Nathaniel and Lucien kept moving through the mist.
The fog wrapped around them like a veil, thick and colorless, swallowing sound and distance. They had been walking for what felt like ages, guided only by instinct and the faint pull of Nathaniel's magic.
Nathaniel moved first, steady and calm as always. Lucien followed just behind, his boots crunching softly against the damp ground.
Sir Nathaniel, Lucien said quietly, his voice careful in the silence. Do you really think the Talim of Ligalig is behind all this?
Nathaniel didn't answer right away.
Lucien continued, glancing through the fog ahead of them. I mean… remember what Nikolai said? He's chasing some powerful artifact here. But I always thought that blade was just a myth. Every text I've read says the same thing.
Nathaniel slowed to a stop.
His hand brushed the gem hanging from his belt.
For a brief second, the stone pulsed red. Sharp. Alive.
Then it returned to its usual blue, calm as still water.
Lucien didn't notice.
I'm not sure, Nathaniel finally said. But I know this place isn't what it appears to be. We can't prove anything without exact evidence yet, but with the convergence happening, it's not a shock if the artifacts are resurfacing again.
He looked around at the silent fog.
It's too perfect. Too quiet. If the blade is real… and if it's here…
His voice lowered.
Then we might be standing on the edge of a catastrophe.
Lucien heard the worry beneath the calm tone and tried to lighten the mood.
So… are you going to accept the Council's offer? he asked. Teaching the ones empowered by the Convergence???
Nathaniel was quiet for a moment.
First we find Gehan and Zuriel, he said. This place is draining our energy. It is slowly bleeding it away. We need to find them before we lose our strength and become food for the aswangs.
They started walking again.
After a few steps, Nathaniel spoke without looking back.
And you? Will you complete your trials and become my student officially?
Lucien smiled faintly.
Honestly? I think I'd rather be normal. Just a regular human.
He shrugged.
I'm not following you because of magic or trials. I'm here because… you were there when I needed someone.
Nathaniel didn't respond.
But the silence felt warm. Like quiet acceptance.
Ahead of them, the mist stirred.
Like something breathing.
---GEHAN POV AGAIN---
I had no idea how long we had been walking.
The fog never thinned. It only shifted around us, endless and gray. Zuriel muttered something ahead of me at one point, but the mist swallowed his words before I could hear them.
My eyes stung from the cold air. The only sound left was the soft crunch of my boots against the damp ground.
Then my foot caught on something.
A root.
I stumbled forward with a gasp. My hands shot out to catch myself, but the ground scraped harshly against my palm.
Pain burst across my skin.
I hissed and lifted my hand.
Blood welled from a shallow cut across my palm, bright and warm against the cold air.
And then something strange happened.
The blood didn't drip the way it should.
It moved.
Thin lines of red slid across the dirt like living threads, curling outward instead of falling. They stretched across the ground, forming delicate shapes.
A sigil???
Ancient. Intricate. Almost beautiful.
It pulsed faintly.
My stomach twisted.
I froze.
Then I felt breath near my ear.
Soft. Close.
Be careful… little sheep.
I spun around instantly.
There was no one there.
Only fog.
My breathing quickened. The world had gone silent again, like it was holding its breath.
Slowly, I looked back down.
A shallow puddle sat beside me.
My reflection stared up from the water.
Then it smiled.
My breath caught in my throat.
I wasn't smiling.
But the reflection was.
Its lips slowly stretched wider, calm and knowing. Its eyes shimmered faintly, the purple in them darker somehow. Wrong.
My knees felt weak.
No… that's not… I whispered.
A voice echoed inside my head.
(Don't be afraid.)
(I'm you.)
It sounded exactly like me.
My voice, but deeper. Hollow around the edges.
Like it had been buried for a long time.
My mouth opened, but no sound came out.
Cold crept down my spine.
My injured hand throbbed again.
The sigil pulsed.
(You're just waking up.)
I stumbled backward from the puddle, clutching my hand. My vision blurred with tears I hadn't realized were forming.
Gehan!
Zuriel's voice cut through the silence.
I turned sharply.
He stepped out of the mist, his expression tight with concern. He crouched beside me.
You okay?
I tripped. I know it's stupid of me, but I blame the mist, I said quickly. Too quickly. There was a root. I didn't see it.
He took my hand gently and looked at the cut.
You'll live, he said.
But his eyes said something else.
Behind us, far back in the fog, a shadow stood.
Still. Watching.
Zuriel wrapped a strip of cloth around my palm, tying it carefully.
There, he said quietly. Keep pressure on it.
I nodded, though the chill running through my body had nothing to do with the wound.
Then a low growl rolled through the fog.
Wet.
Hungry.
Zuriel's head snapped up.
Shapes began to form ahead of us.
Thin limbs. Crooked bodies. Jaws stretched too wide. Their eyes glinted in the mist like broken glass, Some are big wolf looking.
Aswangs
My breath caught.
Zuriel stood and pulled me to my feet in one motion.
Run.
We didn't hesitate.
We sprinted through the trees, branches snapping under our boots. The fog twisted around us, thick and suffocating.
Behind us came the sounds.
Snarls. Cracking wood. Something was moving far too fast. It sounded like many feet, like a pack of dogs.
Don't stop, Zuriel hissed. No matter what you hear.
The shrieks of the aswangs echoed behind us, closer than I wanted to believe.
Branches slapped my arms as Zuriel dragged me forward. My lungs burned with every breath.
Then the fog surged.
It rolled in like a wall.
Cold. Blinding.
One second the forest surrounded us.
The next it vanished.
Zuriel's grip slipped from mine.
Zuriel! I spun around wildly. Where are you?!!!??
His voice came through the mist, faint and distorted.
Stay close---don't---
Then silence.
Not even wind.
Not even my own footsteps.
I was alone.
I turned slowly.
The trees were gone.
Stone walls surrounded me now, tall and moss--covered.
The forest path had vanished.
A maze stood in its place.
My heart pounded.
Then something strange happened.
A thought drifted through my mind.
(Left.)
(Forward.)
(Right again.)
It didn't feel like guessing.
It felt like I already knew the way.
I took a step.
Then stopped.
Wait.
Why did I know?
Doubt crept in slowly.
I had felt this before. That quiet pull, that subtle push inside my thoughts.
Like something was guiding me.
Was it mine?
I swallowed hard.
(You're almost there.)
(Just a little more.)
I stepped forward again.
The fog thinned slightly.
A figure appeared ahead.
Nikolai????
He stood calmly, like he had been waiting the entire time. His golden eyes were steady, his hands tucked casually in his pants pockets.
I knew I'd find you again, he said.
My breath caught.
Did you see Zuriel? We got separated. Is he here?
He shook his head.
No. Only you.
A faint smile touched his lips.
But that's enough.
I hesitated.
What do you mean?
You have something inside you, Gehan. Power that's been locked away. I can help you reach it.
He lifted a hand slowly.
Do you trust me?
Strangely enough… I wanted to.
But a chill crept down my spine.
This maze. The timing. Everything about this moment felt too perfect.
This could be a trap.
Still, his eyes hadn't changed.
…Okay, I said carefully.
He stepped closer.
Repeat after me, he said softly. If the power is truly yours, it will answer.
He guided my hands
And yet somehow…
I already knew them.
The words rose from my chest without effort.
I spoke them.
The air shifted.
Wind rushed through the maze.
A pulse vibrated deep inside my chest.
Lights exploded around me.
Pages showed up in the air, glowing and flipping. Marks floated around like fireflies, and letters shined softly.
The Book of Nephilim. A massive red eye this is the same book, the edges stained with blood. Thick, dark blood began to seep from the pages.
My breath caught.
I summoned it, I whispered. It heard me.
It's the book that disappeared way before . How is it back? How did this happen? Did Nikolai know about this? Wait, I need to focus. I need to find the others.
Nikolai didn't answer.
High above the maze, a pillar of fire suddenly tore into the sky.
Zuriel.
I ran.
The book floated beside me, lighting the path. Nikolai followed quietly behind.
We burst into a clearing.
Zuriel stood in the center, blood on his sleeve, wand blazing with fire. Flames spun around him as he cut through the aswang rushing him from every side.
Zuriel!!!! I shouted.
He turned.
Then froze.
His eyes locked onto the creepy book floating beside me.
How… how do you have that? he demanded.
I don't know, I said quickly. Nikolai helped me.
Zuriel's gaze snapped to him instantly.
He what?
I lifted my hand.
The book responded.
Letters rose into the air, glowing brighter and brighter.
The spell formed in my chest before I even understood it.
I spoke it.
Black and white fire burst outward.
The aswang shrieked as the light tore through them. Their bodies collapsed into smoke and ash within seconds.
Then silence fell.
Zuriel didn't lower his wand.
His eyes stayed on Nikolai.
Something had changed in his expression.
Not relief.
Distrust.
The last embers of fire faded into the air.
I lowered my hand slowly, my chest still rising and falling. The Book hovered beside me, glowing faintly.
Zuriel hadn't moved.
His wand was still raised.
His gaze was locked on Nikolai.
Then a sound echoed through the maze.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
Slow.
Mocking.
The sound bounced off the tall stone walls around us.
A shadow shifted above.