.caleb//database

Even though Caleb was portrayed as the energetic boy-next-door, his supernova eyes gave me the impression of innate sadness. Like he had undeniable puppy dog eyes but sad boy vibes.

In retrospect, that longing emanating from him for MC made sense. At first I was like damn I wonder what’s his deal— *KABOOM*

Haha despite the explosion I had no doubts that he would have a comeback, and I was very open to however he’d be presented as an LI. Literally zero expectations. I gave him a chance, and I wasn’t disappointed at all.

I'm very much into darker genres and often find complex villains/anti-hero's fascinating, so I wasn't fazed by the reveal of his true character.

I’m also an older sister who’s hyper-independent by circumstance and I always wanted an older brother figure to look up to as a kid. Nowadays I’d like someone I’d trust enough to hand over the reigns to so I won’t overthink my life decisions.

Queue Caleb who checks off everything on my list for me 😂 Decisive, responsible, caring, good cook, handsome af, nerdy, funny but intimidating yet also resilient in a way that garners my respect for him. I’m also weak for a fitted black military uniform. 🫣

It's honestly been a while since I've been this invested in a character and it’s all due to how multifaceted Caleb is! He’s not perfect but that’s exactly why I love him.

It appears, in this new timeline, Caleb and MC are bound by their very DNA; his myth trailer included imagery of a metal double helix and the following text:

"The enigma behind the double metal helix... The promise you had since you were born."

"But the promise we've had since we were born, I kept that one." - Caleb to MC

Again, there is this imagery of being bound at birth, similar to how twins are (I mentioned the symbolism of twins/siblings and how they're often experimentation victims of Ever in the Donor 002 post). In this case, perhaps they are cyborg clones of the same energy core.

And if you're a Potterhead, you'll see that its a concept remniscent of Harry's and Voldemort's twin Phoenix Feather wand cores. One cannot survive without the other, both must die for one to be vanquished.

Twins, clones, whatever you want to call it**—** it's a pattern you can't deny, and now I'm convinced in the present timeline, Caleb and her are linked in more ways than they appear to be.

Also love how Caleb x MC haters got their panties in a twist and Infold was literally like 'LET ME SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU' *drops myth trailer* Kudos to them for sticking with the planned lore and remaining unfazed by the initial controversy. They had to prime everyone before dropping this, and the ones who get it, get it.

"Then it's a promise. In life and in death, we will never be apart."

You can't tell me these aren't their literal wedding vows HAHA I'm sickkk. Caleb basically said: 'Till death do us part? I think not..' The look in his eyes is so intense too like damn ok i'm all yours for eternity my dude.

I think the promise they made when they were born refers to his promise to protect her always. It's a call back to their childhood memories about Caleb protecting her like a ring system protects its planet; they are born together and they die together.

Here's my thoughts on their A-01 and X-02 titles:

Caleb was distinctively labeled Donor 002 while MC was labeled Subject 001 in old experiment documents by Gaia and Ever.

In Caleb's very first intro trailer and his new myth trailer, his title is X-02. Respectively, MC is A-01. They are a pair represented by the concepts of Death and Rebirth, the ideal weapons to destroy one another, as we're all aware.

'A' may represent 'Alpha' in the concept of 'Alpha and Omega' aka the 'Beginning and the End'. MC can miraculously revive after dying via her Aether Core and can only be fully destroyed (and by proxy reborn) by the power Caleb wields.

'X' is associated with 'with death and rebirth, as it is thought to mark the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. It is also often seen as a symbol of change or transition, as it represents the crossing of a threshold.'

Pretty straightforward. All I experience is pain with these two, and I. Need. More.

In honor of Caleb's myth dropping, I'm gonna post my embarrassingly long Supernova theory on the pair soon since I gleaned more insight from the myth trailer tidbits. Now I'm not sure if I should wait until reading his myth so I can go back and edit or just release it as is.

Might have to split it up into a few posts with their own section so its digestible lmao. It's been a couple months in the making and while it includes the scientific concepts explained in the Bound by Gravity, United in Resonance video, I also weaved it into the lore and the direction of Caleb's story. I've been a full believer in the Supernova Catalyst theory since Caleb was released and I'm excited to share my thoughts on them so stay tuned (his eyes are literal supernovas)!

21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Genesis 2:21-23 KJV

(As someone who attended a private Christian academy never thought I’d be quoting the Bible for an otome game theory lol)

From what we’ve seen, Caleb and MC operate in a pair and have abilities to keep each other’s powers in check. Ever is known for targetting ‘twins’, such as Luke & Kieran, the 303 twins and Mia & Kevi.

Now while Caleb and MC are obviously not related, their sibling-like bond shares similarities to the aforementioned sets of twins, such as being able to sense each other’s presence, mental states and having a knack for ending up in proximity to the other.

I’m pretty sure Caleb’s joked about having telekinesis powers related to her. MC also brought up how Josephine tasked Caleb with protecting her when they were kids, likening their dynamic to the way “a ring system protects its planet”. Josephine wanted them to watch each other's back while they were originally programmed to destroy each other.

"We don't need to face the future alone, though. It's like how planets and their ring systems are born together... They'll also fade away together." – Teenage Caleb to MC

I suppose one question to ask is what exactly was Caleb forced to donate to be dubbed “Donor 002”? What was MC missing?

Was it blood, cells, or something more substantial like an organ? Possibly even Evol to assist the Gaia researchers revival experiments with her?

Depending on the answer the writers give us, there might be some merit to the controversy of them being related to a certain minor degree. Don’t come for me, it was Infold that put them in this sticky situation.

Caleb drops his head forward as he clings to that last perfect image he had of his adopted sister all grown up, right outside their childhood home. He tries to overwrite his haunting memory of nearly being consumed in flames with the stubborn jut of her chin and those bright determined eyes flashing at him just seconds before the incident.

“You can’t protect me forever.”

When she held his gaze and spoke her truth aloud, Caleb had some choice words to say in response. But he bit his tongue instead, conceded to her as he always had. 

And now? Things were different, and he’d be handling business on his own terms.

Thinking back, he wouldn’t have hesitated to forfeit Josephine’s life again to shield his sister completely from the blast. Although losing the woman who raised them no doubt caused the girl grief, there was nothing he would’ve done differently because she came out of it in one piece.

In his brief coma that followed, there wasn’t a second that went by where his subconscious thoughts weren’t filled with her. It was like he was watching an endless loop of their childhood memories bleeding together behind his heavy eyelids.

Some memories felt like home and others didn’t belong– white walls stained with red, endless syringes, the stench of death lingering in the air.

By the time he awoke on his deathbed, he was barely able to make sense of Lucius’ offer in exchange for his survival. In spite of his broken body, he found that he couldn’t quite let go. Not yet. 

In his most tumultuous moments, the common thread of devotion that tethered him to her always remained true.  

Relinquishing his freedom to the Ever Group for a chance at power to keep her safe was the easiest choice to make in his life. And now, he could make himself even more useful, redirecting Ever’s attention off her by molding himself into the ideal vessel for the conglomerate's most groundbreaking project in the works.

Once a pilot in training, he resigned to forfeit his life to the infinite darkness within the Deep Space tunnel. Now having returned to the cosmos that nearly swallowed him whole as the Farspace Fleet’s Colonel, he’d find a way to conquer it.

Caleb fights to steel himself, eyes narrowing in the dark as he kneads his throat. It’s dry and scratchy like he had been talking in his sleep again. Probably screaming. Luckily for him, the dense steel walls that made up his living quarters on the FSCV-01 were soundproof. 

Nightmares always left him disoriented beyond belief upon waking. He should’ve felt relief once he broke out of his dreamscape, but he doesn’t, not entirely. It’s not often he experiences fear while awake, but the effects of his dreams still linger in his nerves. 

Terror is an insidious thing, never failing to discriminate his state of consciousness to impose itself on him.

It made a home in his marrow, housed there since his childhood, festering from endless days spent in laboratories and surgical rooms that seemed like a blur.

He once felt trapped in loss and grief— a seemingly endless cycle when she would reappear in front of him after each experiment as if she were just meeting him for the first time. 

It’s a phenomenon that only occurs when she’s involved. A sensation exacerbated beyond belief by the mere thought of losing the only soul who affirms his miserable existence. An existence that grows more numb by the day...

Suddenly, the Toring chip finally feels like it’s doing its job to regulate his pulse. He breathes easier, but just barely.

Caleb spares a glance over his shoulder; the faint white glow of his alarm clock indicates that it’s just past four in the morning.

It would be unproductive to force himself back to sleep despite feeling like he’s gotten zero rest. By 0600 the starship would reach a point in their voyage that branches off into several different pathways, all marked for exploration.

A seemingly standard mission disguised as a trap set by the fleet’s old guard. Nothing to overly concern himself with aside from guarding his life with vigilance. He'd see to it that the mission would be completed regardless.

‘Just get moving.’

Caleb reaches for a thin silver remote on his bedside table and taps it. When he moves to stand, the floor feels like ice penetrating the soles of his feet but it wakes him up a fair bit.

A massive panel of smooth frosted glass flickers to reveal the inky cosmos swirling with glowing stardust as the starship continues on its set path through the Deep Space Tunnel. Filtered low light fills his otherwise dark room, slightly brightening the space for him to walk through with ease.

The bathroom lights activate to reveal his blurred reflection in the mirror. Ignoring it, he leans over to run the faucet and gathers a handful of frigid water to soothe his throat.

He washes away the sleep from his eyes before flicking droplets from his fingers. When he’s ready to face the state of himself, he lifts his head, bracing his hands on either side of the polished sink.

Dark amethyst eyes bore back at him briefly before they traced down to his bare collarbone. Unkempt tendrils of dark hair are plastered to his cheekbones and curl around the base of his neck.

Caleb hadn’t bothered to cut his hair since the day he was nearly wiped off the face of the earth. Guess he was lucky to still have a full head of hair in the first place after an explosion like that.

A wet sheen of perspiration coating his upper body just confirms his dire need for a routine cold shower.

He wastes no time in shedding his loose black sweatpants and turning the water temperature dial to cold before stepping under the rainfall shower.

Water pelts part of his skin like shards but it briefly soothes the throbbing behind his eyes. Beneath the spray of water, he flexes his right hand absentmindedly, the limb completely numb...

A small but mighty fist raps insistently at the wooden bathroom door. “Caleb you’re taking forever, quit hogging all the hot water!” He rolls his eyes at her insistence but quickly rinses suds from his hair. “I’m taking a cold shower, dummy, and it’s only been five minutes–” “Liar, it’s been twenty!” “Seriously, stop trying to barge in,” his voice drones over the splashing of water. He smirks when his accusation earns an affronted gasp from the younger girl. It's more than easy to picture her cute features scrunched in disgust. “Ew! I am not trying to barge in!”

Caleb scoffs as water trickles into his lashes, then the scene shifts imperceptibly. A sudsy head of hair suddenly leans into his touch, that familiar delicate slope of shoulders tight beneath his fingertips. Tense from combat training and in need of his usual service, he presumes– until she intentionally presses back against him.

Caleb nearly jumps out of his skin, blinking water out of his eyes, and realizes he’s staring at the smooth white wall.

Oh. A flicker of a daydream first thing in the morning was not a good sign. 

Guilt forms in a thick knot within his throat. He releases a sharp breath and pumps body wash into his palm before roughly scrubbing down. Of course, these memories choose to plague him this morning, of all mornings.

Maybe he should have just slid back into bed, endured the nightmares, and allowed his alarm clock to wake him up an hour from now.

Still, his mind threatened to linger there in the comfort of familiarity. Similar to how dark vines used to the shadows twist across a slab of stone warmed by the sun. Nostalgia had a way of suspending him in reverie more than he should’ve allowed. 

Within a few minutes, Caleb emerges from the bathroom with a towel tucked around his waist and icy breath. A double tap on the remote shifts the lighting to something more ambient, subtly revealing streamlined furnishings dipped in black and lustrous silver.

Everything in his quarters was impersonal from the lack of decor on the walls down to the missing photos of a certain someone that belonged on his bedside table. The kitchenette tucked away in the corner was seldom used except to brew coffee when he required a jolt of energy. It’d been a long time since he cooked anything.

The reality was that he only slept and ate on these excursions in rare stints; typical of his schedule even when he was a mere cadet.

Still, if the ruthless girl plaguing his daydreams caught wind of his slacking, his culinary skills would be under scrutiny– but it was futile wish to even entertain.

His hand waves across the air, revealing the luminescence of her hologram portrait. He's only half aware of how his shoulders unwind as he takes in her smile, the perfect balance of amiability and professionalism. So unlike the brat he raised. Caleb’s gaze softens, a rare sight these days.

The girl’s eyes lacked the gleam they once held, her gaze steeled from her experiences. That practiced smile of hers didn't fool him. She looked far from jaded but he could tell she'd been through it.

He had let her go through it all alone.

Would she resent him if she ever discovered he’d been alive all this time? Knowing he let her fend for herself?

Over the past year, he saved every piece of media he could get his hands on whenever she made the headlines as a Hunter. Soundbites of her voice, photos, and interview clips. Especially videos of her whereabouts outside of work, recorded by his private surveillance drones.

Nothing instilled more pride in his heart than seeing how far she’s come in her career. But the more she grows, the closer she gets to the truth…

Wherever whispers of an Aether Core begin, she would inevitably follow without realizing the dangers that lie ahead.

The hologram portrait disappears and dims his features as he drops his hand, fist clenching tight.

If she ever came within the vicinity of the fleet, he would resort to any and all methods to ensure her safety. No matter the cost. He made up his mind about it a long time ago. 

Caleb moves to retrieve the layers of garments that made up his uniform from his closet, slipping them over his taut muscles one by one. 

Black. Grey. Tie. More black. 

Caleb’s almost mindless as he fastens buttons and buckles in place, both human and synthetic skin efficiently hidden by a heavy garb that straightens his subordinate's spines when they lay eyes on it.

He’s worn a myriad of uniforms throughout his twenty-five years, but this was certainly the most prestigious one yet. Most people his age commonly experience bouts of impostor syndrome at an early point in their careers. 

Considering he was fast-tracked into this position by Ever’s influence, he should be the ultimate victim of it. And yet, he’s never wavered about his purpose since stepping foot into this role.

The first time Caleb wore this uniform, he embraced its suffocating weight knowing it would allow him to keep her safe in the only way he knew how.

Lucius silently circled the tall, dark-haired man, observing the way he donned the Farspace Fleet’s Colonel uniform as if he had done so for his entire life. Those who have worked to attain the rank of Colonel were often twice his age. He’d be an anomaly within the fleet, but it did not matter. There was nothing anybody could say or do to evict the new Colonel from his position. The uniform was flawlessly tailored to broad shoulders that would carry out Ever Group’s plans to infiltrate one of the many fleets to come.  Lucius was the kind of scientist who preferred to play to his experiment’s strengths and enhance them to the fullest. Selecting Caleb Xia for this task was a no-brainer for the Professor. Even he could recognize how the uniform conformed to Caleb’s brawn, making him appear more like an otherworldly entity than a pawn to be trifled with. Though, many would try.  The young man’s imposing stature, intelligence, and prowess as a pilot pointed him down this revered avenue of opportunity. Not to mention the underlying grit beneath that exterior of calm, stemming from his past as a child experiment. Whatever lies in his past may be a weakness to exploit later down the line, as needed. But above all, his gravity Evol rendered him practically untouchable. It was the sort of ability Ever lusted over, and now, they finally reclaimed one of two missing experiments they thought they’d lost in the Chronorift Catastrophe all those years ago. In due time they would obtain the other. Leading the simple life of a DAA pilot would have been a complete and utter waste of Caleb’s potential. Surely the boy can see it himself. With the best modifications and the Toring Chip’s influence, he’ll certainly give the fleet’s old guard a run for their money. The dogs may bitch and cry about it before being shipped off to Atley Island, but Caleb Xia will serve as a stark reminder of the power that Ever possesses across timelines.  A testament to Lucius’ great work– but their plan was still just beginning. Something twisted emanated from the Professor who merely inclined his chin towards the young Colonel. Caleb silently acknowledged that from here on out, he would be scrutinized by all from head to toe. He could hide nothing from his masters and enemies, one and the same. But he'd continue to hide it all from her, and if it came down to it, keep her hidden away from the world itself.

The metallic clinking of his regalia pulls Caleb out of the memory, his brows knit tight and that migraine back with a vengeance.

With a slow roll of his shoulders, a heft of gold chains brush against accents of maroon and navy. It settles across his chest, distinguishing him from the rest of his crew.

Pressed white trousers are swiftly tucked inside black leather boots that settle above his calves. A tactical holster containing his personal effects seamlessly clicks into place around his left thigh and his hip.

The Farspace Fleet’s insignia seems to sharpen beneath the overhead lights as he slides the hat into place. Black leather gloves cover up the last of his cold skin.

Caleb is already bound for the command bridge one and a half hours earlier than what's stated on his schedule. His crew will just have to learn to adapt to his time swiftly. 

The starship lurches violently, nearly knocking Caleb off his feet if he hadn’t half the mind to activate his Evol. The abrupt sensation reminds him of when he was trapped in his fighter jet in Deep Space and endured bouts of intense turbulence.

A different era entirely.

Obnoxious sirens swirl in flashes of red throughout the halls causing his head to pound even more incessantly. Caleb remains unfazed and continues to move forward.

Either it was interstellar turbulence or the attempts on his life had begun. If it's the latter, it wouldn’t be the first time he’s a target, nor the last.

At the his will, vantablack swirls split through the plane of space outside the paneled windows of the corridor. The strategically placed vortexes immediately influence the magnetic waves of FSCV-01’s flight path. For now, they'll stabilize the starship’s wild tremors until he can rule out the cause.

Caleb had a feeling he managed to execute something similar on a smaller scale while unconscious inside the belly of the Deep Space Tunnel years ago. Since entering the fleet, he's performed the skill countless times even as a cadet, and would always manage to smooth out the flight path of any vessel he was aboard.

Even without Ever Group pulling the strings for his promotion, the Farspace Fleet would have been stupid not to consider him an eventual candidate for Colonel.

At this point, Caleb was used to the universe's attempts to snuff him out of existence. Would a few extra power-hungry fleet dogs thrown into the mix make a difference?

Caleb fixes his stoic gaze ahead and continues to the brig, mentally shuffling through everything that could’ve gone wrong with the engine, personnel, or weather conditions. Whatever it may be, he'll ensure his starship’s return to Earth.

Because even now, light years away from his home planet, he feels an inexplicable ache within his chest.

Caleb knows he’s but a memory to her.

She’s already moved on. As for him?

Notes:

An Evol that allows MC to change her frequency to match another's by using the waves generated by her brain’s magnetic field

She can produce repulsive waves against certain people/things to avoid resonating with them

Rafayel explained that MC must open her heart to establish a ‘connection’ and share her power by amplifying or suppressing another's Evol at will 

Xavier stated this is the only Evol that can undo a lock on a Flux Nexus pillar and retrieve a protocore/Aether Core from within (how convenient??)

It also allows MC to resonate with evol imbued items such as Rafayel’s coral stone to draw out Wanderers, or his paintings to inspect them

As of Caleb’s Homecoming Wings story, MC’s Evol remains underdeveloped and suppressed likely due to her Aether Core’s powers being incomplete

She can also return Wanderer Protofields to their original state

MC can even resonate with other peoples dreams:

"It's as if she saw through time and space, through his dreams, to realize he's not the doctor." - Dawnbreaker Zayne

“There were times when I noticed him [Xavier] sleeping. I tried using my Evol to resonate with his dreams. But whenever I do, I get too nervous and fail.” – MC in Xavier’s anecdotes

One cannot simply force a resonance with any Evolver, the process is a two-way street:

Rafayel and Sylus were overly-eager and attempted to resonate with MC within a short time of meeting her but failed because she viewed them as strangers

Out of all the LI’s (besides Caleb), Xavier resonated with MC more easily during their initial encounter against the Luminivores, most likely because his light evol and her aether core powers are similar in form which possibly made it easier for her to match his frequency as both are described as ‘warm glowing light’

Examples of resonating successes/attempts:

Xavier

‘I sigh and place my hand over his [Xavier’s] heart. The waves caused by the resonance Evol ripple from my fingers– the fountain bursts into a shower of dazzling light, countless, tiny droplets scattering. The spectacle reminds me of fireworks as vibrant as an oil painting.’

– MC and Xavier create a distraction in Azure Square to escape the robots monitoring him

‘As chaos envelops my vision, only one warm force stays tightly connected with me. It flows steadily from my hand and gradually covers the world in a dazzling light. It overwhelms my senses…”

– MC resonates with Xavier to power the Traceback II starship together

“Weird… It feels like something is suppressing Xavier’s Evol, preventing a complete Resonance…”

– MC’s speculation on Xavier’s Evol suppressing collar preventing them from fully resonating

Zayne

MC: “I’ll help you suppress your Evol first. Tell me the area I should resonate with so you recover faster.”Zayne: “My left shoulder… A little lower…”

– MC helps Zayne recover by suppressing his Evol in his shoulder

Rafayel

“All right, I guess I was wrong. Tapping into the depths of someone’s Evol isn’t easy.”

– Rafayel after trying to resonate with MC by holding her hands and explaining the intricacies of her Evol to her (lmao)

Sylus

MC: “Even if you keep holding on to me like this, I can’t resonate with you. It’s not something I can do just on a whim!”

S: “After all that arrogance, it seems you can’t even control your own Evol.”

MC: “... At the very least it doesn’t want to be activated in front of you!”

– MC to Sylus who was attempting to force her to resonate with him by grabbing onto her 

Caleb

“Resonate with me!” Like a bullet, Caleb leaps after the plummeting Wanderer.

“Caleb!” The roaring hurts my ears as I reach out. I can only catch the wind he stirs. Warmth surges over me like a tidal wave, and I focus my energy on catching Caleb as he’s in freefall. Our resonance creates a large energy shield that manipulates gravity. It halts his descent.

– MC assisting Caleb during battle on Linkon Tower

“The only advantage I have is having part of an Aether Core in my heart. Since I can resonate with the energy… I should be able to sense its location.”

– MC on locating other Aether Cores with her Resonance Evol

Aether Core noun

1 A rare protocore fragment or crystal containing a powerful mysterious energy that can only be wielded by a select few Evolvers

2 A complete Aether Core has a stable aether barrier on its outermost layer, which utilizes the gravitational field to seal and contain all the core's energy, thus ensuring its internal balance and stability

“Their power comes from the very core of the cosmos. If fully awakened, they would spell disaster for the world. I know. You aren’t satisfied with my answer. But there are some truths you have to see and decide for yourself.”

– Xavier explaining Aether Cores to MC

“Rather than what’s already happened, I’m more afraid of what might come in the future. But right now, you terrify me the most. You used the power of the Aether Core this time. I’m worried about what you’ll do next.”

– Xavier to MC after she uses him as a conduit for her powers to feed Starfield Forest

“The Protocore energy in your heart has always been stable. It can form an invisible shield to protect your heart when you’re attacked. You also haven’t become as weak as other patients with Protocore Syndrome. In other words, it’s a power made just for you.”

– Zayne comforting MC about her Aether Core

Notes:

An Aether Core fragment like MC's can appear as a yellow protocore fragment emitting a golden glow

Its power surpasses that of a regular Protocore and attracts anyone aware of their existence

In the present timeline, it was first discovered in MC’s heart by Granny Josephine and the Gaia scientists while experimenting on her as an illegal child experiment

It’s implied that it was not welded to MC’s heart through surgery but rather appeared on its own or chose MC due to her innate strength

MC’s Aether Core power is described as “warm” and appears as a radiant golden light

It has it's own defense mechanism and can create a shield around MC's heart

It especially attracts those affected by Protocore Syndrome who want to devour it's power

When used in combination with the Resonance Evol, MC can sense the location of other Aether Cores within range

At full power, it can power an entire planet for centuries but only temporarily (Philos survived for some time on a past MC’s Aether Core)

According to Xavier, once fully awakened it can also cause mass destruction (hint hint Earth’s downfall and Philos’ 2.0 rise?)

MC can siphon it’s energy, resulting in the crystal vessel breaking after the process of absorption

MC’s aether core provides boundless energy and immortality across time and space

Sylus’ aether core within his eye allows him to see people’s true desires and possibly grants him immortality as well

A modified wanderer wielding a spatium core was able to invade Xavier’s mind and recreate a protofield based on his memories of Starfield Forest (by Soren’s influence)

Human vessels who can control and maintain Aether Core’s power are extremely rare

MC, Sylus, and Kevi are three of them and therefore are sought after by the powers that be (i.e. Ever Group, The Farspace Fleet, Philos Backtrackers, etc)

Other possible vessels:

Xavier who is arguably one of the strongest evolvers was able to act as a conduit for the massive transfer of MC’s aether core power while they were in Starfield Forest

Caleb will soon make this list once Ever fulfills the Fountain of Atei project, since he boasts himself as a better vessel than MC

My personal theory is that only powerful Evolvers who have an indomitable spirit can house and command the ability of an Aether Core

Sylus and MC have strong personalities and are always at the heart of the action

They are known to have endured an unfair amount of suffering throughout their lifetimes that fostered this grit within them

Sylus even considers them to be ‘kindred spirits’ due to all of their similarities and encourages her lust for power regardless of the timeline

Their Aether Core's caused a physical energy link to materialize between both of them, tethering their wrists together like a handcuff

Sylus mentions she’s predestined to commit crimes in the future– my power-hungry villain MC theory is for another time lol 

Kevi, a mere child, was able to withstand the rigorous test Lucius’ forces his experiments to undergo in order to determine if their suitable for 'adoption'

Kevi was also able to easily utilize the spatium core to hide from the fleet

While we don’t know a lot about Kevi, it’s undeniable that he has an intrinsic will to live and promising powers

I don't remember his Evol being mentioned but we'll learn more about him and the experiments in the future

Caleb’s story speaks for itself tbh

Man’s survived how many near death experiences, and endless experiments, lord only knows what tragedy he experienced in his Myth... and will experience in the future

He can literally create black holes and shift the cosmos so I think his powers rival Xavier’s (though I’d like to see Xavi’s powers without his evol suppressing collar on)

A list of places Aether Cores have been found:

The flux nexus in the N109 zone on Ever’s abandoned research facility

The flux nexus in the no-hunt zone at the beginning of the main story

MC’s heart

Sylus’ eye

Tome of the Sea God unlocked by Rafayel using MC’s blood

Inside a mutated Wanderer destroyed by MC and Zayne in Chansia Hospital

Wthin a modified Wanderer destroyed by MC and Xavier outside Starfield Forest

Kevi’s possession given to him by his parents who were fleet personnel

Probably other locations I can't recall

‘I grit my teeth and forge that power into a sharp blade. Slowly but surely, it cuts through the invisible barrier along with the spaceship. Space itself is ripped open, which creates tremendous energy fluctuations and tremors. In the distance, a massive shadow looms.’

– MC and Xavier resonating on Traceback II to force their way through the Spatium Core’s illusion created by a modified Wanderer

Spatium Core noun

1 A rare type of Aether Core capable of influencing space, even creating entirely new spaces

2 Takes on the appearance of a green irregular spherical structure; the core’s shards have partially reassembled, drawn together by some gravitational pull

Notes:

A newly discovered type of Aether Core fragment that emits a faint green glow and grants the owner the power to ‘recreate a plane of existence and overlap it with reality’, essentially creating an illusion

MC describes the energy emanating from the core as gentle waves brimming with power, and a light, warm glow

Kevi was given a fragment of the Spatium Core by his parents to create a hidden pocket of space near his home to hide in from the Fleet

MC was able to sense the energy trail of this Spatium Core when she first searched the area of Kevi’s home due to owning an Aether Core 

Xavier confirmed the Spatium Core’s ability is familiar to people from Philos, such as the ex-Backtracker Soren who used it to lure Xavier into a protofield illusion to drain his powers

It’s important to note that despite being in a different plane, what happens to the victims trapped inside of this spatium-created dimension is very real

When Xavier attacked Soren its implied that Soren took damage outside of the illusion

Xavier’s energy is actually drained by Starfield Forest and Traceback II when he and MC emerge from the illusion; he’s exhausted to the point where he needs to sit down and sleep

By the end of Homecoming Wings, Caleb and by association, the Farspace Fleet, are now the current owners of the center fragment

Caleb’s mission is still to collect all fragments of a Spatium core, while MC’s mission is to retrieve the last remaining fragment from him

With the combined man power of the Farspace Fleet and the Tuum Fleet, Ever will eventually butt heads with the Hunter’s Association for the remaining fragments (or Caleb will use MC to get to the fragments once he discovers the Association is in possession of the rest)

Flux Nexus noun

1 A stone pillar device that captures Metaflux and as a side-effect can serve as a source of fluctuations that attract Wanderers

Notes:

Protocores and Aether Cores can also be stored and retrieved from within the pillar with the use of MC’s resonance evol

In the early story, Xavier and MC discovered Onychinus stored a modified protocore within a flux nexus in attempts to summon a dangerous Wanderer (this was likely a misdirect to paint Sylus as the big bad when in reality it was Ever)

Can serve as a ‘power source’ for crystal-infested human-wanderer hybrids with ‘Protocore Syndrome’

Destroying a flux nexus can result in severing the connection between it and human-wanderer hybrids, a concept similar to cutting off a power generator (Sylus destroyed one when he was chasing someone down in the N109 zone and it resulted in this effect)

Lucius' experiments (Caleb, Viper, Kevi, a mystery young girl) recycled these flux nexus in Skyhaven as a gig for Ever and the Fleet, during their clean-up of failed experiments with protocore syndrome

Flux Stabilizer 2.0 noun

1 A device the size of a bottle cap that regulates the frequency of surrounding Metaflux fluctuations thereby stabilizing the Protofield and reducing the likelihood of Wanderer materialization

2 Also functions similarly to a Spatium Core allowing the user to recreate a plane of existence and overlap it with reality (this function is obviously only available to those who are aware of how to use it such as Philosians like Xavier, Jeremiah, Soren and subsequently Ever Group)

X: “Initial tests show it has a radio frequency chip that can resonate with Metaflux fluctuations.”

MC: “So this little thing is the culprit behind the RMFMA’s malfunction and even the tool Soren used to lure in the Wanderer.”

X: “Yes.”

MC: “Can you also use that device to… recreate a plane of existence and overlap it with reality? You mentioned earlier that this is something only ‘your people’ know about.”

X: “That’s right. But you know I don’t like illusion stuff.”

– MC and Xavier discussing Ever Group’s newest groundbreaking invention

Notes:

The concept of a flux stabilizer first makes an appearance at Akso Hospital early on when MC visited Zayne's office and questions if the device is broken when a Wanderer appears

However, as of the end of Prologue To Tomorrow, a new 2.0 version of the flux stabilizer has been revealed to the public

When Ever broadcasts this new device on television, MC doubts there would be any need for Hunters if they implemented his small device all over the city

MC and her teammates are skeptical of this groundbreaking device that is advertised to help humanity against the Wanderers, of course

Similar to a Flux Nexus, this device can also be used for nefarious means such as to lure Wanderers