"I think it's connected to my dream," I whispered, my voice trembling as I glanced around at the others. Their eyes were locked on me, expectant, suspicious. Even Alice, ever composed, watched with an intensity that made my stomach churn.
"I saw an old man sitting on a golden throne," I continued. "There was... an energy about him. It was like he was connected to something vast, something powerful. And somehow, I think I'm connected to it now too. I don't know how I know this, but I feel it inside me. It's like he gave me some of his power."
Alice's dark eyes didn't leave me, sharp and calculating. "And then?" she prompted, her voice calm but firm.
"I... I just kind of knew what to do," I admitted. "It wasn't conscious. I felt this surge of energy, like I had no choice but to act."
Alice nodded slightly, glancing toward the barricaded door. "Can you do it again?" she asked, her tone deliberate. "We need to fight back somehow, and if you can use whatever this is, we need it now."
"I don't know," I said, my voice barely audible. The weight of everyone's stares pressed down on me. Even Alan, still pale and trembling, was watching from the floor.
I closed my eyes, trying to block them all out. Focusing on my breath, I reached inward, searching for that same spark of energy I had felt earlier. It was faint, flickering like a flame about to go out.
"I think I can..." I began, but when I opened my eyes, the lecture hall was gone.
I stood once again in the golden throne room, surrounded by clouds that seemed to glow with their own light. The throne itself sat empty, its presence looming even without its occupant. The air crackled with energy, as if something was alive within it.
"Welcome back, Tom!"
The cheerful voice echoed through the chamber, coming from nowhere and everywhere at once. I turned in circles, searching for its source.
"Who's there?" I demanded. "Show yourself!"
A blur of movement appeared above me, descending rapidly. A ball of fur with wings spun down from the clouds, darting toward me with startling speed.
"I didn't think you'd come back," the creature said with a teasing lilt. "But here you are! Strong soul, just as my master predicted."
I stepped back, eyeing it warily. The thing looked like a fluffy ball of fur, with tiny arms and legs, glowing eyes, and hummingbird-like wings keeping it afloat.
"What are you?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
The creature rolled its eyes—or at least gave the impression of doing so. "I'm Act, your Guide," it said, hovering just inches from my face. "Nice to meet you. Took you long enough to notice me. Are you always this slow?"
"My... Guide?" I repeated, the word foreign on my tongue.
Act spun in the air like a miniature acrobat. "Guides are here to help humans through difficult times. Humans always have one but most of you are too thick-headed to notice us." It paused for dramatic effect. "Some humans call us guardian angels, but I prefer the term Guide. Sounds cooler, don't you think?"
I stared at it, my brain scrambling to process the absurdity of what I was hearing. "And now you're here... to help me?"
"Exactly! I'm here to make sure you survive," Act said with a proud puff of its fluffy chest. "And since you're going through what we call the Shattering, you're going to need my help more than ever."
"What's the Shattering?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
Act froze for a moment, its wings faltering. For the first time, it seemed uncertain. "I... don't know," it said quietly, its usual cheer dampened. The moment passed as quickly as it came, and Act was back to zipping around like a hyperactive fly. "Doesn't matter! What matters is I'm here to help you get stronger."
"How?" I asked, watching as it spun in dizzying circles.
"I'll teach you what you can do," Act said with a dramatic flourish. "Right now, you've unlocked three abilities and access to weapons."
I waited for it to elaborate, but it didn't. It just hovered there, silent and smug.
"Well?" I prompted, my frustration building. "What abilities? What weapons? Can you actually explain something?"
Act crossed its tiny arms—or at least gave the impression it was doing so—and floated lazily in front of me. "Patience, Tom. You humans are so impatient. Always demanding answers before you're ready for them."
I clenched my fists, the urge to swat the little ball of fluff growing stronger. "Just tell me!"
"Fine, fine," Act said, rolling its glowing eyes dramatically. "Your abilities are connected to my old master, Zeus. I was his Guide too, back when he was around." Act paused, as if waiting for some reaction. When I didn't respond, it continued, "He's gone now, but his power didn't disappear—it transferred to you. Think of it as an inheritance. Lucky you!"
Act darted closer, hovering just inches from my face. "Your first ability is called Lightning Step. It allows you to move as fast as a lightning strike, and when you hit something while using it, a surge of electricity courses through the target. Pretty flashy, huh?"
I nodded slowly, absorbing the words.
"Second," Act continued, spinning in midair, "you can create a veil of clouds to obscure your location. Handy if you want to hide or confuse someone. Let's call that Storm Cloak."
"And the third?" I asked cautiously.
"You can float," Act said matter-of-factly, "but don't get too excited. You're not flying yet, so don't go jumping off cliffs. Oh, and before you ask, you can also summon a sword. It's... shocking."
Act paused, grinning smugly.
"What do you mean, shocking?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It has electrifying abilities," Act explained with a dramatic twirl. "Literally. The blade charges anything it touches with electricity. Pretty awesome, right?" It paused, waiting for me to laugh.
When I didn't, Act groaned. "You're no fun."
I was about to ask more, but Act cut me off.
"Anyway, a word of advice: these powers aren't freebies. Every time you use them, they drain your strength. That little Lightning Step you did earlier? Yeah, you nearly fried yourself. Overdo it, and you might just drop dead."
Before I could respond, Act zipped away, leaving me spinning in confusion.
"Wake up, Tom," it said, its voice echoing as the golden throne room began to dissolve around me.
And just like that, I was back in the lecture hall.
My eyes fluttered open, and I blinked against the dim light. Everyone was staring at me, their expressions a mix of confusion and anticipation. I realized I'd been gone for what felt like five minutes, but to them, no time had passed at all.
"Well?" Alice asked, her tone sharp. "Anything to share?"
"I was back in the throne room," I said, my voice hoarse. "I was there for five minutes, at least—"
"You only just closed your eyes," Alice interrupted, her brow furrowing. "Don't lie to us. We need to figure out a way to protect ourselves, and making up stories isn't going to help." She turned to address the group. "Maybe Wonder Boy here can actually do something useful."
"I can," I said, louder than I meant to. My voice echoed off the walls, and I glanced nervously at the barricaded door, as if expecting something—or someone—to burst through.
Closing my eyes, I focused on my breathing, steadying the frantic beat of my heart. I reached deep inside, to the place where I'd felt that connection before. Slowly, I raised my hand, imagining the weapon Act had described.
The air around me seemed to ripple and hum, and then, in a crackle of energy, a sword materialized in my grasp. Its blade shimmered with a faint electric glow, and a thunderbolt emblem was etched into the hilt.
Gasps filled the room. Everyone stared, wide-eyed and slack-jawed.
"What the hell..." someone whispered.
I turned the sword in my hand, its weight strangely familiar, as if it had always been mine. "This is what Act told me about," I explained, keeping my voice steady despite the awe and fear around me. "I have abilities. Powers. But they come at a cost."
As I let the sword dissipate into a burst of glowing mist, exhaustion slammed into me like a freight train. My knees buckled, and I collapsed forward, barely catching myself with my hands.
"Tom!" Alice called, but her voice sounded distant, muffled.
The strength drained from my limbs, and darkness tugged at the edges of my vision. I barely had time to curse that damn bird-like Guide before I hit the ground and everything went black.