While Elias spent most of his days in the game, Ava and Naomi looked to real life for answers. Within the grand library of their city, Naomi and Ava sifted through recent news archives, navigating a digital sea of obscure headlines and fringe theories. Naomi's fingers tapped purposefully over keywords as she scanned through article after article with the focused determination of a seasoned researcher.
In a quieter corner, Ava stepped away to make a call. She kept her voice low, though the tremor in her tone betrayed a hint of tension. "Yes, Markus, I'm fine. Look, this isn't the first time someone's asked you for mental health leave, right?"
Her boss's concerned voice filtered through the receiver. "I just hope I haven't… contributed to anything, like with dinner, you know."
"Don't worry," she interrupted, a bit clipped. "I'll catch up on what I miss. I'll be back in two weeks, okay?" Without waiting for a response, she ended the call, sighing as she rejoined Naomi.
"Got it!" Naomi's voice was hushed but triumphant. She motioned to an open article on the tablet in front of her. "I knew there'd be something."
Curious, Ava leaned over her shoulder. Naomi tapped the screen, highlighting a segment of text surrounded by images of ancient symbols. "This," she explained, "is from The Consumed's official website. It's so unpopular that I had to click to the seventh tab underneath the search bar! Anyway, they reference an ancient civilization—a group called the Aetherians. It says here that their artifacts were rumored to hold immense power, and their people practiced a unique form of mysticism."
Ava read the passage aloud. "'The Aetherians believed their ancestral lands held the key to transcending worlds, unlocking the spirit's fullest potential.'" She raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like they weren't just practicing magic—they thought they could control reality itself."
"That's the weird part," Naomi said, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Remember the symbols from the game? They match glyphs we've found at real dig sites—places where we knew the artifacts were ancient but had no idea of their origin. If these artifacts belonged to the Aetherians, then we might be onto something that connects their mythology to what's happening to us."
Ava leaned back, glancing around the vast shelves. The immensity of it all weighed on her, the sense that they were tracing the edges of something vast and unexplainable. "So you're saying this… isn't just a game?"
Naomi gave a slight shrug and smiled. "Welcome to the strange side of history."
Ava, despite herself, smiled back. She found herself feeling unusually comfortable around Naomi, an unexpected but welcome relief. Naomi noticed, eyes softening as she tilted her head. "You don't have to stick around if this is too much, you know."
Ava's expression grew serious. "I don't have much choice, do I?" Her voice softened. "I can't leave Elias alone in all of this."
Naomi nodded, understanding in her gaze. "You care about him."
Ava looked away, a self-conscious smile tugging at her lips. "I always thought… maybe if he'd just stop chasing fantasy worlds, we'd have a chance at something real. But that's just it—this is the most 'real' I've ever seen him. Alive, even."
Naomi gave a knowing look. "Sometimes, people get so wrapped up in finding what they're after, they forget what it is they're looking for. But he's not as disconnected as you think. He'll come around."
A sudden buzz drew Naomi's attention back to her phone. She checked the screen and frowned. "We might need a change of scenery," she murmured. "I sent what we found to a friend and he just texted. There's a bar nearby, kind of a low-profile spot. Apparently, some of The Consumed have been showing up there."
Later that evening, they entered a dimly lit bar, the haze of smoke thick and the hum of murmured conversations an unsettling soundtrack. Shadowed figures hunched over tables, faces hidden beneath hoods and hats.
They ordered drinks to blend in and took seats near the back, scanning the room. Naomi leaned close to Ava, discreetly pointing toward a man in the corner nursing a dark drink. "That one. He matches a few descriptions I found in the tabloids."
Ava nodded slightly as they edged closer. Naomi approached, attempting to strike up a casual conversation, but the man's eyes flicked up, sharp and wary. His hand moved beneath his coat.
"Easy," Naomi said with a calm smile, raising her hands just slightly. "Just looking for a bit of information."
The man's lips curled into a sneer, but his hand didn't leave his coat. "I don't know what you're after, but you'd better leave it alone." He motioned, and two men nearby rose, flanking him.
Ava stepped forward, positioning herself between Naomi and the advancing men. Her posture shifted subtly, a calm control that seemed to shift the atmosphere in the room.
One of the men reached for her shoulder, but in a fluid, practiced motion, Ava intercepted his wrist, twisting him with a sudden, forceful redirection that sent him sprawling into a nearby table. His partner lunged, but Ava sidestepped, using his momentum against him to sweep his legs out from under him, leaving him dazed on the floor.
Their leader stared, eyes wide, as Ava calmly stepped into his path, blocking his exit.
Naomi smirked, impressed by Ava's effortless control.
"You heard my friend. We're just looking for information," Ava said, her words friendly, but tone demanding. "Now, why don't you tell us what you know about your cult?"
The man's defiance wavered, his gaze darting between Naomi and Ava before muttering, "The gods will descend soon, and you'll be judged. Smart people join us… or stay far away." His eyes narrowed, finally recognizing Naomi. "You're with the archaeologists, aren't you?"
Naomi tensed, her voice dropping to an edge. "How do you know that?"
The man swallowed, glancing nervously at Ava, then back to Naomi. "We've been following your recent digs—the ones related to us. Our leader was after something buried in the ruins you found. And now he's finally got it. That's all I know."
Satisfied, Ava gave a small nod, allowing the man to slip back into the shadows.
They settled back at the bar, each absorbing the weight of what they'd just learned. The cult's interest in ancient artifacts—and Naomi's digs—was a discovery far more serious than they had imagined. It was a tangible threat, one they would have to face if they wanted to continue unraveling the truth about what's been happening to them.