Chapter 17: Declaration

As Cedric emerged from the teleportation hub, he gazed around in wonder at the peculiar sight before him. The air was still and silent, except for the faint hum of machinery and the distant thrum of engines. His eyes took in the sprawling space station, covered by an ocean-colored membrane that enclosed the entire station, a vast web of steel and lights pulsing with a life of its own.

As he looked out into the void of space, Cedric could see ships of all shapes and sizes docked at the station, some so dreadnoughts so massive that they dwarfed the half-kilometer-long cruise ships docked beside them. The ships were sleek and menacing, bristling with guns and covered in a complex webbing of inscriptions etched into their surface.

The sounds of metal creaking and groaning could be heard as smaller ships docked or undocked, their engines roaring as they maneuvered through the vast space around them. Cedric felt a sense of awe and trepidation, realizing the sheer scale of the technology and the vastness of the universe they now found themselves in.

The air was filled with a constant hum of energy, as if the very fabric of space itself was alive and pulsating with power. It was a hum that resonated deep within Cedric's bones, and he felt as though he was a tiny speck in the vastness of the cosmos.

As the father and son duo stood there, surrounded by the wonders of an intergalactic space station, Cedric couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and wonder at the adventure that lay ahead of them.

Rodrick takes in the nostalgic sight, turning to his left, he witnesses his son's eyes marveling at their surroundings. He stretches his hand over to his son's back, nudging him forward. Knocking him out of his stupor, he says, "Let's get a move on. We don't have all day. You'll get used to it eventually."

Cedric, taking a moment to calm his beating heart, nods to his father. They start walking, this time less hurriedly, as they were lucky enough to be the first in line for the planet Grados's teleportation sequence. Cedric remembers waiting in long lines, sometimes for days in the past, for the opportunity to teleport.

As they head towards what looks to Cedric like a checkpoint, Rodrick raises a question:

"Have you got all of your gear in order?"

"Yes, Father. I packed the bare necessities, as well as the jerky you made last week. I have prepared enough rations to last me a month in hopes of surviving in case the spaceship crashes on a roaming devourer planet."

Rodrick shudders at the thought, having experienced it a couple of times during his tenure as a soldier of the Federation. He nods in affirmation at his son's preparedness.

They get stopped on their way, by a group of guards stationed at the checkpoint. A familiar face among them.

"Excuse me, fellow citizens, do you come to the space district very often? Oh, what am I saying, of course, you don't."

"Uncle Sam!"

Chuckling at his uncle's one-liner, reminding him of the typical Federation guard's quotes, Cedric rushes to embrace the man hosting his father's features. Standing at an albeit shorter height than his father, at 2.15 meters tall, the beefy man is built like a devourer with gleaming green-colored eyes accompanied by a large smile adorning his bearded face. Samuel embraces the child in a bear hug before hoisting his nephew, sitting him over his shoulders, as he speaks to his brother.

"Well now, brother. Mind explaining where you're headed? I was just perusing my reports as usual when I stumbled upon your names appearing on top of the list of visitors. Last time I checked, you can travel to other planets straight from the teleportation nexus."

"Samuel, it's good to see you. I am escorting my son on our way to platform 13."

Samuel's eyes widen in incredulity. In shock, he mutters:

"To The ship?"

"Yes"

The smile now gone from his face, Samuel seeks to confirm his speculation:

"Headed to The Planet???"

Sighing, Rodrick thinks to himself, 'Well, there goes the plan about not telling my soft brother about Cedric going to The Forge.'

"Yes, I am sending Cedric exactly where you suspect. And no, we are Not having this conversation right now. I am taking responsibility, and Cedric has already decided that this is the path he wishes to tread. It is my responsibility as a parent to let him know of the risks involved and to provide a guiding hand. You know that once he comes back, he'll be better armed to survive in the military."

Tension hangs heavy in the air as the brothers face each other. Cedric's fate hangs in the balance as Rodrick tries to defend his decision.

"If he comes back, not once he comes back," Samuel says, his voice low and filled with worry. "Rodrick, you served in the military. You heard as much as I did about the tales of the delvers who managed to survive The Forge. You're sending him to his death."

Rodrick stands his ground, his jaw set. "I know the risks, Samuel. But this is something Cedric needs to do. He's made up his mind, and I won't stand in his way."

Samuel shakes his head in disbelief. "I don't condone this," he says firmly, his eyes never leaving Rodrick's.

Rodrick muttering, his voice deep like an earthquake: "Samuel, this matter is not up for debate."

Cedric, having left his position atop his uncle's shoulders, steps in between the two giants, their eyes clashing as they glare at each other.

"Both of you, stop it. Uncle Sam, it's my own choice. I know that only 5% of entrants come out alive, and I am grateful for you expressing how much you care about my well-being."

Both brothers, now staring at the child, display a soft smile as they listen to him.

"But," Cedric continues, his voice trembling with emotion. As he remembers the sights he has seen with his father on their travels - the ruined planets, civilizations now gone from existence, consumed by the devourers' gluttony - his blood starts to boil.

In a split second, the smile vanished from Cedric's face, replaced by an expression of unbridled wrath. He made a swift swiping motion with his palm, as if cutting through the air with a blade. The temperature around the group seemed to rise with his declaration, as if his fiery determination was igniting the very air around him.

"This is my path to tread. And tread it I will. When the devourers come knocking on our doorstep, I will not cower in fear. I will stand up, and I will wipe them out of existence. It is my duty. It is my will."

Little did Cedric know the magnitude of his proclamation, for it would become the memory he would recall most often in his future. His first declaration against the damned foe that had consumed so much of the galaxy. Cedric had already proclaimed his path, but he was still ignorant of the true direction it would lead him.

Only time would tell if he had made the right choice, if he was truly ready for the path he had chosen to tread.

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