Chapter 2: Astraeus Academy
Xavier stared at his uncle, shock and disbelief coursing through him. "What do you mean, gone? How could that happen?"
Eamon took a deep breath, his eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and regret. "Let me start from the beginning, Xavier. It all began 45 years ago when I was just 15 years old. I came to Astraeus City to take care of all the accounts and financial matters related to our ancestors' investment. We called it Lumina."
He paused, his gaze distant as he recalled the past. "As per our tradition, if a prophet had two sons, one would become the next prophet, and the other would become the CEO of Lumina. No matter what, to follow the tradition, a prophet must have more than one son. Some would even marry multiple women to increase the chance of having more than one son. And it was the first time in centuries that a prophet only had one son... you, Xavier."
Eamon continued, his voice steady but tinged with bitterness. "I was taught everything by my uncle. By the time I turned 18, I had learned everything there was to know about managing Lumina. After that, I alone managed everything, overseeing thousands of thousands of employees. Lumina had its reach in everything—software, hardware, gaming, internet, media, food, drinks, automotive, aviation, real estate, healthcare, and even space exploration. We were a conglomerate that touched every aspect of life in Astraeus City and beyond."
Xavier listened intently, his eyes wide with awe and curiosity.
"Everything was going well," Eamon said, his voice softening. "We were doing good, making the city and the world a better place. But then, something happened. Everything changed. A civil war broke out. Although it ended in just two years, many things had changed, including the control of the city and its leaders."
He shook his head, his expression turning grim. "But nothing affected Lumina. We were independent, untouched by the chaos. Then, when I turned 40, I began to feel lonely. I couldn't trust anyone, but I couldn't leave anyone behind either. I missed my family. I wanted to go back to the village. I wanted to rest. But that was not possible. I was all alone. I had no friends. No one to talk to."
Eamon's voice trembled as he continued. "Then one day, I met a kind woman, a homeless woman on the street. One thing led to another, and I ended up falling in love with her. We got married shortly after, and a year later, we had kids—twin girls. Everything was going well for me. Although I never revealed my true identity, disguising myself as a normal corporate slave, I felt guilty about it. But the truth was not something I could share with anyone, not even with my wife and twin daughters."
Xavier's heart ached as he listened to his uncle's story, the weight of his words settling heavily on him.
"Then one day, I lost everything," Eamon said, his voice breaking. "My wife turned out to be a fake, a plant sent by a rival corporation to infiltrate Lumina. She had been meticulously planned, her every move calculated. She had uncovered every secret, every vulnerability. She was the closest to me, and I never suspected a thing."
Eamon's eyes filled with tears as he recalled the betrayal. "She transferred the entirety of Lumina to her own company and vanished without a trace. I found her and sued her, but I lost the case. Money was everything, and she had more than enough to buy her way out of any legal trouble."