Kova stood on the jagged ridge. Wind whipped his cloak against the stone. He felt nothing. After hours in the silence of his private dimension, his decision was made.
He could not remain idle within Null Haven while the mystery of his father's scroll burned a hole in his mind. He found Koma near a rocky outcrop. His brother leaned against the wall with a look of bored malice.
"I am leaving for a while," Kova said. His low, steady tone cut through the wind. "I have matters to attend to."
Koma straightened with a cold, knowing amusement. He didn't ask where or why. "Fine, brother. Good luck."
"Keep yourself in check while I am gone," Kova warned. "Do not tear the mountain apart to cure your boredom. I will not be here to clean up the mess if you decide to go on a rampage."
Koma let out a short, barking laugh. "Keep myself in check? You worry too much, brother. I won't do anything crazy. You have my word. At least for now."
Kova didn't believe him for a second. He didn't have time to argue. He stepped back and vanished into the shadows. He zipped out of the physical world and into the cold, ink-black expanse of his own Void dimension. He knew exactly where the others would be.
Deep within the dark dimension, the air was thick. Koa and Juno were in the midst of a heated exchange. The area around them shimmered with intense temperature. Koa pushed her limits. She hated being made to look weak.
"Watch this!" Koa shouted. She planted her feet and threw her hands forward. A brilliant, swirling pillar of orange flame erupted from her palms. It roared toward Juno. "You think you're the only one who understands the heat?"
Juno didn't move. She didn't even flinch. As a conduit, she saw the attack as energy waiting to be redirected. Just as the fire reached her, Juno raised a single finger. She didn't strike back. She simply stood her ground. The flames hit an invisible barrier and stopped in their tracks. They froze against the air before dissipating into nothingness. The fire vanished into the darkness.
"Is that it?" Juno asked. Her voice was calm and mocking. "You have the spark, Koa, but you lack the control. You're just throwing wood on a fire that I already own."
Koa growled. Her hands sparked with blue lightning. "I am the daughter of Kalamity. I will burn the stars out of your sky!"
Juno stared at her with eyes that had seen too much. "Kalamity is dead. I do not care who you are."
Kova zipped into the center of the dark expanse. He appeared like a sudden tear in the fabric of the dimension. He stood directly between the two women. His presence immediately dampened the heat and the electrical hum.
"Enough," Kova commanded. His eyes shifted between them. "I have something to do. You two are coming with me. We leave now."
Koa crossed her arms, still huffing. "And where exactly are we going that requires both of us to leave?"
"To the source," Kova replied shortly.
Juno remained still. She processed the command. She had been little more than a tool in the background. Now he was pulling her into a mission that clearly mattered. She didn't offer a word of protest.
"Prepare yourselves," Kova said. His gaze shifted toward the exit. "We don't have time for questions."
While the trio prepared to depart, the landscape miles away was much bleaker. The grey wasteland stretched out in every direction. Thorne led the way. His steps were confident as he navigated the shifting dunes. He knew the land well because he was a man with nowhere else to go. Behind him, Kota, Leiya, and Mira followed in a tight line. Their cloaks were pulled tight against the biting air.
Thorne guided them through. He knew the reputation of the doctor. The settlement appeared on the horizon as a collection of low stone buildings. As they reached the outer perimeter, several men stepped out from behind the rubble. They carried the hard look of men who protected what was theirs with steel and grit.
One of them stepped forward. He placed a heavy hand on Kota's chest and shoved him back.
"You can pass, Thorne," the man spat. His eyes narrowed at the others. "But we don't know these three. They stay out."
Kota did not reach for a weapon. He stood still. His silver-grey hair fell over eyes that remained eerily calm. He looked at the man's hand. Then he looked up at his face with a look of detached curiosity.
"Why do you people use weapons?" Kota asked. His voice was low and flat. "You carry them as if they will be a good defense. Do you not realize there are people out here who can dismantle you in an instant? Your metal means nothing against the things you cannot see."
The man flinched. A cold shiver ran down his spine. Thorne quickly stepped between them.
"Wait! Please," Thorne pleaded. His voice cracked. "You've seen me before. Mira is my younger sister. These other two mean no harm. They are exhausted and sick. We just need to see the doctor. Please let us through."
The men exchanged a long, skeptical look. Finally, the man who had pushed Kota stepped aside. He looked at the boy with a newfound sense of dread.
"Fine," the man muttered. "But if they cause even a flicker of trouble, it's on your head, Thorne. Get them to the doctor and keep them there."
Thorne didn't wait. He ushered the group forward. They entered the settlement. The noise of the wasteland began to fade, replaced by the low hum of a functioning community.
"Stay close," Thorne whispered. "We are in, but we are not welcome yet. Don't give them a reason to regret letting us pass. We have nowhere else to go."
They reached the center of the hub. At the heart of the settlement stood a clean, stone building. Its windows were intact. A soft, warm glow emanated from within. This was where the doctor stayed. The air smelled faintly of herbs and antiseptic.
Kota took a deep breath. He looked at Leiya and Mira. They had survived the trek and the hostility at the gate. Now, only a single door stood between them and the woman they desperately needed.