"Well," Zola said, trying to catch her breath, "that was... something."

Vas gave her a tired grin. "Welcome to my world."

"So, what exactly is this world of yours? As far as I knew, you weren't bonded," Zola asked, her gaze fixed on Vas.

"Before I explain, you need to promise you won't tell anyone," Vas said, his tone serious.

"Alright, I promise," Zola replied, crossing her arms. Then she turned to Lily. "Do you promise?"

Lily shrugged, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "I kinda already know. Vas and I have been close friends for years. My mother made me keep it a secret to avoid, well... social suicide in school."

Zola raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You two have been faking not being best friends all this time?"

"Pretty much," Lily said, her voice tinged with resignation.

"That's... sad," Zola answered, a soft frown appearing.

"Very," Vas said quietly, giving Lily a glance filled with unspoken understanding before turning back to Zola. "Anyway, here's the basic gist of it." He began filling Zola in on everything—The Archivist, The Void, The Forgotten, and his powers. He explained how he'd been tasked with hunting The Forgotten and shared his history with Lily, Madeline, and Anya.

Zola listened carefully, her face softening as she took in the weight of his responsibilities. "That's... a lot to carry," she said, her eyes searching his, a mix of concern and admiration crossing her features. "Why do you keep all this secret?"

"He can't say more," a voice interrupted.

Zola and Lily both jumped. "Who said that?" they asked in unison, their eyes wide with surprise.

"That's Morrigan," Vas explained, as a sleek crow materialized beside him, its eyes gleaming with intelligence. "One of the spirits I've forged."

"Good to meet you both," Morrigan said with a sharp, knowing voice. "I'm his teacher—trying to teach this kid how to fight without getting himself killed."

Zola's eyes flickered between Vas and the crow. "Well, good to meet you too?" she offered uncertainly.

Lily, who had been quietly observing, narrowed her eyes at Morrigan. "Wait... did you say we're wasting our potential?"

"You two are wasting your potential," Morrigan said, her gaze cutting through the air like a blade. "Your Archetypes have so much power, and you're squandering it."

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"Archetypes?" Zola and Lily echoed, their confusion growing.

"Archetypes are the paths your powers will follow," Morrigan began, her voice taking on a teaching tone. "There are various levels—Common, Uncommon, Rare, Legendary, and Forbidden. You two hold Legendary Archetypes, which is rare. No Archetype can have an infinite number of wielders at the same time, and for the Gods to assign you both Legendary ones is... unusual."

"Wait, if we have this kind of power, why didn't anyone tell us?" Lily asked, folding her arms in frustration.

"They don't tell you because that's part of the Gods' game," Morrigan replied coolly. "No one really understands why. But know this—each God can assign any Archetype, but the powers they grant will always align with that God's domain. And the medium you use to channel your Archetype—whether it's a weapon, armor, or an accessory—affects how your powers manifest. It's all about layers."

Zola let out a breath, her mind racing. "So... even if we share the same Archetype, the way our powers work depends on the God we're bonded to?"

"Exactly," Morrigan confirmed.

Lily tilted her head, scrutinizing the crow. "But why are you talking to us now?"

"This kid," Morrigan nodded towards Vas, "is going to need help. And since you two have the potential to wield your powers properly, I want to train you to be ready."

"I don't need to think about it," Lily said firmly, her tone softening as she glanced at Vas. "Vas is my best friend. I won't leave him alone like so many others have."

Vas shot Lily a grateful look, his shoulders relaxing just slightly, knowing she was always there for him.

Zola, however, locked eyes with Vas, her expression more intense. "Vas... aside from what you can't tell me because of The Archivist, can you promise to be honest with me about everything else?"

There was a moment of silence, a subtle tension building in the space between them. Vas held her gaze, feeling the weight of her words. "I can," he said, his voice steady but soft.

"Then I'm in," Zola said, her lips curving slightly.

Morrigan flapped her wings, as if signaling her approval. "Voidwalker bonded with Quantum," she gestured to Lily, "and an Aether Walker bonded with Athena," she nodded at Zola. "We'll begin training in a few days. It'll give you both time to rest and give him," she looked at Vas, "time to forge more spirits."

Zola smirked. "So, how do we leave here?"

"I'll call my aunt," Lily said, pulling out her CipherSync. "She'll pick us up without causing too much of a fuss... but she's definitely going to be mad at you for not telling her what you were up to."

Vas chuckled. "Your mom charges me for everything. I can't risk her sending me a bill for Anya's help."

Everyone laughed, the tension easing just a bit.

Not long after, Anya arrived, and as expected, she was furious with Vas for keeping his spirit-hunting missions a secret after losing his older spirits. But behind her frustration, there was a flicker of concern that only Lily seemed to catch.

As they prepared to leave, Zola stayed close to Vas, her arm brushing against his as they walked. There was a new understanding between them, one that neither needed to speak aloud just yet—but the bond between them was growing, their futures now intertwined in ways they hadn't anticipated.

Meanwhile, from a safe distance, a figure watched the group, making a call using a CipherSync.

"Master Vastian is safe," a voice reported.

"Good, Stray," came the reply from Gerald. "Keep an eye on him for the moment."

"Understood, sir," Stray said. "Should I continue acting as his driver?"

"No, he won't ask for that again. Just keep tabs on him," Gerald instructed before ending the call.