★ INVISIBLE STRING ★
ECHOS OF THE STELLARON

chiaki slowly woke, her eyes fluttering open as the soft light filtered through the window. The bed she lay in was unbelievably comfortable-far softer than anything she was used to. The thick blankets cocooned her, and the pillows cradled her head like they had been made just for her. For a moment, she simply allowed herself to linger in that warmth, the weight of the comfort easing some of the tightness in her chest.

But then, the reality of the previous day came crashing back in waves. The Captain, this strange, new place, the unsettling conversation, the overwhelming emotions... Her head ached from it all, the weight of too much information pressing down on her temples. It felt as though the pieces of the puzzle just wouldn't fit together, no matter how hard she tried.

She closed her eyes again, trying to push away the confusion, but it only made her feel more lost. What am I supposed to do now? she thought, clenching the blanket in her hands. Everything's changed, and I don't even know where to begin.

Her mind was still racing when her thoughts were interrupted by a sound-soft but distinct. The scratch of a pen on paper. Chiaki blinked and turned her head to see Dan Heng sitting in a chair beside her bed, focused on his notebook. The gentle rustling of the pages was the only sound filling the otherwise quiet room.

She was caught off guard, not having expected him to be there, and for a moment, she just watched him. The faint lines of exhaustion were visible on his face, but he seemed calm, methodical-his focus unwavering as he jotted something down.

She felt a pang of unease, unsure why he was sitting there, but somehow, it was comforting. Dan Heng, as always, exuded an air of calm. His presence, quiet as it was, made the room feel a little less overwhelming.

Chiaki shifted in bed, sitting up slowly, and the movement caught his attention. Without looking up from his notebook, he spoke, his voice low but steady. "You're awake."

She nodded, her throat suddenly dry. "Yeah... I didn't realize you were here."

Dan Heng finally looked up, his eyes meeting hers. His sharp features softened as their eyes met, a rare gentleness shining through his usual stoicism.

"I stayed," he admitted, his voice low and calm. "I didn't want to leave you alone after everything. I was worried." His gaze held hers for a moment longer before flickering away, a hint of vulnerability in his expression that made Chiaki's chest tighten in an unfamiliar way. She found herself appreciating, more than she cared to admit, how he was always there.

"How are you feeling now?" he asked, his tone careful, measured.

"I'm okay," Chiaki replied after a pause, sitting up a little straighter. Her eyes narrowed slightly, though not with anger, but determination. "But I need answers. No more half-truths, Dan Heng. I need to know everything."

Her words hung in the air, but Dan Heng met her gaze steadily, the faintest nod of acknowledgment suggesting he understood.

A soft knock interrupted the charged silence. Before either of them could respond, the door creaked open, and Stelle stepped inside, her grin as bright as the morning sun.

"Good morning!" she chirped, her voice carrying an unmistakable teasing lilt. Her eyes swept over the scene, landing on Dan Heng seated stiffly in the chair, and she let out a laugh. "Oh, wow. Did you actually sleep on that chair all night? That explains the stiff neck look you've got going on."

Dan Heng sighed, running a hand through his hair, but didn't rise to the bait. Chiaki, however, couldn't help but smirk faintly at Stelle's antics, the tension in the room easing just a little.

Stelle crossed her arms, her grin turning sly as she leaned casually against the doorframe. "You know," she began, her tone dripping with amusement, "I don't get it, Dan Heng. Why didn't you just sleep next to Chiaki? I'm sure she wouldn't have minded. Probably would've been more comfortable than that chair, don't you think?"

Her words hung in the air, mischievous and deliberately provoking. Chiaki's cheeks flushed faintly, and she opened her mouth to retort, but no words came out. Instead, she glanced at Dan Heng, who, while maintaining his composure, had the faintest hint of pink at the tips of his ears.

"I thought you had better things to do than meddle, Stelle," he said dryly, though his usual calm demeanor didn't fully mask his discomfort. Stelle just laughed, clearly pleased with herself.

"Okay, okay, I'll leave you alone with that... for now!"

Chiaki cleared her throat, seizing the opportunity to shift the conversation. "Stelle, do you know where the Captain is?" she asked, her tone steady but purposeful.

Stelle's grin faded slightly, replaced by a casual nod. "Yeah, he's in the main hall. Probably having breakfast."

Without further ado, the three of them made their way to the large, sunlit hall. It was grand but warm, with long tables set beneath high windows that bathed the space in golden light. At the center, the Captain sat with his wife, the two sharing a quiet breakfast together.

When they noticed the group approaching, the Captain's wife offered a welcoming smile. "Good morning! Would you like something to eat? We have plenty."

Stelle's face lit up, and she opened her mouth to reply. "Oh, yes, I-"

"I'd rather get some explanations first," Chiaki cut in, her voice firm and leaving no room for argument.

Stelle stopped mid-sentence, blinking in surprise. Then, with a dramatic sigh, she muttered under her breath, "You're spending way too much time around Dan Heng. Breakfast is important, you know."

Chiaki ignored the comment, but as she glanced toward Dan Heng, she caught the faintest glimmer of amusement in his usually stoic expression. His lips quirked up, just slightly, as though he was thoroughly entertained by the exchange. Chiaki felt a small, inexplicable flutter in her chest, but she quickly pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand.

The Captain rose from his seat, a warm smile spreading across his face as he looked at Chiaki. "If Stelle wants to have breakfast, she's more than welcome to," he said lightly. "I can explain everything to you in the adjoining room. We'll have privacy."

Before Chiaki could respond, the Captain's gaze shifted slightly, settling just over her shoulder. His expression turned faintly amused as he noticed Dan Heng standing there, his posture straight and his sharp eyes fixed on the Captain with an unmistakably stern look.

The Captain chuckled softly. "Of course," he added, his tone teasing, "your personal protector is welcome to join us, too. I wouldn't dare separate you."

"Oh, he's not my Personal Protector, he-"

"He'd take a bullet for her," Stelle interrupted. Did she make it her goal today to annoy her? "But yes Chiaki! What is Dan Heng to you?"

Chiaki froze at Stelle's blunt question, her breath catching in her throat. What was Dan Heng to her? The question lingered in the air, louder than any spoken words. Her gaze flickered to him, but his expression was unreadable, calm as ever.

What was Dan Heng to her? He was everything.

Dan Heng was her anchor in a chaotic world, the one person she could always count on no matter the storm. Her best friend, the one who understood her without needing explanations, who always seemed to know when to give her space and when to stand steadfastly by her side. His quiet strength was something she admired, something that soothed her, and being near him made her feel safe in a way no one else ever had.

In his presence, she could be herself-unfiltered and unguarded. He didn't just tolerate her quirks; he seemed to embrace them, even when she couldn't. He could calm her with a simple glance, bring a rare laugh to her lips with a dry remark or a subtle tease.

But there was more, wasn't there? It was in the way her heart raced whenever his eyes lingered on her a moment too long, the way his touch, however brief-a hand brushing hers, a steadying grip on her arm-sent a shiver through her. It was in the way her pulse thrummed wildly when he wrapped her in his arms, holding her as though the world outside couldn't reach them. And it was in the way her chest felt impossibly light yet painfully full whenever he gifted her one of his rare, genuine smiles.

Dan Heng wasn't just her friend. He was special. He was a piece of her world she couldn't imagine losing, a presence that steadied her but also left her yearning. Chiaki's cheeks warmed as the thoughts surged through her, and she struggled to push them away, bury them deep.

Her voice faltered for a moment, the weight of unspoken feelings pressing against her chest. She swallowed hard, forcing a small, almost shy smile. But before she managed to find the words to respond, Dan Heng's calm voice broke the tension.

"Didn't you want to have breakfast?" he asked, his sharp gaze shifting to Stelle with deliberate ease.

Chiaki blinked, momentarily startled by the interruption. Stelle, however, seemed unfazed, a knowing smirk tugging at the corners of her lips as she crossed her arms and leaned back slightly.

"Nice save, Dan Heng," she teased lightly, but there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes as though she knew exactly what she was doing. "Fine, fine. I'll eat first. But don't think you're off the hook, Chiaki."

Chiaki exhaled softly, a mix of relief and exasperation swirling in her chest as Stelle turned back toward the breakfast table. She couldn't help but glance at Dan Heng, catching a fleeting look of understanding in his expression, as though he'd known exactly what she needed in that moment.

The Captain clapped his hands together, the sharp sound cutting through the lingering tension in the air and drawing everyone's attention back to him. "Alright," he said, his tone brisk but good-natured. "Let's focus. Kaede, Dan Heng, if you'll follow me, we'll get started."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and gestured toward a door at the far side of the hall. Chiaki exchanged a brief glance with Dan Heng before they followed the Captain, leaving Stelle to her breakfast with a contented hum.

The adjoining room turned out to be a modest office, cozy but functional. Shelves lined with books and old records filled one wall, while a sturdy wooden desk sat at the center, papers and maps neatly arranged across its surface. The soft glow of a desk lamp added warmth to the space, contrasting with the serious air of the room.

The Captain moved behind the desk, motioning for Chiaki and Dan Heng to take the seats across from him. "Well, I won't withhold from you anymore," he said, settling into his chair. His usual warmth was still there, but his expression had turned serious, signaling the importance of what was to come.

He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I don't know how or why you disappeared, Kaede. The circumstances are still unclear. But what I do know is that when you were gone, everything started changing. The storms... they started getting worse. Violent, unpredictable. They forced us all to retreat under this dome. That's why you don't see many people outside, and why the machines handle nearly everything now."

Chiaki's brow furrowed, her mind racing with questions. "Who built them?"

"They were created by my son. He was brilliant-he designed them to keep the world running while we focused on other things. But... he died a few years ago. Since then, the robots have been doing all the work, just as they were programmed. But it's not the same. I'd give anything for the people here to have a chance to live fully again, to experience life outside these walls."

Chiaki exchanged a glance with Dan Heng. She could feel the weight of the Captain's words, the deep regret in his voice.

"The Queen-my sister, your mother-hasn't left the palace since you disappeared," the Captain continued, his tone darkening. "She's changed. She's... cold, distant, strict. She doesn't speak to anyone except through this... voice."

Dan Heng leaned forward slightly, his interest piqued. "What do you mean, this voice?" he asked.

The Captain's expression grew more troubled. "I don't know what it is, or who it belongs to. But it's not her own. It's like... it's controlling her. She speaks with it, always in this one tone, with no emotion, no warmth. I've tried speaking to her, but she's unreachable. And I'm certain it's responsible for what's been happening here."

Chiaki's stomach twisted. All these years she had wanted to find her home planet. But she hadn't wanted to find such a nightmare.

"I thought if I let her know you were back, she would come out, but--"

"She didn't came out, yeah. Do you think it has anything to do with the voice?" Dan Heng interrupted.

The Captain nodded grimly. "I do. I can't prove it, but it's all connected. The storms got worse when she started speaking this way. The robots took over more. And all of us... we've been trapped here, cut off from the world, with no way to fix it. I don't know what this voice is, but I know it's dangerous. Whatever it is, it's the cause of all this."

Silence filled the room, and Chiaki could feel the weight of his words pressing down on her. She glanced at Dan Heng, his eyes intense, calculating. He turned his gaze toward her, his expression serious but calm. "Do you remember what Welt explained to you about the Stellaron's?" he asked, his voice soft yet carrying an edge of urgency.

Chiaki nodded, the words coming back to her clearly. "Yes," she said, her mind replaying the conversation. "He said the Stellaron's are strange, dangerous anomalies that corrupt everything they touch-whether it's a planet, a person, or anything else. They can warp reality itself, feeding off of energy and emotions, twisting things until they're unrecognizable."

Dan Heng's eyes narrowed, a grim understanding crossing his face. "That's right. And this... voice controlling your mother, the storms, the robots-it all sounds like the influence of a Stellaron."

Chiaki's heart sank as the realization hit. "Do you think... do you think I disappeared because of the Stellaron?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Dan Heng nodded, his expression grim. "It's possible." He then turned to the Captain, his gaze steady. "We need to speak with the Queen. Right now. If she's truly being controlled by this voice, then we need to stop it before it spreads any further. We can't let it keep ruining this world, and we can't let it keep your people trapped."

The Captain's eyes narrowed with determination, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I agree," he said, his voice firm.

Chiaki looked at the Captain, her brows furrowed in concern. "But how are we supposed to get past all the robots to reach the Queen?" she asked, her voice laced with uncertainty. "They've taken over everything."

The Captain let out a small, amused chuckle, as if the question was simpler than it seemed. "Oh, that's easy enough," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I can deactivate them."

Chiaki blinked in surprise. "You can... deactivate them?"

The Captain nodded, his tone matter-of-fact. "My son created the robots, after all. He made sure I had full access to their systems. I can turn them off with ease. It's just a matter of accessing the right commands. We'll have no problem getting through."

Dan Heng raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Well, that's convenient," he remarked dryly.

The Captain gave a small grin, standing up from his desk. "Let's get moving, then. The Queen isn't going to wait."