CHAPTER 2

The forest outside was called the Heolstorbridge Woods, known for its dark and densely packed trees. But, as the trio set foot outside, what they saw instead would soon be known for its very dark and smoky ash. The intense smell of smoke and everything not right penetrated into their nostrils. “How the hell did this happen? Who did this?” Amelia asked angrily.

“Did you hear what the kid said? Some strange person was outside earlier, they probably did all this.” Zack replied with a huff.

“I, uh. I saw something. No- someone back in the tunnel when I was still closing the door. There was a strange figure surrounded by wolves. I believe that’s the guy responsible for everything.” Lex said reluctantly.

“You WHAT now? Where is he now? Did he see you or go after you?” Zack yelled with concern.

“Uhm…Lex, I have a question. Of all the people, why did you only bring me with you?” Amelia asked shyly.

“I… I don’t actually know. Just a feeling I guess. I felt like I had to…”

“Wouldn’t that be true for anyone though? What makes me so special?…” Amelia asked, her cheeks blushing fiercely even though she tried to hide it.

Before Lex had a chance to answer her awkward and very personal question, the trio heard a loud howl in the distance, coming from the school. Screams of terror ripped across the schoolyard, putting the trio on high alert.

“Let me try this again,” Zack asked Lex in a serious tone, “Were. You. Followed.”

Lex sighed, “Zack, if I…” Lex abruptly stopped midway, his eyes opening wide with terror. Zack looked around, trying to see what put the great Lex in such a state. “Lex? What’s wro-?”

“Zack, Amelia! We have to go! NOW! It’s not safe here-!”

Lex was interrupted by a terrifying voice, enough to cause the trio to all shudder in fear.

“Your predictions are correct, young child of Prometheus.”

“Wh- where are you!? Re-reveal yourself now! I bet you wont!” Amelia yelled, flustered.

“You’d regret that though, and I’m sure the child of Prometheus knows that too…”, the voice replied. Lex clenched his jaws tightly in anger. “But oh well, too late for that I suppose.” Darkness started to come seemingly out of nowhere, seeping the entire area around them into a dark mist, it was as if someone had turned off the sun.

A tall, dark, and slender figure suddenly appeared right in front of Lex and Amelia, instantly paralyzing both of them. The two didn’t even have a proper chance to react before a dark and repressing aura hit them, sending Lex to his knees and Amelia completely flattened against the ground.

Unexpectedly, a voice came from behind the figure. “STOP RIGHT THERE YOU DISGUSTING CREATURE.”

“Wha-” The figure turned around, surprised to see that someone wasn’t caught up by their aura, but was in fact also holding a very sharp piece of tree branch. “How are you-”

Zack then promptly lunged at the figure, hands tightly gripped around his makeshift weapon, which he must’ve sharpened during the time the figure was yapping. He took one great leap, two, and - was instantly flattened against the ground, with his weapon still in his hands, Zack would’ve stabbed himself if he didn’t react in time to move it out of the way.

The figure looked down at Zack, a wicked grin spreading beneath the shadow of its hood. "Impressive, but futile." The dark figure’s voice was smooth and cruel, like the edge of a blade. With a flick of its hand, a surge of energy blasted Zack away, sending him crashing into a nearby tree with a sickening thud. His vision blurred as he struggled to push himself up, but the world spun wildly around him.

"Zack!" Amelia cried, her voice still tinged with panic as she tried to push herself up from the ground, but the aura still pressed down on her, keeping her pinned. "No!"

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Lex, still on his knees, clenched his fists, but the weight of the oppressive aura made it hard to move. Sweat dripped from his brow as he gritted his teeth. "Damn it... There’s more than I thought."

The figure, now standing tall and unbothered by Zack’s failed assault, turned back toward them, its piercing eyes glowing with an unnatural light. It was a being beyond comprehension, its presence like an endless abyss that consumed everything around it.

"You know nothing of the forces you’re dealing with, children. You are nothing but little specks of dust on this planet that we call Zyphora."

"Who are you?!" Amelia demanded, her voice trembling but filled with defiance. "What do you want from us?!"

The figure smirked, as if toying with them. "A question of importance... but one that will remain unanswered for now. I suggest you focus on surviving." With that, the figure snapped its fingers. More blinding darkness erupted from its hand, and the ground around them began to tremble. The trees swayed violently, their branches creaking as if about to break. The very air grew heavy, thick with an energy that seemed to distort the world itself.

Amelia’s heart raced, her thoughts scrambling to make sense of everything. "Lex... What is happening?!" Before Lex could respond, a deafening roar split the air, coming from the schoolyard. The sound was monstrous, far beyond anything human, echoing with the power of something ancient and deadly. At that moment, it felt as if the entire world was on the brink of collapse.

“We need to get out of here…” Lex grinded his teeth, finally managing to stand, though his movements were slow and heavy from the effects of the figure’s aura. He grabbed Amelia’s arm and yanked her toward him, pulling her away from the crushing pressure.

“Zack!” Amelia cried out, turning to look at her fallen friend, but before she could reach him, the figure raised its hand again.

“Don’t waste your time.” The figure’s voice carried an almost mocking tone. But as it prepared to strike again, a flash of light cut through the darkness - including the dark entity. Another figure - with a mask covering most of their face, was cloaked in light, with an ethereal glow surrounding them—appeared between them and the dark entity. The newcomer’s presence was calm, almost serene, in stark contrast to the chaos that reigned around them. They held their hand out, palm facing the figure.

“Enough,” the stranger’s voice was firm, yet gentle, cutting through the tension. The energy in the air shifted, like the balance of the world itself had been altered with their arrival.

The dark figure growled as its dark body was pieced together again, a low rumble that seemed to shake the very ground. “You... you dare intervene?”

“I dare,” the stranger replied, their voice unwavering. "Leave them be. This is not your moment."

The figure hesitated, a dark flicker of uncertainty passing through its eyes. It turned its gaze toward Lex, Amelia, and the fallen Zack one last time, its smile turning into a twisted grimace. “This isn’t over, you WILL regret this!” It hissed, before vanishing in a flash of dark smoke, leaving behind only the remnants of its oppressive aura. The stranger stood silently for a moment, as if sensing the shift in the atmosphere, before they moved toward the trio.

Lex, still gripping Amelia tightly, looked at the stranger, his eyes filled with questions. “Who are you?” he asked, his voice steady but full of suspicion.

The stranger lowered their hood, and took off their mask. Long flowing white hair fell out, and their features were elegant and sharp in a way that suggested nobility, but there was a certain weariness to their expression - like someone who had seen too much and no longer cared to belong anywhere. Their eyes were a striking shade of amber, glowing faintly in the dim light, almost like smoldering embers. They gave a slight smile, the expression warm but distant, as if it were a reflex they had long since perfected. “You ask who I am, but you know the answer isn’t something you want to hear.” Her voice soft with a hint of sadness.

Lex’s heart skipped a beat. “What... what are you talking about?” He looked away in shame.

She sighed, “Vey will do.”

Suddenly another scream pierced the air, and the ground began to shake again, more violently this time. "There's no time," Vey said urgently, grabbing Lex by the arm. "We need to move. The battle for the future has already begun. You’re going to need all the help you can get."

“Wait! Just… let me carry him first,” Lex said, pointing at Zack. Vey nodded, giving permission.

As Lex went to pick up Zack, Amelia was still standing at the same spot, pinching herself. “Please tell me this is just a really bad dream…please… please…please…”

Vey called out, “Amelia… I think it’s best if you follow us too.”

“Wait what? Where are we going? And… how can we trust you?”

“It’s Vey, and… I’m sure. It’s a gut feeling. Plus it’s definitely better than staying here and waiting for whatever attacked the school to find us.”

“That's true… alright.” Amelia responded, finally realizing that she wouldn’t be able to just “wake up” and pretend all of this never happened.

Vey nodded once again, and went on to say some strange words and made strange hand gestures - causing a portal to appear, and pushed the trio in.