The clearing fell silent, but the hum of the anomaly still vibrated through the earth. The creature hadn’t retreated; it was waiting. And they couldn’t begin to work out how to repair the tear while it was still out there. At least for now, the immediate danger had passed.

  Alessa broke the silence, her voice tight.

  “That thing—whatever it is—was drawing power from the Aether leaking through the anomaly. We’ve only bought ourselves time.”

  Thorne’s lips twisted into a grimace as his fingers brushed over his lute.

  “So, we’ve got a monster feeding off raw power, and no idea how to stop it. Great.”

  A strange wind swept through the trees, sharp and electric, chilling Seraphina to her core. For a moment, she thought she sensed something stirring, just beyond her reach. Something... familiar? Another presence? She shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought, but it lingered.

  Seraphina’s gaze never wavered from the shadows, even though she knew the creature had retreated for now.

  “It’s a symptom of a much larger problem.”

  Alessa narrowed her eyes.

  “Umbra?”

  Seraphina nodded.

  “That’s what we need to figure out. Why is she even here? We’ve seen the way she’s been manipulating the shadows, the way things have escalated. But there’s no way she’s strong enough to cause a rift in the Veil.”

  Thorne leaned against a tree, brow furrowing.

  “But why? I know she’s got something against you. But why the attack on Astra? Why now?”

  Alessa’s expression hardened.

  “Because Umbra’s not the real threat here. There’s something, or worse, someone, pulling the strings.”

  Thorne frowned, his fingers tense on the lute.

  “The Academy would’ve noticed something like this, right? They’ve got wards, safeguards…”

  “They should have,” Alessa replied, her voice tight with frustration. “Which means either they’re blind to it—or someone wanted them to be.”

  Another tremor shook the ground, more pronounced this time. Seraphina’s instincts flared. Something was wrong. And before she could react, a sharp wind swept through the trees, crackling with raw energy.

  “Tell me that’s just the wind,” Thorne said, his voice tight with alarm.

  Seraphina’s breath caught as she saw the shadows shift, tendrils curling through the treetops with unnerving speed. The shadow creature was back, descending like a storm, and this time, it wasn’t retreating.

  “Get ready!” Seraphina shouted, her hand instinctively reaching for the relic.

  The ground shook as the creature’s tendrils lashed downward, striking the earth with terrifying force, trying to knock them off their feet. The first struck the ground near Alessa, sending a shower of dirt up as she jumped to the side. The second was slower but more deliberate—it coiled around her ankle, pulling her down with a violent yank, sending her crashing to the ground in a spray of dirt and shadow.

  “Alessa!” Seraphina bolted forward, her limbs heavy with the oppressive weight of the air.

  Pinned to the ground, Alessa’s face went pale, her eyes wide with confusion and panic. Seraphina’s heart pounded—No, not again. She saw the shadowy tentacles clinging to Alessa, drawing her closer and leeching her power, just as they had drained Professor Astra. If she didn’t act fast, Alessa’s lifeforce would fade too.

  The creature screeched, its tendrils pulling Alessa toward the rift.

  “It’s heading for the rift!” Thorne shouted, his voice laced with panic. “If it gets there, it’ll heal itself. We won’t stand a chance.”

  “Thorne!” Seraphina shouted. “The web—it’s holding it up!”

  Thorne’s gaze snapped to the web above them. Without hesitation, he raised his lute, strumming a series of discordant chords. The sound sliced through the air, vibrating the trees and making the very earth shudder. Each note struck with precision, resonating through the creature’s web, the tension mounting as the strands began to fray. One by one, they snapped with violent force, sending the creature reeling before the entire web tore apart.

  With a deafening crash, the creature slammed into the ground, the impact sending a shockwave through the clearing, shaking the trees and scattering dirt in all directions. Its many eyes blinked erratically, and its tendrils writhed violently as it struggled to regain its bearings, its screech echoing through the night.

  It paused, then attempted to rise, its movements slow but deliberate. Once again, the tendrils began to coil toward Alessa, still incapacitated.

  Thorne’s fingers trembled as he strummed another chord, the vibrations slamming into the creature’s side. But it barely flinched.

  “I can’t break its focus!” Thorne shouted, his voice strained with frustration.

  “No!” cried Seraphina. Her pulse raced as she saw the creature’s tendrils closing in on Alessa once more.

  A gust of wind screamed through the clearing, raw energy crackling in the air. The creature froze, its many eyes swiveling toward a flash of silver that sliced through the darkness.

  Tendrils recoiled, thrashing wildly as if trying to flee, only to be pushed back by the winds, which seemed to roar with a life of their own. Seraphina shielded her eyes as a deep, resonant voice echoed across the clearing.

  “Enough.”

  At the edge of the clearing, a figure wreathed in silver fire appeared, their silhouette outlined by the crackling light. With a raised hand, lightning arced from their fingertips, and the creature recoiled, as though struck by an unseen force.

  “Alessa.” The voice was a low rumble, a force of nature. Seraphina froze, her heart skipping a beat. She didn’t recognize it, but its power was unmistakable.

  Above, the clouds churned, streaked with veins of silver light. From the chaos, a being of shifting shadow and starlight took form—vast, ancient, incomprehensible.

  “I am Caelithor,” the voice declared.

  Another Guardian.

  Seraphina’s gaze darted to Alessa, collapsed on the ground. A faint shimmer surrounded her—fragile at first, like a flickering ember, but quickly growing. Caelithor’s presence was changing her.

  “Hold your ground,” he commanded. The winds obeyed, tightening around them.

  Alessa stirred, her hands trembling as she pushed herself up. Seraphina’s stomach twisted. Alessa looked ready to collapse, but her eyes burned with determination. She had no intention of backing down.

  Seraphina stepped forward, but paused, confusion gripping her. Alessa was barely holding on, yet the storm seemed to shield her, winds weaving like armour. The realisation hit her like a shockwave. Alessa wasn’t just surviving. She was channeling Caelithor. Just as she had Lumos, Alessa was now bound to Caelithor.

  Thorne stood a few paces away, his hand hovering over his lute, eyes flickering between Seraphina and the unfolding scene. His gaze was locked on Alessa, as if he, too, could sense the tension crackling in the air.

  “I’m ready,” Alessa said, her voice faint but steady. The power of a Guardian coursed through her now, and Seraphina could feel it in the air.

  Thorne stepped closer, caught between awe and confusion.

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  The air thickened, crackling with energy. Then, with a flash of light, they were surrounded by dozens of mirror-like replicas—perfect reflections, moving in eerie unison.

  Thorne gaped.

  “Well, I didn’t see that coming.”

  The creature hissed, its many eyes darting between the illusions. Frustrated, it lashed out at one. The illusion dissolved into light. Then another. And another. With every strike, the creature grew more disoriented.

  “She’s buying us time,” Seraphina said, a flicker of hope igniting in her chest. “Brilliant, Alessa.”

  Thorne staggered to his feet, awe and unease in his gaze.

  “How… how is she doing that?”

  “It’s not just me,” Alessa said softly, her voice strained. “I can feel him… guiding me. Like he’s part of me.”

  Seraphina’s heart clenched. Alessa was barely holding on, but the storm seemed to shield her, winds weaving like armour. She glanced back at the creature, its frustration mounting. It was closing in.

  One illusion shattered under a swipe of its tentacle. Another one followed. The next strike came too fast. Alessa had no chance of blocking it.

  Seraphina moved instinctively, but the storm beat her to it.

  Caelithor descended in a blaze of lightning, placing himself between Alessa and the creature’s attack. His wings unfurled in a blaze, the light searing the air around him, as the tendrils froze inches from him.

  “You will not harm her,” he said, his voice shattering the air. For a moment, reality itself seemed to bend, as though the world had no choice but to bow before him.

  And for the first time, the creature hesitated.

  The creature quivered, its tendrils retracting as if aware it faced something far beyond its grasp. Behind Caelithor, Alessa’s hands twitched, her illusions sharpening with unnerving clarity.

  Seraphina swallowed hard.

  “We need to banish it.” Her voice trembled, but the urgency remained clear.

  Alessa tore her gaze from the shimmering Guardian, meeting Seraphina’s eyes. For a brief moment, weariness pulled at her, but then her jaw set.

  “Then let’s finish this.”

  As Alessa poured more into the illusions, Seraphina felt the air shift, crackling with tension. She turned to find Caelithor’s gaze fixed on her—sharp, unrelenting. Her skin prickled under the weight of his scrutiny.

  “Why do you not call upon Lumos, young guardian?” His voice cut through the chaos like a blade. “The light is your ally, yet you hesitate.”

  Seraphina froze. His words hit too close. He’s right. You’ve been holding back.

  The guilt twisted deep in her stomach. She hadn’t meant to keep Lumos hidden—it had just happened. Now, it felt like a betrayal.

  “I…” Her throat tightened. “How do you know about—”

  “Wait.” Alessa’s voice snapped, sharp enough to break through Seraphina’s spiraling thoughts. Her illusions wavered, but her eyes never left Seraphina’s. “What is Lumos?”

  The question hit like a hammer. Seraphina’s chest tightened. Every set of eyes was on her now. The silence felt suffocating.

  Thorne, standing by with his lute, shot her a wounded look. His voice, softer but no less painful, cut through the air.

  “You’ve been keeping secrets?”

  “I didn’t mean to—” Seraphina’s words faltered, but they were drowned out by the soft glow of Lumos appearing between them, its flicker a quiet reprimand.

  “Seraphina.” Caelithor’s voice, now tinged with impatience, rang through her. “Use the light, or risk losing everything.”

  Alessa’s illusions faltered as she turned to Lumos.

  “We don’t have time for this. Whatever it is—use it. Now.”

  Alessa’s command snapped Seraphina out of her internal chaos. She turned to Lumos, feeling the familiar warmth surge within her. No more hesitation.

  Caelithor’s light brightened, a radiant glow that pushed back the darkness. His wings fluttered slightly—an ancient weight carried in every movement. His voice rang out with clear authority.

  “Then let us combine our strengths, young guardians.”

  Alessa’s hands wove through the air, starlit eyes locked on the creature.

  “I’ve got an idea. Thorne, give me a rhythm!”

  Thorne’s fingers danced across the strings, sending vibrations through the air, creating a harmonic pulse that resonated with Aetheria itself. Alessa’s illusions surged in sync, shimmering with Seraphina’s light.

  The illusions grew stronger, more solid, surrounding the creature in a dizzying web of movement and light. The creature lashed out, but each strike dissolved into mist, leaving it disoriented, vulnerable.

  “Sera, hit it with everything you’ve got!” Alessa’s command was a force, unshakable.

  Seraphina’s heart thundered. She conjured a lance of pure light, the celestial energy surging through her. No more fear. She wasn’t just wielding the light—she was the light.

  With a sharp thrust, she sent the lance piercing through the creature’s core. It screeched, its tendrils flailing, but it was already too late. The light burned through, leaving only a crumpled heap of shadow.

  Silence fell. The creature was defeated, crumpled in a heap at her feet. Seraphina stood tall, chest heaving, as the last of her light flickered and died. The faint hum of Thorne’s lute was the only sound that remained.

  Caelithor stepped forward, his expression unreadable.

  “Impressive,” he said, though his tone suggested otherwise. His gaze flicked to Lumos. “But your bond remains fragile.”

  I am here, Seraphina. Lumos’s voice, soft but steady, echoed in her mind. Always.

  But the tension remained thick. Seraphina glanced at her friends. Alessa’s gaze, sharp and focused on Lumos, betrayed nothing. Thorne stood beside her, brow furrowed, silent—a far cry from his usual lighthearted self.

  Lumos flickered, her light pulsing in response to their presence. The air between them shifted, heavy with unspoken words. Her gaze locked on Caelithor.

  “Caelithor,” Lumos said, her tone even. “I didn’t expect you.”

  Caelithor’s lips twitched into a faint smile.

  “Nor I, Lumos,” he replied, his eyes sliding to Seraphina. “But I see you’ve found a new ward. How ready is she, truly? You, of all celestial beings, should know better than to bind yourself so fully to someone untested.”

  The words cut deep. Seraphina quickly looked to Alessa, but found no comfort in her eyes.

  Alessa’s lips thinned.

  “You kept this from us.”

  Thorne’s expression shifted from confusion to hurt.

  “I thought we were in this together, Sera.”

  Seraphina’s chest tightened.

  “I didn’t want to burden you,” she said, her voice trembling. “I didn’t understand it myself at first. But I trust Lumos. She’s always been there. I—”

  Alessa cut her off, stepping forward.

  “Always? You’ve known her for, what, a week? We’re your friends, Seraphina. We don’t keep things from each other. You never used to.”

  Seraphina winced, her heart sinking.

  “It’s not that simple, Alessa. My bond with Lumos… it’s complicated. It’s different.”

  Lumos’s light brightened, cutting through the tension.

  “Seraphina is right. A guardian’s bond with their celestial guide can’t be easily understood—even by the one who carries it.”

  The words should have been comforting, but instead, they deepened the divide. Seraphina saw the uncertainty in Thorne’s eyes, the hurt in Alessa’s. Silence settled between them like a thick fog.

  Caelithor observed them, a faint smile curling his lips.

  “You think this bond will be enough to prepare her? The darkness we face isn’t so easily driven back by light and promises.”

  Seraphina’s chest tightened as she looked at her friends—Alessa’s anger, Thorne’s quiet concern. She should have shared everything sooner. She should have trusted them.

  Before she could speak, Lumos’s voice filled her mind again, soft yet resolute. Seraphina, they will understand. But this is your journey. Trust in yourself.

  Seraphina took a deep breath and met her friends’ gazes.

  “I’m sorry. You’re right. I should have told you sooner. I didn’t want to make this harder, but… I don’t know how to do this without you. Without your trust.”

  Thorne stepped forward, his expression softer now.

  “We trust you, Seraphina. Always. But… this is a lot. We want to be in this together.”

  Alessa’s glare softened, but her frustration still simmered.

  “No more secrets, Sera.”

  Lumos’s light flickered, warm and steady in the background. This path is yours, Seraphina. But you are not alone.

  Seraphina nodded, her fingers brushing the Luminous Relic, grounding herself in its steady pulse. The road ahead was uncertain, but the weight in her chest lightened, just a little. One thing was clear: she wasn’t alone.