Waiting Shapeless

Chapter 22. Twenty seven years ago

Twenty seven years ago.
Bryalnus: Ferionus

I crept my way into the sunlight to regenerate, just for a moment. I had inched my way far enough out of the tunnel to engulf my entire body in the sun's glorious rays.

Slow and controlled movements, that's how we survived this guerrilla warfare. It was a risky move, regenerating on a sunny day like today, but I hadn't been able to recharge my coalesced energy for weeks now. If I was careful enough, everything should be fine.

My body was still caked in mud that I had been continuously applying, so my reflections were definitely dulled down. Unfortunately, that made it more difficult to collect the sunlight. It was a delicate balance.

The mountain landscape was rocky and dry, with various grey shrubs growing in light patches. It wasn't particularly beautiful in my opinion, but it was better than what we had been doing off and on for the past two months—which was hiding out underground. This particular opening in the ground was near the base of two mountains, the distinct 'V' shape where the two mountains met was not far down the slope from me.

The sun's rays felt so good.

I couldn't stay out in the light for long; the bright sunlight reflecting off my crystalline body easily jeopardized our cover. The mud didn't keep all reflections dulled unfortunately. If anyone were paying attention to light movements on the mountainside I would be done for. All it took was one stray pink reflection noticed by a squatter. I had to stay completely still to minimize reflection movement while I soaked in the light.

The war had only just started, and just like any war, it needed to end.

I was never much of a pacifist—I believed that sometimes war was just as important for a nation as peace was.

But this war was dumb. Our people as a species had become accustomed to war. We were too used to its presence to even realize there was a war going on. So we kept on fighting as the people continued to forgot about it.

I didn't even know which side I was on this time. That's how sad it was. I was just fighting.

I was the Captain Byralnus, leading troops into pointless wars.

Or more accurately, leading troops into pointless deaths.

I tried hard not to think about that. But sometimes the truth screams at you from inside your own head.

We were on Teius, the Ferionus home world. The warmth from this rocky planet's star warmed my core as it coursed through my transparent body.

That was it. I had had enough time in the light. I could feel the rush of energy inside me once again.

Now I needed to head back into the ground where it was safe.

I inched my way back under the safety of the darkness. It was a painfully slow process, but better than being killed. Or worse; taken alive.

The cave's shadow was already engulfing me, now only my feet were still bathing in the sunlight.

Suddenly a beam of light smashed into the cavern ground next to me, burning a hole though the solid rock and causing the surrounding stone to melt and crumble.

Someone had seen me.

I dove back into the cave. My time for using small and slight movements was over. They knew I was here now, and they would be coming to get me now.

The din from the beam was deafening and it echoed down the cave, reverberating off the walls like a ricocheting bullet. It was powerful. From the sound of it, the crystal's energy had been building up for several days in the sun.