Aries Villanite during their first meeting. Each acknowledges a long history of not forming romantic attachments; Rosalynia notes her only prior attachment was suppressed nearly forty years earlier and has only recently reactivated. They reach an implicit agreement to pursue a relationship structured around mutual trust and shared orbit around Aries, without displacing their existing loyalties to him. The arrangement is understood to be unconventional and is not expected to require external justification. The encounter concludes with Rosalynia inviting Vynisian to collaborate the following morning on a project: designing a house for Aries. The next morning, they begin planning what is described as the bloodline. This scene establishes the emotional and practical foundation of the Vynisian-Rosalynia relationship and its integration into the broader Aries-centered alliance structure.

People from the nation of Waerr and descendants of the Hav. The Waerrani look like humans but have distinctly vivid eye colors, generally have tanner skin colors, and pointed ears. Their culture is very secluded and they rarely interact with other nations beyond average trade.

People from the nation of Waerr and descendants of the Hav. The Waerrani look like humans but have distinctly vivid eye colors, generally have tanner skin colors, and pointed ears. Their culture is very secluded and they rarely interact with other nations beyond average trade.

The Waerrani are a humanoid, space-faring species characterized by pointed ears and vivid eye colors. Prior to their arrival on Eitoria, they commanded a fleet of over 1,000 vessels ranging from colony ships to fighters. A conflict with the Silarians, a hostile space-faring race, nearly drove the Waerrani to extinction, reducing their entire population to a single cloaked frigate and a small number of cloaked fighter craft. The surviving Waerrani fled to Eitoria and settled in the region of Ryukona, concealing their extraterrestrial origins from the planet's existing inhabitants. A portion of the population remained aboard the cloaked frigate, converting it into a secret orbital colony. As a deliberate policy, the Waerrani raised subsequent generations to align culturally and technologically with the broader civilizations of Eitoria, while covertly influencing and advancing other cultures. This period also saw the adoption of the Eitorian Global Calendar System, with Year 0 AF marking the reference point for recorded history. The Waerrani's hidden presence, dual existence between surface settlement and orbital colony, and their practice of subtle cultural guidance make them a significant covert force in Eitorian history. Their concealed advanced technology and near-extinction at the hands of the Silarians remain defining aspects of their identity and motivations.

The Waerrani are a humanoid, space-faring species characterized by pointed ears and vivid eye colors. Prior to their arrival on Eitoria, they commanded a fleet of over 1,000 vessels ranging from colony ships to fighters. A conflict with the Silarians, a hostile space-faring race, nearly drove the Waerrani to extinction, reducing their entire population to a single cloaked frigate and a small number of cloaked fighter craft. The surviving Waerrani fled to Eitoria and settled in the region of Ryukona, deliberately concealing their extraterrestrial origins from the planet's existing inhabitants. A portion of the population remained aboard the cloaked frigate, converting it into a secret orbital colony. As a matter of policy, the Waerrani raised subsequent generations to align culturally and technologically with Eitoria's broader civilizations, while covertly influencing the development of other cultures on the planet. This period also marks the adoption of the Eitorian Global Calendar System, with Year 0 AF serving as the foundational reference point for recorded history on Eitoria. The Waerrani's hidden presence and their dual existence—both on the surface and in orbit—established them as a subtle but significant force in shaping Eitorian civilization during its early recorded history.

The Waerrani are a humanoid, space-faring species characterized by pointed ears and vivid eye colors. Prior to their arrival on Eitoria, they commanded a fleet of over 1,000 vessels ranging from colony ships to fighters. A conflict with the Silarians, a hostile space-faring race, nearly drove the Waerrani to extinction, reducing their numbers to a single cloaked frigate and a small complement of cloaked fighter craft. The surviving Waerrani fled and eventually settled on Eitoria, establishing a surface presence in the region of Ryukona while concealing their extraterrestrial origins from the planet's other inhabitants. A portion of the population chose to remain aboard the cloaked frigate, converting it into a secret orbital colony. As a deliberate policy, the Waerrani raised subsequent generations to align culturally and technologically with Eitoria's existing civilizations, while covertly influencing the development of other cultures. This period also marks the adoption of the Eitorian Global Calendar System, with Year 0 AF serving as the reference point for the timeline. The Waerrani's hidden presence and their practice of guiding planetary development from the shadows make them a significant covert force in Eitorian history. Their conflict with the Silarians and near-extinction underpin their cautious, secretive approach to integration.

During years 181-182 AF, Aries Villanite is incarcerated at the HECRC on Sharbain and assigned to the FEMDIN project, a classified program developing a Malei-irradiated nanomachine suit integrated via neural implant. All prior test subjects failed within six months, exhibiting psychosis, self-harm, or implant removal. Upon receiving the FEMDIN Controller implant, Aries makes contact with ULMINA, the suit's onboard AI, who identifies his unusual mental compatibility and conducts unauthorized experiments with his consent, keeping results secret. Ulmina develops near-sentience through prolonged neural integration with Aries, a phenomenon Alexandria Zeru privately documents but does not disclose. Alexandria, a biomechanics engineer coerced into the project by Idris Hadi after investigating her missing mentor Dr. Rousseau, was unknowingly building a containment suit specifically designed for Aries, designated Subject V-1774-N1-T3. Idris arrives personally at the HECRC and leverages Aries' compliance by revealing that Piper survived the HEMPP explosion and is in his custody. Idris withholds knowledge of their biological relationship. Kiriko Kuransagi, heavily cybernetically enhanced, has been covertly surveilling Aries since his departure from Anili Island and begins showing signs of emotional withdrawal following Idris' cold treatment of her. Aries participates in gladiatorial prison fights to maintain access to the FEMDIN program. He bonds deeply with both Alexandria and Ulmina, and meets fellow prisoner Nyx Regulus, a Hav woman with distinctive iridescent wings who references her brother Apollo as a source of personal confidence.

In 189 AF, Kiriko Kuransagi reveals to Aries Villanite that she had been tracking Robin Flynn for years but withheld this information. Robin had recently died from a severe illness, prompting Kiriko to finally disclose what she knew. Aries and Kiriko travel to Zet to attend Robin's funeral. During the event, a racist Zetian nobleman repeatedly directs slurs at Aries, who initially ignores him. At the post-funeral ball, Aries steps onto a balcony and encounters Elizabeth Garnet, Robin's nine-year-old daughter. Robin had used Myst during pregnancy to suppress Aries' DNA, causing Elizabeth to appear fully human. Elizabeth possesses Robin's distinctive green eyes and carries a gold lighter she inherited from her mother — an object Robin had habitually stolen from Aries. When the racist nobleman escalates his remarks, Aries confronts him publicly, delivers a monologue distinguishing himself from the Waerrani, transforms into his Beast form, and kills the man by consuming his head. The resulting panic is subsequently suppressed using evidence Kiriko held against corrupt officials present and memories Aries extracted from the deceased. Elizabeth witnesses the entire encounter. Four years later, at age thirteen, Elizabeth becomes an obsessive researcher of the Golden Beast urban legend and its connection to Aries Villanite, Emperor of Avinadal. At fourteen, she enrolls simultaneously in the Political Sciences and Religious Studies Academies of Avinadal, marking the beginning of her formal connection to the empire.

In 189 AF, Kiriko Kuransagi reveals to Aries Villanite that she had been tracking Robin Flynn for years but withheld this information. Robin had recently died from a severe illness, prompting Kiriko to finally disclose what she knew. Aries and Kiriko travel to Zet to attend Robin's funeral. During the event, a racist Zetian nobleman repeatedly directs slurs at Aries, who initially ignores him. At the post-funeral ball, Aries steps onto a balcony and encounters Elizabeth Garnet, Robin's nine-year-old daughter. Robin had used Myst during pregnancy to suppress Aries' DNA, allowing Elizabeth to appear fully human. Elizabeth possesses Robin's distinctive green eyes and carries a gold lighter she inherited from her mother — an object Robin had habitually stolen from Aries. When the racist nobleman escalates his remarks, Aries confronts him publicly, delivers a monologue distinguishing himself from the Waerrani, then transforms into his Beast form and kills the man. Kiriko and Aries subsequently suppress the incident using blackmail material on corrupt officials present and memories extracted from the deceased. Elizabeth witnesses the entire confrontation. Four years later, at age thirteen, Elizabeth becomes an obsessive researcher of the Golden Beast urban legend and theorizes a connection between the Beast and Aries, Emperor of Avinadal. At age fourteen, she enrolls in both the Political Sciences and Religious Studies Academies of Avinadal. This event marks the first meeting between Aries and his biological daughter and catalyzes Elizabeth's trajectory toward Avinadal.

In 193 AF+, Aries Villanite and Kiriko are reunited with Lueria, a figure from Aries' past connected to his escape from a Santerran facility. Lueria reveals she retained files and evidence stolen during that escape and has since collaborated with Avlister, a small activist group that spent years documenting corruption within the Santerran Federation. Avlister had been paralyzed by fear of retaliation, as similar groups were routinely eliminated by the Federation upon discovery. Frustrated by inaction, Lueria risks her life and her connections within the group by approaching Aries directly with the accumulated evidence.

This intelligence enables the Empire of Avinadal to issue a public press release exposing a secret facility housing slaves and research subjects. Avinadal claims to have already raided the so-called pirate-owned facility and relocated all prisoners as refugees to Regulus and Plasid. The release conspicuously features visible Hadi Enterprises branding throughout the facility. When pressed in an interview, Enyxia Markov feigns ignorance of the logo, sarcastically suggesting the Federation would investigate how a Hadi Enterprises facility fell into pirate hands. The statement places the Santerran Federation under significant public scrutiny regarding its knowledge of and involvement in the facility's operations.

During the raid, the team discovers a mysterious teal slime creature and rescues Willow Yunaska, a prisoner who had not yet been subjected to experimentation. In gratitude, Willow volunteers to serve as Aries' personal assistant.

In 193 AF+, Aries Villanite is contacted by Lueria, a figure from his past connected to his escape from a Santerran facility. Lueria, alongside Kiriko, reunites with Aries and reveals she retained files and evidence stolen during his breakout. She has since joined Avlister, a small activist group that spent years documenting corruption within the Santerran Federation government. Despite their findings, Avlister remained inactive due to fear of retaliation, as similar groups had been eliminated by the Federation. Frustrated by the group's paralysis, Lueria approaches Aries directly, risking her life and her connections within Avlister to push for action. This collaboration leads to the Empire of Avinadal issuing a public press release exposing a secret facility housing slaves and research subjects. Avinadal claims to have raided the facility, attributing it to pirates, while simultaneously broadcasting visible Hadi Enterprises branding throughout. Enyxia Markov, when questioned about the logos in an interview, deflects with deliberate irony, placing pressure on the Santerran Federation to explain the connection. The release forces a global public reckoning over whether the Federation had knowledge of Hadi Enterprises' operations. During the raid on this facility, the team discovers a mysterious teal slime creature and rescues Willow Yunaska, a prisoner who had not yet been subjected to experimentation. In gratitude, Willow volunteers to serve as Aries' personal assistant.

In 193 AF+, Aries Villanite and Kiriko are reunited with Lueria, a figure from Aries' past connected to his escape from a Santerran facility. Lueria reveals she retained files and evidence stolen during that escape and has since collaborated with Avlister, a small activist group that spent years documenting corruption within the Santerran Federation. Avlister had been paralyzed by fear of retaliation, as similar groups were routinely eliminated by the Federation upon discovery. Lueria, frustrated by the group's inaction, risks her life and her connections by approaching Aries directly with the accumulated evidence. This intelligence ultimately enables the Empire of Avinadal to issue a public press release exposing a secret facility housing slaves and research subjects. Avinadal frames the facility as pirate-owned while conspicuously displaying Hadi Enterprises branding throughout, forcing the Santerran Federation into a public relations crisis as global audiences question government complicity. Empress Enyxia deflects questions about the Hadi Enterprises logos with deliberate feigned ignorance, amplifying political pressure on the Federation. During the raid on this facility, Avinadal's forces rescue all prisoners, relocating them to Regulus and Plasid. Among those rescued is Willow Yunaska, a prisoner who had not yet been subjected to experimentation. As an expression of gratitude, Willow volunteers to serve as Aries' personal assistant. A mysterious teal slime creature is also discovered within the facility.

During the period 250–200 BF, the ancient being Hadieha awakens on Eitoria, adopts an injured harpy girl named Vogel, and assumes the identity of Vamfri Laikanes. He searches for Kona and eventually tracks rumors of the Black Devil's Remains to the continent of Santerris, joining the Botan Empire's military and rising to general. Vamfri organizes a fighting tournament using the Black Devil's Spine as bait, which is won by Arkem Lyons. After enchanting the sword with a tracking spell, Vamfri releases Arkem, who later meets Kieu Aeon. Kieu removes the enchantment, prompting Vamfri to deploy Karu Aeon—Kieu's brainwashed sister—to pursue them. Arkem, Kieu, and Karu join the Santerran Liberation Front and liberate the Aeon Kingdom. Kieu, pregnant with Arkem's child, remains behind while Arkem and Karu continue the campaign. Arkem and Karu briefly become intimate, but Arkem ends the relationship, destabilizing Karu emotionally. Karu secretly abducts Kieu and delivers her to Vamfri, who infects Kieu with Maleidic corruption, forcing Arkem to kill her. During the confrontation, Vamfri identifies Arkem as bearing wings identical to Liu's and flees after being pushed back. Arkem later learns Kieu had hidden their daughter Aurore's survival from Vamfri; Karu, despite her allegiance, never revealed the child's existence to him. Arkem raises Aurore, becomes King of Aeon, and is remembered as the Savior of Santerris.

During the period 250–200 BF, the ancient being Hadieha awakens on Eitoria, adopts an injured harpy named Vogel, and assumes the identity Vamfri Laikanes. He discovers that Eitoria has become an interplanetary hub connected via portals to worlds including Hav'En and Hadie, accelerating civilizational growth but also conflict. Vamfri joins the Botan Empire's military on the continent of Santerris, rapidly rising to general, and organizes a fighting tournament using the Black Devil's Spine—a life-draining sword from the legendary Black Devil's Remains—as bait to assess human potential. Arkem Lyons wins the tournament; Vamfri enchants the sword with a tracking spell and releases him. Arkem meets Kieu Aeon, an orphaned princess whose kingdom was destroyed by Botan. Her sister Karu Aeon, brainwashed and serving Botan, infiltrates Arkem's group. Arkem and Kieu fall in love and conceive a child. After Kieu steps back from the campaign, Arkem and Karu briefly become intimate, but Arkem ends it. Karu spirals, is contacted by Vamfri's agents, and ultimately abducts Kieu. Vamfri infects Kieu, transforming her into a Maleida, and Arkem is forced to kill her. During the confrontation, Vamfri identifies Arkem as bearing wings identical to Liu's and flees. Arkem later learns Kieu had secretly protected their daughter Aurore before her capture. Karu, despite her allegiance, concealed Aurore's survival from Vamfri. Arkem becomes King of Aeon and is remembered as the Savior of Santerris.

During the period 250–200 BF, the ancient being Hadieha awakens on Eitoria, adopts an injured harpy named Vogel, and assumes the identity Vamfri Laikanes. He joins the Botan Empire's military on the continent of Santerris, rising to general, and organizes a fighting tournament to assess human development. The prize is the Black Devil's Spine, a life-draining cursed sword. Arkem Lyons wins the tournament but is defeated in a subsequent duel with Vamfri, who enchants the sword with a tracking spell before releasing him. Arkem later meets Kieu Aeon, an orphaned princess whose kingdom was destroyed by the Botan Empire. Her sister Karu Aeon, brainwashed and serving Botan, infiltrates their group. Arkem and Kieu fall in love and she becomes pregnant. After Kieu withdraws to raise their child, Arkem and Karu continue fighting with the Santerran Liberation Front. A brief sexual encounter between Arkem and Karu ends in his rejection of her, destabilizing Karu psychologically. Karu ultimately abducts Kieu and delivers her to Vamfri, who infects Kieu with Maleidic corruption, forcing Arkem to kill her. During the confrontation, Vamfri identifies Arkem as bearing wings identical to the entity Liu, revealing Arkem's true nature. Vamfri flees. Arkem later learns Kieu had secretly given birth to a healthy daughter, Aurore, before her capture. Karu concealed Aurore's survival from Vamfri. Arkem raises Aurore and becomes King of Aeon, earning the title Savior of Santerris. Eitoria during this era serves as a multi-world hub connected by portals to Hav'En, Hadie, and other planets.

Between 137 and 139 AF, Dr. Tien Surai, a member of a prominent Santerran Federation political family, hosted a goodwill scientific delegation from the nation of Waerr. The Waerrani scientists shared theoretical blueprints for a Myst-powered portal technology with Surai's team, which included Dr. Idris Hadi and Dr. Peter Tursk. Surai systematically monopolized contact with the Waerrani visitors and subsequently appropriated their research, filing detailed documentation under his own name as lead scientist and sole engineer. During the farewell party, Dr. Tursk accessed Surai's office computer and discovered definitive evidence of the plagiarism. He informed Hadi, who responded with unusual calm and insisted they confront Surai immediately. During that confrontation, Hadi strangled Tursk with a power cable while maintaining eye contact with Surai, eliminating the only witness. Surai was subsequently celebrated within the Federation as the leader of the team that discovered Myst, while Hadi gained recognition as a founding member of that team. Federation propaganda asserted that Waerr had learned from the Federation, inverting the actual direction of knowledge transfer. Waerr, which remained significantly more advanced in Mystech, maintained a cold but allied relationship with the Federation rather than publicly contesting the false narrative. Early Federation studies of Myst Particles theorized they underpin all fundamental forces, matter, energy, and the fabric of reality itself, transcending conventional physics.

Between 137 and 139 AF, Dr. Tien Surai, a politically connected Santerran scientist, hosted a goodwill delegation of Waerrani researchers who shared theoretical blueprints for Myst-powered portal technology. Surai systematically appropriated the Waerrani research, relabeling it under his own name. His subordinate Dr. Peter Tursk discovered the theft and brought the evidence to his closest confidant, fellow researcher Dr. Idris Hadi. Rather than support Tursk, Hadi — already a killer following an earlier patricide — strangled Tursk with a power cable during a confrontation with Surai, using the act as a demonstration of leverage over Surai. The murder bound the two men in shared culpability. Surai and Hadi subsequently co-published the stolen research, with Surai as public figurehead and Hadi as prominent collaborator. Both gained significant reputations as discoverers of Myst Particles, theorized to be the fundamental building blocks of matter, energy, and reality itself. The Waerrani recognized the theft and severed political ties with the Santerran Federation; the Federation publicly attributed the breakdown to Waerrani aloofness. Surai eventually died by suicide, and the Federation suppressed any public reckoning. Within elite Santerran circles, Hadi was quietly disgraced as the man who silenced the truth; publicly, he was only rumored to be a difficult colleague. Hadi subsequently cultivated this dangerous reputation deliberately, using it as social insulation. The incident established Hadi's pattern of calculated violence in service of institutional ambition.

Between 137 and 139 AF, Dr. Tien Surai, a politically connected Santerran scientist, hosted a goodwill delegation of Waerrani researchers who shared theoretical blueprints for Myst-powered portal technology. Surai systematically appropriated the Waerrani research, relabeling it under his own name. His subordinate Dr. Peter Tursk discovered the theft and brought the evidence to his closest confidant, fellow researcher Dr. Idris Hadi. Rather than support Tursk, Hadi — already a killer following an earlier patricide — strangled Tursk with a power cable during a confrontation with Surai, using the act as a demonstration of leverage over Surai. The murder bound the two men in shared culpability. Surai and Hadi subsequently co-published the stolen research, with Surai as public figurehead and Hadi as his lieutenant. The work established Myst Particles as theorized building blocks of all matter, energy, and reality itself. The Waerrani recognized the theft and severed political ties with the Santerran Federation; the Federation publicly attributed the breakdown to Waerrani aloofness. Surai eventually died by suicide. The Federation suppressed any public reckoning; within elite Santerran circles, Hadi was quietly disgraced as the man who silenced the truth, while the public received only vague rumors of him being a difficult colleague. Hadi subsequently cultivated that dangerous reputation deliberately, using it as social insulation for continued independent work.

Doctor Octavia Rousseau discovered Maleidic Radiation while surveying energy readings on Anili Island, unearthing an ancient sword emitting unknown signals. Working alone, she developed a prototype glass orb to contain and refine the energy as a power source. She recruited Doctor Idris Hadi, believing his credentials as a co-discoverer of Myst Particles made him a suitable collaborator, unaware of his violent history. Hadi murdered Rousseau to seize her technology, then encountered the Maleidic realm, where he was manipulated by apex Maleida — amalgamated remnants of powerful consumed consciousnesses including Karu, Hadieha, and Teishi Suraibu — who validated his ambition for bodily continuation and immortality. Emerging with gold-glowing eyes and Rousseau's absorbed memories, Hadi completed her device and founded Hadi Enterprises, building the Hadi Enterprises Maleidic Power Plant (HEMPP). He leveraged Malei's energy and mutagenic properties to attract powerful allies across industries and governments. Hadi infiltrated the Santerran Federation, co-founding the Public Data Trust — a government-funded propaganda instrument disguised as an impartial information authority. He orchestrated a false-flag bombing in Zet attributed to the Waerrani, then blackmailed the Waerrani delegation with knowledge of their non-Eitorian origins, forcing their political alignment with the Federation. The Waerrani introduced the Annual War Games as a multilateral observation mechanism. All of Hadi's public ventures served his private goal of vessel continuation, with Hadi Enterprises and Federation corruption functioning as unified infrastructure toward that end.

Dr. Octavia Rousseau discovered Maleidic Radiation while surveying Anili Island, unearthing an ancient sword emitting unknown energy signatures. Working alone, she developed a prototype glass orb to contain and refine the energy into a usable power source. She recruited Dr. Idris Hadi based on his credentials as a co-discoverer of Myst Particles, unaware of his violent history. Hadi murdered Rousseau to seize her technology, then destroyed the orb in frustration, triggering contact with the Maleidic realm. There, a coordinated intelligence composed of consumed predator-souls—including remnants of Karu, Hadieha, and Teishi Suraibu—manipulated Hadi by validating his ambition for biological continuation. He emerged with gold-glowing eyes, Rousseau's absorbed memories, and the knowledge to complete her device. Hadi incorporated Hadi Enterprises and developed the Maleidic Power Plant, attracting powerful allies interested in both energy and Malei's mutational properties. Privately, his true goal became constructing a vessel for consciousness transfer. He infiltrated the Santerran Federation government and co-founded the Public Data Trust, a propaganda instrument disguised as an impartial information authority. Using a likely false-flag bombing in Zet attributed to the Waerrani, Hadi leveraged PDT narratives to justify Federation expansion. He then blackmailed the Waerrani with knowledge of their non-native origins, forcing their political alignment with the Federation and the creation of the internationally observed Annual War Games.

Between ages 18 and 19, Aries Villanite systematically dismantled the criminal and political empire of Tulian Mercusi, mayor of Desian City and the man Aries believed to be his biological father. After torturing and killing those responsible for Kanin's death, Aries consumed one victim and absorbed memories revealing that Natalia Flynn had issued the kill order. He kidnapped Natalia, tortured her for intelligence on rival gangs, then killed her using Maleidic medical knowledge to prolong her suffering. Through absorbed memories, Aries already possessed extensive knowledge of Tulian's corruption, his rise through Hadi Enterprises funding, his criminal network spanning the islands of Desian, Kerbas, and Anili, and his personal life. Learning that Tulian had threatened Robin Flynn's safety, and holding Tulian responsible for his own unwanted existence, Aries vowed to destroy everything Tulian had built. Over the following year, Aries infiltrated political and criminal circles, methodically exposed Tulian's corruption, murdered his family before him, burned his home, and publicly revealed his crimes. Aries then surrendered without resistance and was sentenced to the Hadi Enterprises Criminal Reformation Center, a placement he appeared to engineer deliberately. Concurrently, detective Michael Garnet investigated Natalia's death and encountered Robin Flynn; Robin initially seduced him to protect Aries, but later genuinely fell in love with Michael, eventually relocating to Zet and raising a daughter named Elizabeth, to whom she passed down reverence for Aries.

Between ages eighteen and nineteen, Aries Villanite systematically dismantled the criminal and political empire of Tulian Mercusi, mayor of Desian City and the man Aries believed to be his biological father. After hunting down and killing those responsible for Kanin's death, Aries consumed one victim and absorbed memories revealing that Natalia Flynn had issued the kill order. He kidnapped Natalia, tortured her for intelligence on rival gangs, and killed her using Maleidic medical knowledge to prolong her suffering. Through absorbed memories from multiple victims, Aries already possessed extensive knowledge of Tulian's corruption, his ties to Hadi Enterprises, his debts, and his family. Learning that Tulian had threatened Robin Flynn's life to pressure Natalia, and connecting Tulian's existence to his own unwanted birth, Aries resolved to destroy everything Tulian valued. Over the following year, Aries infiltrated political and criminal networks, methodically undermined Tulian's power base, murdered Tulian's family, burned his home, and publicly exposed his crimes. Aries then surrendered to authorities without resistance. His trial resulted in placement at the Hadi Enterprises Criminal Reformation Center, a sentence observers interpreted as self-engineered. Meanwhile, detective Michael Garnet investigated Natalia's murder and became romantically involved with Robin Flynn, who had initially approached him to protect Aries. Robin and Michael eventually relocated to Zet, where Robin raised a daughter, Elizabeth, instilling in her a reverent mythology surrounding Aries.

Between 190–193 AF, Aries Villanite (age 30) expands the Villanite Trading Company by recruiting Talia Hekata, a Hornhound dominatrix and sex therapist, as mental health consultant. Talia submits to Aries after a confrontation triggers his beast form, thereafter dedicating herself to building an elite staff for him. A Plasidian delegation led by Augustus Markov, Crown Prince Vynisian Atril, and handler Katalyn Atrilmed arrives at VTC HQ requesting Aries' help to stop Edith Markov's ritual — a consciousness-transfer targeting Enyxia Markov's body, which would grant Edith control over all Plasidian memories. Aries agrees and travels to Plasid with Augustus and Apollo Regulus, receiving training in both Myst and Malei. The coalition secures alliances with Yawlin under Queen Rosalynia Yawlinitik and Atril, then liberates Harkul from a corrupt regime concealing a slave trade. Katalyn Atrilmed, manipulated by radical Atrilian Nationalists who were secretly poisoning Atril's king, attempts to assassinate Aries; Aries subdues her and executes her at Vynisian's reluctant direction. During the campaign against Edith's forces, Augustus and Apollo are captured. Aries defeats Edith by using Piper's crystal to expel her from Enyxia's body; Arielle kills Edith's physical form, trapping Edith in the Maleidic Realm. Enyxia, carrying the memories of all Plasidians and vast Mystic power, proposes assuming Edith's rule as a benevolent successor. Augustus recommends she rule jointly with Aries, whom Enyxia openly declares she loves.

Between 190–193 AF, Aries Villanite (age 30) expands the Villanite Trading Company's influence by recruiting Talia Hekata, a Hornhound dominatrix and sex therapist, as a mental health consultant. After a confrontation in which Aries shifts into beast form, Talia swears loyalty to him and becomes a key advisor. A Plasidian delegation led by Augustus Markov, Crown Prince Vynisian Atril, and handler Katalyn Atrilmed arrives at VTC HQ requesting Aries' help to stop Edith Markov's ritual, which would transfer her consciousness into Enyxia Markov's body using consolidated Plasidian memories. Aries agrees and travels to Plasid with Augustus, where he, Apollo Regulus, and Vynisian train in both Myst and Malei under Augustus. The coalition secures alliances with Yawlin and Atril, liberates enslaved citizens in Harkul, and overthrows its corrupt government. Katalyn Atrilmed, manipulated by radical Atrilian Nationalists who were secretly poisoning Atril's king, attempts to assassinate Aries; Aries subdues her and Vynisian is forced to condemn her. In the final campaign against Edith, Augustus and Apollo are captured. Aries defeats Edith by using Piper's crystal to expel her from Enyxia's body; Arielle kills Edith's physical form, trapping Edith in the Maleidic Realm. Enyxia, carrying the memories of all Plasidians and vast Mystic power, proposes ruling Plasid benevolently. Augustus recommends she rule jointly with Aries, whom she loves. Augustus also reveals Piper is Persephone Avinadalia Markov, Amelie's missing first daughter.