Lucas stood at the edge of the sanctum, his hands resting against the cold stone walls. The threads glimmered faintly, their presence a constant reminder of the weight now pressing on his shoulders. Wren’s training sessions were grueling, but what unsettled him most were the visions. Each time he connected to the threads, the glimpses grew sharper, more vivid—more dangerous.
This time, it wasn’t just Elena and Lily he saw.
There was a shadow—a figure obscured in darkness, its presence heavy and suffocating. Wherever it moved, the threads recoiled, twisting into chaotic knots. It was searching, its gaze piercing and unrelenting. And Lucas felt its pull as though it knew him.
“You’re distracted,” Wren’s voice cut through his thoughts.
He turned to find her watching him, arms crossed, her expression unreadable.
“I saw something,” Lucas admitted. “A shadow. It felt… alive, like it was tearing through the threads.”
Wren’s demeanor changed. She stepped closer, her tone grave. “A Voidwalker.”
“A what?” Lucas asked, his brow furrowing.
“They’re rare,” Wren explained. “Beings untethered from the threads, existing outside the web of reality. They hunt Conduits, unraveling the threads we touch. If you’ve seen one, it means it’s aware of you.”
“Great,” Lucas muttered, running a hand through his hair. “As if NexTech wasn’t bad enough.”
“This is different,” Wren said. “Voidwalkers aren’t driven by greed or power. They destroy because they can. And once they’ve set their sights on a target…” She trailed off, her silence more unsettling than her words.
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Meanwhile, Elena and Lily followed Kael through a network of abandoned tunnels beneath the city. The air was damp, and the faint drip of water echoed around them.
“Where exactly are you taking us?” Elena asked, her voice wary.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“To someone who can help,” Kael replied without looking back.
“Help with what?” Lily pressed.
Kael stopped abruptly, turning to face them. “With staying alive. NexTech isn’t the only threat you’re facing. There are forces at play that make them look like amateurs.”
Elena exchanged a glance with Lily. She wanted to trust Kael—he seemed genuine—but years of running and hiding had taught her to be cautious.
They continued walking until they reached a massive steel door. Kael placed his hand against a small panel, and with a low rumble, the door slid open.
Inside was a sprawling underground chamber, filled with machinery, maps, and glowing screens. A group of people worked silently, their focus intense.
“Welcome to the Nexus,” Kael said.
“What is this place?” Elena asked, her voice tinged with awe.
“A sanctuary,” Kael said. “And a command center. This is where we fight back.”
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Back at the sanctum, Wren handed Lucas a small, intricate device resembling a gauntlet.
“What’s this?” he asked, examining it.
“A Threadcatcher,” Wren said. “It’ll amplify your connection to the threads, but it’s not without risks. The stronger the connection, the more the threads push back. If you’re not ready, it could overwhelm you.”
Lucas hesitated, the weight of the device heavy in his hands. “And if I am ready?”
“Then it’ll show you things you can’t imagine,” Wren said, her eyes gleaming.
Lucas slid the gauntlet onto his arm, the metal cool against his skin. As it activated, the threads around him flared brighter, their hum intensifying. He took a deep breath and reached out.
The visions came faster this time—flashes of people and places, of choices and consequences. But among the chaos, one image stood out: Elena, standing in the Nexus, her eyes locked on his.
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In the Nexus, Kael led Elena and Lily to a table covered in blueprints and documents.
“These are schematics for NexTech’s spire,” Kael explained. “It’s more than a research facility—it’s a focal point. They’re harnessing the threads to create something massive.”
“What do they want?” Elena asked, her voice sharp.
“To control the threads,” Kael said simply. “To rewrite reality itself.”
Lily’s eyes narrowed. “And what happens if they succeed?”
Kael met her gaze. “They’ll become gods.”
The weight of his words hung in the air.
Elena clenched her fists. “Then we have to stop them.”
Kael nodded. “Agreed. But first, we need to find your friend. If Lucas is the Conduit I think he is, he’ll be the key to dismantling the spire.”
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As Lucas lowered his hand, the visions faded, leaving him breathless.
“They’re close,” he said, his voice steady. “Elena and Lily—they’re looking for me.”
“Then it’s time,” Wren said, her tone resolute. “If the Voidwalker is hunting you, and NexTech is closing in, we have to move. The threads won’t wait forever.”
Lucas nodded, the gauntlet on his arm glowing faintly.
“Let’s find them,” he said.