Sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the Mulder residence as the front door creaked open. Megan Horta stepped inside, her voice carrying through the quiet house. "Isaac, are you ready? The cab is waiting."
Still clad in his pajamas and nursing a cup of coffee, Isaac looked up from his seat. His expression was a blend of annoyance and mild amusement. "Did your husband send you to drag me to the doctor?"
Megan shook her head, a smirk playing on her lips. "I'm just here to make sure you actually show up for your appointment and don't pass out trying to enter the Second Realm."
Isaac took another sip, letting the coffee's warmth soothe the tension in his body. "Did Jenin contact you from the Second Realm? Any updates? Any calls or messages from him?"
Megan's smile faded slightly, her head tilting in a subtle shake. "No messages. Enough questions, Isaac. Go get dressed."
Isaac placed his cup down, his mind wandering. I told Jenin to check the hospital and the university nearby in both realms. Where could he have gone? I know he had to talk to other purgers, but I hope he's still on his mission.
Noticing the furrow in Isaac's brow, Megan moved to his wardrobe, pulling out clothes swiftly. "Jenin's with his sister, Andrea. She'll keep him safe when he's in deep sleep. If you're that worried, I can contact her." She pulled out her phone, showing Isaac the screen. "See? She just posted some emo crap on Snap a few hours ago. They're fine."
Isaac's concern lingered, his thoughts swirling. Megan, sensing his unease, sighed and dialed Andrea's number. "You know I hate calling her. Sometimes I wonder who his wife is—me or you."
The call ended abruptly after the first ring, and Megan received a text almost instantly: "No calls. Messages only. P.S. No emojis."
Megan rolled her eyes and held up the phone. "See? Look what you're putting a pregnant lady through. They're fine."
Isaac chuckled, a hint of relief breaking through. "A small tip for the future: never put her on babysitting duty."
Megan nodded, her grin returning. "Yeah, I know. And you're not much better."
Isaac's voice called out from the other room as he changed. "Did you tell Jenin I said he'd make a terrible father?"
Megan's smile widened, her tone teasing. "That's what you said, right?"
"No, I meant he's a bad trainer for purging. He's a lost cause as a father figure because of his hot-headedness. But I can see him being a good father someday."
Megan laughed softly. "He'd be happy to hear that."
Isaac soon emerged, dressed and ready. "I'm all set. Let's go. And please don't tell him I said he'd be a good father. I want to see him prove me wrong with actions, not words."
As they were about to leave, the Phantom Relay buzzed sharply, delivering a pre-recorded message. Jenin's voice filled the room.
"Isaac, are you up? I talked to the other purgers visiting the Realm. Someone found a flare the day after your encounter. This is a unique situation. I'll explain more. I'm near the hospital, waiting for you… probably."
Isaac's brow furrowed. "Wait, what is he saying? Why didn't anyone inform me about this? They know the red flare was my doing."
Helping Megan into the cab, Isaac followed, his thoughts racing. "Did he just say 'probably'? That idiot better not be causing trouble."
Megan settled into her seat with a sigh. "I hope he doesn't go headfirst into a fight."
Isaac glanced out the window, his expression tightening. "I just hope he doesn't ruin everything. I'll enter the Realm for now. Send me a message when we get to the destination. It'll take some time in this traffic."
Megan nodded, understanding. "Man, I wish we could all keep consciousness like you do. Communication would be so much easier. We have to rely on the Phantom Relay for communication and for exit. You can just use a phone. Guess that's why skill and experience matter so much."
Isaac smiled, his gaze softening. "This is nothing. My great-grandfather, 'The Sage,' could simultaneously maintain consciousness in both realms."
Megan sighed, a note of longing in her voice. "I wonder if I'll ever catch up to you guys."
"You're not far off, Megan," Isaac replied, his voice encouraging. "You just need to learn to enter the Realm using N1. You're already entering a deep sleep at N2. Give it another ten years, and you'll be there."
Megan nodded as Isaac closed his eyes, allowing himself to transition into the Second Realm.
Materializing in the Second Realm, Isaac moved swiftly towards the nearest Phantom Relay. He picked up the round, handheld device, spoke "712," and was instantly transported near the university grounds.
"He said he would wait," Isaac muttered, scanning the quiet, eerie surroundings. He conjured a ball of light in his hand and launched it forward. It burst apart, sending hundreds of threads of light snaking through the area, probing for any signs of movement.
A sharp scream broke the silence, echoing from the terrace of the university building. "Hey! I'm right here! Stop scaring me like that, you old coot."
Isaac ascended to the terrace, finding Jenin leaning casually against the railing. "What are you doing up here?"
Jenin shrugged nonchalantly. "Keeping watch."
Isaac raised an eyebrow. "What are you, a cat? Use your senses and look for changes in the air."
"Easy for you to say. I'm not like you or Megan," Jenin mumbled his tone a mix of frustration and admiration.
Isaac got straight to the point. "So, what did you hear from the other purgers?"
Jenin straightened, his demeanor shifting. "They found your red flare but couldn't locate the person who used it because it activated just minutes before the realm reset. Initially, I thought it was another purger, but now we need to find this person."
Isaac's expression tightened. "What changed your mind?"
Jenin glanced around, and unease was evident in his posture. "I haven't encountered a single spirit in the last 12 hours I've been here. Normally, I'd see at least one or two Level-5 spirits, but nothing. You told me what you saw, but you didn't tell me what you felt. This would be a good time"
Isaac closed his eyes briefly, recalling the sensation. "Because his abilities in the Realm are unlike anything I've seen. It felt like a piece that didn't belong, disrupting the balance. At first, I thought it was the power of earth, but the more I reflected on it, the more it seemed… different."
Isaac's phone buzzed with a message from Megan, signaling they had arrived at their destination. He turned back to Jenin. "Keep searching for a few more hours. I'll join you later, and then you can head out."
Jenin frowned, looking almost offended. "What? I can keep searching with you until we find him."
Isaac smirked, a playful glint in his eyes. "No. Go take a bath. Don't stink up the Realm."
Jenin groaned loudly. "HEY… I took a bath yesterday! It's probably your old man's diaper. Go check if you wet yourself."
Isaac chuckled as his form began to blur, slipping away from the Second Realm. With a casual wave of his hand to Jenin, he vanished completely. Jenin shook his head, smirking as he muttered, "Show off."