EPISODE 3 — "The Weight of Balance"
The world felt heavier the next morning.
Kael sat on the rooftop of the school, staring at the faint silver glow beneath his shirt. His mind replayed yesterday's fight with Riven on a loop — the venom, the killing intent, the way Scorpio's aura felt like a living nightmare.
He hugged his knees.
"Why me…? Why am I in the middle of this?"
A soft breeze brushed past him.
"Because only you can carry the equilibrium of the Gates."
Libra materialized beside him with a quiet hum of cosmic particles. Its presence felt lighter today, softer — almost comforting.
Kael sighed.
"Yesterday could've killed me…"
"Yes," Libra answered simply.
Kael's jaw dropped.
"You're supposed to say something reassuring!"
Libra tilted its starry head.
"You survived. That is reassuring, is it not?"
Kael groaned into his palms.
"Your version of comfort is terrible."
Libra said nothing, but its faint glow warmed.
Below, the school courtyard buzzed with normal life — students laughing, tossing books, running to classes — as if the world wasn't tearing open.
Kael whispered,
"Are they… safe?"
"For now."
"…That doesn't make me feel better."
Libra looked toward the sky.
"The awakening of one vessel destabilizes all twelve. More will soon surface. More spirits will seek their hosts. More worlds will begin to shift."
Kael swallowed hard.
"So the meteor shower… that was the start?"
"No."
Libra's voice darkened.
"It was the warning."
Kael felt a cold shiver.
---
Classroom — Noon
Kael walked into Class 2-B, doing everything possible to act normal.
Even though normal was gone.
He slid into his seat. His friend, Mika (the loud one who always smelled like bubblegum), leaned over immediately.
"Kael! You okay? You look like you got hit by a truck."
Kael forced a smile.
"Just tired."
"Tired? Dude, you look like you fought a ghost!"
Kael coughed, nearly choking.
"W-Why would you say that?!"
Mika shrugged. "I dunno. You just have that 'I got haunted' vibe today."
Kael stared at him in horror.
(I AM haunted… by a cosmic star-spirit…)
Before he could reply, a soft voice called from the doorway.
"Kael… can I talk to you?"
Kael's spine stiffened.
Aria stood there — the calm, bright-eyed girl who always read in the back of the room. Her long hair swayed gently, her expression unreadable.
Kael blinked.
"…Aria?"
She rarely talked to anyone. Why now?
Mika leaned back with a gasp.
"No way… Kael, you're pulling girls now?! Mystical powers activated—"
Kael elbowed him violently.
"Shut up!"
He followed Aria into the hallway.
---
Hallway — Quiet
Aria turned to face him, her hands clasped gently in front of her.
"Kael… I need to ask you something."
He braced himself.
"Y-Yeah?"
She slowly lifted her sleeve.
Kael's eyes widened.
A faint symbol — a swirling wave — glowed on her wrist.
Libra materialized instantly, eyes narrowing with recognition.
"Pisces."
Kael's breath hitched.
"You're… a vessel too?"
Aria nodded nervously.
"I started hearing a voice in water… in sinks, in puddles, even in the drinking fountain. It kept calling me 'Chosen of the Depths.' I thought I was going crazy until I felt… your aura."
She stepped closer, voice trembling.
"My spirit told me someone else awakened nearby. That someone was you."
Kael felt his blood turn cold.
Another vessel.
Another spirit.
Another threat… or ally.
Aria looked up at him with worried eyes.
"Kael, I came to warn you. Someone is hunting vessels."
Kael froze.
"…Riven?"
She shook her head.
"No. Someone darker."
Kael felt Libra move behind him like a shield.
"Aria," Kael said breathlessly, "who is it?"
Aria swallowed.
"A man in a black coat with a broken constellation tattoo. He tried to follow me last night. I could feel his spirit — corrupted and twisted."
Kael's heart dropped.
Libra spoke grimly:
"A Serpent Apostle."
Aria flinched.
"What is that?"
Libra's glow dimmed.
"Followers of Ophion — the Serpent God.
Devourers of awakened vessels."
Kael whispered,
"Devourers…?"
"Yes," Libra said.
"If they consume a vessel's spirit, they gain the powers of that Zodiac."
Kael felt his knees buckle.
Aria hugged her arms.
"He's close, Kael. I can still feel his presence."
Kael stared at her glowing mark — so gentle, fragile…
And he realized something painful:
He wasn't the only one in danger anymore.
---
Evening — The Attack
Kael and Aria walked home together, guided by Libra's and Pisces' warnings. The streets were unusually quiet.
Too quiet.
A streetlight flickered.
Aria tensed.
"He's here."
Kael's breath fogged in the growing cold.
A voice echoed from the shadows, deep and jagged like broken glass—
"Two vessels…
How fortunate."
A tall figure stepped forward.
His coat was torn, dripping with cosmic sludge. His eyes glowed with a corrupted red, and on his neck—
A shattered constellation tattoo seared like molten fire.
Kael whispered, trembling,
"He's… infected by Ophion."
The man grinned with needle-like teeth.
"You two will feed the Serpent well."
The sky darkened.
The ground trembled.
Aria clutched Kael's arm, terrified.
Kael raised his shaking hands.
Libra whispered behind him—
"Kael… fight."
Pisces whispered behind Aria—
"Aria… breathe."
The Apostle lunged.
Kael shouted.
"ARIA— MOVE!"
Aria spun, water spiraling from thin air, forming a protective ripple.
Kael slammed his palm forward—
A balanced shockwave erupted—
Light met darkness—
And the street exploded.