Vel stared at the cloaked figure, his mind reeling. The Consortium was one thing, but this cloaked stranger with their cryptic words and energy-wielding staff felt like a scene straight out of an ancient alien myth.Anya, despite her injuries, mirrored his apprehension. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice hoarse but firm.The figure remained silent for a moment, the only sound the rhythmic thrumming of the staff. Finally, it spoke, its voice echoing with an otherworldly resonance."I am known as Kai, an Emissary of the Ascended."Vel's brow furrowed. "Ascended? Who are they?"Kai tilted its head as if peering through the hood at them. "Those who mastered Aether, your birthright, young Vel. They are the reason your power has awakened."Vel's heart pounded. Aether. The artifact had resonated with it, the voice in his head had called it his power. Now, this stranger was confirming it, linking him to a long-lost Spasian legacy."But... the Spasian people," Anya interjected, "they vanished centuries ago.""They did not vanish," Kai countered, its voice devoid of emotion. "They merely ascended, retreating to a secluded sanctuary beyond the known reaches."Anya exchanged a skeptical glance with Vel. "And you want us to trust you, a stranger, to take us there?"Kai raised the staff, its tip pulsating with energy. "I offer you protection from the Consortium, who seek to exploit your power. The choice is yours."The tension in the room was thick. Vel knew the Consortium was a real threat. He looked at Anya, her face etched with concern. Her injured state gnawed at him. He had to get her away from the Consortium, and find a way to understand and control his powers.Taking a deep breath, he met Kai's unseen gaze. "We need answers, Vel," Anya whispered, her voice laced with apprehension. "And maybe... maybe they can help you control your abilities."With a heavy heart, Vel made his decision. "Alright," he said, his voice hoarse. "We'll come with you."A flicker of satisfaction seemed to emanate from the cloaked figure. "Wise choice," Kai rasped. "Hold onto each other."Before Vel could question what was happening, the room around him shimmered. The floor beneath them dissolved, replaced by a swirling vortex of energy. Anya gasped, clutching onto his arm as they were swept into the maelstrom.The world dissolved into a kaleidoscope of colors and lights. The sounds of the city faded, replaced by a strange, humming energy. Then, just as abruptly as it began, the vortex subsided, depositing them onto a solid surface.Vel blinked, his vision adjusting to the dim light. They stood on a platform overlooking a vast cavern, its walls shimmering with an ethereal glow. Bioluminescent plants bathed the cavern in an otherworldly green light, revealing intricate architecture carved into the rock face. Figures clad in flowing white robes moved silently amongst the buildings, their expressions serene and detached.Anya leaned on him, her breath shallow. "Where are we?" she whispered, her voice filled with awe."It seems," Vel replied, his voice barely above a whisper, "we've reached the Ascended's sanctuary."Kai stood beside them, its staff humming softly. "Welcome," it said, its voice echoing in the cavern, "to the Ascended Plane."