The Veilways felt restless, like the breath before a scream. Lucas stood at the edge of a floating cliff, the Rainbow Orb glowing softly against his chest. Beside him, Martha and Seris studied the shifting horizon, where distant rifts pulsed with dark energy.
"We don't have much time," Martha said, her voice steady but urgent. "The titan's fragments are regrouping, and soon it will come back—stronger and more relentless than before."
Seris tightened her grip on her crossbow. "We need allies. More than just magic—we need warriors, strategists, and people willing to stand and fight."
Lucas nodded, the weight of leadership settling on his shoulders like armor. "The Orb's power is growing inside me, but I still don't fully control it. If the titan returns, I can't face it alone."
Martha stepped closer, placing a hand over his. "You won't. I've studied ancient affinities—old magic that predates the Orb. Together, I can help you unlock that power, but it requires trust."
Lucas swallowed. "Trust has been the hardest part."
She smiled softly. "Then start with me."
Their bond deepened with every shared moment—training in elemental control, weaving magic side by side, their energies flowing in harmony. Seris watched them, a fierce protector but also a friend who understood the fragile strength growing between them.
One night, under a sky swirling with fractured stars, Martha whispered, "The titan is a force of Ruin, but it feeds on fear and division. The stronger your unity, the weaker it becomes."
Lucas looked at her, the future suddenly clearer—not just a battle for survival, but a fight for connection, for hope.
The next morning, a messenger arrived—a scout from the nearby realms bearing news. "The titan's shadow spreads faster than expected. Villages fall, and their magic is drained. We must act soon."
Lucas's jaw tightened. "Then we gather everyone. This war will decide more than just our lives—it will decide the fate of all affinities."
As they prepared to depart, Seris clapped Lucas on the shoulder. "We fight as one. No more running, no more hiding."
Lucas looked at Martha and Seris—two pillars in the storm—and for the first time, he felt ready.
The battle was coming. The storm was coming.
And with all affinities burning together, Lucas Dawson would face it head-on.