As the Eclipse approached Helios, Wynn, who had been chatting with the crew moments earlier, decided to cut himself off from their relentless teasing and take a bath. They hadn't been subtle about how bad he smelled—Jaxon had dramatically held his nose while Lily fake-gagged, and even Vera had offered him a bar of soap without a word. Wynn couldn't deny it, the dried blood from his last fight and tattered rags he was wearing weren't exactly "adding to his charm".
The bathroom that awaited him was nothing short of otherworldly for a slum rat like him. Pristine tiles polished to a gleaming finish stretched across the walls and floors. The silver knobs sparkled, and the faint, pleasant scent of lavender hung in the air, reminiscent of stepping into a flower garden in full bloom.
Wynn blinked, his jaw hanging wide open.
"HOLY ORIGINARS! WHAT IN THE…" ~(to say the least he had picked up a couple words from the crew).
He was utterly dumbfounded. For a boy used to scrubbing off dirt in a murky basin—if at all—this felt like stepping into an entirely different reality.
He hesitantly stepped inside, feeling out of place, as though he might dirty the pristine space just by being in it. The warmth of the room wrapped around him, and the sound of running water was oddly comforting.
Soon, he was soaking under a steady stream of hot water, his tense shoulders relaxing for what felt like the first time in years. It wasn't long before he noticed the bottles of shampoo and face wash neatly lined up on the shelf. He grabbed the shampoo, frowning as he examined it.
"What the hell is this thing?" he muttered to himself, twisting the cap and giving it a cautious sniff. It smelled... nice. Really nice.
Deciding to give it a try, he poured far too much into his hands, only to have it slip through his fingers like drippy quicksand. "Damn it!" he hissed, trying to lather it into his hair. After a few failed attempts, he finally managed to work up a frothy lather, the bubbles feeling luxurious against his scalp.
The face wash, however, proved to be even more confusing. Wynn squinted at the instructions on the back of the tube but quickly gave up, muttering, "Instructions are for soldiers anyways." He smeared it across his face in a chaotic mess, blinking furiously as some of it got into his eyes.
"WHY THE HELL DOES THIS BURN?"
************
Despite the war, by the end of it, he felt cleaner than he had ever been in his life. He stepped out of the shower, grabbing a fluffy towel and drying himself off before slipping into the clothes Cane had handed him earlier: a pair of black slacks and a black sweater. The fabric was soft, clean, and worlds apart from the coarse, worn-out garments he was used to.
As he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror, Wynn froze. His reflection stared back at him, almost unrecognizable. His skin, scrubbed clean of grime, was pale and smooth, giving him an ethereal, almost fragile quality. His white hair fell softly around his face, free of the knots and dirt that usually plagued it. His white eyes, though still slightly sunken, now stood out vividly, giving him an intense, sharp look. He wasn't particularly handsome, just a bit more sophisticated looking.
"Well, I don't look like a walking corpse anymore," Wynn muttered, turning away from the mirror. His lips twitched upward slightly.
Two can play that game, Kai, two can.
***********************
As Wynn stepped out of the bathroom, he rubbed his face, pausing when he felt the strange smoothness of his skin. He wasn't sure what kind of sorcery had just occurred, but he was here for it.
"Oh hell yeah," Jaxon said, standing up like he was about to perform an inspection.
"Look at this boy, all shiny and fresh! Did you just emerge from a bath of unicorn tears? What's this? A shower or a Baptism? I feel like I should be bowing to you now, Wynn Von Ratlord, Prince of The Slums." Jaxon squinted at Wynn, his face filled with mock disbelief.
Wynn rolled his eyes but couldn't help a small grin. "Nah, I just don't smell like I've been marinating in garbage anymore."
Jaxon threw his hands up like he'd just witnessed a tragedy. "The garbage look was iconic, though! IT WAS YOUR THING! But now you've gone all 'I've had a glow-up and I'm better than all of you' on us."
"What happened to our scrappy, street-rat Wynn, huh? The people's champion? The legendary dumpster fire elementalist?"
Lily, who had been draped over the couch like a sloth with a weird sense of entitlement, suddenly shot up. "Wait, WAIT. Are we sure this is even Wynn? I thought he was like… a ghost or something. This is a shiny version of him! Who do you think you are, an Xstagram influencer now? #NoFilter, #GlowUp, #SlumLifeToFunLife'?", #RagsToRiches, #XharMann"
What the Hell is Xharmann?~ Wynn thought to himself.
From the other side of the room, Sera and George gave him a double thumbs-up in perfect synchrony, their grins wide with exaggerated approval. "Looking sharp, kiddo," Sera said, her voice heavy with mock sincerity. "You've gone from street urchin to top-tier bachelor material."
George smiled. "Yeah, you're practically glowing now. Pretty sure the sun's jealous."
Wynn shook his head, resisting the urge to smile. "Great. Just what I needed, a bunch of jokers with a thumb up and half-baked compliments."
As if on cue, Aldric, ever the embodiment of a calm and quiet menace, walked into the room followed by Cane, instantly bringing everything to a halt. His cold, measured voice sliced through the banter like a hot knife through butter. "Enough with the shenanigans. Time to transport. We have work to do."
Lily sprang to her feet, looking way too excited. "Finally!" she shouted, clicking a button on her wrist device. "HAI DESU!"
The room shuddered as a glowing magic array appeared beneath them, swirling with intricate patterns of light. Wynn's eyes widened in awe, taking in the spectacle of it all. The magic was on a level he could barely comprehend, much more elegant and controlled than anything he'd seen back on Zerith.
Aldric turned to Jaxon. "Take Wynn to the orphanage. The rest of us will handle the business with the Duke."
Jaxon gave a thumbs-up, a grin creeping across his face. "You got it, boss. Me and the shiny new model are about to make a grand entrance."
********
As Wynn stepped off and gazed up at the capital of Helios, Apoillitus, his eyes widened in awe. The city sprawled across the desert landscape like an oasis of steel and glass, a stark contrast to the endless dunes that surrounded it.
Towering spires made of reflective materials gleamed in the harsh light of the twin suns, their shimmering surfaces almost blinding. The streets, though wide and bustling, seemed to float above the scorching desert floor, suspended by energy fields that created an eerie illusion of weightlessness.
Hovercrafts and sleek flying cars zipped through the sky, crisscrossing the horizon like streaks of light. The air was alive with the hum of technology, a sound that blended with the occasional desert wind that swept through the city.
Above him, the two suns—one golden, the other a blazing, red hue—hung in the sky, casting their dual glow over the desert city. Though he'd been told they were purely aesthetic, a design choice to make the planet look more stunning, Wynn couldn't help but feel like the two suns had a presence of their own, adding to the city's surreal, almost otherworldly atmosphere. Apoillitus was a marvel of futuristic architecture in a harsh desert world, a place where human ingenuity had carved life from the dust.
******************
Jaxon practically skipped as he led Wynn through the neon-lit streets of Apoillitus, looking like he'd just taken three shots of espresso. He was practically trembling with excitement, and Wynn could only guess if this was how normal people acted when they found out the apocalypse was delayed for one more day.
"Alright, Wynn, sit tight, 'cause I'm about to drop a bomb on you," Jaxon began in a dramatic whisper like he was telling a secret that could destroy the world. "You know who Xavier is, right?"
Wynn blinked. "Uh... should I? I've only been here like, five minutes."
Jaxon looked like he'd just discovered Wynn was a secret agent sent to stop the apocalypse. "Oh. Buddy. Buddy. You have no idea what you're in for." He put an arm around Wynn's shoulders like they were about to take down a whole evil empire together. "Xavier is a living legend. I'm talking, top-tier, flawless, basically the champion of Apoillitus if the champ could bench press a building."
Wynn furrowed his brow. "Wait, he's, like, some kind of Hero?" He recalled reminiscing about the Sword Saint shows he would watch with Kai and Leora.
Jaxon practically fell into an exaggerated dramatic pose. "No, no, kid, Xavier is beyond that. Have you ever heard of Hercules? Throw that guy out the window, because Xavier would look at Hercules and be like, 'Sit down lil bro, I've got this.'"
Wynn scratched his head. "Uh, okay... But what's so special about him?"
Jaxon's eyes lit up like he was about to talk about the most expensive shoes in existence. "First off, the guy is, like, a walking ad. I'm talking god-tier good looks. Like, the moment he steps into a room, every girl within a five-mile radius starts fainting. Seriously, if you can stand next to him for more than five seconds without a selfie, you're probably blind."
Wynn, already overwhelmed by Apoillitus's neon chaos, just stared blankly at Jaxon. "So... he's like a walking legend?"
"Oh, he's beyond that," Jaxon replied, dead serious. "This dude walks in, and people stop what they're doing. Like, you know that one meme where the guy's walking and everyone's like, 'How is this even real?' That's Xavier in real life. Except, no meme. Just... ridiculously good-looking. Like, a jawline so sharp it could cut through time, eyes that make you question your entire life choices, and this crazy charm where even the dudes are like, 'Wait, maybe I need to start hitting the gym or something."
Wynn blinked.
Jaxon grinned widely, clearly enjoying himself. "You'll see soon enough, kid. But first, You're gonna meet the crew."
***************
As they walked through the streets of the Capital, Wynn noticed the sharp contrast between the polished, futuristic architecture and the old, grand mansion that loomed in the distance. It sat at the very corner of the capital, surrounded by lush gardens and spacious grounds. The mansion looked almost like a relic from another time—high stone walls adorned with ivy, windows that stretched up to the second floor, and a large gate that creaked when Jaxon pushed it open.
"This is it," Jaxon said, turning to Wynn with a proud grin. "The orphanage. Or, as I like to call it, the Silent Dawn's very own Pet munchkins."
The front yard was a large open space, with kids running around, playing games, and shouting in excitement. Some were playing soccer, others were attempting to fly drones, and a few even practiced their swordplay in one corner. It was wild, but there was an energy to it that made Wynn feel strangely at home.
Inside, the house had the warm, lived-in feel of a place that had been around for centuries. High ceilings, antique furniture, and the scent of fresh bread from the kitchen filled the air. Jaxon led Wynn through the house with a sense of ownership, introducing him to the various members of their close-knit group.
First, they passed Gabriel, a lanky boy with pink hair and mediocre features. His eyes were a deep shade of brown, almost black, and his face always seemed half-hidden behind his messy bangs. He was hunched over a holographic map on the kitchen table, his fingers tapping furiously at the screen, a faint glow illuminating his face. "New guy, huh? Don't worry, you'll fit in just fine," he muttered without even looking up, his voice deep and smooth.
Next, they found Jack, who was in the living room trying to keep a mischievous robotic dog from chewing through his shoes. Jack had brown skin and short-cropped hair, with a cheeky grin that seemed to be permanently plastered on his face. His bright green eyes sparkled with mischief as he wrestled with the small bot. "Yo, MR.Jaxon! New recruit, huh?"
He looked at Wynn, "Don't let the guys bully you." winking as if the comment was a joke.
They moved on to Alyssa, who was sprawled across a couch with a book in hand. Alyssa had bronze hair that shimmered under the light, tied back in a loose ponytail. Her cyan eyes glimmered with a cold but friendly intensity. "I see we've got a new victim," she said dryly, not even looking up from her book. Her voice was sharp, but there was a hint of amusement in her tone. "Don't say I didn't warn you. Xavier's nice, but don't get too comfortable."
As they moved on, they stopped by Julie, who was sitting in front of a makeshift art station, sketching something with intense concentration. Julie had soft brown hair with yellow highlights that curled slightly at the ends, framing her freckled face. Her blue eyes were focused on her sketch, but when she looked up, there was a kindness in her expression that put Wynn at ease. "New guy, huh? Welcome to the madhouse." She smiled warmly, her voice gentle.
Lastly, Jaxon led Wynn into the large open space where a boy was lounging in a chair by the window. He was sitting with his legs casually crossed, wearing a plain gray shirt and well-worn jeans. His brown hair was a little too long and messily styled as if he hadn't bothered to comb it in a while. His brown eyes were average in every way—not striking, but not bad either—and his face held no remarkable features to make him stand out. He looked like the kind of guy you could pass by in a crowd without even noticing. Yet there was something about him that made people feel comfortable like he had an unspoken kindness about him.
When Xavier saw them enter, he stood up, his movements smooth and easy, as if everything was in its place and nothing could disrupt him. He had a quiet confidence, but there was no arrogance in his smile.
"Hey, Wynn," Xavier greeted him, his voice calm and friendly. "Welcome to the crew."
Wynn, for a moment, felt his expectations deflate slightly. He had been prepared for someone with a god-like aura, someone who commanded the room just by being there. Instead, Xavier seemed... well, ordinary. Still, there was something about him that drew Wynn in—he was approachable, warm, and the kind of guy who made you feel like you could relax around him. It was odd, but Wynn was sure there was much much more to this man than what was being shown,
But before he could figure out what that was, Jaxon cut in.
"You ready to meet the rest of the gang?" He asked, slinging his arm around Wynn's shoulders.
Before Wynn could answer, Jaxon turned toward the rest of the orphanage, his voice suddenly louder, mana-fied booming through every corner of the mansion,
"ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, GATHER ROUND, EVERYONE!" He shouted, clapping his hands together to grab the attention of the orphanage. "Massive announcement!"
The chaos of the orphanage seemed to freeze for a moment as the kids stopped what they were doing and began to gather around. There was a buzz of excitement, and Wynn, feeling like he was part of some strange ritual, tried to figure out what was going on.
"We're having a 1-on-1!" Jaxon roared, his voice rising with excitement.
"THE MAD RAT OF ZERITH, WYNN! VS XAVIER OF APOILLITIS-THE DAWNBRINGER!"