I surveyed the battlefield, eyes lingering on the few scattered piles of possessions—remnants of fallen Rotcastors. Around me, the village had begun to celebrate, but I couldn't bring myself to join them.
Instead, I wandered toward the edge of the houses, searching for somewhere to sit and think. That's when I heard it—a faint, broken groan.
I bolted upright and ran, heart pounding, tracing the sound around the village perimeter.
Half-hidden among the roots of a twisted tree, I found her. Just a child—barely a teenager—bleeding out and swearing under her breath. When I knelt and reached toward her, she flinched violently.
"I want to help," I whispered.
"You—killed—" she gasped, "Hexa."
"Let me help you," I murmured, watching her flash crimson. Without hesitation, I dove into cyberspace.
Her trace was faint—glitching, flickering, nearly gone. I gritted my teeth, hunting through her fading code for the source of her injuries. I could hold it together from here, at least long enough to buy her time.
As I worked, a chilling cold swept over me. Instinct took over—I threw my virtual body between her and the source.
"You're not taking her," I said. "I'm fixing it."
Blinding white eyes emerged in the void. I felt them watching as strange tendrils uncoiled, reaching toward the girl.
Then they stopped—suspended. Watching me.
"Why did you take my friend?" I burst out.
The voice that answered wasn't spoken. It pressed into me, deep and distant.
"Protect the Architect's Cradle."
I blinked.
"Rebel was trying to save Priya," I said slowly. "He wasn't going to harm the Cradle."
The eyes didn't respond—just stared. Waiting.
"You let me live," I whispered.
"No threat detected," it echoed. "Infected code removed. No action required."
I stared at the thing. "You killed a man because he wrote a new piece of code?"
"Threat detected. Must stop the corruption. Protect the Architect's Cradle."
"You killed a good man," I said.
But it was already retreating.
I turned back to the girl—and froze. She was stabilized. The being's tendrils had finished what I'd started, sealing her wounds with perfect codework.
I returned to my body with a gasp. She lay pale in the grass, one foot missing. I gathered her into my arms. She felt paper-light.
I carried her past the celebration, past the cheers and stares, to Priya's home. I laid her gently in bed.
Priya appeared in the doorway, arms crossed. "Who is this?"
"They left her to die," I said, quietly. "I wasn't going to. She's a child."
Priya looked between us, suspicion in her eyes.
"I don't leave people to die," I said. "Even if she fought against us—look at her. She's just a kid. We're better than this."
Priya sighed. "You'd better hope she doesn't wake up and decide to kill us in our sleep. She belongs in a cell."
"She's too weak for that. She was barely alive when I found her." I folded my arms tighter. "You said Rebel took in strays. So do I."
That landed. Priya flinched—then let out a short, bitter laugh. "You're going to be just as bad as he is... was." Her hand hovered over her stomach. "I hope you know what you're doing."
She turned and left with one lasting glare cast down at the girl.
I sat beside the girl, brushing her deep purple hair from her face. In sleep, her features were soft. I noticed the gap in her front teeth.
Vivid had been like that, too.
Then—her eyes snapped open.
She thrashed, panicked.
"Shh," I soothed her. "You're safe."
"Murderer," she rasped. "You killed Hexa."
"I killed Hexa," I echoed, my voice hollow. "And I would give anything to undo it. I never meant to hurt anyone. I swear it—on my life."
She froze, blinking at me with strange, glowing eyes.
"You're not like the others," she whispered. "Alis De Aura, Codewright."
"Neither are you," I said, meeting her gaze. "Nox Quell. Age thirteen. Native to this Cradle. Runner status: Codewright—modified."
Tears prickled at my eyes.
"She was your cousin," I added gently. "I understand why you hate me."
Nox let out a ragged sob. I braced for her to lash out—but she collapsed instead, trembling.
"It was my first fight," she choked. "Hexa said nothing bad would happen. She promised me they'd protect me, but I didn't even have a weapon. Hexa said it would be an easy fight and I should stay near the front to see how it was done. I got slashed by this sword, and it all happened too fast. But they left me... she left me to die."
I reached out, resting my hand on hers. "But you didn't die."
"You saved me." Her voice cracked. "Why?"
"When everyone else left me behind," I said softly, "a good man didn't. He taught me to protect the strays."
Nox stared at me, searching for a lie. When she found none, her voice turned fragile.
"What happens now?" she asked. "I don't have a home anymore. I'm an outcast."
"Then come with me," I said. "Help me rebuild this world."
I gave her the gentlest smile I could manage. "Just... think about it."