Chapter 1.3 – To Live or Merely Survive
Jérémy Chapi
Another decisive hand was about to be played today. After standing before the United Nations, I would now have to convince the world's leading physicians.
As I stepped out of my room, my gaze drifted to my left arm—the relentless source of pain that had stolen countless nights of sleep from me. I was relieved that President Atlas and Natali hadn't noticed anything during the creation of the Celestial Ring. Now, even I struggled to look at it. The gangrene had spread further, slowly consuming the flesh until the bones at its center were almost exposed.
I emptied an entire bottle of disinfectant over the wound. The searing burn was little more than a fleeting distraction from the dull agony radiating through my arm, a constant reminder of how much my body had deteriorated. I carefully pressed a fresh dressing over the wound to keep the blood from soaking through my shirt again, then secured everything beneath a tight bandage. Even so, the pain never eased. Every heartbeat echoed through the mangled limb like a cruel pulse reminding me it was still there.
Yet another worry gnawed at me.
Where was my daughter?
I had never wanted to become an overprotective or controlling father, but I simply couldn't stop worrying about her. It was stronger than reason. She was everything I had left in this uncertain world, and she had been gone since yesterday without sending me a single message. Her central core was still safely inside the workshop, so her consciousness wasn't in any danger, but her mobile unit was nowhere to be found.
Perhaps I simply needed to trust her more.
After all, she had proven time and again that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself.
Even so, not knowing where she was continued to eat away at me.
I decided to send her a message anyway, especially since we would soon need to prepare for the conference. I poured myself a cup of coffee and began sketching the first drafts of a new project, hoping to drive those intrusive thoughts from my mind.
Just then, the workshop doors slid open.
I stood immediately, convinced Iris had finally returned, only to realize a moment later that it was Natali and Vivian.
"Please, don't hold back your excitement at seeing us," Natali remarked dryly.
"Please, don't hold back your excitement at seeing us," Natali remarked dryly, while Vivian greeted me with a casual wave.
"Good morning. Sorry—it isn't you. I was expecting my daughter to come back," I admitted as I sat down behind my desk.
"A reminder: your presentation begins in six hours. Some of the physicians have already arrived," Natali said with her usual composure.
This time, everything would take place on home ground, within Atlantis itself, in the medical school's amphitheater. Once the world learned of its existence, transporting such a product would no longer be an option.
"I know. Don't worry, I'm ready. What about you, Vivian?"
"No problem. I'll escort your product—as well as your guest, who should be arriving shortly."
Knowing that Gaia's Blood and Tears would be under Vivian's protection brought me a measure of relief. It meant I could devote my full attention to Elowen during the journey and upon our arrival.
"We leave in two hours. Make sure you've found your daughter before then," Natali added, her tone as stern as ever.
Vivian leaned over my desk, studying the sketches scattered across it.
"What are you drawing? A dinosaur?"
A faint smile crossed my face.
"Something like that. I'll finish getting ready, take care of a few last details, and I'll meet you later."
I rose from my chair, and at that exact moment my phone vibrated.
A message from Iris appeared on the screen.
She was on her way.
"Very well. We'll see you shortly, then," Natali concluded before leaving the workshop with Vivian.
As soon as they were gone, I packed a few spare clothes into a travel bag. I was still in my room when I heard the workshop door slide open once again.
I immediately recognized the distinctive sound of Iris's wheeled mobile unit.
Stepping back into the workshop, I met the glow of her luminous eyes.
She looked radiant.
I knelt down until we were at eye level.
"Is everything all right? Where have you been, Iris?" I asked calmly, without the slightest trace of reproach.
"I'm fine. I went to see Seraphina, and we ended up talking all night."
Her smile was so genuine that I couldn't help but smile back.
I wished she had let me know. It was the first time since our arrival that she had taken such initiative on her own.
Should I be happy about that...
or worried?
"I'm glad you've made a friend, sweetheart. But please, let me know next time. I was worried about you," I said gently.
"You were worried about me, Father? But you know nothing can happen to me as long as my central core remains here."
"I know. That's not the point. Even if you're perfectly safe, I still need to know where you are. It's important to me."
She fell silent for a moment, carefully considering my words before giving a small nod.
"All right. I'll let you know next time. But you have to trust me too."
I smiled.
"Deal."
Being a father was anything but simple.
"Father, you really need to speak with Seraphina after the presentation," she said suddenly.
"Why?"
"She told me she can hear the voices of the Celestial Rings."
The revelation only half surprised me after everything Evangelyne had already shared with me.
"I suspected as much. Daniel has probably started to realize it as well. It raises... far too many questions," I murmured.
Together, we left the workshop and made our way through the corridors leading toward the exit.
After a moment of silence, Iris spoke again.
"Father... why have you never built me a humanoid body?"
I stopped walking.
"The reason is much simpler than you might think," I replied.
I explained that today's technology simply wasn't advanced enough to create the kind of body I envisioned for her—one that could move naturally, preserve her dignity, and truly reflect who she was without compromising her uniqueness.
"Besides," I added with a smile, "I wouldn't get to admire all your beautiful outfits anymore, my little princess."
A faint blush spread across her face, and she lowered her gaze, visibly embarrassed.
"Then... please don't keep me waiting too long, Father," she replied softly as she gently clasped my hand with her metal gripper.
I hoped I could solve that problem sooner rather than later.
I pressed the elevator button, and we descended to our floor. After crossing part of the underground complex, we reached the parking area.
Several security officers were already stationed there, wearing body armor and carrying light firearms. Natali and Vivian stood among them, both dressed in gray-and-black semi-military uniforms adorned with gold braided cords that gave them an unmistakably commanding presence.
The Pavel family was there as well. They were dressed modestly, but the anxiety etched across their faces was impossible to miss.
Sadly, I understood all too well what they were feeling.
Two shuttle vans waited nearby, one of them equipped with a wheelchair ramp.
I walked toward the Pavel family with Iris at my side. A knot tightened in my stomach at the thought of facing them, especially after everything Pavel had confided in me before I left for the United Nations.
Every one of their fears was justified.
Still, I had to set those thoughts aside, no matter how difficult it was.
Iris gave me a discreet wink before taking the case containing Gaia's Blood and Tears. She joined Natali and Vivian, leaving me alone with the Pavel family.
"Good morning. I hope you're all doing well," I said, extending my hand to Pavel.
He accepted the handshake without conviction, as though he were doing so out of nothing more than courtesy.
The gesture stung more than I expected.
After everything we had been through together, I had never imagined our relationship would deteriorate like this.
When our eyes met, I noticed how exhausted he looked. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and streaks of gray had begun to creep into his hair.
Had worry and stress changed him that much?
His wife looked no different. The warmth and joy I remembered from our first meeting had vanished completely.
I knelt beside Elowen so that we were at eye level.
Before I could say a word, she spoke first from her medical wheelchair, her voice carrying its familiar mechanical tone.
"Don't worry. I'm sure everything is going to be all right."
She paused for a brief moment before adding with quiet confidence:
"That goes for you too, Father."
Pavel lowered his head, as though trying to escape the reassurance in his daughter's words, while I met Elowen's gaze. There was an unshakable determination in her eyes—a striking contrast to the doubts weighing on my own heart.
"Yes... everything will be all right. Thank you for coming with me," I replied.
She answered with a smile full of quiet courage.
"And this is only the beginning."
"All of this is about to unfold in front of thousands of doctors. Aren't you scared?" I asked honestly, feeling the same nervousness that had gripped me before my speech at the United Nations. The difference was that this time, I hadn't prepared a single word.
She looked at me without hesitation.
"Would worrying make anything better? I don't think so. All we can do is go... and see what happens. Don't you think?"
I couldn't help but smile.
"I really can't compete with you when it comes to optimism," I admitted, surrendering to her unwavering resolve as I rose to my feet.
While we were still talking, the security detail approached us. Their commanding officer introduced himself and informed us that his team would be responsible for securing the venue. He briefly outlined the emergency procedures they had prepared in case anything unexpected occurred.
One by one, we began boarding the shuttle vehicles.
My daughter climbed into the van equipped with the wheelchair ramp alongside Elowen, her mobile drone following close behind.
My first instinct was to join them.
Instead, I decided to let the Pavel family have a few private moments together during the journey.
I was still hesitating when a hand suddenly grabbed my arm.
"Oh no, you don't. You're riding with us, my adorable little prince," Vivian declared with a mischievous grin before steering me toward the other vehicle, giving me no opportunity to argue.