The world felt quieter after the battle in the Shadow Realm — too quiet.
Aiden sat on the academy rooftop, the night sky stretched endlessly above him. Stars shimmered faintly, but he could feel their rhythm pulsing slower than before, like a heartbeat fading in the distance.
It had been three days since he returned. Three days of restless thoughts, unanswered questions, and the echo of his sister's final words:
"You're not ready for what lies beyond."
He clenched his hand, staring at the faint glow of starlight that still lingered in his palm. The same energy that had saved him — and yet, somehow, connected him to the Rift.
Below, the academy hummed with activity. Repairs were still underway after the tremors that followed his return. No one truly understood what had happened — only that something enormous had shaken the balance of magic.
A gentle voice broke his thoughts. "You haven't slept again, have you?"
Lyra appeared beside him, her violet hair brushing softly in the wind. She handed him a cup of warm tea, the faint steam curling like mist.
Aiden smiled faintly. "You can tell?"
"You look like you've been run over by a mana beast," she teased lightly, sitting down next to him. "And your aura's dimming. You keep burning starlight without letting it recover."
He exhaled. "I can't stop thinking about her, Lyra. Celene's alive… but whatever she's involved in, it's something massive. She mentioned the Rift — and gods trapped inside it."
Lyra's expression grew serious. "The professors have been whispering about it. They think the Rift wasn't a natural phenomenon. Some say it was summoned."
"Summoned?"
She nodded. "By an organization called Umbra Covenant. Supposedly, they've been studying dimensional tears for decades — trying to awaken the ancient powers sealed inside."
Aiden frowned. The name felt cold on his tongue. "Umbra Covenant…"
Before he could think further, the door to the rooftop burst open. Kael stepped out, panting, holding a crystal tablet that flickered with blue light.
"You two need to see this," he said breathlessly. "I was digging through the academy's archives, and I found restricted files linked to the Covenant."
He set the tablet down. The screen projected an image — an emblem shaped like a crescent moon with an eye in the center. Below it, a list of names appeared… including one that made Aiden's blood run cold.
"Head Researcher: Celene Starcrest."
Lyra's eyes widened. "That's… impossible."
Aiden stared at the name, his pulse pounding in his ears. "She wasn't just connected to them… she was leading them."
Seraphina's voice came from behind. "And she still might be."
The older sister stood at the doorway, her armor gleaming faintly in the moonlight. Her golden eyes were calm, but her expression was shadowed. "I had a feeling this was coming. Celene didn't disappear by accident — she was recruited."
Aiden turned to her sharply. "You knew?"
"I suspected," Seraphina said quietly. "She was experimenting with forbidden dimensional runes long before she vanished. But I never imagined she'd join something like that."
Kael crossed his arms. "So what's their goal? Why open the Rift at all?"
Seraphina hesitated before answering. "Power. The Rift is said to contain fragments of fallen gods — their essence, their knowledge. If the Covenant can control it, they'd have the strength to reshape every world linked to the Astral Gates."
A heavy silence followed.
Aiden rose slowly, his expression hardening. "Then that's what she's after… the truth behind the gods. Or maybe…" He clenched his fist. "Maybe she's trying to stop them in her own way."
Lyra looked at him, eyes soft. "You still believe in her."
"I have to," he whispered. "Because if I don't, everything she sacrificed means nothing."
Before anyone could respond, the air around them shimmered — a sudden distortion, like a ripple in glass. The stars flickered.
Kael jumped back. "What was that?"
A black portal cracked open in midair, swirling violently. From within, a figure stepped out — cloaked, tall, and faceless. Its presence sent chills through the group.
The being's voice was calm, almost melodic. "Aiden Starcrest. You shouldn't meddle with what lies beyond the veil."
Seraphina moved instantly, her sword glowing. "Who are you?"
The figure tilted its head. "A messenger. The Covenant has taken interest in your… potential. The Rift recognizes you now."
"The Rift recognizes me?" Aiden repeated, confused.
"Yes," the being said. "You are its successor. The bearer of the Starlight Core — the light that balances the dark."
The air trembled. Lyra and Kael struggled to stand as waves of energy rippled outward.
Aiden glared. "If the Covenant wants me, they'll have to come and take me themselves."
The messenger chuckled softly. "Oh, they will. But first, a warning — the Core within you isn't stable. If you continue to draw from it… you'll open the Rift from the inside."
A blinding flash erupted, and the figure vanished as quickly as it came.
For a long moment, no one spoke. Only the distant sound of the academy bells echoed through the night.
Lyra was the first to move, placing a trembling hand on Aiden's arm. "You okay?"
He nodded slowly, though his heart was pounding. "Yeah… but this changes everything."
Seraphina's expression hardened. "Then we prepare. If the Covenant wants war, they'll find we're ready for one."
Aiden looked up at the stars again — and this time, he noticed something terrifying.
One of them was missing.
A single dark spot in the sky where light should've been. The sign of a collapsing gate.
He whispered to himself, "The worlds are starting to fall."
And deep within the Rift, unseen by any of them, Celene stood in front of an altar of ancient stone, her eyes glowing with a strange light.
"Hold on a little longer, Aiden," she murmured. "I'll make sure the darkness never reaches you… even if I have to become it myself."
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