The sound of the bells echoed in the whole Munich for a while, then it stopped ringing the the whole Cathedral went silent.
Klevin stood frozen the glowing mark on the wall was now showing in his hands, he was shocked and couldn't think anything. His mind was still racing for what he'd seen— his father's face.
"To be beheld is to remember, to remember is to rewrite."
Emilia touched his should, "Klevin we have to leave now."
He blinked finally noticing the chill in the air. The lantern was broken, walls damaged and the glowing thing— disappeared. And somewhere above them heavy footsteps echoed— not priests, not Cathedral visiters. To heavy, to many.
"Who else knows we're here?" Klevin whispered.
Emilia shook her head and replied, "Only the museum team. And maybe some people at the University. But if someone unknown sent that message to you..."
"Then they've been watching," Klevin finished.
The footsteps grew closer and closer...
Without another word, they grabbed their bags and ran to the staircase. By the time they reached the main floor the Cathedral was empty— the pews dark, the candles snuffed out. Outside the Cathedral, rain made the lights of Munich visible— glowing through the rain.
They stepped into the courtyard, that's when he say them.
Three figures standing near the gate, wearing black coats and tie. Each of them also wore a silver pendant around their necks— a circle crossed by three lines, the same symbol that was on the wall of the Cathedral's basement.
Klevin froze, then murmured, "Emilia, don't move."
The middle figure said, "Klevin Klaus, right? We were finding you for many years."
Emilia stepped in front of him, "Who are you?"
The man smiled faintly, "We are the same as him."
He held up his pendant, it glowed for a few moments. And Klevin felt it— a pulse deep in his chest like his blood have recognised something ancient, very ancient...
"Come with us," The man said. "Before they arrived."
"Who?" Klevin asked...
"The ones who don't want you to remember."
They left Klevin and Emilia to the narrow streets of Munich, silent but purposeful. The rain felt harder as they kept getting closer to their destination. Then they reached near the Isar river— a place that looked abandoned decades ago.
Inside in one of the warehouses the lights flickered on, as the doors closed behind them. The space was huge, people moved quietly between them, wearing the same silver symbol, others studying strange relics and others scrolling through ancient manuscripts.
"This is some kind....of research group," Emilia asked.
The man face them. Up now, Klevin could see his features— early fourtees, sharp eyes and jawline, calm and serious. "You could say that," He said. "My name is Dr. Elias Hauer." We are called 'The Aetherlink Order.'
Klevin frowned, "Aetherlink?"
Elias noded, "Those who were touched by the same energy, which was you father researching. We are connected through the artifacts, in a way science cannot explain."
"And you think I am one of you?"
Elias cannot control his smile, "You have already heard the whisper in, haven't you? The voice in the dark, the visions.
Klevin hesitated, "Yes, I saw some visions but that doesn't mean—"
"It means the aethers recognised you," Elias said firmly, "You are choosen like your father."
Emilia stepped in, "Then you knew Adrian Klaus, Am I right?"
Elias's expression softened for the first time."He was one of us, the most powerful aetherlink I have ever met, until he broke the chain."
Kllevin's jaw tightened, "What do you mean broke it?"
Elias turned towards a wall, the whole map of the world was there. Lines connected cities— Berlin, Munich, London, Amsterdam, Tokyo and many more— each marked with the same circular symbol. "Your father believed that the artifacts were never meant to be used... He tried to destroy his link and in doing so he nearly destroyed himself."
Emilia looked around at the others, "So you all have links connected?..."
One women sitting nearby extended her hand and chanted a spell, the air around her started to form a mini tornando. Both Klevin and Emilia were shocked to see this. Elias said, "This is called The Air shifter."
Elias stepped closer to Klevin, "The moment you touched the wall, your connection reawakened. You just haven't access it yet."
Emilia stared and said, "This much more sounds like magic."
Elias said, "Not magic, aether is much more older than magic."
Elias glanced at one of his people, nodded and switched on the monitor it showed that some dark figures, wearing black clothes entered the Cathedral after they left. They were wearing a emblem— a burning cross, black against red.
Klevin felt his pulse quicken, "You think they are after me?"
Elias gaze hardened, "They already are..."