"Hunter!"
They called out to me.
"We heard something over here—what happened?"
But he was gone. The shadow vanished like he'd never been there at all.
"Uh… yeah. I saw something," I muttered, trying to steady my voice. "But it's gone now."
"A shadow?" Cody asked, his eyes sharp.
I looked up, surprised he caught on so quickly—but of course it made sense. Cody could see and read auras like few others.
"Did it say anything to you?" he pressed.
"Yeah," I said quietly. "He was just… declaring how dangerous he was."
Zayn burst out laughing. "Oh really? If he's so big and scary, why didn't he fight us? Instead, he hides in the shadows."
"One thing's certain though," I said, looking back toward the dark alley. "He's in town—and he's up to no good."
It was just a hunch, but his words echoed in my head: You have an important role to play.
He's searching for something… and whatever it is, it's here.
"Let's look around one last time before heading home," Iris suggested.
"I'll add another barrier," Cody said as we spread out again.
---
The candle flames trembled. One by one, their light bent, flickering as if something unseen had breathed through the room.
Xavier paused mid-sentence, quill hovering over parchment. Ink dripped silently onto the table.
His gaze rose to the ring of candles around him—each reacting violently as the air turned suddenly cold.
He whispered a quiet incantation. The air shimmered faintly, symbols forming and scattering like dust.
The house was empty; the kids weren't around. He assumed they had gone to handle something—but now it hit him. They must have felt it too.
Another gust—stronger this time—swept through the study. Three candles went out instantly, leaving the room cloaked in uneasy shadows. The single remaining flame burned black at its edges.
Xavier's jaw tightened. "I just hope it isn't who I think it is…"
He could feel it—the same dark pulse that once swept across the Onyx Dimension during the fall of the Guardians. The presence he'd prayed would never return.
A moment later, the pressure lifted. The candles relit, their flames steady once more.
Xavier turned toward the window, his voice low. "Achlys… what do I do?"
---
By the time we returned home, the sun bled orange across the rooftops. The air smelled faintly of rain and metal—the kind of evening that hides secrets.
Everyone was quieter than usual. Even Zayn wasn't making sarcastic remarks, which meant he was thinking. Iris shut the door behind us and locked it.
We couldn't deny it—something dangerous had slipped into town.
Annabeth broke the silence first. "We can't keep pretending this is just a random threat," she said, folding her arms.
"Something magical is here" Cody added. "That's the only reason someone like him would come here."
I dropped into a chair, running a hand through my hair. "But what could it be? We haven't had an active artifact in this region for decades. Master Xavier would've known if something resurfaced."
"He might not have told us," Iris murmured, brushing her fingers across one of the spell marks on the wall. "If it's dangerous enough, he would've wanted to keep us away."
Zayn scoffed. "Or maybe we're overreacting. He could just be here to scare people, start chaos. That's what shadows do best."
Annabeth turned sharply. "Zayn, a shadow demon doesn't wander into a barrier city. He's here for a reason—and we can't sit around waiting for him to find it."
"So what do you suggest?" I asked.
She paced before stopping near the window, her reflection glinting in the fading light. "Patrols. Every night until we find what he's after. Two per night—paired for coverage. We rotate shifts so no one burns out."
"Patrols?" Cody frowned. "That's… actually smart. But we'll need a plan in case we run into him."
"I'll draft one," Iris said immediately. "I can also reinforce the wards along the east end of town. That's where the aura felt strongest earlier."
Zayn groaned. "Great. So, we're officially the town's night watch. Someone better get me a lantern."
Tyra rolled her eyes. "You can hold the snacks."
A small laugh went around the room—brief, but enough to cut the tension. For a moment, it felt almost normal again.
Master Xavier entered just then, expression unreadable. "You're organizing patrols?"
"Yes," Jace said firmly. "Someone's in town. We can't take chances."
"I knew you all sensed him too…" Master collapsed into his favorite chair.
"Him?" I asked.
"Zarin. Right-hand man to the Demon King. He never fails to carry out his master's commands—even if it costs him his life."
Zarin. He knew my name… At least we know now. The Demon King's right hand, huh? I swore I'd crush him.
"Do you know him personally, Master?" Katara asked.
"We fought in the war twenty years ago. He's trouble. He blends perfectly with the shadows, and he is of pure royal blood."
My nerves tightened. Upper phase, royal blood… Demons disgusted me. They destroy kingdoms for fun, kill for entertainment, and value no human life.
"I wonder what would happen if we ever came in contact with him," Katara asked again.
"I don't think it's wise to attack individually if he's as dangerous as Master says," Jace suggested, stroking his chin.
"But if we engage in combat in public… we'll be caught," Iris warned.
"Quite frankly, why are we so scared?" Zayn muttered. "We have powers; they don't. We can escape easily."
"Zayn…" I called out. "I need to remind you about Aetherites."
He rolled his eyes. "Oh right… almost forgot they existed."
The war's effect was felt by nearby dimensions. Humans discovered traces of corrupted particles left behind—rare minerals called Aetherite. When refined, it emits energy that disrupts elemental frequencies—neutralizing magic in a radius. Worn in weapons or armor, it could weaken even the strongest elemental user.
The government uses it to equip special anti-magic soldiers—Purge Units. Magic users back then who exposed their powers were persecuted. Walls of Aetherite imprisoned them. Townspeople believed them demonic.
Master Xavier had warned us specifically about it.
"Sometimes I wonder, why do we even bother protecting them?" Zayn continued, frustrated.
"There's a way you can communicate with each other" Master said. "Place your hands on your elements. Elements can allow telepathic connections between you eight only."
We tried it immediately. Voices in our heads—it worked. Confronting Zarin would be easier.
"Once any of you come in contact with Zarin, call for backup immediately," Tyra instructed. "We'll let him know he messed with the wrong town."
Master Xavier studied us a long moment. "Good. You're thinking like Guardians."
That word tightened my chest. Guardians… it meant more than I understood.
"Hunter, you'll lead the first patrol tonight with Annabeth," Master said. "Zayn and Iris follow tomorrow."
"Got it," I said.
He placed a hand on my shoulder, eyes darkening for just a second. "Be careful. Zarin isn't just a shadow—he was once one of us."
The room went silent.
"What do you mean?" Annabeth asked.
Xavier only sighed. "Story for another night. Trust your instincts—and don't let the darkness get too close."
---
Later that night, as stars began to scatter across the sky, Annabeth and I stood at the edge of town. Cody's barriers shimmered faintly along the borders. Crickets sang in the tall grass, and somewhere a dog barked at nothing.
I glanced at Annabeth. "You ever get the feeling we're just chasing ghosts?"
She smirked. "Maybe. But at least we're chasing them together."
A cold wind swept through, carrying a whisper that made the hairs on my neck rise.
"Hunter…"
I froze.
Annabeth turned. "Did you hear that?"
The voice came again—faint but familiar, someone I knew.
Then, for a split second, the barrier shimmered—and a figure stood beyond it. Cloaked, shifting, and very real.
Zarin.
Annabeth reached for her weapon. "He's testing the boundary."
"I know," I whispered, gripping my pendant until it burned against my palm.
The air crackled with unseen energy. His shadowed gaze met mine.
Then he smiled—a slow, cold smile.
And vanished.
The silence that followed was deafening.
"He's gone… again," I muttered.
Annabeth exhaled shakily. "Well… I think we just started our first patrol.