The Loom of Beasts was alive. Threads of gold, silver, and shadow danced along the walls, pulsing as if breathing. Every step Malik took sent ripples through the floor, vibrating with energy he could feel in his chest.
Kesi padded silently beside him, tail flicking, eyes glowing faintly in the Loom's light. Aubrey and Isaiah followed, moving like shadows among threads, while Naomi's gaze never wavered from the patterns that shifted across the walls.
"This place… it's not just a trial," Naomi said quietly. "It's alive. It's… aware."
Malik nodded, spinning his yo-yo slowly. "Aware enough to chew us up and spit us out if we mess up, probably."
From the center of the Loom, a low hum began, resonating through their bones. The threads glimmered and formed a shape—a figure woven entirely of golden thread, humanoid but impossibly tall, wings like shimmering webs stretching out behind it.
A voice echoed, not through sound, but directly in their minds.
"Travelers… you have proven yourself worthy of my attention. I am Aiyokún, Spirit of the Loom, Keeper of Forgotten Threads. Why have you come?"
Malik swallowed, jaw tight. "Uh… we're looking for answers. And we kinda got chased here."
Naomi's hand tightened on her blade. "We seek understanding… and allies. The Spindle Court is hunting us."
The figure tilted its head, wings folding slightly. Threads coiled around the intruders without touching them, like curious fingers.
"Hunting… yes. I have seen their weave. They seek the Loom of Beasts itself. They wish to unravel the world's threads, to control the flows of fate."
Aubrey stepped forward. "So… you can help us?"
"Perhaps," the spirit intoned. "But first… you must understand the threads you carry. Threads are not only power—they are responsibility. If you do not learn to weave, mend, and sever with wisdom, even a god cannot save you from your own unravelling."**
The Loom shimmered, and suddenly each of their Codex interfaces flashed. Malik felt new threads coil around him, Kesi's presence strengthening the pattern. Naomi's threads gleamed silver-gold, Aubrey's shadow threads pulsed, and Isaiah's silver-thread gauntlets hummed like living energy.
[Threadwork Codex Update – Stage Advancement]Malik Drayton – Frayed Thread → Knotted Thread (Tier 1)New Skill: Shadow Tether – bind and manipulate enemy threads for brief control
Malik's grin couldn't be contained. "I'm leveled up! Finally!"
Naomi gave a faint smile, adjusting her grip. "Don't get cocky. There's more to learn than just flashy moves."
The Loom pulsed again, revealing a thread map of the surrounding world, dotted with glowing points—some bright, some faint, some flickering with danger. Malik traced one with his finger instinctively.
"Spindle Court headquarters," Aiyokún said. "And these…" The threads pulsed violently. "…are the Looms they've already targeted. Each conquered Loom strengthens their reach. They aim for all, to stitch the world under their control."
Malik felt a chill. "So… we're not just running for survival. We're… like… the last line?"
"Perhaps. Or perhaps you are the first line they will need to break."
A subtle vibration ran through the Loom. Kesi hissed. Malik turned, eyes narrowing. From the shadows, a faint silver-thread sigil flickered.
"They're close," Naomi said grimly. "And they're sending reinforcements. We won't have much time to train here."
Aiyokún's voice softened, threads weaving an aura of calm. "Then learn wisely. Bond with your companions, understand your threads, and prepare. Only then will you survive what is to come—and perhaps, shape the fate of gods themselves."
Malik exhaled, spinning his yo-yo. "Alright… let's get to work. Threads, shadows, and all that jazz—we're ready."
Naomi's eyes narrowed. "Ready or not, Spindle Court is coming. And they won't wait for us to catch up."
The Loom shimmered around them, alive and pulsing, as if sensing their resolve. Outside, in the dark forests beyond, the Spindle Court stirred, plotting, weaving, hunting—and the threads of destiny began to tighten.