Machia Veil Timeline

Late evening, September 8th – Bellatorn Estate, Denewood, Surridge

An Arch confronted Ethriel and Nate. As the tension peaked, Cairis intervened, orchestrating a coordinated effort with other RayCrests. Their unfamiliar code struck Nate when a sudden jolt made him yelp.

Nate’s body collided with the unforgiving stones below.

A voracious pull intensified; a cold rush of air enveloped him as he struggled against the descent into a vortex.

The world blurred, and the ground vanished.

***

Ethriel and Cairis pulled Nate back, their hands gripping his arms as the ground shook beneath them.

“You need to head into the manor. Protect yourself,” said Ethriel.

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“No. I want to code!” said Nate.

“You are a target, making more work for us. You must go through the attic!” said Cairis.

“I can’t without my mother! She won’t follow me!” said Nate.

Ethriel and Cairis locked eyes. A silent agreement must have crossed between them, since they nodded in unison. Then, stepping to one side, Ethriel lifted Nate into the air. They flew over the manor and landed close to Bo’s cottage.

“Kenya is here. Is that why you haven’t left?” asked Ethriel.

“No! It’s my Mum.”

Ethriel remained silent as they walked over the small bridge to Bo’s cottage.

“I know you won’t leave without Kenya,” said Ethriel, breaking the silence. “But she cannot travel.”

Nate bit his lip as they crossed the private woodlands. Then he burst out. “She is with Milon!”

“The Parallels are collapsing, Nate. You are the tipping point.”

“Why would I be that critical? I can’t take it anymore!” he said, holding his pounding head.

“You are a tipping point,” he said with serenity, “and we are working towards a natural balance. You must cross back to Quotidian now.”

They came closer to Bo’s cottage. Aria was shaking her head and pacing back and forth. Kenya and Milon were next to her.

“I won’t leave Kenya,” Nate muttered with an emotion-choked voice.

In that instant, Kenya reached her hand to Milon for comfort.