The Cactus

"Can you stay with me for a little while?"

"Do you want to hear something crazy?" asked in a soft voice of a little boy.

"When I look at people, I can directly see what's inside their heart. That's why I didn't hesitate to trust both you and your father."

"You might ask me how I do it but..." the boy said with doubt marked on his face. "...it just happens. I don't really know how but... it just instantly happens."

"I know nothing of my existence. I don't know who I am. There is a part of me that is... there... missing that I need to find. A part of me that must not fall in the wrong hands. All I know is I do not belong here... in this world. My presence will cause everyone here their demise... because of the imbalance... because of me."

"All I know is, I must fix the imbalance. If I don't do that, everyone will meet their end. I don't have any memory of my past but I always have this feeling that this world never wanted me nor do I see myself as someone who belongs here. It always makes me feel worse. I'm always told that I need to save this world by this woman in my dreams."

"This beautiful creature in my dreams. I call her... the Glowing Tree. But I know she's something way more than that. I can feel her warmth. Her love. Her everything. I quite envy you because there is always someone willing to go to any lengths just to save her children. I know she's keeping something from me, but I also know it's to keep you all safe from me."

A man laid his hands on the glass window of a safety capsule from the inside with tears in his eyes as he watches the boy who is slowly dying because he wasn't able to enter a capsule on time. Xyron Troy, the man, weeps over the boy's predicament. The boy saved him and his father from the burning SRDC building in Stellar. They are safe from the fire because they are in a safety capsule inside the building. They're still underground, surrounded by raging flames. The boy was able to free Xyron's father from his office and transport him to the safety capsule. However, he failed to enter into one because he prioritize Xyron and his father to be safe which results in him getting caught up in an explosion that blew him away and acquired severe injuries. The capsule can only accommodate one person and the boy need to enter into another one for him to save himself but sadly, he couldn't.

It wasn't only Xyron and his father who he saved. The boy helped everyone who was stuck in their respective offices and sent them one by one to their capsule and as a result, he naturally ran out of time to save himself. The boy saved 23 people from the blazing fires of the burning facility. Despite having enough capsules to cater to hundreds of people, the boy still didn't make it. Those people whom the boy saved couldn't contain their tears upon seeing the boy in the worst possible scenario. Their hearts were filled with remorse after the one whom they hurt so much was the one who saved them from their demise.

As the boy collapsed from severe burns and inhaling too much smoke, he slowly crawled, sat, and then leaned his back on Xyron's capsule which is right next to him. And that lead them into this current situation.

"Izac, l will be forever in your debt. I will assure you that we will do everything in our power to prepare everything when you return. We will help you even if it means risking our lives. I am so sorry because we didn't listen to you and continued with the experiment."

"I get it, Sir Xyron. This world seeks knowledge. People here are afraid of what they do not understand..." the boy started to cough blood.

"I no longer have time. I am lucky to meet someone like you and your father. I am fortunate in this life of mine in this timeline."

"Sir Xyron, if ever we meet again. Please help me! I can't complete my mission on my own!" the boy cried as tears streamed down from his eyes.

"Please don't let them capture me when I get back! I'm begging you! It will be over for us if they do."

"Sir Xyron, I believe my time has come! That little plant is dear to me. I become fond of it," the boy said as Xyron grab the little cactus which the boy handed to him before the capsule closed. "My memories... It may become a vessel of my memories of this time. This plant will be a fragment and when I retrieve this, I will remember everything I experienced in this life. So... please..."

The boy is slowly dying but forced to say his final words.

"Please protect it until I return!"

"I will!" Xyron assured. "And I promise that I will find you, Izac!"

Xyron will never forget the sacrifice made by a young boy named Izac. They wouldn't have survived that incident if it hadn't been for him. Xyron understands what he must do and what Izac must do.

"Izac, please wait for me!"

Alexander Troy, Xyron's father, discovered Izac in Nebulae. He was wandering in the mountains of Nebulae, where he had been for two years, according to him. Alexander brought the child to Stellar for treatment. The boy has unusual red and blue eyes, as well as unusual hair color. Alexander placed him in an orphanage and made him available for adoption. Alexander pays frequent visits to the boy. Izac stayed in the orphanage for a year before Alexander decided to take him in because he grew fond of him. Xyron did not prevent his father from adopting the child because he is unconcerned. However, as time passed, Xyron developed an interest in the boy.

In certain topics, the boy demonstrated some depth perception and understanding. It piqued Xyron's interest because he is looking for people who share the same viewpoint as him. In terms of life and the environment, the boy was wise. The fact that the child speaks like an adult piqued his interest. Xyron eventually acknowledges Izac's presence and accepts him as an adoptive little brother.

It didn't take long for them to figure out his supernatural ability. Izac said something unusual one day. He stated that he does not belong with them, leading them to believe that he does not feel at home in the Troy family. Alexander and Xyron reassured him that they accept him as a member of the family and they plan to make an official announcement about it. Izac then abruptly and casually revealed his secret. Xyron and his father couldn't understand what he was saying and simply laughed at his bizarre imagination. Their smiles vanish after Izac demonstrates what he is capable of.

They were scared.

It caught them off guard and terrified them. Izac explained to them that he doesn't belong anywhere. He explained to them that he was happy and felt at ease when they allowed him to enter their home. And as a result, he was feeling guilty because he knew that the comfort and the home they had provided would soon be gone if he stayed even longer. He begged their forgiveness for deceiving them, which surprised the two.

Regardless of his confusion, Alexander was the first to break the silence. Alexander, who had no idea what was going on, asked Izac who and what he was.

Izac didn't respond because he, too, doesn't know. Izac pleaded with them to let him go because he believed he was running out of time. Izac then began explaining everything he knows.

Izac said a lot of strange things which Xyron finds ridiculous. Then Izac started saying something that sounded like a riddle. He reasoned that because it was vague and sounded incomplete, he was just hearing it in his dreams. For the first time, Xyron couldn't understand anything he was hearing. His father, on the other hand, froze in place. When Xyron asked his father what was going on, all he heard him say was, "It's you!"

Xyron later discovered that his father is aware of what is going on. His father, on the other hand, decided to keep the entire truth from him. Alexander only stressed the importance of assisting and protecting the child. He stated that Izac is a person who should not exist in this world. He is the most important being in this world, and he shouldn't have been here.

For months, Xyron has been perplexed as to why his father is doing so many things for the child. His father decided to bring Izac to the SRDC for a thorough examination. Damascus Vadelian was the first to discover the child's true nature. The scientist made fun of his father for saying such nonsense, which he later ate.

The scientist became greedy over time. He wants to conduct tests and experiments that lead to the accident. Izac vanished after sacrificing himself to save everyone from the facility. Despite being saved by Izac, his father was struck by a severe illness. He has lung failure as a result of inhaling extreme smoke mixed with chemicals. Alexander told Xyron the truth before he died.

"Xyron, I know this is something hard to believe but..." his father weakly uttered, "...but you're the only one who can stop them from destroying us all."

Xyron has no idea what his father is blathering on about. He suspects his father knows something, but he didn't expect it to be so significant.

"Who's them?" Xyron inquired.

"..."

His father forced himself to answer despite having trouble breathing.

"The..." he paused. "The Monarchs!"

It took him by surprise. Hearing his father tell him that the ruler of the most powerful empire is planning something horrible which was terrifying because no one would be able to stop them. The Kingdom of Southern Phlearguz is on a different continent. It is so powerful that it absorbed all empires within that continent.

"That kid is the reason why our relationship with them soured. They told me that through that boy, we can harness a power that nobody could even imagine. Infinite energy, infinite resources, total world domination. It's something I couldn't agree with."

"That boy, Izac, you must find him and help him. Protect that fragment he entrusted to you. Make sure that you find him before they do!" he said with anxiety in his voice. "You're the only hope this world has. Please, Xyron, find that kid and do everything to keep him away from the hands of those people."

His father started to breathe heavily. Xyron knows the fate of his father at that moment.

"Xyron, my boy, I am so sorry if I can no longer be with you. Forgive me for I can't fulfill my promise to you. Xyron, please promise me that you'll find happiness even after I'm gone. Just keep in mind that I will always be by your side. Xyron, my son, don't forget that I am very proud that you are my son. I love you with every bit of my life..."

That day was the worst part of Xyron's life.

Recalling that event strengthen his will to act. He has to do what he has to do.

"Sir!" Damascus called Xyron. "He finally responded and he is now requesting to have your audience. Would you like to answer?"

"Yes, put him in my line."

With that, the call was redirected to the main monitor.

"Xyron, ma boy! I have never expected that you'd finally accept my proposal," a man expressed. "So, do we have a deal now?"

"I'm not here for that!"

"Tsk! Then why did you call?" irritation was heard from that reply.

"I want a trade."

There was silence in the other end.

"This is quite unusual of you. Are you making fun of me?"

"Do I look like someone dropping a prank call towards someone as ferocious like you?"

"You don't have to be mean. So, what would Stellar want from a poor old man like me?" the man asked immediately the reason for his call.

"Tell me everything you know..." Xyron hesitated.

"About what?"

"About the organization behind Project Reminiscence."

There was silence in the other end.

"Huh? Aren't you the one who's behind that nasty program?" he blurted out.

"I am not that dumb to actually believe that you do not know what exactly happened!" Xyron strongly expressed with hints of impatience. "I know that your information gathering is second to none."

It was hard for Xyron to admit that they are inferior to this man in certain fields. This contact is someone you shouldn't underestimate or let your guard down. This man is so dangerous that even Stellar is acting cautiously when it comes to him.

"I have no idea what you are talking—"

"Just give up on acting dumb because that's not gonna work with me!" Xyron interrupted.

Xyron heard the man sneer in derision.

"Alright! Alright! You got me!" the man replied in defeat.

"I can give you what you want," the man paused for a moment and then continue, "but I don't think you'll be able to return the favor."

This is the part that will dictate if the trade will be made or not.

"What do you want in return? I can give you anything as long as it is within my ability."

"This is what I like about you. Very straightforward!" he exclaimed. "Spilling everything related to that organization comes with a hefty price. Can you really do what I want?"

"Name it!"

"It's nothing hard but I want you to get me these two specific things. And I will spill everything your heart desires if you get these things for me."

"And what are those?"

"I want you to find a ring inside the cave of Mt. Nova. It's probably where the main water source of Nebulae's hydroelectric power plant came from. And I want that golden talisman in your possession which you got from the Hylos Village," the man requested. "Do we have a deal?"

Hearing that made Xyron wonder what his true intentions were. He also wonders how he knows there is a ring inside that cave, and what most interests him is how he learned about the golden talisman which they found in the Hylos Village temple.

Despite this, his request is feasible, but Xyron has the impression that there is something more to his request.

"What is your aim? What are you gonna do with those things?"

"As far as I could remember, I didn't ask you why you're asking me about that organization and now you are questioning the reason for my request? I see no point in answering that?" he ridiculed.

"That is not a question!" Xyron expressed on an authoritarian level.

"I'm not afraid of you, Mr. Troy! But since you are desperate to know, I'll tell you," the man derided which angered Xyron. "I'm a collector! What else do you think I would do with those ancient relics? Those things are priceless. Of course, I want them!"

Xyron was still not convinced but he is desperate to know the nature of the organization that stole Project Reminiscence from them. He already has the hunch who is behind it but he needs concrete proof to prove his claims.

"Alright, I'll do what you've requested!"

"I will only tell you what you want if you already have those things."

"I'll only hand over those things to you if you do your end."

"Ha! Ha! Ha! Sure! Sure!"

"I will call you again when we finish preparing everything you requested, Savikar!"