The Etherverse
The Spark in the Sky
[Scene: Lab Aetherion – midnight. Earth’s orbiting research station. The ceiling is glass. Stars twinkle above. Eirlys is alone.]
Eirlys
Why are these frequency spikes repeating... it’s like something’s responding…(muttering to herself)
A soft pulse of light ripples across the glass dome.
Eirlys
...Okay, that wasn’t static. (freezing)
A swirl of silver stardust spirals downward, condensing into a glowing, ethereal creature. A tiny dragon lands gently on her control panel. Its eyes shimmer like galaxies, and a glowing gem sits on its forehead.
Eimi
(telepathic voice): You are not. I am Eimi... from the Etherverse
Eirlys
The... Etherverse? That’s just a theory..
Eimi
Not to me. I was sent by someone who once ruled it. The Lucent before Eirian. He was Luan’s father.
Eirlys
Luan...? Who’s that? (quietly)
Eimi
(lowering his wings): Luan… was the son of the former Lucent. He is dead now. Taken by a disease that should never have reached him.
Eirlys
What kind of disease? Are you saying it wasn’t natural?
Eimi
(voice darkening): It may have been Koen’s doing.
Eimi lifts his head again. The gem on his forehead pulses gently.
Eimi
This stone once kept Luan alive. But its twin was lost. I need your help to find it. Or his light will never return.
Eirlys
You want me to help you find a... cosmic gemstone? (hesitant)
Eimi
You’re not just a scientist. You are the only one who saw me. That means something.
Eirlys stares through the glass dome at the stars, her logical mind wrestling with something far bigger than science.
Eirlys
...Fine. I’ll help you. But if this turns out to be some alien prank, I’m filing a galactic complaint.
Eimi
You won’t regret it. (smiling)
The Cave of shimmering silence
[Scene: A quiet forest near Lab Aetherion. Midnight. Eirlys and Eimi walk toward a hidden cave, led by a faint glow in the air.]
Eirlys
You sure this is the right direction?
Eimi
(hovering beside her) I can feel it. The twin stone reacts to mine… it's close.
Eirlys
(glancing around) This place was off-limits for testing. Too unstable. Nothing ever grew here.
They step into a narrow stone entrance. The walls begin to pulse faintly with ethereal blue light. The cave opens up into a wide chamber lush with glowing plants, violet vines, and crystalline flowers that spark when touched by moonlight.
Eirlys
Impossible... these aren’t from Earth.
Eimi
(softly) They’re remnants. Seeds left long ago... from the Etherverse. This cave is a gate-fragment. A bridge.
Eirlys
A gate to the Etherverse? You’re saying we’re standing on a crack between worlds?
Eimi doesn’t respond. He floats forward, his forehead gem glowing brighter.
Eimi
There beneath the shimmerleaf pool.
Eirlys kneels beside a pool surrounded by glowing leaves. The water is perfectly still, mirroring the stars. She hesitates, then reaches in. Her fingers close around something cool and smooth.
Eirlys
(pulling it out)...It’s the same. Same texture, same glow. This is it.
The moment the stone touches air, it vibrates in her hand—and her mind floods with someone else’s voice.
Luan (echoing, fading) I didn’t want to leave… Father… help me…
Eirlys gasps, falling back against the stone wall.
Eimi
(rushing to her side) You heard him. That means the gem has chosen you.
Eirlys
(shaken) What was that? I saw a boy... pale hair, starlit eyes. He was screaming.
Eimi
(quietly) That was Luan. His soul is echoing. He’s waiting.
Eirlys
This is way beyond science...
Eimi
And yet, you’re the one holding the key. The Etherverse awaits.
The cave begins to hum around them. The leaves shimmer faster. The pool’s surface twists into a spiral.
Eimi
(serious)Hold the gem tightly. Once we step through, there’s no turning back.
Eirlys
(clutching the gem, hesitant)...I said I’d help find the gem. That’s it.
They step into the shimmer, and vanish.
The Mansion
[Scene: The Etherverse. A realm woven of suspended galaxies, silver constellations, and drifting sky islands. Eirlys and Eimi emerge atop a hovering crystal disc, deep in space.]
Eirlys
...Where the hell are we? Someone’s high-concept screensaver? (squinting)
Eimi
This is the Outer Stair. That— (gently excited)
[He points to a floating spire ahead is the Lucent’s mansion.The mansion hovers in zero-gravity, tethered to nothing. Its spires spiral like silver threads through moons, its windows shimmer with voidlight. Lanterns orbit the towers like planets.]
Eirlys
Of course the dead kid’s house floats. Why not.
[They land on the front terrace. A massive doorway opens to reveal a tall man in black robes—composed, intimidating, eyes like thunderclouds. Luan’s first father: the former Lucent.]
Eimi
That’s him. Luan’s Alpha father.
Luan's Father
You brought her.
Eirlys
Yeah, hi. I believe I just saved your legacy. Where’s my thank-you fruit basket?
Luan's Father
The gem? ( ignores her tone)
Eirlys
Here. Still buzzing with whatever weird magic your kid had. Now explain what I’m doing here before I melt your floating stairway.
[Another figure steps from the shadows — soft-eyed, gentle features, pale silver hair flowing like mist. His voice is a hush of stars. This is Uan, Luan’s second father.]
Uan (Luan’s father²)
We brought you because… Luan is gone.
Eirlys
(blinking)...Gone like gone gone?
Luan's Father
Dead. His soul faded. Only Eimi and I know.
Uan (Luan’s father²)
But his body remains. Breathing, whole. We can restore him through you. ( in trembling voice)
Eirlys
I beg your cosmic pardon?
Eimi
The gem… chose you. Your soul resonates with his. You’re the only one who can enter.
Eirlys
Oh, so I’m just a spiritual USB stick now?
Luan's Father
You’ll operate his body. Speak, move, live as him. Or… decline.
Eirlys
(dark laugh!) I decline! Big fat galactic nope. Not happening.
[The air grows colder. The light dims. A crystal relic floats upward — obsidian and sickly white. The Gceiol Gem. It hums like a thousand trapped whispers.]
Luan's Father
Stand before it too long and it will blind your soul. Trap it. No vessel. No escape.
Eirlys
You’re threatening me with a soul blender!?
Uan (Luan’s father²)
We don’t want to. But Luan… his light is fading.
Eirlys
You people are insane!
Eimi
(trying to whisper to Luan’s Father)I think she’s starting to like us.
Luan's Father
She said she’ll end me with a spoon...
Eirlys storms toward the chamber where Luan’s body rests. He lies still, beautiful and pale—starlit eyes now dull. She stares down at him, face unreadable.]
Eirlys
You owe me a real explanation someday, moonboy.
Uan (Luan’s father²)
He wanted to bridge worlds. Earth, Etherverse... you were his only connection. You still are.
Eirlys
...Fine. I’ll do it.
Eimi
You will?! (surprised)
Eirlys
Yeah. But not for you. Not for this realm. Not even for him.
She glares at the Gceiol Gem, then back at the two fathers.
Eirlys
I’m doing this to save my own damn soul. That’s it. (coldly)
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