Chapter 26: Broken Mirror

Dusk painted Krutone in shades of violet and molten gold, the light refracting through the city’s crystal towers. Sen, Dain, and Yerah walked, their footsteps soft against the glass-tiled walkways that pulsed faintly beneath them. Around them, everything shimmered with artificial brilliance: storefronts breathed color into the streets, drones zipped between platforms with impossible grace, and the air itself smelled faintly of ozone and engineered lavender. They moved slowly, heads turning with awe.

Dain: This place is unreal.

Sen: You’re telling me.

Yerah: The architecture here is… different.

Above, hover-trams floated silently along invisible rails. Below, the floors sometimes turned transparent, revealing layers of Krutone hidden beneath the surface— levels stacked like a secret society, each one glowing with Intergy. Then, the illusion cracked.

A side street, dimmer than the rest, led to a forgotten corner of the city. The air grew denser here, heavier. The neon glow didn’t reach as far. There, huddled beneath a collapsed awning and fragments of an outdated sky-bridge, were people. Dozens of them. Some curled into themselves beneath threadbare blankets. Others sat motionless beside rusted heating vents. A few lamps flickered above them, struggling to stay lit.

Sen stopped first. Dain and Yerah followed his gaze. Then they left.

Sen: Homeless here too.

Dain: Yeah… Guess even here too…

Further down they walked, coming across a curved wall of glass shimmered with gold lettering: “Valen’s Table – Art of Fried Cuisine.” The interior glowed with warm amber light, casting long reflections across polished floors of smoked glass. Inside, chefs dressed in crisp black uniforms moved with balletic precision behind an open-air kitchen. Sen, Dain, and Yerah paused near the window, watching as dishes were plated like masterpieces— deep-fried skewers arranged on marble slabs, drizzled with glowing sauces in impossible patterns, accompanied by garnishes sculpted into delicate shapes. A tower of fried noodles stood upright, suspended mid-air by thin rods of hardened sugar, while tempura-glazed vegetables hovered in spheres of levitating steam. It was absurd. Luxurious. Beautiful.

Dain: How about here?

Yerah: This looks amazing.

Sen: It’s definitely unique looking.

From the shadows beneath the alleyway, a figure slowly emerged. The air around him seemed to bend faintly. A man cloaked in a hood stepped forward, materializing like a ghost returned to flesh. It was Aku. The homeless nearest to him stirred uneasily, but Aku raised a gloved hand—slow, calm, unthreatening. A silent gesture of peace. They watched him, uncertain, as he stood among them but apart from them. And from that stillness, he turned his gaze to the light across the plaza. Through the window of Valen’s Table, he saw them— Sen, Dain, and Yerah who were already seated and presented a meal. Aku didn’t move. He only watched.

Inside Valen’s Table, the table before them was a masterpiece of excess. A platter of golden fried chicken sat at the center, each piece sculpted to perfect uniformity, the skin glistening with a whisper-thin sheen of honey glaze and speckled with flakes of edible gold. Beside it, thick pork chops rested on beds of crisp basil leaves, their breading flecked with crushed pink peppercorn and tiny bursts of lime zest, the juices already pooling beneath from a single cut. A tower of fried noodles rose like a sculpture, twirled around lacquered chopsticks that stood upright, steam curling through the strands like incense. And then there was the rice— delicate and steaming, molded into neat domes, each crowned with thin slices of fried garlic and scallions so crisp they crackled at the touch. The scent was intoxicating: sweet, sharp, savory, and deep-fried decadence. For a moment, they just stared.

Dain: I assume this is family style?

Sen reached with his fork and placed fried chicken thigh onto his plate, then reaching for the pork chops. Dain and Yerah followed, each grabbing their share. Then they ate.

Dain (mouth full): Holy shit! This is good.

Yerah (mouth full): Wowwwww!

Sen (mouth full): Yeah. Wow.

Sen took a drink of ice water from his diamond cup.

Sen: Even their water taste so… pure.

Yerah: I mean, even the presentation is out of this world. Diamond cups. Super clean water. Perfectly shaped ice cubes. I’m not even sure what I’m picking up, and then I realize it’s just water.

Dain: You’re both really yapping about the water? Come on! Look at the food!

Dain takes another bite of the pork chops. Sen and Yerah smile and continue eating. The platter in the center gradually emptied— bones picked clean, sauces smeared, rice bowls scraped nearly spotless. Dain leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. Yerah dabbed her mouth with a cloth napkin, still wide-eyed at the craftsmanship of the food, while Sen sat in calm silence, finishing the last bite of fried pork with quiet thoughtfulness. For a fleeting moment, it almost felt like they weren’t in the middle of a war, but just three friends sharing a good meal in a beautiful city. Aa sleek humanoid robot glided toward them on silent feet, its polished silver frame reflecting the warm light of the restaurant. It bowed slightly, then extended a slim hand toward the table, a holographic display flickering to life above its palm.

Robot: Payment please.

Dain looked to Sen and Yerah, unsure what to do.

Robot: Your wristband please.

Dain extended his hand to the holographic display from the robot. The wristband given to each of them from Prism Tower gave a small vibration that slightly surprised Dain.

Robot: Thank you for your visit. We hope you enjoyed our food.

The robot left.

Sen: I see. That’s what they mean about these wristbands. You… pay with it I guess.

Yerah: These wristbands are money?

Dain: Probably a kind of currency. Beats me.

Sen: How much money do we have with the bands?

Dain: Kyto gave it to us, so I’m assuming more than we ever had. Probably more than we need.

Yerah: So, what now?

Dain: We can explore Krutone some more. There’s so much here to see.

Sen: It is getting kind of dark though. Cold too.

Dain: I wonder if it’s safe here to be out at night. 

Yerah (looking out the window): Seems like people do it all the time. I still see a lot of civilians walking around.

Sen (looking out also): Yeah, and the place is pretty well lit with all the lights.

Dain: I guess safety at night isn’t a problem here.

Sen: What did you want to do?

Dain: I dunno. Explore? I don’t even know what exists here to even decide.

Yerah: And I don’t have my coat.

Dain: Hmm, that’s right. You’re not like Sen and me. As a fire user, I can keep myself warm. And Sen can do the same with light.

Yerah: Yeah. I mean I can try to keep myself warm.

Sen: Or we can just go back and get your coat.

Dain: That too.

Sen: Or actually, I just thought of something. You can just buy a new coat, right? With your wristband thing. Let’s just find a clothes shop maybe.

Yerah: Eh, I’d rather save money.

Dain: Save when we have money from the literal president of Krutone?

Yerah: True. We just don’t know how much we actually have.

Sen: So, let’s go back to the suite then?

Dain looks out the window and sees a tall sign with texts “Prism Shopping Center.”

Dain: I’ll be honest. I kinda don’t wanna go back. Find me at the sign there? The Prism Shopping Center. I want to walk around a bit. You both can grab your coats while I look around.

Yerah looks at Sen with a bit of excitement.

Yerah: That’s fine with me.

Sen: Yeah, we won’t take too long.

Dain (smiling): Take all the time you need.

Dain gets up.

Dain: Alright, see you two in a bit.

Sen and Yerah get out of their seats.

Sen: Alright, meet at you at the sign.

At a dimly lit corner table draped in deep navy linen, Zarnem sat across from Jaze and Esako in one of Krutone’s more refined establishments— “The Prism Brine.” Here, the lighting was soft and intentional, casting silver gleams across crystal glasses and dark stone plates. The table was adorned with elegantly arranged seafood: shrimp coiled like golden ribbons atop beds of jasmine rice; lobster tails sliced in perfect symmetry, drizzled with citrus reduction; towers of mussels and clams steamed open and stacked with surgical precision, garnished with spirals of green onion and violet sea herb. Crab legs— cracked and splayed— rested in pools of butter-pear glaze, while a ring of oysters, each set in polished black shells, glistened beneath a mist of Intergy-cooled vapor. The scent was clean and briny, elevated by faint notes of lemongrass and saffron. Esako carved delicately into a lobster claw without a word. Jaze sipped his drink, relaxed. Zarnem didn’t even glance at the plate in front of him. It was all beautiful, indulgent, but to them, it was normal.

Esako: It’s still damn wild to me to have food with you again.

Jaze: When I heard you were coming back, I had to be there with President Kyto. I actually woke up early for work.

Zarnem: Yeah, it’s nice to be back.

Esako: The once incredible captain is now beneath us.

Zarnem: No need to rub it in.

Esako: Of course I do. For all the damn time you made me do all the dirty work.

Zarnem: It was your fault for being disobedient.

Esako: Eh, well you can’t tell me to do shit anymore! Haha!

Zarnem: What is your current ranking now?

Esako: General. Higher than you’ve ever reached.

Zarnem (to Jaze): And you?

Jaze: Lieutenant.

Zarnem: Only?

Esako: Damn! You really said ‘only?’ hahaha.

Zarnem: Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.

Jaze: No, it’s fine.

Zarnem: It’s just, by now, I thought you’d be a general also.

Jaze: Yeah, everyone says the same thing.

Zarnem: You were always a better student and soldier than dumbass Esako over here.

Esako: Oh, shut the hell up!

Jaze: Haha. Well, I just don’t care, you know?

Zarnem: Why’s that?

Jaze: Less work.

Zarnem: That’s unlike you to be lazy.

Jaze: Nah, it’s not lazy. It’s smart. Less work. All the benefits I need. And that’s that.

Zarnem: You don’t care to climb any higher?

Jaze: Nah. What for? Status? That’s below me.

Zarnem: But President Kyto still has you come to meetings?

Jaze: Yeah, well he knows my rank doesn’t define where I truly stand. Especially since I carry some of his bigger missions. Besides, Esako always gets me in when I want.

Esako: Yeah, until you get annoying about it.

Jaze chuckles.

Zarnem: Well, I’m glad you both have gone far.

Jaze: We did have you as our captain after all. We learned a lot back then.

Zarnem: Were the missions hard?

Jaze: Not really, weirdly enough. You prepared us well. If anything, over prepared us.

Zarnem: That’s good. Now you know why I was such an asshole.

Esako: Eh, there were times it was unnecessary. But whatever. What’s it like outside of Krutone? You said you were at Clyden right?

Zarnem: Yeah. Clyden. The world out there… is… like they say. Underdeveloped.

Jaze: Ever gonna go back?

Zarnem: Maybe. It depends.

Esako: Depends on what?

Zarnem: If I think I can continue carrying out President Kyto’s missions.

Esako: You’re such a pussy. They aren’t that bad.

Silence.

Esako: Never mind. You lost Penim. Or, thought you lost Penim, since you know, he’s alive and all that.

Jaze: What’s the deal with that? Captain Penim was always such a good leader, or at least how I remember him. What exactly happened? Is there another part to the story?

Zarnem sighs.

Jaze: If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to.

Zarnem: No, it’s fine. I can tell you two.

Esako and Jaze wait patiently for Zarnem to explain. Seconds go by.

Zarnem: I screwed him over, and I think he’s angry about that.

Esako: You think?

Zarnem: Well, I know he’s angry about it.

Jaze: But the Zagons?

Zarnem: It’s not him. I thought it was. It’s whoever is leading his group.

Esako: Yeah, we know that part. Old news. I want to know what you did to him.

Zarnem (slight pause): I… threw him to save myself.

Esako: Oh shit.

Zarnem: It was during my last battle with Krutone against Revano. Penim was worn out. Almost no Intergy left. We finished the mission, but Osin showed up with more of his soldiers. I had Intergy left, but not enough to fight all of them. So, to escape, I left Penim behind.

Esako: You mean, you threw Penim behind… right?

Zarnem pauses.

Zarnem: That’s correct.

Jaze: Because you wanted to make it back alive?

Zarnem: Penim was a high value bounty for Revano. So, I knew they would stop for him. In that moment, my mind told me it was better for at least one of us survive than the both of us die.

Jaze: But, Captain Penim never died?

Zarnem: I guess not… and that’s why I’m so confused. Did Osin capture him instead of killing him on the spot? Did someone save him?

Esako: Damn…

Zarnem: I hope this doesn’t change the way you look at me.

Esako: Eh, I never respected you as my captain anyways.

Jaze: Esako!

Esako: What!?

Esako looked to Zarnem who shows signs of defeat.

Esako: Ok, ok. My bad. I did respect you as my captain back then. And I do appreciate your discipline.

Zarnem said nothing back.

Esako: And of course I don’t look at you any differently. You did what you had to do to survive. You’re right after all. It’s better than both of you being dead. And look! Now neither one of you are dead!

Zarnem stared at his food.

Jaze: Don’t stress so much about it. You’re back home. We’ll figure something out.

They continued eating.

Esako (mouth slightly full): So, you gonna visit your mom? Or are you still angry with her?

A small pause.

Jaze: Dang, you’re really putting Zarnem on the spot tonight aren’t you—

Zarnem: Yeah, I’m going to see her.

Silence.

Zarnem: I should see her.

Jaze: She’s getting quite old now.

Zarnem: I know…

The streets of Krutone glowed beneath their feet as Sen and Yerah walked side by side, the world around them humming with soft light and quiet precision. Though the city was still alive with motion—hover-cars drifting by, storefronts shifting color to attract late-night wanderers. Sen kept his hands in his pockets, his shoulders relaxed but his eyes distant, while Yerah walked slightly closer than usual. Neither of them spoke for a while. The silence wasn’t awkward—it was comfortable, shared, like both were lost in thought but didn’t mind each other’s company. A soft breeze moved between them, catching strands of Yerah’s hair and brushing it across her face. Sen glanced at her, opened his mouth as if to speak—but said nothing, letting the moment linger as they walked beneath Krutone’s artificial stars.

Sen: That food was really good.

Yerah: Yeah. A while ago you said you cook too, right?

Sen: I do.

Yerah: Do you make food like that?

Sen: Uhh, kind of?

Yerah: What are some of your favorite things to make?

Sen: Hmm… well, since we had deep fried food, I have this wrap that I make. People seem to really like it.

Yerah: Deep fried wraps? Interesting.

Sen: And if you like rice, I have a recipe that gets received well also.

Yerah: Rice is always good.

Sen: And then I can make this egg drop soup. I sort of mix it with poultry.

Yerah: Oh, that sounds delicious.

Sen: And then there’s this noodle soup I can make, but the broth takes forever to make. Around six or seven hours.

Yerah: That’s a long time.

Sen: What about you?

Yerah: I can cook too. Although, I like to bake more if anything.

Sen: Nice! Maybe sometime while we’re here in Krutone, I can cook something and you can bake something.

Yerah: That sounds good. And Dain can just eat.

Sen: Haha. Yeah. Dain can just eat.

Yerah: Or maybe he can clean up after us.

Sen: That’s usually how it goes when he’s over at my place for food.

Yerah: I see. Then we have to be sure we make a huge mess for him to clean.

Sen: Haha! Yeah. I’ll purposely spill food all over the place.

Yerah: And I can make a ridiculous amount of dishes for him to clean.

Sen: Hell, I’ll even spill sauces on the ground for him to mop!

Yerah: And then knock over the trash can!

Sen: Oh! But we gotta be sure to fill the trash can all the way first.

Yerah: Hahaha. And then maybe even hide the mop so he has to clean with a rag.

Sen: Haha. That’s so bad!

Yerah: Hahaha.

They continue walking for a few seconds of silence.

Sen: So, are you planning on going back to Clyden?

Yerah: I’m not sure. This place is amazing. If I can make this my new home, I’d be open to it. What about you? You going back to Clyden?

Sen: I’m not sure either. I mean, Dain still has family back at Clyden, and they’re my family too. That’s why I was asking you, because you said you have your aunt and uncle over there right?

Yerah paused.

Sen: Did I get that wrong? I thought when we first met, I could’ve sworn you said something about your aunt and uncle, but I might’ve mixed you up for Shera or something.

Yerah: No, you have it right.

Sen: Ah, ok. So, you’re going to go back to them, right?

Yerah: I lied about them.

Sen: Hm?

Yerah: Back then, I think I told you I live with them. I don’t. I just say that, so people stop asking me about my life.

Sen: Oh, totally understandable.

Yerah: Truth is, I take care of myself.

Sen: Nice! But, you have family, right?

Yerah doesn’t say anything for a moment.

Yerah: I mean, I do, but I don’t.

Sen: Oh. I see.

Yerah: They’re back in Clyden, but not really there.

Sen: Care to share? If not, totally cool.

Yerah: We’re all in the same place, just not in each other’s lives. Family is… difficult.

Sen: Ah… I get it.

Yerah: I think I shared my parents are dead… They’re not. Or at least, I don’t know if they are. Haven’t spoken to them in forever.

Sen: Mmm.

Yerah: And you?

Sen: Ummm. I think I shared back then that I lost my parents to Revano. I was around thirteen years old when it happened.

Yerah: I see.

Sen: Yeah… that’s why I’m so close to Dain. His family took care of me.

Yerah: That’s so sweet.

Sen: That’s why Dain is a brother to me.

Yerah: Aww, that’s so sweet.

Sen: The guy gets on my nerves, but I’m sure I get on his nerves too.

Yerah: Haha. So, you’re the only child?

Sen: Yep. You too?

Yerah: Yeah.

Sen: I see. Yeah, Dain also. I guess we’re all only childs. Haha.

Sen and Yerah finally reached the front doors of the Krutone Suites.

Yerah: I’ll be quick.

Sen: No rush. If anything, I think I’ll grab my own coat too.

Yerah: Ok. I’ll meet you out here?

Sen: Yeah, I’ll meet you in the front.

Sen walked quietly through the Krutone Suites, his footsteps muffled by the soft stone beneath him. He reached his door and placed his palm against the panel. It slid open with a quiet hiss, revealing the familiar coldness of his grayscale room. A half-lit skyline blinked beyond the massive window, but Sen didn’t look. Instead, he moved straight to the closet, brushing past the untouched furniture. He found his coat hanging just inside, exactly where he left it. But as he reached for it, something shifted.

His body stilled. The air in the room suddenly felt denser, colder— like something unseen had stepped inside with him. He turned slightly, glancing over his shoulder. Nothing. Yet something within him prickled. Something ancient in his bones tensed, like muscle memory responding before the mind could understand. Then the door behind him clicked shut on its own. Sen spun.

From the shadowed corner of the room, a figure stepped forward— slow, deliberate, calm. The shape was unmistakable. The posture. The presence. The face. It was like staring into a mirror warped by fate. Sen’s breath caught in his throat. His twin. His image. His opposite. There, standing before him, cloaked in darkness yet unmistakably real, was Aku. Aku’s hands were raised slightly, showing signs of no intention of fighting.

Aku: Sen.

Sen stood in shock. He looked at him, and it felt like looking into a mirror. The same reflection, but it wasn’t. Aku stood there with a blank expression, removing his dark hooded jacket.  

Sen: You… Who are you?... Are you, me?

Aku: I’m Aku. I’m your brother.

Sen: Aku?...

Aku: Can we talk?

Sen doesn’t respond. He only noticed a scar on Aku’s right cheek.

Aku: I know you have a lot of questions. And I’ll do my best to answer as many as I can. You have a lot of questions. I know. Can we talk?

Sen doesn’t know how to answer.

Aku: Let’s sit?

Sen doesn’t know how to react. Aku makes the first move by taking a seat at the nearest couch giving room for Sen to follow. Sen is seated across the room.

Aku: As you probably can figure, we’re twins.

Sen doesn’t respond to that. He’s still in shock of the situation.

Aku: If you can, keep this meeting between us, just between us.

Sen: You know me? My name?

Aku: Yeah. Sen. I found out through papers. Documents. I was a twin that was given up for adoption.

Sen: Wait… Mom and Dad?...

Aku: Yeah… I was given up. At my orphanage, I learned that I had a brother somewhere out there. A twin brother… you.

Sen: They never told me… They never mentioned I wasn’t the only one.

Aku: I see. I never knew Mom and Dad, so I wouldn’t know why they’d keep that a secret from you. Are they still alive?

Silence.

Sen: They’re gone…

Aku showed a slightly disappointed look, but he already knew. He only wanted to hear it from Sen.

Aku: Got it… Can I ask how?

Sen: Revano… They died by Revano…

Aku: Ahh, of course. Revano.

A moment of silence.

Sen: How long did you know I was around for?

Aku: I always knew, since the Troita Orphanage.

Sen: Troita?

Aku: Yeah. Just never knew where you were exactly. I wanted to find you. My best friends made sure to help me find you.

Sen: Your friends?

Aku: You met them.

Sen: I did?

Aku: Sicrus and Josar.

Sen: Josar?

Aku: Ah, he never told you his name. The blond one. Back at Allatora.

Sen: You’re with them? Then, you’re the enemy?

Aku: I’ll mention part later. I promise. If you’re ok with it, let’s cover some ground first, only if you’re ok with that? Then we can talk a bit about Sicrus and Josar.

Sen hesitates to answer.

Sen: Sure…

Aku: Aside from Sicrus and Josar, anything you want to ask first? Or should I just start sharing things?

Sen thinks for a moment.

Sen: Are you real? This isn’t a game?

Aku: No games here. I really am your brother. No lies also. No reason to lie.

Aku still had a blank expression.

Sen: Why are you coming to me now? Did you know I was here? Did you always know I was here?

Aku: I did know. I always knew.

Sen: How? And how did you get into my place?

Aku: Oh! You haven’t learned how to hide in the shadows yet. I gotta show you that one sometime. Haha. With our dark Intergy, we can cloak ourselves in dark places. Even better, we can hide our Intergy so sensory users can’t detect us. It’s kind of neat. It’s how I get around without being noticed.

Sen gives a slight surprised look.

Aku: As for how I knew you were in Krutone, I always knew. I was waiting for the right moment. I waited until you were finally alone to show myself.

Sen: Have you been watching me?

Aku: I had always been watching. Just not with my eyes. Sicrus. Josar. They would let me know.

Sen: And you never showed yourself? You could’ve said something sooner. Why wait until I was alone?

Aku: I needed to talk to you in private first. I’m just hoping you won’t say anything to anyone yet.

Sen: Why? About what?

Aku: You’re going to meet with the president, yes? President Kyto?

Sen: I already have.

Aku: Mmm. I see. And you’ll be meeting with him again?

Sen: Where’s this going?

Aku: Sorry, I know this is confusing. You’re meeting with him again, during the summit, am I right? I might be guessing wrong.

Sen: And how do you know about the summit?

Aku: Oh, so is there a summit happening? Happening soon I’m assuming?

Sen isn’t sure if he should answer.

Aku: It’ll all make sense in a bit. Like I said before, I have no reason to lie. I know you’re feeling shaken. Can you trust me?

Sen pauses.

Sen: Kyto said in a few days. He never gave an exact date.

Aku: I see. So, it’s dependent on how soon all the world leaders show up.

Sen stayed silent.

Aku: I used to work in Krutone.

Sen tilts his head forward, focusing in on Aku who he was still trying to grasp the sight of.

Aku: I was quite the important person in Luria and Krutone. Not super important, but important enough to be noticed by a few. I wanted to make change for the better. My goal was to become someone important, then find you, Mom and Dad after I made myself into someone valuable. Krutone was a good place to start a new life. I used to live in Troita until I aged out of the orphanage.

Sen: You wanted to be someone important?

Aku: Yeah… I wanted to be someone who could change the system.

Sen: The system?

Aku: Yeah. When you meet the world leaders, be direct. Ask about the system. The broken system. They’ll answer you. I know them enough to say they’ll answer you.

Sen: You know them?

Aku: I know them enough… but I don’t think they know me. Not fully at least. Because they need you, they’ll let you know about the broken system.

Sen: What broken system are you talking about?

Aku: They’ll give you the answer. You have to hear it from them.

Sen: Why can’t you answer?

Aku: Because I’m just a small part of the big picture. They’re the real thing. Hearing it from them would be more believable.

Sen: That doesn’t make sense. Why are you coming here and being secretive? You bring this system thing up, offer me to ask questions and then you dodge the questions. I’m lost as it is and—

Aku: I’m the reason for the Zagons.

Sen paused, unsure if he heard what he really heard.

Aku: I have The Orb.

Aku opened his palms, and in a matter of seconds, it formed— The Orb. Sen froze. He could feel another presence coming from The Orb. Maybe even two.

Aku: All of this is me.

Sen: This can’t be real. That’s why… that’s why everyone is so interested in me. They confuse me for Aku. They confuse me for you.

Aku retracted The Orb as it faded back into his hands.

Sen: You’re the one causing all the damage. The Zagons. You’re working with Penim and Zan. Mayzen also.

Aku: You’re correct.

Sen’s heart went dark.

Aku: And Scray.

Sen: Scray?

Aku: He’s another one that works with us… He killed Ira.

Sen froze.

Aku: I believe that was her name. That’s what Mayzen said at least.

Sen: Ira was her name… and your friend killed her. Fex died to your Zagons.

Aku: Were they your comrades?

Sen tightened his fist, and Aku noticed.

Aku: I lost comrades too. Norad. Fletris. Baylene. Tyla. Aetrem. Lilan.

Sen: Zan killed Aetrem and Lilan. Not us.

Aku: Right. But they’re still gone. And same with many soldiers who died. A lot of people died.

Sen: And more will… because you have… The Orb.

Aku: Yes… The Orb is my doing… I’m the one who got a hold of it… And I wanted to include you in my journey… Back in Clyden, Zan should’ve given you some powers from The Orb. To heighten your Intergy… to speed your growth.

Sen: That was you?

Aku nodded.

Aku: Josar and Mayzen were the ones who figured out where you were living in Clyden, and I made it a goal to connect with you. But I got caught in business with Krutone things… So, I asked Sicrus to do it… then I guess he asked Zan to do it. So yes, Zan gave you the Intergy.

Sen: Why are you working with a monster like Zan?

Aku: Zan has his reasons. We all do. We all have a mission. I have mine.

Sen: And what’s your mission?

Aku: For me to explain that, I need you to talk at the summit first, when all the political leaders get together. I promise I’ll explain more.

Sen: And why do you want me in your mission?

Silence.

Aku: Because you’re my brother. No other reason.

Sen doesn’t know how to reply.

Aku: After Zan told me you were with Zarnem, I sort of figured he’d make you join him towards Krutone.

Sen: You know Zarnem?

Aku: I don’t know him. Penim does, and he told me Zarnem is the kind of person to drag others down with him, and I suppose, you being his friend, he’d drag you along.

Sen: Drag me?

Aku: Yeah. And look, he did.

Sen: Penim… he hates Zarnem?

Aku: Passionately.

Sen: Why are you working with him?

Aku: Like I said, I promise I will explain more after you speak to those in the summit.

Sen: About… the system.

Aku: Yes. The broken system.

Sen: What if they don’t tell me anything?

Aku: They will. And if not, mention my name. Tell them, I’m the one with The Orb… and you met with me. Then they’ll speak.

Sen eyes focused. He took a deep breath and stared at the floor.

Sen: You’re responsible for all of the destruction… You, my brother… are responsible for all this suffering?

Aku doesn’t answer.

Sen: And I’m supposed to trust you?

Aku: You don’t have to. I only requesting… but I understand if you don’t.

Sen: I don’t… I don’t know if I can…

Aku: And that’s ok. After all, it’ll make more sense later. You just need to talk to them.

Sen: The leaders.

Aku: Yes. The leaders. At the summit.

Sen doesn’t know what to say next.

Aku: I’ll come back.

Sen: But I have more questions.

Aku: I’m only leaving for now. I have questions for you too.

Sen: Questions for me?

Aku: I’d like to get to know my brother a bit more. It’s unfortunate we never got to grow up together. But, I’ll return.

Aku smiled. Sen was still shocked and frozen in place. Aku stood and put on his jacket.

Aku: Like I asked before, if you can keep this meeting between us to yourself, it’ll make everything easier. But if you tell anyone, I won’t blame you either.

Sen doesn’t reply.

Aku: I’ll see you again soon.

Aku opens a portal from open space and walks into The Void, but before sealing the portal, he smiles brokenly once more to Sen. Sen sat there long after the conversation. His coat sat by his side, forgotten. The silence felt heavier now, not empty— but full of everything that had just happened. The Orb. The Zagons. Aku. Brother. The word echoed in his skull like a memory that didn’t belong to him. He stared at the floor, eyes unfocused, as if answers might form in the patterns of the stone. But nothing came. No clarity. No comfort. Just the quiet unraveling of everything he thought he understood.