Chapter Fifteen: The Children of Light and Shadow

“In the beginning of the universe, there were six Supreme Deities. They embodied the laws of existence, ruled over the multiverse. Infinity bestowed upon us space, Eternity granted us time, Oblivion gave us matter, Death granted us life, Ael gifted us wisdom, and Devourer of Stars will, at the world’s end, renew creation and bring forth a new cycle…”

Lashagar was explaining this ancient legend to the newly born young Starborns. Without the connection to the Khala, sharing knowledge had become more difficult, and the Dark Templar had to learn from the educational methods once used by the Khalai.

“…And the six Supreme Deities also left their tokens in the cosmos. It is said that whoever finds these six relics can fulfill any wish.” Lashagar smiled and signaled to Aton, who did not interrupt her lesson but sat quietly nearby, listening.

“Chief, what exactly are these six relics? Can we find them?” a little girl asked in a soft, childish voice. Lashagar turned to answer, “They are: the Gem of Space, symbol of Infinity; the Gem of Time, symbol of Eternity; the Gem of Reality, embodiment of Oblivion; the Soul Gem, symbolizing Death; the Gem of Mind, representing Ael; and the Power Gem, belonging to the Devourer of Stars. In truth, since the founding of the Protoss Empire, we have abandoned the quest to gather all six relics.”

“Why is that, Chief?” another curious child asked.

“In principle, the six relics are not to be brought together,” Lashagar replied, raising her gaze to the sky, where the sunset cast an unusual beauty upon Karathi. “The greatest power the physical universe can withstand is that of a demigod; even the gods of creation dare not easily exceed this limit. But one who gathers all six relics could wield the power of a true god, and no one can guarantee that such a being would not, tempted by absolute power, do something to endanger the universe itself.”

“To prevent this, each Supreme Deity chose a race to guard one of the six gems. As far as I know, the other guardian races reside in distant galaxies.” Lashagar’s eyes seemed to pierce the endless void, seeing worlds millions of light-years away.

“So we are one of the guardian races too?” The sharp-witted child immediately grasped the key point.

“Indeed, my dear Zeratul. As the children of Ael, our race is naturally gifted in psionics—a rare trait among others. The relic we guard is the sacred Khaydarin artifact, the Mind Gem, stolen long ago by the Fanged King—one of the six Infinity Gems.”

“This is also why the Protoss Empire has always sought to recover the sacred artifact and apprehend the Fanged King,” Lashagar said, gently patting Zeratul's smooth little head. “Yet for thousands of years, we've found nothing. The Fanged King's trail is shrouded in shadow; even our greatest psionics cannot sense the relic.”

“Our lesson ends here today. Off you go, children.” Lashagar waved in farewell, and once the children had paid their respects and departed, Aton emerged from the corner.

“That was a splendid lesson, Chief. I never realized you were such a fine teacher,” Aton said in greeting, then brought up the purpose of his visit.

“Chief Lashagar, I've had a new idea lately. Do you think it's possible to blend the forces of order and chaos, light and darkness?” As he spoke, he raised a blue orb in his left hand and a green one in his right. Though learning the power of the Dark Templar had not severed his bond with the Khala, he had mastered this energy.

“I’m afraid only you can answer that, Lord Aton,” Lashagar replied admiringly. In just a few years, Aton had thoroughly grasped the Dark Templar’s power and was starting to attempt the fusion of light and dark. Truly, thought Lashagar, he is the Child of Light and Shadow.

Aton laughed. “You’re too modest, Chief. Your wisdom has been a great inspiration. I can feel that, if I succeed, I may break through to the demigod level—perhaps even ascend further.” He withdrew the energies from his hands, leaving his final thought unspoken.

Lashagar smiled at Aton. “It seems you already have a path. The only thing I know is that the gods surely understand how to merge these powers—you might ask your teacher, the great God of Order.”

Aton shook his head. “Best not. The gods must not meddle in mortal affairs so lightly. If I asked my teacher, I'd only receive a lecture. On another note, when I taught you recently, I noticed you seem very adept at cloaking yourselves with psionics. Is that related to severing the Khala?”

“I believe so, Lord Aton. The Dark Templar endure solitude to hide in the shadows—surely you understand this deeply now,” Lashagar explained with a smile.

“How remarkable,” Aton nodded. “I never expected so many changes from severing the Khala. If the High Council knew, they’d be astonished.” At this, he sighed. The more he learned of the Dark Templar, the harder he found it to obey the secret orders of the High Council. When he had only hinted at the Dark Templar’s existence, elders had immediately ordered their eradication. If not for his looming breakthrough, he would have returned to Ael and asked those elders if they’d lost their wits.

Meanwhile, on Ael, in the council chamber, Madonis was meeting with the elders to discuss Aton’s findings.

“Heresy! This is blatant betrayal! They must have been seduced by the Fanged King! We must strike at once, Exarch!” An elderly councilor, face flushed with agitation, nearly shouted.

“Calm yourself, Elder Vonlok. Mind your composure—you seem overly agitated,” Madonis soothed him through the Khala. Since Aton’s message had reached the Council, Vonlok had insisted the Fanged King was behind everything, demanded military action, and even sent a secret order to Aton, exceeding his authority. Madonis found this excessive. Aton’s claims were shocking, but to send troops without an investigation was extreme.

“How can I be calm, Exarch? They voluntarily severed their link to the Khala! What if this spreads and corrupts more? This could drag us back into eternal war! Surely this is the Fanged King’s plot—we must act at once!” Vonlok calmed slightly but continued his tirade.

“Let’s not jump to conclusions. Lord Aton is at the Dark Templar enclave. We should investigate thoroughly. If it’s as he claims, then so be it: the Dark Templar are but a handful, and all chose this path under the light of the Khala. I believe they are warriors, just as Lord Aton says,” a younger elder suggested. Madonis nodded in agreement.

“Hmph. Then let’s vote,” Vonlok growled. Madonis, seeing the wavering elders, sighed helplessly.

In the end, the younger elder won the vote by a landslide: 80 to 20. Vonlok, his face livid, stormed out of the chamber.

The High Council then discussed Aton’s intelligence, unanimously deciding to send a delegation to Karathi. Aton was to bring the Dark Templar to accept the Council’s scrutiny. If all proved true, the Council would officially acknowledge the Dark Templar.

Elder Vonlok, upon returning home, even joined the delegation himself—though most thought that seeing the Dark Templar with his own eyes would convince him.

On Karathi, as Aton continued his experiments with light and shadow, he received the Council’s message and quickly shared the good news with Chief Lashagar. With a mysterious smile, Lashagar watched him return to his quarters and resume his research into the fusion of light and dark.

The day the delegation arrived on Karathi was fair and bright. Fearing the Fanged King might lurk behind the Dark Templar, the Council’s delegation arrived aboard a mothership. Blue transport beams descended, and the delegates met Aton and the Dark Templar who awaited them.

After hours of exchanges, the Khalai engineers were visibly more excited than the other delegates. As Lashagar had once said, their technology had long stagnated. The other delegates, too, were satisfied—proof that the Fanged King was not involved.

As the visit drew to a perfect close, disaster struck. Elder Vonlok rushed at the Dark Templar, shouting “For Ael!” and attempted to self-destruct. With his level ten psionics, none but Aton would survive, and such an act would irreparably divide the Dark Templar and the Council.

In that moment of crisis, Aton resolutely unleashed the fusion he had just developed. The power of light and darkness merged, forming a brilliant orange-gold barrier. Vonlok’s self-destruction was completely absorbed—no harm was done. But Aton’s mortal body could not withstand such power; he was reduced to ashes.

The suddenness of it all stunned everyone. Before anyone could react, Aton was gone. Only Lashagar, standing among the crowd, closed her eyes and silently prayed for him.