The ship hummed with excitement as it glided through space, a sleek silver silhouette against the vast galaxy. Inside, an eight-year-old boy sat by the window, his wide red eyes reflecting the endless stars beyond. His small hands pressed against the cool glass as he watched planets he had never seen before blur past, their colors swirling like distant marbles in the void.

  “Kain, honey, come eat.”

  The gentle voice broke through his thoughts, pulling him back to the warmth of the ship’s interior. He turned to see his mother standing beside him. She was tall—over six feet—with flowing green hair that cascaded like a waterfall down her back. Her red eyes, so much like his own, held an affectionate glow. Pale skin, flawless and smooth, added to her beauty, and Kain thought, not for the first time, how lucky he was to have such a kind and loving mother.

  “Okay, Mom,” Kain said, slipping his small hand into hers as she led him down the corridor.

  The ship was enormous, like a floating city in the stars. Restaurants and food courts lined different levels, each of catering to the diverse passengers aboard. As they walked, Kain admired the towering archways, each so grand that even a twenty-foot titan could walk comfortably beneath them.

  “Mom, how far are we from home?” he asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

  “We’ll be there shortly,” she replied, smiling as she squeezed his hand gently.

  They soon arrived at a grand restaurant, its golden letters spelling out World Food. The moment they stepped inside, the rich aromas of roasted meats, spiced stews, and freshly baked bread wrapped around Kain like a warm embrace. His stomach growled in response.

  As he turned to take in the vastness of the restaurant—large enough to hold over a thousand people—his mother gently steered him toward a table.

  “I see your father,” she said.

  Kain’s gaze followed her words, landing on a man reading a holographic newspaper. His father, Orion, looked up as they approached. Pale-skinned, black-haired, and blue-eyed, he was Kain’s mirror image in every way except for one—Kain had inherited his mother’s vibrant red eyes. The other difference was just as impossible to ignore: at 6’7”, Orion loomed over most people in the room, his presence as imposing as it was effortless.

  “How are my two favorite people?” Orion asked, lowering his paper with a warm smile.

  Kain couldn’t help but smile back as he slid into his seat. They ordered food, and as they ate, they spoke of home, of plans, of the little things that made a journey feel like a dream waiting to end.

  “Dad, can I start learning swordsmanship when we get back?” Kain asked, dipping a fry into sauce before taking a bite.

  Orion’s eyes lit up with excitement, but his mother’s reaction was different. Her smile faltered, just slightly, but enough for Kain to notice.

  “I suppose you’re at that age already,” Orion said with a proud grin.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Bang.

  Under the table, a sharp thud rang out as Orion winced, his triumphant expression twisting in pain.

  “Kain, I think we should discuss this when we get home,” his mother said, her voice calm but firm.

  Orion sighed in defeat, rubbing his leg under the table.

  Kain’s heart sank. He could see the hesitation in his mother’s eyes, the silent worry behind her decision. But all he could manage was a quiet, “Okay, Mom.”

  Valeria watched her son carefully. She knew those words had cost him. She glanced at her husband, who masked his disappointment behind a forced smile. Deep down, she understood. Orion wanted Kain to learn the sword—to become strong, to carve his own path. But she… she feared something greater.

  Later Deep Below the Ship…

  Far beneath the luxurious decks, in a reinforced chamber of enchanted metal, a black stone pulsed with an eerie glow. The energy it radiated sent tremors through the room—something that should have been impossible.

  Two guards clad in crimson armor stood at their posts, spears in hand, but neither could ignore the unnatural sensation crawling up their spines.

  Luke shifted uneasily. “Tell me I’m not the only one getting a bad feeling about that thing.”

  Drake, his partner, tightened his grip on his spear. “No. Something isn’t right.”

  Within the chamber, the air itself seemed to crack. Faint, hairline fractures appeared around the stone, like the universe itself was trying to shatter.

  Back in Kain’s Cabin…

  The sudden wail of alarms ripped Kain from his sleep. His parents stood by the holographic display on the wall, their expressions grim as red emergency lights flickered across the room.

  “Do not exit your rooms under any circumstances. If you are outside, return immediately.”

  Kain sat up, his voice still thick with sleep. “Dad… what’s happening?”

  Orion stroked his chin, his sharp blue eyes scanning the alert. “I don’t know, but something’s not right.”

  Before Kain could process the situation, Valeria sat beside him, wrapping her arms around his small frame. She held him close, her voice a soft whisper.

  “Everything will be fine, little one.”

  Kain looked up at her, smiling despite the tension in the air. “I can protect you, you know. So don’t worry.” He gave a playful wink.

  Valeria laughed, her fingers brushing through his hair. “That’s my little knight in shining armor.”

  Orion scoffed. “Hey, I’m your knight in shining armor.”

  Valeria smirked. “You’ve been replaced.”

  Orion gasped in mock betrayal, clutching his chest. Kain burst into laughter.

  BOOM.

  The ship lurched violently, nearly throwing Kain from the bed. Valeria caught him just in time. Alarms blared louder. The emergency voice echoed through every hall.

  “Evacuate the ship. All residents, proceed to the escape pods.”

  Orion didn’t hesitate. He grabbed their belongings, tossing them into his spatial ring before turning to his family. “Let’s move.”

  They ran into the corridor, joining the rush of panicked passengers. Screams filled the air. The flashing red lights made it hard to see.

  Then—another explosion.

  A section of the wall tore free, flying across Kain’s vision before slamming into the floor. Dust and debris clouded the corridor.

  And then… silence.

  Kain’s eyes widened. Through the settling dust, he saw it.

  A creature.

  Eight feet tall, gray-skinned, its massive horns curling over its grotesque face. Blood dripped from its clawed hand, skewering a man like a piece of meat. The body twitched once before going limp.

  The creature’s mouth curled into a grin. It looked up—straight at the crowd.

  “So these are the humans of this forsaken galaxy,” it rasped.

  A cold dread settled over the corridor. The alarms, the screams, the flashing lights—all faded into the background. At that moment, everyone understood.

  Death had arrived.

  Orion didn’t hesitate. He grabbed Kain, pulling Valeria with him as they bolted down the hall.

  The moment they moved, the panic erupted. People screamed, shoved, ran in every direction.

  “Where the hell are the guards?” Orion muttered, eyes scanning the chaos.

  Kain barely heard him. He was frozen. He turned back just in time to see them—more creatures, smaller but just as monstrous—tearing through the fleeing crowd. Blood splattered the walls.

  This wasn’t a movie. This wasn’t a nightmare.

  This was real.

  And it was only the beginning.