The device rested at the center of the table in the dim inn room.
It was a Lumen Core—a smooth crystal sphere no larger than a bowl, etched with thin silver runes that pulsed with a rhythmic, heartbeat light.
When activated, it allowed the leaders to pierce the veil between realms, though the connection was fragile and drained their essence quickly.
Felix tapped the glass lightly, his usual smirk replaced by a soft, wistful look. "Alright. Everyone ready to cry a little?"
Ember shot him a warning glare. "Don't turn this into a joke, Felix."
"I said a little," he replied softly, his eyes reflecting the silver glow.
Kai stepped forward first. He placed his hand on the crystal, and the runes flared into a brilliant, cold silver.
House of Nova
The image formed slowly—blurred at first, then sharpening into the familiar, sterile training hall of Nova. A group of students stood in stiff, perfect rows.
They straightened their spines the moment Kai's face appeared in the light.
"Leader!" one of them called out, their voice echoing with military precision.
Kai nodded, his face a mask of iron. "Report."
"All units are stable," another answered.
"Training continues as scheduled. The defenses are holding."
There was a long pause. The professional facade of the students wavered for just a second. Then, a younger student in the back asked quietly, "Will you return soon, sir?"
Kai's gaze softened—just a fraction, a change so small only his team would notice it.
"Maintain discipline," he said, his voice firm. "Strength is consistency. Do not let my absence be an excuse for weakness."
They bowed deeply, a sea of synchronized silver. The image faded into mist. Felix watched Kai closely, but for once, he kept his comments to himself.
House of Ronan
The core glowed a vibrant, playful blue as Felix took his turn.
The Ronan residence appeared—warm, messy, and filled with the sound of rushing water. The moment Felix's image formed, the silence was shattered by overlapping voices.
"Felix!"
"Leader, you're alive!"
"You didn't even say goodbye properly !"
Felix laughed, his whole face lighting up.
"Wow. I leave for one life-threatening mission and suddenly I'm the most popular man in Avalon."
A junior stepped forward, eyes shining with relief. "Are you safe? Is the Mortal World as weird as they say?"
Felix's voice gentled, losing its theatrical edge. "I am safe. And yes, it's weirder. But you're all doing great, right? No one's burned the kitchen down?"
They nodded eagerly, several of them talking at once.
"Good," Felix said. "Because I expect to see massive improvement when I return. Surprise me."
The image dissolved into bubbles of blue light. Felix leaned back, exhaling a shaky breath. "Okay. That one hurt a bit more than I expected."
House of Arson
Ember went next. The crystal flared a fierce, red-gold hue.
The Arson hall appeared, the Great Flames burning steadily along the walls. Several students stood at attention, but their faces broke into wide smiles the second they saw her.
"Leader Ember!"
"Train harder," Ember barked immediately, though there was no real bite in it. "I don't want to come back to find you've developed sloppy form."
A few grins appeared among the disciples. Then one student hesitated. "Leader… are you eating properly?"
Ember blinked, her brain momentarily short-circuiting. "…That's irrelevant."
The student smiled knowingly. "Lady Lavenn told us to ask. She said if you look thin when you get back, we're all in trouble."
Ember looked away, her ears turning pink. "I'm fine. Just… keep the fires burning."
The image faded quickly, and she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Next," she muttered.
House of Cynthia
The room felt different when Melissa stepped forward. The Lumen Core glowed a gentle, earthen gold—the color of a sunset over fertile fields.
At first, there was only silence. Then—
"Leader Melissa."
Her juniors filled the image. There were so many of them, crowding close to the communication array, their faces pressed toward the light. Some tried to smile. Others didn't bother trying.
One voice trembled, small and fragile. "When are you coming back?"
Melissa's chest tightened, a physical pain blooming behind her ribs. "I don't know yet," she said, her voice thick. "But I promise you—I will."
Another junior stepped forward, her eyes rimmed with red. "The halls feel so quiet without you, Melissa. It's... it's not the same."
Melissa swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay composed. "You're stronger than you think," she said softly. "All of you. You don't need me to be Cynthia."
"But Lady Clementia—" someone started to whisper, fear lacing the name.
Melissa lifted her hand gently, a gesture of protection even across the realms. "I know," she said. "That's why you must support one another. Be the family that the House is meant to be."
Her voice steadied, gaining a new kind of authority. "Train. Study. Protect each other. Don't let fear make you smaller."
Tears slid down a young girl's face in the front row. "We miss you."
Melissa smiled—warm, real, and completely unbroken. "I miss you too. Every single day."
She leaned closer to the crystal.
"Remember this: I believe in you. Even when I'm not there—especially then."
The image flickered. Before it faded completely, her juniors bowed deeply. It wasn't the rigid bow of Nova or the respectful nod of Arson. It was an act of love.
The crystal dimmed and went cold.
Silence filled the inn room. Felix wiped at his eye dramatically. "I'm not crying. It's just... mortal dust. Very allergetic."
Ember said nothing, but she placed a hand briefly, firmly, on Melissa's shoulder. Kai inclined his head in a rare show of empathy. "They'll endure, Melissa."
Melissa nodded, blinking away the last of her tears. "They always do," she said softly.
Somewhere beyond the reach of the Mortal World, bonds held firm. And no distance—mortal or divine—could break what they had built.