Aeurothrion

Zone-9 isn’t a world. It’s a stage.
And Rael? He’s not the actor—he’s forced to be the director, without a script.

Ten zones. Ten leaders. One system that can’t be opposed.
But when Rael uncovers a forbidden file called “The Glass,” the line between reality and simulation begins to crack.

Citizens start dreaming. Cities begin to shift.
And the mirror… starts reflecting something that isn’t him.

Trough The Glass

The sirens had started—quietly, without ceremony.

There were no global broadcasts. No official alerts. But Elane knew, from the flicker in the satellite feed and the tightening pressure in the comms, that something was coming. Silent. Intentional. And irreversible.

" Zone-5 units have crossed the outer satellite barrier " she reported. " Two air divisions, one confirmed ground launcher. No diplomatic notice "

Rael didn't speak. He sat, calm, his eyes staring into the central console as if looking far beyond it.

" How long do we have? " he asked.

" Six hours " Elane said. " Maybe less, if they don't slow down. That's enough time to end everything "

Still, Rael said nothing. His reflection shimmered on the dark monitor—a face no one could read. A man unsure if he was leading a war, or simply waiting for judgment from a system that feared uncertainty.

" I know you're still trying to understand what your place is in this world, Rael " he said.

" I've already chosen " Rael said quietly, without looking up.

Before Haven could respond, a voice came through the main terminal. Calm. Deliberate. And unmistakably… powerful.

" Zone-3 formally objects to the unverified erasure of a Commander "

A moment later, her face appeared—serene as ever, with eyes that held the weight of cold precision.

" An observation team will be dispatched to Zone-9.

Should Zone-5 proceed with unprovoked action,

it will be interpreted as an act of aggression "

Even the hum of cooling systems felt like thunder in the silence.

" This world was built on systems and protocols.

But if those protocols are used to mask fear—

then the system has already failed long before any individual did "

Rael finally looked up, but did not rise from his seat. He stared at the screen, a faint, quiet smile on his face.

" You know I won't hide behind you, Keziah " he said.

" And I know " she replied. " But that doesn't mean I'll let them burn this world just because they're afraid of something they don't understand "

Marshal Irven kicked his chair aside. " Abort the operation. Now "

" I won't be the first to pull the trigger while the world is watching "

The world had shifted—permanently—in the space of a single voice.

Elane and Haven left the command hall quietly, giving Rael space.

He stepped out onto the high balcony, where the air was cooler, thinner.

Above him, the sky had not changed.

The crack in the clouds still pulsed faintly.

Someone out there had heard his name.

And for the first time—it wasn't spoken with rejection.

" But that makes me the crack. And sometimes, that's where the light gets in "

Ch6-The Step Before Fire