As the days passed, life began to settle back into a familiar rhythm. The end of the school year loomed, with only two weeks left for Jacob and the others to prepare if they wanted to join the next expedition to the mysterious temple. The girls needed to progress through the second step of the Unveiling, while Jacob had to earn the approval of the rest of Kadmon. Their tests were fast approaching. Jacob would soon face a trial by combat against another member of Kadmon, while the girls, having selected their mediums, were set to attempt the second step of the Unveiling at the Hek mansion by the week's end.

Vas, meanwhile, had thrown himself into mastering the technique of infusing his every movement with an Anima pulse. He carefully increased the amount of Anima used, conditioning his muscles, bones, and joints to handle the strain without injury. In these last few days, Vas had been in regular contact with Zola and Lily through text messages. His relationship with his sister remained strained; she was speaking to him more often, but there was still a noticeable distance between them.

He had learned that after that night, the others had created a group chat that excluded him. Not that he particularly cared, but when Zola inquired about it, he was forced to explain the complicated dynamics with his siblings. Zola, understandably surprised, didn't press the issue further.

Vas was acutely aware that his brother would be returning home soon to oversee the girls' attempt at the second step of the Unveiling. He couldn't help but wonder about the nature of their mission. It seemed either these girls were exceptionally gifted, able to complete the task set by the gods in just two weeks, or the mission itself was deceptively simple. Deep down, Vas suspected it was the former; after all, his grandfather was not one to reward mediocrity. Talent was the currency of his world, and bravery alone wouldn't have been enough to earn his grandfather's favor.

Vas's thoughts often drifted to his grandfather, a man who had always been a complex figure in his life. Of all his family members, his grandfather was the one who spoke to him the most, yet he remained the hardest to understand. His grandfather's actions were often strange, and Vas found himself constantly trying to decipher his motives. This uncertainty gnawed at him, especially as the weekend approached, bringing with it the promise of new challenges and revelations.

During the last week of school, Vas made a deliberate effort to avoid any contact with Lily, spending most of his time in solitude. This isolation allowed him to focus intensely on naming the abilities granted to him by the spirits. The quiet gave him the mental clarity to enter The Void with greater ease, where he continued to decipher the strange language he had encountered. As a result, he managed to name several more abilities, though some of the more complex ones remained elusive.

He suspected that his inability to name these abilities was due to a deeper connection with Amrita itself, as if the very essence of the world was preventing him from unlocking their full potential. Vas theorized that he had yet to reach a level of understanding necessary to name and fully utilize these abilities. For now, however, he was able to name a few:

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Fuerza Eterna: This ability enhanced his physical prowess significantly, but it came with the dangerous risk of losing control and going berserk.

Susurro del Vacio: This allowed him to whisper into the minds of others, but it carried the perilous possibility of something dark and dangerous whispering back.

Triangulos: With this ability, he could amplify his Anima abilities, increasing both their strength and the speed at which he could use them.

Garra del Abismo: This allowed him to manifest spectral hands that could anchor someone on a spiritual level, preventing their escape.

Despite these achievements, Vas knew that his journey was far from over. The more he delved into the mysteries of his abilities, the more he realized how much he still had to learn. The complexity of the unnamed abilities weighed on him, but he also felt a growing determination to unlock their secrets, no matter the cost.

While Vas was lost in his thoughts, Jacob, Tessa, and Lynn finally arrived back at the Hek mansion. Before they could attempt the second Unveiling, they needed to create a medium—a critical step in their journey. Both girls had already chosen their respective mediums; now they just had to go through the ritual.

As they stepped into the mansion, they were greeted warmly by Gerald and Abigail, who seemed genuinely pleased to welcome the brave young ones once again.

"So, are you all ready to properly create your mediums?" Abigail asked with a tender smile.

Tessa and Lynn exchanged a glance and then smiled back. "Yes, we are," Lynn replied confidently.

"Alright then, follow me," Abigail commanded, her voice gentle but firm. She led them down familiar corridors to the same chamber where the ritual had taken place a couple of weeks ago.

"Do we need the circle again?" Lynn asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"No," Gerald answered this time, "but this place is far more comfortable than others for such rituals."

"Relax, both of you," Abigail added soothingly. "This part of the process is quite simple. You only need to infuse your chosen medium with your Anima."

"Is that truly all there is to it?" Tessa asked, a note of skepticism in her voice.

"It's not as simple as my grandmother makes it sound," Jacob finally chimed in, his tone serious. "It's actually quite challenging, which is why we're doing this a few days before the second phase of the Unveiling. It will leave you drained. The process itself is straightforward: you create a mental image of your chosen medium, and then you push your Anima into it to fill it."

"Okay, that doesn't sound too bad," Tessa said, her confidence returning. "What's your medium, Jacob?"

"Nail polish," Jacob replied, lifting his hand to show his nails, painted a deep crimson red. "A suggestion from my little brother. This nail polish was made using natural pigments to symbolize the god I'm bonded with. Some of my abilities are quite challenging to use, but others are much easier."

"Wait, nail polish was an option?" Tessa asked, surprised.

"Of course," Jacob said with a grin. "But I think you chose a good medium."

Gerald couldn't help but smile, proud to see that Jacob had forged such strong friendships while away from home.