Every young Izigan had been delighted since they arrived at Galaxia.
It was their fourth week there, and many already felt like they were in heaven. What they had seen so far was nothing compared to what awaited them, but they were already amazed by the massive housing structure where they stayed.
The building complex stretched far and wide, covered in clean white steel with parts shining silver. It was large enough to hold more than a million young Izigans, all gathered from around the world.
The huge building called the Nova assembly hall.
For now, no one supervised them directly, but they were told several times that they would soon be introduced to the world. Everyone was excited to finally be on this new planet. Everyone, except Hina.
Hina was still trapped in her thoughts, unable to shake the trauma she had witnessed weeks earlier. While others made new friends and adjusted quickly, she pushed everyone away.
She showed no smile, no warmth. Days passed, and her face carried no emotion. She wished she could heal, but the memories haunted her every time she closed her eyes.
That day in the mine was burned into her mind. She had somehow killed that creature, After she woke up hours later, she discovered more about her powers.
She managed to create glowing pink stairs that led her back to the surface. Some miners survived because of it, but many were already dead.
She had no time to speak to anyone, though many tried. Everyone wanted to know what had happened down there, their questions pressing on her like a burden. She slipped away, avoiding them.
That night, still dizzy and exhausted, her clothes dirty, she wandered the street until she reached the nearest Izigan sub-station. From a distance, she saw its tall circular building glowing with light from its windows.
Bright street lamps lit the walkway leading to the entrance. A few guards stood at their posts, talking quietly, until one noticed her figure staggering toward them.
They immediately shifted into alert positions, ready for anything. But before they could act, Hina collapsed to the ground. Later, she was given medical attention at the sub-station. Eventually, she was transported here, to Galaxia.
Inside the housing complex, all the young Izigans were given special uniforms. The boys wore black sleeveless leather tops with light leather trousers.
The girls wore short or long-sleeved versions, also with leather trousers. Some wore the same style in grey. But what connected them all was the glowing blue line pattern stitched into the fabric.
The walls of the building were decorated with three-dimensional cube designs, black and brownish gold. Wide windows lined the halls, offering a clear view of the vast silver city of Galaxia.
Hina sat alone at one of the tables, clutching a cup of coffee. It was her fourth in just two minutes. Even the serving robot noticed her distress, but she avoided its questions.
She sipped in quick intervals, one sip every few seconds, her eyes shifting restlessly from side to side, as if she were searching for something unseen.
The room was full of people eating and being served by robots. Each table was meant for four people, but nobody dared sit with her. Her cold, piercing stare was enough to keep them away.
Time passed. People came and went. Her coffee shrank until it reached the bottom of the cup. At last, she stood, ready to get another.
But then, an unexpected, familiar voice broke the silence.
"I don't think another one is necessary. What happened to you?"
Hina froze. Her eyes sharpened as she prepared her usual glare to drive the stranger away. But the moment she Turned and saw who it was, her expression changed.
She stepped back quickly, fists clenched, her stance firm. Pink daggers materialized in her hands, reversed in her grip, glowing faintly. Her eyes locked on Derek, who stood calm, not flinching. He smiled slightly, his fingers folded together in front of him.
Something about him felt off, but she knew Derek. Or at least, she thought she did.
"You? … You're here? What do you want?" Hina asked sharply, her voice tense as she kept her stance.
"Hina, it's not what you think," Derek said. "Things happened. A lot of things."
He took a deep breath, raising his hands slowly in a calm gesture.
"I'm not the Derek you once knew. I know it sounds impossible, but I'll explain."
"There's nothing you can say to convince me. How the hell are you even here?" Hina snapped.
Her eyes scanned him carefully, studying his body for anything different. Then she saw it, the Izigan tattoos. Her eyes widened. The pink daggers dissolved, and her stance relaxed. She tilted her head down, confused, staring at Derek's arms.
Those are…? How? He isn't Izigan… so why does he have them?
Derek noticed her gaze and lowered his head, looking at the tattoos himself. His smile faded, replaced by a shadow of grief.
"You noticed them," he said quietly. "That's the first thing you need to know.
Dave saved my life. I tried to kill him,yeah, I actually tried. And even then, he helped me. He was still good to me, even when I didn't deserve it."
Derek gave a weak, broken smile, exhaling heavily before continuing.
"I thought I was going to die. Then, suddenly, he appeared, surrounded by white light. I was helpless, about to be ripped apart by some creature. But he saved me. That's why I'm here, Hina. I don't want to fight. I'm just… trying to figure out the new me."
Hina studied his face. For the first time, she saw his grief, real grief. So much had happened in just a week, for both of them.
Derek had buried both his parents with the help of Izigans, after they found him unconscious between their lifeless bodies. And now, broken, he carried the weight of becoming Izigan himself.
But Hina wasn't ready to believe him so easily.
"I haven't seen Dave here," she said, her voice sharp again. "You expect me to believe you? Where is he?"
"I don't know," Derek answered honestly. "He went his way, and I went mine. If he's still on Earth, I'm sure he's fine."
Her face hardened.
"He already missed the call out," she said coldly. "And don't ever talk to me again."
She turned sharply, leaving him behind as she dashed toward the exit, disappearing from his sight.