The ride to the docks was quieter than Alfred had expected. The usual hustle of the city felt distant now, almost muted, as though the streets themselves were holding their breath. The skyline loomed in the distance, but it wasn't the usual concrete jungle he had come to know. It had changed, somehow. The city had grown quieter, its pulse erratic, as if something in the air was making everything tremble—just beneath the surface.
Lucius, though, was full of energy, rambling about conspiracy theories, strange phenomena, and the crazy rumors he'd heard about the island. Alfred listened half-heartedly, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The atmosphere felt wrong, like something was waiting just beyond his field of vision, something he couldn't quite place.
A strange fog had begun to settle over the streets, rolling in from the water. It wasn't the usual mist you'd see near the docks—it was thicker, almost oily, like smoke, and it clung to everything, muting the world around them. Even the air seemed heavier, as if charged with electricity.
"So," Lucius said, breaking the silence. "You still don't believe in the powers, huh?"
Alfred didn't answer at first, lost in the eeriness of it all. Finally, he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't know. This whole thing... feels wrong. Monsters, magic—what's next? Are we gonna find a god living in a cave or something?"
Lucius just grinned. "I mean, why not? At this point, I'd be surprised if it wasn't true. People are saying they're starting to wake up. Powers that come out of nowhere. People levitating, controlling fire, summoning storms. It's like... like we've all been chosen for something."
Alfred was silent again, his mind swirling. His thoughts drifted back to the shadowy figure from last night. That thing—whatever it was—had felt different. He'd been scared, sure, but there had been something else. Something that tugged at him. The power, the raw force behind it, had felt... familiar.
He shook his head, trying to shake the feeling. "I'm just a regular guy, Lucius. I don't know about all this 'chosen' stuff. I'm just here because you dragged me into this."
Lucius's smile softened, but his eyes remained bright. "You're more than just regular, man. Trust me, something's happening, and you're gonna find out soon enough."
Alfred didn't respond. Instead, he pulled the collar of his jacket tighter around his neck as the fog thickened. It felt cold, unnatural. The ground beneath his feet seemed to shudder every few steps, like the city itself was holding on to its last threads of stability.
They reached the docks an hour later. The usual bustle of port workers and tourists had been replaced by a strange quiet. The fog stretched over the water, clinging to the boats as if it had a mind of its own. Alfred's pulse quickened as the reality of the journey ahead set in. The island wasn't far now. The Heart of the Isle—no one knew exactly where it was, but there were whispers. Whispers that it wasn't a place anyone could just find, but something that chose its visitors.
Lucius led the way toward an old, weather-beaten boat. The boat's captain, a grizzled man with a thick beard and a scar across his jaw, was already waiting for them. He eyed them suspiciously as they boarded.
"You two sure about this?" the captain grunted as he tied the boat to the dock. His voice was rough, like gravel in a blender.
Lucius gave him a thumbs up. "We've got a destination. We'll pay well, don't worry."
The captain snorted, his eyes narrowed. "I don't care about your money. But there's something about that island that ain't right. If you're not prepared... well, don't say I didn't warn you."
Alfred and Lucius exchanged a look, then nodded. They didn't have time for warnings. They were already in too deep.
As the boat pushed off from the dock and cut through the fog, Alfred felt a tightness in his chest. The world around them seemed to warp as the fog swallowed the boat, and soon the sounds of the city were lost. All he could hear now was the soft slap of the water against the boat's hull, and the occasional creak of the wood as it sliced through the mist.
"How long do you think it'll take to get there?" Alfred asked, trying to distract himself from the growing unease in his gut.
"A few hours," Lucius said, his voice calm. "But you'll see. The island's got a way of pulling you in."
Alfred didn't know what that meant, but before he could ask, the first strange thing happened.
The air around them began to crackle, like static electricity, and the hairs on the back of Alfred's neck stood on end. He glanced at Lucius, who seemed unfazed, his eyes scanning the horizon.
"What the hell..." Alfred whispered, clutching the side of the boat. It was subtle at first—just a tremor, a flicker—but then it grew. The water around them began to ripple as if some invisible force was pushing against it. The boat rocked violently, sending a jolt of fear through Alfred's body. His heart pounded in his chest.
And then, it appeared.
Emerging from the mist, just a few meters away, was a shape—a silhouette—a giant shadow that loomed above them. At first, Alfred thought it was a trick of the fog, a shadow cast by the moon, but then he saw it clearly. The thing was massive—its body was like a mass of writhing tentacles, stretching out across the water, casting a terrifying shadow over the boat.
"Holy—what the hell is that?!" Alfred shouted, his voice cracking.
Lucius was already on his feet, his expression focused, but there was something in his eyes that looked... expectant. Almost like he had been waiting for this.
The captain cursed under his breath, his hands gripping the rudder tightly. "Hold on! Don't panic! This is why I warned you!"
Before Alfred could respond, the thing lunged, its monstrous tentacle whipping toward them with unnatural speed. The boat rocked violently, and Alfred grabbed Lucius's arm for support, his heart racing.
"Move! Now!" the captain bellowed, yanking the rudder with all his strength. The boat veered sharply to the right, narrowly dodging the massive tentacle as it slammed into the water, creating a spray of saltwater that drenched them all.
Alfred's breath came in short, ragged gasps. His mind raced, trying to process what he had just seen. "What the hell was that?!"
Lucius didn't answer at first. Instead, he turned his gaze to the horizon, his face grim. "It's just the beginning."
Before Alfred could ask him to elaborate, the fog thickened even further, and the world around them became an impenetrable blur. The monstrous thing had vanished, but its presence still lingered in the air—a cold, palpable fear.
As the boat pushed forward, Alfred's thoughts turned inward. That feeling in his gut... it was more than fear. It was like something was awakening inside him, something primal, something... alive.
And then, without warning, it happened.
A surge of energy shot through Alfred's body, starting from deep within his chest and spreading out through his limbs. His hands shook, and his vision blurred, the world around him vibrating with a hum that seemed to come from deep within the earth itself.
Lucius turned to look at him, his eyes widening with recognition. "There it is," he said softly. "I told you. It's starting."
Alfred didn't know what was happening to him, but one thing was certain: the island was calling them. And he didn't know if he was ready for whatever it had to offer.