The Archivist's smile widened just a fraction, but it held no warmth. Only the cold weight of endless time. "We shall see, child. We shall see." She slowly turned, her frail form vanishing into the mist, her presence lingering like a shadow long after she had gone, leaving Vas alone with the gravity of what lay ahead.

While Vas returned to his room, he began reviewing the data Madeline had provided on Kadmon's mission. The coordinates placed the site just a couple of hours from Viridian City, nestled deep within a dense forest. A prime location for secrecy, but for Vas, this was good news. He could quickly speak with his grandfather and concoct a plausible excuse to be away. The clock was ticking, and he couldn't afford to let Kadmon regroup and return to the ruins before he had a chance to act.

As Vas pondered these thoughts, his mind racing through possibilities, elsewhere, The Archivist observed something far more enigmatic. An astral projection unfurled before her, a painting suspended in the void—three titanic figures locked in brutal combat with ethereal beings in the sky, claws and fists striking with primal fury. The scene was one of chaos, ancient and mythic, a vision of past struggles woven into the fabric of the universe.

"I wonder… What will he do to stop them?" The Archivist mused, her voice a soft rasp, betraying the gravity of her thoughts.

A second voice cut through the stillness, its tone cool, almost amused. "Do you think he'll find a way?"

The Archivist remained unmoved by the sudden presence, though had she turned, she would have seen a figure coalescing from the mist. Her form solidified into that of a woman of breathtaking beauty, but one that carried an undeniable edge of danger. Her skin was pale as moonlight, flawless yet otherworldly, her lips a rich crimson that whispered of both passion and peril. Eyes framed by thick, dark lashes held the stormy hue of a sky on the verge of breaking, deep and piercing, as though they could unravel the secrets of one's very soul with a single glance.

Her raven-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, catching flickers of light in a way that made it shimmer like a raven's wing. She wore a gown of emerald green, simple yet elegant, the fabric clinging to her lithe form with every graceful step she took. Though she carried no visible weapon, the air around her pulsed with an unspoken power, an aura of authority and danger that radiated with each subtle movement.

There was an untamed wildness in her eyes, a primal energy that flickered at the corners of her crimson-painted lips. It was a beauty that both enchanted and unsettled, as if the delicate exterior hid a force too ancient and volatile to be trusted.

"Yes," the Archivist finally said, her gaze still fixed on the painting. "I do believe he will. Did he pass your test?"

The woman's lips curved slightly into a half-smile, her gaze lingering on the Archivist with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "Yes, but I'm going to wait and see what he does in the ruins. His true test begins there."

The Archivist gave a slight nod, though her expression remained unchanged. The two women stood in silence for a moment longer, their presence in the astral space heavy with purpose. Whatever plans Vas had, whatever he hoped to achieve, it was clear that unseen eyes were watching, waiting to see if he would rise to the challenge—or fall into the chaos that awaited him.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

The next day unfolded just as Vas had planned. He casually approached his grandfather, mentioning the idea of going on a short camping trip for a few days. With school having just ended, his grandfather saw no issue, granting him the permission he needed. Vas, keeping his tone neutral, thanked him before quickly leaving. His mind, however, was already racing ahead. The timing was perfect, and everything was falling into place—Kadmon's mission had to be delayed.

Vas immediately contacted Madeline to let her know he was on his way. Her response, however, wasn't the quick farewell he had expected. "Before you head out, swing by my apartment," she said.

With a sigh, Vas made his way over, slightly irritated but knowing better than to question her. When he arrived, any semblance of irritation was quickly replaced by surprise. Anya was there, standing by the door with a backpack slung over her shoulder, fully packed and ready to go.

Madeline greeted him with a smirk. "Did you honestly think you'd be going alone?"Vas blinked, caught off guard. "I didn't think Kadmon's failure would cause this much concern," he said, glancing from Madeline to Anya. "I can handle it."

Anya, leaning against the doorframe, crossed her arms. "You might be able to handle a lot of things, but going into a place that spooked Kadmon? That's a death wish on your own."

"I know what I'm getting into," Vas insisted, trying to maintain his composure, but the hint of concern from both women weighed on him more than he'd like to admit. "I have a plan."

Madeline raised an eyebrow, amused. "Plans are nice, Vas. But survival's better. And you're not stupid—you know we're not letting you do this solo."

Vas sighed, already knowing there was no way out of this. The two women had made up their minds, and he wasn't in the mood for a pointless argument. "Fine," he muttered. "Let's just get moving."

Minutes later, they were all packed into Anya's truck, driving toward the dense forest that housed the ruins—ruins that had sent Kadmon into retreat. Vas stared out the window, trying to suppress the growing tension in his chest. This place, whatever it was, held something far worse than anyone had realized.

Meanwhile, Aleara, Beck, Amy, Victor, Carmilla, Lily, Zola, and Kairo gathered with Abigail at their usual training spot, each of them silently bracing for what they all believed would be another grueling session. But today, there was an unspoken anticipation in the air. Aleara's odd text messages the night before had raised questions, and when she had reached out to Luther for answers, he had confirmed something new was on the horizon.As they all stood waiting, Aleara couldn't resist speaking up. "Did anyone else get the feeling something strange's about to happen today?"

Beck, leaning against the wall, shrugged. "This is Abigail we're talking about. Every day with her feels like a death sentence."

Victor, who was fiddling with the cuffs of his sleeves, scoffed. "Speak for yourself. I'm just here to refine my techniques."

Carmilla nudged him with a playful grin. "Refining techniques or just trying to avoid getting crushed by Abigail's workouts?"

Victor gave her a pointed look. "Survival first. Technique second."

Before the banter could continue, Abigail strode into the room, her presence instantly commanding silence. Behind her, Luther appeared, carrying a metallic case."All right, gather up," Abigail ordered, her voice firm but not without a hint of amusement as she looked over her trainees. "Today's not your usual routine. We're changing things up."