Aston swallowed his hesitation and looked at the inside of the box. Instead of revealing its contents, there was another surface blocking the box.

  “What…” He frowned, running his fingers on the smooth, metallic surface of the lid. It was nothing like the exterior - woody and old. This feels unnatural, smooth as glass.

  The moment his fingers ran through the surface, a faint glow flickered within the surface. A series of intricate lines were generated beneath the bloodied finger. It seemed cracked, but more organized, like circuitry of a computer motherboard.

  Small, irregular, rapid beeps emitted by the box rung through the air. Then, a pulse which jerked Aston back originated from the box. The pulse was not painful, but more like a scouting one.

  Then, a voice. “Biometric input detected… Matching records… Ancestral DNA found… Initializing scanning sequence… Found two lifeforms in the immediate vicinity… Scanning genetic buildup… Complete match… Welcome.”

  The moment the voice uttered “Welcome”, a faint hiss escaped from the lid of the box.

  Aston tensed as the metallic panel split apart, retreating to the sides of the box like puzzle pieces.

  Inside the box, several items nestled within a padded compartment.

  A sealed letter rested at the center of the box. The words “To Aston” were written neatly on the envelope. Just beside it, a miniature crystal about the size of his palm pulsed faintly. It resembles an awakening crystal.

  Near the crystal, an egg sat in a small indentation. The egg is about the same size as that of the crystal. Its surface is covered in rough, overlapping scales. Yet beneath its tough exterior is a translucent shell, enough to reveal a serpentine silhouette.

  At the other end of the box, lies three differently colored vials. The first was a silvery, metallic vial, its contents swirling like mercury under the dim light. BEside it was a black vial, its contents darker than ink, seemingly absorbing the light around it, like a black hole. The last one is a green colored vial, glowing with otherworldly radiance.

  Just beneath the vials, almost hidden, is a card with an engraving Aston recognized - a maiden holding a balance scale on one hand, and a cornucopia on the other, the Bank of Juno. It is a bank widely known across all empires and countries, where one can deposit one currency and withdraw another. It is regarded as one of the top banks, if not the top.

  Aston’s gaze shifted between all of the items inside the box. Each one seemed significant, yet the sight of the letter made his chest tighten the most. He hesitated before picking it up.

  But before he could open it, a memory flashed through his mind.

  Found two lifeforms in the immediate vicinity…

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  His body went rigid. He wasn't alone.

  Aston’s head snapped up. He immediately scanned his surroundings. Only the sound of the faint creaking wooden floors can be heard in the dark of the night. He couldn’t help but shake and be alarmed due to his unease.

  Then, a faint scratching sound…

  His gaze darted through the window.

  Aston’s breath stopped as the scratching sounds continued. His eyes locked at the window, where a small, shadowy figure clung to the sill. For a tense moment, he braced himself for the worst.

  Then, a tiny pitiful meow broke the silence.

  Aston blinked. The figure trembled, its small body pressed against the broken glass. Another meow escaped, this time more desperate. He let out a breath of relief, his pulse still racing from the earlier scare. A dirty, half-starved kitten. Its fur matted with grime and mud, its ribs visible on his weak body.

  The kitten stumbled through the window and onto the floor, while pitifully crying. When its eyes met with Aston’s, the kitten dashed towards him, tripping over its own paws due to eagerness. It let out a series of small, excited meows, circling its feet as if it found its long lost home.

  Aston stared at the little fluff. Just moments ago, his instincts screamed danger. Now, a starving kitten was pressed against this leg, purring contentedly.

  He exhaled, “So, you were the second lifeform…”

  The kitten meowed again while tilting its head. Then, it clumsily climbed against the lap of the human it saw, then curled into a ball, as if claiming the lap as its own. Then, it purred into a deep sleep.

  Aston released a soft chuckle. His shoulders relaxed with the release of the tense atmosphere. His fingers hovered along the kitten’s body, feeling the soft, steady rise and fall of its breathing. It completely surrendered itself to sleep.

  His gaze went back to the box. The letter.

  The sight of it sent a fresh wave of unease through him. He reached out and picked it up, opening the seal and slowly unfolded the flap.

  His eyes lingered on the aged sheet of paper. The first words made him swallow his saliva.

  Dearest Aston, our beloved son,

  If you are reading this letter, this means that the day we both feared and awaited has finally arrived - your awakening.

  First, know that we love you. From the moment you came into this world, you have been our greatest joy. You may not remember our faces, but we have watched over you in every way we could. We had no choice but to leave you with Teresa, the only one we could trust. She was with us from the beginning - she brought you into this world, and has protected you fiercely as we would have.

  We are sorry for leaving you. More than words can express. We never want to leave you, but our work puts us in danger. We uncovered truths that others would do anything to get them in their hands, and we could not risk including you in the crossfire. We disappeared to keep you safe.

  Enclosed in this box is the culmination of our research. Each piece has its purpose, including the box itself. The egg will hatch in its own time, so please do not force its hatching. The vials contain the results of everything we have worked for. When you take everything outside the box, please follow the instructions and decide on your own if you will take the contents of the vials. Please understand that we will do anything in our power to support you in the darkness.

  No matter what happens, no matter which path you take, know that we will never care if you awakened as a red, yellow, or blue. We have only cared that you are our son. Whatever your fate may be, you are not alone. You are loved.

  With all our love,

  Mom and Dad