Before me, the hologram flickered to life, revealing Vikram and Sahasra in a faint blue glow against the dark, scarred metal walls of the Dragon Base. Their forms seemed to emerge from some distant, frozen horizon, and for a brief moment, I forgot how to breathe. "Welcome to the Dragon Base," they said in perfect unison. Then Vikram, my Vikram, the elder brother I had always looked up to, stepped closer within the projection. His face was somber, as if he already knew how this would end and didn't care to pretend otherwise. "If you're seeing this message," he began, "then the time has come. And to clear up any confusion, yes, you are indeed in space." A heavy weight settled in my chest. Sahasra's voice followed, softer but no less piercing. "If you're watching this recording, it means we are no longer alive. We have failed to stop him, and we have failed to complete the prophecy." Each word cut deep, sharp reminders of the fragile path we had walked. "That was always a possibility," Vikram continued. "The prophecy warned us it would happen this way." They exchanged a brief, silent glance filled with meaning I couldn't quite grasp, then looked back at me. "There is something you must understand," Sahasra said, her voice steady despite everything. "The fate of the world rests in your hands now."
For a moment, the hologram froze, then shattered into particles of light, leaving behind a silence so thick it pressed against my ears. Before I could process it, another voice broke through, casual and unexpected. "Hey, bro." I turned sharply, my heart pounding. It was Vikram again, but this time more real, more present. "For the Blood Dragon Trial, you have to go alone," the Dragon Base computer announced in his voice. "This is a trial reserved for the Golden Dragon alone." I clenched my fists. "But listen carefully. Bid your farewell to Sahasra. Tell her you'll come back, even if this could be the last time you see her. And tell Mom and Dad too. The Dragon Base computer has a call option. Call them and tell them your decision." A soft glow spread across the floor, tracing pale lines that illuminated the room. "When you are ready," Vikram's voice continued, "place your hand on the table. The coordinates of the trial will appear in hologram form. Press once on the crown of your watch, the keyboard will appear. Type in the coordinates, then press and hold the crown. You will be teleported directly to the trial." The voice faded, leaving behind a single glowing option suspended in the air. READY.
I stared at it, my reflection trembling on the polished surface of the control table. My hands shook, but I didn't press it. Instead, I turned to the base computer and initiated a video call. The screen flickered, and suddenly they were there. Mom and Dad. Behind them was our living room, the old couch, the cracked photo frame, the quiet familiarity of ordinary life. It felt unreal, seeing something so normal from so far beyond Earth. "Hello, Mom. Dad," I said, forcing the words out through a tight throat. Their faces lit up with relief. "I'm going to take the Blood Dragon Trial," I said, the words spilling out despite the fear twisting inside me. Silence followed, heavy and suffocating. "But Vikram," my mother whispered, her voice breaking, "no one survives that trial." I swallowed and held onto what little resolve I had. "Then I'll be the first." My father closed his eyes briefly, then nodded. "We knew you would say that. Your brother told us eighteen years ago. He said this moment would come if he died." My mother wiped her tears, forcing a fragile smile. "We won't stop you. Just come back." "I will," I promised, though the certainty felt fragile at best. They blessed me, their warmth reaching through the screen, and then the call ended, leaving the room emptier than before.
I turned back to the table and activated the holographic keyboard with a press of my watch's crown. The coordinates shimmered above the surface, strange symbols and star maps I barely understood. My fingers moved anyway, guided by something beyond instinct, maybe destiny. Just before I finished, arms wrapped around me from behind. Sahasra. She pressed her face into my chest, her shoulders trembling. I held her close, memorizing the warmth of her, the rhythm of her breath. "I'll be right back," I said quietly. "You'd better," she replied, her voice breaking into tears. When she finally let go, I took a deep breath and pressed and held the crown. For a brief second, everything felt still. Then I stepped forward. The world dissolved into pure light.