Nova – The Trail of the Phoenix
The forest whispered of death.
Nova moved silently through the undergrowth, his black coat brushing against wet leaves, the morning mist clinging to his mask. In his hand, the silver insignia glimmered faintly—a phoenix crowned in flame, the royal crest of Terra.
He turned it over once more, tracing the symbol with his thumb. Why send a messenger now?
The royals had vanished from public view years ago, ever since the Monster Wars ended. Yet something about this crest—it pulsed faintly with magic. A beacon. A warning.
Nova slipped it into his pouch and continued on. The Guild's latest assignment had brought him north—toward the same mountains where Sorra's academy was rumored to send their new expedition team. He didn't know that yet, but fate was already drawing the siblings closer.
As he reached a clearing, he froze. The air was wrong—still, heavy, and reeking of sulfur. His instincts screamed a single word.
"Ambush."
A low growl answered.
From the trees burst three creatures—mutated wolves with jagged bones jutting from their backs, their eyes glowing purple with corruption.
Nova's blade was in his hand before the first one hit the ground. Total Creation flared to life, his sword reshaping itself mid-swing, dark steel rippling with light.
He moved like shadow—each strike precise, effortless. One, two, three—each beast fell in seconds, their bodies dissolving into black mist.
But as the last wolf crumbled, its blood hissed against the soil, forming strange runes that pulsed with cursed energy. Nova crouched, studying them, his breath misting in the cold air.
"These markings again…"
Before he could examine further, the ground beneath him trembled.
A voice echoed—feminine, distorted, laced with malice.
"Child of Grey… you walk where creation is forbidden."
Nova looked up sharply. Shadows stirred in the fog, forming a tall, hooded figure made of smoke. Her eyes glowed faint crimson.
"Who are you?" Nova demanded.
"A remnant," she hissed. "And soon, so will you."
The ground split apart. A hand of molten stone erupted from below, grasping for him. Nova leapt back, summoning a barrier of forged mana—shimmering black glass. The impact shattered the ground and sent ash flying through the forest.
When the dust cleared, the specter was gone. Only the smell of burning and the faint whisper of laughter lingered.
Nova exhaled slowly. "Something's coming," he muttered. "And it knows who I am."
Sorra – The Northern Expedition
"Form up! Teams of three—check your gear, check your focus crystals!"
Instructor Renford's voice carried across the courtyard as students scrambled into formation. The Northern Expedition had been announced only a week ago—a field mission to investigate monster activity near the border.
Sorra tightened the straps on her gloves and adjusted her spell focus. Nico Lunar approached beside her, sword gleaming at his hip.
"First official mission outside the Academy," he said, smiling. "You ready?"
She gave a small nod. "I've been ready for years."
They boarded the skycarriage, the runic engines humming beneath their feet as it lifted into the clouds. Below, the city of Silvercrest glittered like a field of stars.
Sorra leaned against the railing, watching the endless stretch of mountains ahead. A faint chill brushed her skin—a cold that felt… familiar.
Nova… are you out there too?
Hours later, the skycarriage descended into the frost-covered outpost of Havenreach. What should've been a bustling trading camp was eerily silent. Snow crunched beneath their boots as they disembarked.
One of the students—a boy with white hair—shivered. "This place feels… wrong."
Renford frowned. "Stay sharp. We'll set up wards around the perimeter."
As Sorra scanned the treeline, her eyes caught something half-buried in the snow: a symbol scorched into the ice.
A phoenix. Crowned in flame.
Her heart stopped.
"Nico," she whispered, pointing. "That mark—it's royal."
He crouched beside her, brushing frost from the sigil. "Impossible. The royal houses haven't left the capital in years. What's something like this doing here?"
Before Sorra could answer, the ground trembled. A pulse of red light spread beneath the snow, followed by a sound like distant thunder.
And in that instant—
Far to the south, Nova's eyes snapped open. The same crimson pulse flared through his mark, burning hot against his chest.
Nova – Fire in the Snow
He stood in a blizzard now, miles away but bound to the same storm. The pulse from the insignia in his pouch glowed brighter, syncing with his heartbeat.
"This isn't coincidence," he growled. "It's calling to her."
He looked toward the north—the same mountains Sorra was flying toward.
If she was anywhere near the royal crest's energy, then she was walking straight into danger.
He clenched his hand, Total Creation responding to his will. His sword reshaped into a sleek black spear of mana. Flames flickered around the blade, devouring the snow beneath his feet.
He whispered, voice low beneath the storm:
"Hang on, Sorra. I'm coming."
And with one step, he vanished—leaving only a scorch mark in the frozen ground.
Sorra – The Awakening in Havenreach
The ground split open.
Students screamed as corrupted beasts erupted from beneath the ice—hulking creatures of bone and frost, their bodies branded with runes glowing the same red as the phoenix crest.
Renford shouted orders, his staff blazing with light. "Defensive formation! Don't let them break the line!"
Sorra didn't hesitate. Wind surged beneath her feet as Wind Boost launched her into the air. She raised her palm—Inferno Cage!
Flames burst from her hand, spiraling into a ring of fire that encircled the nearest creature. It roared, thrashing violently against the burning walls.
"Come on," she hissed. "Let's see how you handle this."
The monster slammed through the flames, blackened but not dead. Sorra's eyes narrowed. She drew blood across her palm—Blood Spear!
The crimson weapon burst into existence, heat rippling through the snow. She hurled it forward, piercing the creature's core. A shriek split the air as it dissolved into ash.
But even as it fell, a deeper rumble answered from the mountains—a sound that made the earth tremble.
Nico's voice rang out, sharp with panic. "Sorra, look—!"
From the fog rose something vast—an ancient beast, chained in ice and flame, its eyes like burning coals. And on its forehead… the same royal crest.
Sorra's breath caught. "What is this…?"
And then, across the mountain winds, a whisper brushed her ear—faint but unmistakable.
"Sorra… hold on."
Her eyes widened. She knew that voice.
"Nova?" she breathed.
The sky darkened. The mountains burned.