The fissure trembled as something began to emerge—a shadowy, incomplete figure that writhed and shifted with each pulse of energy.
Chevie had seen many strange creatures in his time as a Gatewalker, but this was different. It felt… raw, unfinished.
"What is that thing?" Chevie asked, moving to Selene's side.
"An anomaly," Selene replied.
"They've been appearing across multiple regions. This one's smaller, but it could escalate fast if we're not careful."
The creature lashed out with a tendril of dark energy, but Selene reacted instantly.
Her halberd cut through the attack in a clean, glowing arc, dispersing the energy before it reached them.
"Follow my lead," she instructed, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Chevie nodded, gripping his katana.
Together, they moved in perfect sync—Selene's precise, measured strikes complemented by Chevie's fluid, adaptive style.
The creature fought back fiercely, its attacks growing more desperate as its form began to destabilize.
Chevie felt the energy building within the creature and reacted instinctively.
He channeled his own Aetherium through Echo's Edge, the runes on the blade flaring brightly as he struck.
The attack cleaved through the creature's core, disrupting its form entirely.
With a final, piercing shriek, the creature dissolved into wisps of energy that were quickly absorbed back into the fissure.
The anomaly pulsed once more before collapsing in on itself, leaving the street eerily silent.
Selene lowered her weapon, scanning the area for any lingering traces of energy.
Satisfied, she turned to Chevie.
"Not bad."
"Thanks,"
Chevie replied, his breath still coming in short bursts.
"But what are you doing here? I thought you were stationed in Kaelith."
Selene sighed, her expression shifting to something more serious.
"The Kaelith Empire has been tracking these anomalies for weeks. They're spreading, and no one knows why. This is the first reported incident in Elthera, but it won't be the last."
As they moved away from the scene, Selene began to explain.
"These anomalies aren't tied to specific Gates. They're… something else. The energy readings don't match anything we've seen before."
Chevie frowned. "And they're appearing everywhere?"
"Not everywhere,"
Selene clarified. "But enough to cause concern. Aurion, Virelia, Zekros—they've all reported incidents. The DDA is scrambling, but even they don't have answers."
Chevie mulled over her words.
The Gates were chaotic enough, but this new phenomenon felt different—like a puzzle piece that didn't belong.
"So why are you here?" he asked.
Selene hesitated for a moment. "Officially? To investigate the anomaly. Unofficially… I wanted to see how you were holding up."
Chevie raised an eyebrow. "Didn't peg you for the sentimental type."
Selene smirked faintly. "Don't get used to it."
Chevie shook his head at her jokes.
They reached a quiet café near the edge of the city, its warm interior a stark contrast to the tension outside.
Over steaming cups of tea, Selene continued to outline the Empire's findings.
"The anomalies are unpredictable," she said.
"But they all share one thing in common: the energy signatures are unstable. That creature we just fought? It wasn't fully formed. Something's interfering with the dimensions."
Chevie leaned back in his chair, his katana resting against the table.
"And you think it's connected to the Gates?"
"It has to be," Selene said. "But how and why? That's what we're trying to figure out."
Chevie nodded, his mind racing.
The Whitehole, his clone's memories, the strange resonance he had felt in the rift—all of it seemed to be pointing toward a larger, more complex mystery.
"So, what's the plan?" he asked.
Selene's gaze hardened. "The Kaelith Empire is assembling a task force to investigate the source of these anomalies. I want you to join it."
Chevie blinked, caught off guard. "Me? Why?"
"Because you've seen things most Gatewalkers haven't," Selene said.
The weight of her words hung in the air.
Chevie didn't respond immediately, instead taking a long sip of his tea as he considered her offer.
As they left the café, the city was quiet once more, the earlier panic fading into the usual hum of Avenridge life.
Selene stopped at the edge of the square, her violet eyes meeting Chevie's.
"Think about it," she said.
"But don't take too long. If these anomalies keep spreading, we're going to need all the help we can get."
Chevie nodded, gripping the hilt of Echo's Edge.
"I'll let you know."
As Selene disappeared into the crowd, Chevie felt a familiar tug of uncertainty.
"Are they suspicious of me?" Chevie narrowed his eyes as he walked away.
The next morning, Avenridge woke slowly under a soft, amber dawn.
The streets were calmer now, though the night's events had left whispers of concern in their wake.
Chevie sat at the small table in his apartment, Echo's Edge propped against the wall.
Steam curled lazily from his coffee cup as he stared at the sword.
Selene's offer lingered in his mind. The idea of joining the Kaelith task force wasn't without merit.
It was a chance to access resources, learn more about the anomalies, and potentially uncover the truth behind the Gates.
But something held him back—a pull toward promises he'd made and the path he'd set for himself.
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration bubbling.
"Think about it, she says," he muttered to no one in particular.
"As if it's that simple."
A firm knock at the door broke his thoughts. Chevie stood, sliding the katana into its scabbard before opening the door.
"So early?"
Selene stood on the other side, her usual confident demeanor slightly subdued.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," she said, though her tone suggested she didn't particularly care if she was.
Chevie stepped aside, letting her in. "What's up?"
Selene crossed the threshold, her violet eyes scanning the room before settling on him.
"I wanted to follow up on last night. You've had time to think."
He leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "About your task force?"
She nodded. "I need an answer, Chevie. We don't have the luxury of waiting. The anomalies are spreading, and we need people who can handle them."
"I... "