Aeternum, Shard of the Nebula

[Aeternum]

Millenia pass before stellar winds warm the little asteroid again.

The light of a star vaporizes gases trapped in its rocky shell, which peels away to expose a green mineral lattice that contains a large volume of black, metallic liquid.

Its trajectory curves with the gravity well of the star and plummets toward a great world of ice. It punches through the tenuous atmosphere but the outer layer shatters while the liquid impacts the surface like a large drop of metal rain.

In the center of the shallow crater, protruding from the puddle of viscous black metal, is a crystal like a giant uncut diamond. Faint flashes of crimson emanate from its core like a slow, steady heartbeat, while the metal swirls around it like a web of striated vines.

"Mother... I am awake."