The morning after the fire, Aria stood in front of the mirror. She pulled her shirt up to her shoulder, half expecting the strange mark to be gone. Maybe it had been smoke, stress, or a trick of the light. But no—it was still there.
A crescent. A jagged circle. Faint, but impossible to ignore. It wasn't just on her skin. It felt deeper—like it was stitched into her blood. It didn't hurt anymore. Instead, it felt warm. Almost alive.
She gently traced the mark with her fingers. Hoping it would fade. Hoping for some kind of answer.
It didn't fade.
She sighed and pulled her sleeve down, forcing herself to move on. The world hadn't stopped, no matter what had happened underground.
There were meetings to attend. Damaged equipment to report. And Glen—her project supervisor—had already sent four messages asking if she was okay. She headed to the operations lodge near the trail's base, but the moment she stepped inside, everything felt... off.
The people she worked with—the ones she saw every day—were staring at her differently. Their eyes lingered too long. Their expressions too careful. She wasn't one of them anymore. Not completely.
"Aria!" Glen waved her over.
He looked her up and down, relief mixed with worry. "Are you okay? They said you fell through the floor—what the hell happened?"
She gave him a small smile and a quick lie. "I'm fine. Some rocks gave way. I fell into a cavern. Smoke must've been trapped in the tunnels down there. I think that's how it spread."
"You were lucky," Glen said, still frowning. "They had to bring in the fire crews from town."
"Yeah... lucky." She lowered her eyes. I just need to get back to work. Something normal. Something quiet.
They started walking toward the temporary office tents. But Aria stopped cold after only a few steps.
A man stood near the entrance to the walkway. She had never seen him before.
He had broad shoulders and was tall, with a charcoal coat that whirled like smoke around his boots. There was something controlled about him, despite the wildness of his ash-gray hair. Like the world moved and he didn't.
But what stopped her completely were his eyes.
Silver.
Not the kind of silver found in nature. They gleamed—metallic, sharp, alive. Just like the eyes in her dream.
The man took one step toward her. Then another.
"Do you know him?" Glen asked, noticing her freeze.
"No," Aria whispered. But her legs wouldn't move.
The stranger stopped just a few feet away. He looked directly at her.
"Aria," he said. His voice was low, strong—too calm for someone so serious.
She blinked. "How do you—"
"I need to speak with you. Now."
Glen stepped in front of her. "Who the hell are you?"
The man didn't look at him. He kept his gaze on Aria.
"It's not safe here. You triggered something in that cave. You don't understand what's coming."
Her heart raced.
"What just did you say?" she said, her voice trembling.
"You have the mark of Vesper," the man whispered softly, as though his words had more meaning than just sound.
Her breath caught. "What?"
"Not here," he said urgently, lowering his voice. "There are ears everywhere. Come with me."
"No. I—I don't even know who you are."
Glen's arm blocked the stranger again. "I'm calling security."
The man raised his hands slowly. "My name is Kael. I'm not here to hurt her. But if she stays, they'll come. Soon."
"Who's 'they'?" Aria demanded.
Kael's eyes flicked to her shoulder. "The mark appeared when you touched the relic. It awakened something old. Something powerful. You're clueless about what you've stepped into."
"How are any of these things known to you?" Fear creeping back into Aria's voice, she asked.
Kael glanced around. His eyes sharpened. "Because I've seen it before."
The air was ripped with a high-pitched screech before she could ask any further questions.
Everyone turned.
The tires of two black SUVs spat up pebbles as they rushed across the dusty road. They roared toward the camp.
Kael's face darkened. "They found you faster than I thought."
"Who found me?" Aria asked.
Kael moved closer. Too close.
"Do you trust me?" he asked.
"No."
"Good. That means you're still thinking clearly. But if you want to survive, come with me. Now."
Something in his voice—firm, focused, almost pleading—cut through the noise. The SUVs slammed to a stop behind them. Four figures in black uniforms jumped out, wearing armor marked with a strange symbol—a twisted sun surrounded by daggers.
"Who are they?" Glen shouted, stepping forward. "This is private land!"
One of the strangers raised his hand. His palm glowed with red-orange light.
Fire.
Kael didn't wait. He took hold of Aria's wrist and dragged her in the direction of the trees.
"Run!"
Her instincts told her to fight, to resist. But the heat behind her—and the unnatural glow in those men's hands—froze her choices.
She ran.
Branches whipped her arms. Leaves cracked under her boots. Kael moved like he belonged to the forest—silent, fast, always just ahead.
They didn't stop until the forest swallowed the noise. Until only the sound of her panting breath remained.
Kael finally let go.
Aria dropped onto a mossy log, heart racing.
"Who were those people?" she gasped.
"Hunters," Kael said, still watching the trees. "They work for those who want the power you've awakened. If they caught you, it'd already be too late."
"I don't have any power," she said. "I'm a geologist."
Kael looked at her. "Not anymore."
He crouched beside her.
"You're the last Vesper. That mark on your skin isn't just a symbol. It's a seal. A curse. And a key."
Aria stared at him. "A key to what?"
Kael hesitated.
"To a realm buried beneath this one. A prison that should have stayed closed. But when your blood touched that relic… the gate began to open."
Aria's mouth went dry. This was insane.
And yet—the mark. The vision. The fire. Deep down, she knew he wasn't lying.
She touched her shoulder again.
"What now?" she asked quietly.
Kael looked at her, eyes still burning silver.
"Now?" he said. "We find out why you were chosen—and what they're willing to destroy to take you."