The aftermath of their escape from Kessa left a lingering tension between Kai and Mara as they trudged deeper into the ever-shifting Nexus. The terrain before them was unlike anything Kai had ever encountered—glowing platforms hovered over endless voids, and crystalline structures sprouted like ancient trees, their roots pulsing with light.

Kai glanced at Mara, her face a mask of calm that didn’t quite match the storm of emotions he felt brewing beneath the surface. He wanted answers—needed them. How long had Mara been hiding from the Nexus? Why hadn’t she told him about her past with Kessa? And most importantly, what exactly were they walking into?

The silence finally broke as Kai asked, “Why didn’t you tell me you knew Kessa? Or that you had this… history?”

Mara slowed her pace, her shoulders tightening. “I didn’t think it mattered until now,” she admitted. “Kessa and I were on different paths, and I hoped they would never cross again. But I underestimated how deeply she’s tied to the Nexus.”

Kai frowned, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “It matters, Mara. If she’s hunting us, I need to know what we’re up against.”

Mara sighed, her eyes scanning the horizon. “Kessa wasn’t always like this. When I first learned to use the Energy of Codes, she was a mentor of sorts—a guardian who taught me the basics. She saw potential in me, but she didn’t agree with my choices. When I decided to leave the Nexus, she called it betrayal. To her, the Nexus is everything.”

Kai absorbed her words, piecing together the fragments of her story. “And now she wants to stop us because you left?”

“It’s more than that,” Mara said. “The shard you carry—it’s powerful, Kai. It’s a key to something even Kessa doesn’t fully understand. If she thinks we’re trying to use it against the Nexus, she’ll stop at nothing to take it from us.”

Kai’s hand instinctively went to the pouch where he carried the shard. It pulsed faintly, as if sensing the mention of its name. “Why me?” he muttered. “Why did it choose me?”

Mara turned to face him, her expression softening. “Because you’re more connected to this place than you realize. The Energy of Codes flows through you as naturally as it flows through the Nexus. It’s in your blood, Kai.”

Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, Kai felt the weight of the truth settle over him. His lineage—his heritage—had always been a mystery. His father had disappeared when he was young, leaving only fragments of stories behind. And now, the pieces were starting to fit together in ways he hadn’t expected.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“Is it my dad?” he asked hesitantly. “Is that where this comes from?”

Mara hesitated, then nodded. “Your father had a deep connection to the Nexus. He was one of the few who could wield the Energy of Codes without losing himself to it. But it’s more than just him, Kai. Your mother’s lineage carries its own ties to the Nexus. You’re a blend of both worlds, and that’s what makes you unique.”

Kai’s chest tightened as he thought of his mom, likely frantic with worry back in the real world. She had no idea where he was or what he was going through. He hadn’t spoken to her in days, and the thought of her pacing their small apartment, calling his name, filled him with guilt.

“Does she know?” he asked quietly. “About any of this?”

Mara shook her head. “Your mom was never part of the Nexus. Your father kept it hidden to protect her—and you.”

Kai swallowed hard, his mind racing. He thought of her warm, reassuring smile, her sacrifices to give him a chance at a better life. And here he was, trapped in a place that defied reality, carrying the weight of powers he barely understood.

“We have to go back,” he said suddenly, his voice firm.

Mara turned to him, surprise flickering across her face. “What?”

“To the real world,” Kai said. “My mom doesn’t know where I am. She must be worried sick. And Alex—I left him behind without explaining anything. They deserve to know the truth.”

Mara’s expression darkened. “Kai, going back isn’t that simple. The shard binds you to the Nexus now. You can’t just leave without consequences.”

“I don’t care about the consequences,” Kai shot back. “I can’t just abandon them. There has to be a way.”

Mara studied him for a long moment, then sighed. “There’s a way. But it’s dangerous—especially now that Kessa is hunting us. If we leave the Nexus without properly sealing our presence, it could destabilize the connection between worlds. That’s a risk we can’t take lightly.”

Kai clenched his fists, frustration boiling over. “So what do we do? Just keep running forever? Fighting battles I barely understand?”

Before Mara could respond, the ground beneath them rumbled, and the air grew heavy with static. A glowing fissure appeared in the distance, and out of it stepped three figures—guardians, their forms shimmering with the same energy that coursed through the Nexus.

Mara’s eyes widened. “They’ve found us.”

Kai’s heart pounded as the guardians advanced, their movements deliberate and unyielding. He could feel the Energy of Codes swirling around them, a force both beautiful and terrifying.

Mara stepped forward, her hands glowing with power. “Stay behind me,” she ordered.

But Kai shook his head, summoning his own energy. “No. I’m not running this time.”

The guardians stopped a few feet away, their leader—a tall figure with piercing silver eyes—fixing them with an unreadable gaze. “Surrender the shard,” the guardian said, their voice echoing like a distant storm.

Kai exchanged a glance with Mara, his resolve hardening. “Not a chance.”

As the air around them crackled with impending conflict, Kai felt the shard pulse against his chest, as if urging him forward. For the first time, he didn’t feel like a lost, scared beginner. He felt like he belonged.