The Earth was completely in ruins, and people lived in a few round, dome-like cities.
Alec Hartin, 19 years old, was the genius leader who fixed the broken machines in his dome. Everyone relied on him, and he was confident in his talents. His only emotional support was Silas Vane, his best friend since childhood.
But one day, while repairing a crucial life-support machine, Alec fell into a terrible trap. The dome's air leaked, an explosion occurred, and when he came to, he had been cast out a
The Question Blooming on the Star of Ash - Lana's Confession—Crumbling Trust and the Choice to Protect
The abandoned mess hall in the mid-levels had been out of use for a long time.
Rust bloomed from the pipes along the walls, and more than half the ceiling lights had burned out. The air smelled faintly of mold, and old ration crates lay collapsed and forgotten on the floor.
Hartin Alec stood in the center of the room.
In his hands was a folded sheaf of papers—copies of internal documents he'd taken from the observatory. Last night, he and Hans had read through them again and again.
(This is the truth.)
(Vincent Lana. Former Assistant Director of Intelligence, Upper Sector.)
Something deep in his chest felt like a cold, heavy stone.
Since the day they'd met in the wasteland, Lana had been one of the few people on Alec's side. She'd given him information. She'd given him advice. She'd simply listened quietly when he talked—lonely as he was.
(Was all of it an act?)
(Just to use me as a key?)
The sound of the door opening.
He turned.
Vincent Lana stood there. Black hair shaved close on one side. Narrow gray eyes. The row of piercings on her left ear glinted dully under the flickering lights.
Her expression was the same as always. Cold, unreadable—that face that gave nothing away.
"You're the one who called me."
Her voice was flat.
Alec placed the papers on the desk.
The old metal desk creaked softly.
"Take a look."
Lana glanced at Alec's face for a moment, then approached the desk.
She picked up the papers.
One page, then another—she turned them slowly.
The whole time, Alec watched her expression closely.
(Don't flinch.)
(Right now, I just hit her with the facts.)
(Don't get emotional.)
When Lana finished the last page, she set the papers back on the desk.
Then she turned her gray eyes on Alec.
"...Where did you get this?"
"The old observatory. The operational hub for the Selection. You know it."
"...Yeah. I know it."
There wasn't a trace of agitation in her voice.
Alec continued.
"Last night, I saw you. Along the outer wall of the observatory—meeting with someone from the upper echelon. You handed over an envelope."
Silence.
Lana stared at Alec for a moment.
Then she let out a small breath.
"I see. So I was seen."
"You're not going to make excuses?"
"I have no intention of making excuses. It's fact. I was the former Assistant Director of Intelligence for the Upper Sector. And that envelope—I gave it to someone in the upper echelon."
Alec's fingers curled into a fist without him realizing.
(She admitted it.)
(Just like that, she admitted it.)
"...So you lied to me."
"I didn't lie. I just didn't tell you everything."
"That's the same thing!"
His voice echoed through the room.
One of the dead lights flickered.
Alec gritted his teeth.
(Calm down.)
(Don't let your emotions take over.)
(There's still more I need to ask.)
"...Why did you leave the upper echelon?"
Lana looked at him straight on.
"Because I learned the truth about the Selection system. There aren't enough resources. So they throw people without resistance outside. The upper echelon called it 'External Transfer.' I was in a position to handle information about that plan."
"At first, I thought it was just part of the job. But then I saw the list. There were children's names on it. Names of children not even ten years old, lined up like nothing but numbers."
Her voice was as flat as ever.
But for just a moment, he thought he saw something like a dark flame flicker deep in her eyes.
"I objected. But I didn't have enough power. The upper echelon's decisions don't get overturned. So I left the Dome. By my own will, into the wasteland."
As Alec listened to her words, he felt something grind deep in his chest.
(She was against the Selection?)
(Then why—)
"...And then there was me."
"...Yeah. I met you in the wasteland. A man with an Orbita Key. A man with the power to control satellites. In that moment, I thought—maybe this person can stop the Selection."
"So that was your plan from the start."
"...From the very start. I intended to use you as a key. As a trump card to stop the Selection."
Alec's vision wavered for an instant.
(From the start.)
(All of it was to use me.)
(Because I had an Orbita Key.)
(Because I could control satellites.)
(She was never looking at me as a person.)
(She was looking at my power.)
Another face surfaced in his mind.
Silas.
His best friend since childhood. He'd told him everything. Trusted him with everything.
(He was the same.)
(He used me too.)
(He tried to kill me in that explosion.)
(My trust shattered that day with a sound I'll never forget.)
(And now, again.)
Alec bit the inside of his lip.
The taste of iron spread through his mouth.
"...I see."
His voice came out hoarse.
"...So that's how it is with you too."
Lana said nothing.
She just kept watching him.
Those gray eyes were as cold as ever.
But somewhere in them, he thought he caught a glimpse of something like sorrow.
(I'm imagining it.)
(She used me.)
(She has no right to feel sad.)
Alec grabbed the papers off the desk roughly.
"...That's enough. I understand everything about you now."
"...Wait. There's something I haven't told you yet."
"It's enough. I've heard it all—how you deceived me, how you used me. What else is there?"
"The Selection has already entered the execution phase. The people on that list are being taken, one after another. I'm trying to stop it. Without your power—my own way."
"...Your own way? Handing envelopes to the upper echelon—that's stopping the Selection?"
"That envelope was to get part of the Selection target list to people inside the upper echelon who still have a conscience. To leak even a little information to the outside."
Alec couldn't bring himself to believe her.
(People with a conscience?)
(There are people like that in the upper echelon?)
(Or is this another lie too?)
"...You expect me to believe that?"
"You don't have to believe me. But it's the truth. I want to stop the Selection. For that, I'll use any means necessary. Using you, working with the upper echelon—all of it is to stop the Selection."
For the first time, strong emotion entered Lana's voice.
Alec faltered for a moment at the sound of it.
(She's serious.)
(At the very least, her desire to stop the Selection might be genuine.)
(But that doesn't mean I can forgive her for using me.)
That was when it happened.
A scream echoed from somewhere in the distance.
They both froze at the same time.
"...What was that?"
The color drained from Lana's face.
"...Don't tell me they've already started."
"What do you mean?"
"The forced transfer of the people on the list has begun. Earlier than scheduled. ...Do you know a girl named Lina Sol?"
Alec's heart jumped.
(Lina.)
(That girl—the one on the list.)
"I know her. I've seen her around."
"She's being transferred today. Upper echelon guards are set to raid the residential block. ...I was going to stop it. But there's no time left."
Alec stared hard at Lana's face.
(What is she thinking right now?)
(Is she really trying to save Lina?)
(Or is this another trap?)
Another scream. Closer this time.
Alec made his decision.
"...Where is she?"
"Mid-level residential district, Block Seven. Lina's house is behind the distribution center. I'm coming too."
"...Do what you want."
Alec broke into a run.
He burst out of the abandoned mess hall and sprinted through the dim corridors.
His footsteps echoed against the metal floor.
Deep in his chest, the Orbita Key trembled faintly.
(If I used my power, it would take an instant.)
(I could burn those guards away with the light of a satellite.)
(But that's not right.)
(If I do that, I'm no different from the ones doing the Selection.)
(Burning someone to protect someone else—that's exactly what the upper echelon does.)
Alec clenched the Orbita Key.
His fingers were shaking.
(But to protect Lina, I need power.)
(Can I beat trained guards with my bare hands?)
(Against soldiers with electromagnetic pulse batons?)
(...I don't know.)
(But I have no choice.)
(Without relying on my power—with my own hands, I'll protect Lina.)
(That's what I decided.)
He emerged into the mid-level residential district.
The corridors were in chaos.
Residents ran in every direction, screaming.
Alec ran against the flow.
Behind the distribution center. Block Seven.
He turned the corner.
And there they were.
Three guards. Upper echelon technical soldiers. Black protective suits, electromagnetic pulse batons at the ready.
And in the middle of them—a small girl.
Lina Sol.
She was barely ten, a thin, frail girl.
Her brown hair was a tangled mess, mud smeared on her cheeks.
Her large eyes were wide with terror.
"No! Let go! Mom! Mom!"
Lina thrashed desperately in the guard's grip.
One of the guards had her arm in a rough hold.
"Stop struggling. This is an External Transfer. It's for your own good."
The guard's voice was cold as a machine.
Something inside Alec snapped.
(For her own good?)
(Throwing a child outside is for her own good?)
(Don't make me laugh.)
Alec charged.
"Let her go!!"
The guards spun around in unison.
"Who are you?"
"I've got no name worth giving to the likes of you."
Alec slammed his body into the nearest guard.
His shoulder drove into the man's chest.
The guard staggered.
In that opening, Alec ripped the electromagnetic pulse baton from the man's hand.
Heavy. A lump of metal.
(This is what I fight with.)
(This weapon is enough.)
"Are you all just the upper echelon's puppets? Abducting children—that's your job?"
"...This doesn't concern you. If you interfere, we'll restrain you."
Guard C raised his baton.
Pale blue sparks crackled at the tip.
(Electromagnetic pulse. If I take a direct hit, my body will be paralyzed.)
(Dodge it, or strike first.)
Alec kicked off the ground.
He dove low into Guard C's guard.
The baton passed over his head.
The sound of it cutting air.
Alec drove the baton he'd taken into Guard C's ribs.
Thud.
A dull sound.
Guard C groaned and dropped to his knees.
"One."
A presence behind him.
He turned.
Guard A was swinging his baton down.
Alec twisted his body and dodged by a hair's breadth.
The baton struck the floor.
Sparks scattered.
Alec grabbed Guard A's arm and threw him over his shoulder.
Crash.
The man's body slammed into the floor.
"Two."
One left.
Guard B wrapped his arm around Lina's neck, using her as a shield.
"Stay back! If you come closer, I'll—"
Alec stopped.
(Damn it.)
(He's using Lina as a hostage.)
Lina's face was deathly pale.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Help... help me..."
Alec's chest tightened.
(If I used my power right now—)
(I could snipe that man with the light of a satellite.)
(But I might hit Lina.)
(And if I rely on my power, it's over.)
(I decided to protect with my own hands.)
That was when a shadow appeared behind Guard B.
Vincent Lana.
She approached without a sound and wrapped her slender arm around Guard B's neck.
"...Let her go."
Her voice was cold as ice.
Guard B tried to turn around in surprise.
In that instant, Lana threw her weight into the arm locked around his neck.
Guard B's body tilted.
Lina was freed.
"Now! Alec!"
Alec kicked off the ground.
He rushed to Guard B and brought the baton down on the back of the man's head.
Thud.
Guard B fell face-forward.
"Three."
Silence.
Three guards lay on the floor.
All unconscious.
Alec let out a ragged breath.
His shoulders heaved.
The baton in his hand was slick with sweat.
(I did it.)
(I did it without using my power.)
(With my own hands, I protected someone.)
Lina sat on the floor, looking up at Alec.
"...Mister, who are you?"
Alec crouched down in front of her.
"...Alec. Hartin Alec. I came to save you."
"...Why? Why did those people... why me...?"
"...There's no time to explain right now. We need to get out of here. Can you stand?"
Lina nodded faintly.
But her legs were shaking too much to stand properly.
Alec lifted her into his
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