Lucas sat cross-legged in the center of the Tethered Sanctum, his eyes shut tight. The glow of the threads around him pulsed gently, their rhythm syncing with his breathing.

“Feel the threads, Lucas,” Wren instructed, her voice calm but firm. “They’re not just light—they’re possibilities, choices, connections. They want to guide you. Let them.”

Lucas inhaled deeply, focusing on the strange warmth spreading through his body. Slowly, he opened his mind to the sensation, reaching out with something beyond touch.

The threads responded.

He gasped as visions swirled before him—flickers of what could be, what had been, and what might never come to pass. He saw Elena and Lily walking down a rain-soaked street, their faces set with determination. He saw the towering spire again, its ominous hum vibrating in his chest. And he saw himself—standing in a field of threads, his hands glowing as the threads twisted and bent around him.

His concentration broke, and he exhaled sharply, his eyes snapping open.

“That’s enough for now,” Wren said, stepping forward.

“What was that?” Lucas asked, his voice shaking.

“Glimpses,” Wren said. “The threads reveal fragments of the web—moments where choices ripple outward.”

Lucas rubbed his temples, his head pounding. “It’s overwhelming. How do you control it?”

“You don’t,” Wren said with a faint smile. “You learn to dance with it.”

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Elena and Lily approached an old factory on the outskirts of the city. The structure loomed over them, its windows shattered and its walls covered in graffiti.

“This is where he is?” Elena asked, glancing at Lily.

Lily nodded. “The threads brought me here.”

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Elena wasn’t sure what that meant, but she didn’t argue. The factory gave her an uneasy feeling, but if it led them to Lucas, it was worth the risk.

As they stepped inside, the air grew colder. The faint hum of machinery echoed through the space, and Elena noticed strange symbols etched into the walls—circles, lines, and patterns that seemed to shift when she looked away.

“This place isn’t normal,” Elena said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“No, it’s not,” Lily replied.

Before Elena could respond, a voice echoed through the factory.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

They spun around to see a figure emerging from the shadows—a man with piercing blue eyes and a faintly glowing device embedded in his arm.

“Who are you?” Elena demanded, stepping protectively in front of Lily.

“My name is Kael,” the man said, his tone even. “And if you’re here, that means the threads have marked you.”

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In the Tethered Sanctum, Lucas couldn’t shake the image of Elena and Lily from his vision.

“Aether,” he said, his voice hesitant. “They’re in trouble, aren’t they?”

“Yes,” Aether replied. “But they’re also coming for you.”

“Then we need to help them,” Lucas said, standing abruptly.

“Not yet,” Wren interjected, stepping into his path. “You’re not ready. If you face NexTech now, you’ll be walking straight into their hands.”

Lucas clenched his fists. “I can’t just sit here while they’re out there risking their lives.”

Wren’s gaze softened, but her tone remained firm. “I understand. But rushing in without control over your abilities will only make things worse. Trust the threads, Lucas. They’ll guide you when the time is right.”

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Back at the factory, Kael studied Elena and Lily with a mix of curiosity and caution.

“You’re not like the others,” he said, his gaze lingering on Lily. “You’ve been altered, haven’t you?”

Lily’s expression hardened. “And what if I have?”

Kael smiled faintly. “It means you might survive what’s coming.”

“What’s coming?” Elena asked, her voice tense.

Kael’s expression darkened. “NexTech is building something—a weapon, a device, I’m not sure. But whatever it is, it’s tied to the spire. If they succeed, it won’t just be Conduits like you who are affected—it’ll be everyone.”

Lily stepped forward, her eyes blazing. “Then we stop them.”

Kael chuckled dryly. “You’re bold, I’ll give you that. But if you want to stop NexTech, you’ll need more than courage. You’ll need allies.”

“Then help us,” Elena said, her voice steady.

Kael hesitated, then nodded. “I’ll take you to someone who can. But be warned—this path won’t be easy. And not everyone who starts it will survive.”

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Lucas sat alone in the sanctum, staring at the glowing threads.

“Why me?” he asked quietly. “Why did the threads choose me?”

Aether’s voice was soft, almost soothing. “Because you have the strength to pull them together—and the courage to stand when others fall.”

Lucas didn’t feel strong or courageous. But as he reached out to the threads again, he felt a faint spark of determination.