******Harper
I stirred awake to the sound of my own uneven breathing. My chest rose and fell too quickly, and for a moment, I wasn't even sure if I was still dreaming or already back in reality—or at least the realm that passed for it. The air was heavy, charged, like it carried secrets I wasn't meant to hear. My lashes fluttered open, and the faint light of Aliya's house greeted me.
The living room was dim, the curtains drawn tight. The faint glow from a single lantern painted shadows on the walls, giving everything an almost ghostly stillness. Chris, my system, was asleep—or maybe more accurately, dormant. The faint blue shimmer that usually hovered near me whenever he was active was gone. Across the room, Aliya's form was curled on a chair, sleeping soundlessly. Even Luna and Hay were silent in the other room.
But Kael…
He was awake.
He stood near the window, one hand pressed against the wooden frame, staring out into the storm-darkened sky. His golden eyes reflected the faint light, and there was something restless in the way he held himself, as if he were waiting for something—something he didn't quite want to arrive.
I pushed myself upright, rubbing my temples. "What… happened?" My voice was hoarse, almost foreign to my own ears.
"Don't worry. This is an illusion. We're not actually in aliya's house. I did this so that you can get some rest".
Kael turned to me instantly. His sharp gaze softened the moment it landed on me, but before he could answer, it hit me.
A flash.
Not of lightning—but of memory.
It struck me so violently that I staggered, clutching the side of the couch for balance. Images I couldn't place surged through my head—faces I didn't recognize, places I didn't remember standing in, voices whispering words I couldn't make sense of. They crashed and blurred together, then—gone.
The pain left as suddenly as it came, leaving me trembling, sweat beading my forehead.
Kael crossed the room in two strides, crouching in front of me. His hand hovered near my arm, hesitating, as if unsure if I would allow him to touch me. "Harper," he said quietly, his voice edged with urgency. "Are you okay?"
I swallowed hard, forcing air into my lungs. My head was still spinning, but I managed a small nod. "Y-Yeah… it's gone now." My fingers curled tightly around the fabric of my clothes. "It was just… memories. Or something like it. They weren't mine—or maybe they were. I don't know."
Kael studied me for a long moment, then exhaled slowly, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. Still, he didn't fully relax.
I drew in another shaky breath. "Kael…" My voice steadied as I straightened. "What happens now? I've taken the dip. What does that mean for me?"
His golden gaze locked with mine, unflinching. "It means," he said evenly, "that your powers will begin to surface—slowly, piece by piece. And with them will come answers to all the questions you've been carrying. The truth will find you, whether you're ready for it or not."
I bit down on my lower lip, his words both comforting and terrifying. But before I could press him further, he added something that sent a chill through me.
"There's another problem."
My brows furrowed. "What problem?"
Kael's jaw tightened. "The system. It has… its own mind now. No one controls it anymore. Not me. Not Vaelthor. No one." His voice grew lower, grimmer. "What happens from this point on is no longer bound by design. The game is rewriting itself—and that makes it dangerous for everyone inside."
The words sank into me like ice water. My heart thudded. "So… you're saying… not even you know what will happen next?"
His silence was enough of an answer.
I clenched my fists, a thousand thoughts colliding inside me. Maisie's face. My father's lifeless body. The betrayals. The endless secrets. My chest ached, but I forced myself to focus. "Then we need to leave this realm. But before we do…" I hesitated, my throat tightening. "I have to see my mom. She… she's all I have left now. And Kael—" my voice hardened, "—I still need your help. My mission here isn't over. I have to find my father's murderer. I need to know who did it."
Kael studied me with that unreadable expression of his, the one that seemed to hold more weight than words ever could. Then, finally, he gave a slow nod. "I'll help you. But first, we'll see your mother."
Relief and fear tangled inside me. I nodded back, though my pulse was still racing.
Kael reached out, extending his hand toward me. "Come. I'll take us there."
I hesitated only for a second before placing my hand in his. The warmth of his skin barely registered before—
It hit me.
Another vision.
This one wasn't like the fleeting memories. This was vivid, raw, and terrifying.
A little boy. No older than ten. His eyes—bloodshot, glowing unnaturally. In his small hands, a sword far too big for him gleamed wickedly. Yet he swung it with precision, with fury. The blade cut through men and women alike, bodies collapsing around him, blood pooling at his feet. His expression was not of innocence—it was rage, cold and merciless.
My breath caught in my throat. "No—stop!" I screamed, yanking my hand back from Kael's grasp.
And just like that, the vision shattered.
The room came back into focus. My own ragged breathing filled the silence. My hands were trembling violently.
Kael's eyes widened, sharp with alarm. "What happened?"
I shook my head, trying to steady my voice. "I saw him. A boy—with bloodshot eyes. He had a sword, Kael. He—he was killing people. So many people." My voice cracked. "It felt so real."
For the first time since I'd known him, Kael's composure slipped. His golden eyes widened in something that looked almost like fear. But just as quickly, it was gone. He masked it behind that familiar stoic calm, as though the shock had never been there.
"Hold the sleeve of my clothes instead," he said simply, extending his arm toward me, his tone leaving no room for questions.
I stared at him, frustrated, desperate for answers. "Kael, what did I see? Do you know who that boy was—"
"Not now," he cut me off gently, but firmly. "Later."
I wanted to press him, to demand the truth, but the look in his eyes warned me I wouldn't get it. Not yet.
My fingers trembled as I reached for the edge of his sleeve, clutching it tightly.
In the blink of an eye, the world bent around us. Shadows warped, the air twisted, and the lantern's glow stretched thin like melted glass. Then—
We were standing outside my mother's house.
The night air was sharp, carrying the faint scent of damp earth. My heart pounded as I looked up at the familiar walls, my throat tightening with both relief and dread. But before I could move, I saw them.
Luna.
She was already outside, her silver hair gleaming faintly in the moonlight. Beside her stood Hay, her system, his form solid and steady like a silent guardian.
The look on Luna's face froze me in place.
Her lips trembled as she stepped forward, her eyes locking with mine. "Harper…"
My breath hitched. "What is it?"
Her voice broke. "Your mom… Elias… and Elora… they're all missing."
The world tilted beneath my feet.