The academy gates loomed before Kael and Lyra as they returned, exhaustion weighing down their every step. The Rift's remnants still clung to Kael's mind, the swirling chaos an ever-present reminder of how close they'd come to failure. Yet, alongside the exhaustion was an undercurrent of triumph. They'd faced the Rift and sealed it—a small victory against an overwhelming tide.
"Do you think they felt it?" Lyra asked, breaking the silence as they approached the dormitories.
Kael glanced at her, brow furrowed. "You mean the instructors?"
Lyra nodded. "Something like that doesn't happen without someone noticing. A Rift that close to the academy? It's bound to raise questions."
Kael sighed. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, we need to regroup and figure out what's happening. The Rifts are appearing faster, and we don't even know why."
Lyra gave him a sidelong glance. "You say 'we' like I'm stuck in this with you forever."
"You said it yourself," Kael replied with a smirk. "If we die, you're haunting me. Seems like a lifetime deal."
Lyra chuckled, shaking her head. "You're lucky I like a challenge, Kael."
After a quick meal in the mess hall and a night of restless sleep, Kael woke early to find another notification blinking in his vision.
[System Notification: New Functionality Unlocked – Nexus Vision.]
Description: Allows the user to view interconnected energy flows and anomalies within a certain radius. Current Range: 100 meters. Activation Command: Engage Nexus Vision.
Kael sat up, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and apprehension. "This might help us track down the Rifts before they fully form… or reveal something I'm not ready to face."
He activated the system, whispering the command.
[Nexus Vision Engaged.]
The world around him shifted, a translucent overlay descending over his vision. Threads of glowing energy wove through the walls of the dormitory, connecting objects, people, and spaces in a vast, intricate web. Some threads pulsed faintly, while others glowed bright enough to sting his eyes.
Kael's breath caught as he noticed a dense cluster of energy near the academy's main tower. Unlike the soft, natural flows around him, this cluster was jagged and unstable, its threads vibrating with a chaotic intensity.
"What is that?" Kael muttered, his gaze fixed on the phenomenon.
The system responded promptly:
[System Analysis: Detected Anomalous Energy Source.]
Potential Origin: Rift precursor or latent artifact. Recommended Action: Investigate cautiously.
Kael's stomach twisted. "Another Rift? Or something worse?" He wasn't sure which answer was more unsettling.
He found Lyra sparring in the training yard, her blade slicing through the air with fluid precision. She noticed him approaching and lowered her weapon, wiping sweat from her brow.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," she said, arching an eyebrow.
Kael gestured for her to follow him to a quieter corner of the yard, then explained the system's new function and what he'd seen near the main tower.
"An energy cluster?" Lyra repeated, frowning. "Could it be another Rift forming?"
"Maybe," Kael said. "Or it could be something left behind by a Rift. Either way, the system says we need to check it out."
Lyra leaned against the wall, crossing her arms. "You realize this is getting more dangerous by the day, right? The more we poke around, the more likely someone—or something—will notice."
Kael met her gaze, his expression resolute. "I know. But if we don't figure this out, no one else will. We've already seen what happens when a Rift goes unchecked."
Lyra sighed, pushing off the wall. "Fine. But if this goes south, I'm blaming you."
The main tower stood as the heart of the academy, its spire piercing the sky like a needle. Inside, the air was cool and heavy with the scent of old parchment and burning candles. Kael and Lyra moved cautiously through the dimly lit halls, their footsteps echoing on the stone floors.
The Nexus Vision's overlay guided Kael, the glowing threads leading them deeper into the tower. As they approached the energy cluster, the air grew thick with an oppressive weight, each breath a struggle.
They finally entered a small, hidden chamber lined with ancient runes carved into the walls. At the center of the room was a pedestal, atop which rested a crystalline orb pulsating with dark energy. The threads converged on the orb, their chaotic vibrations filling the room with an almost imperceptible hum.
Lyra whistled softly. "Well, that's not ominous at all."
Kael stepped closer, the Core within him resonating with the orb.
[System Alert: Latent Rift Artifact Detected.]
Warning: High instability. Artifact must be contained immediately. Containment Protocol: Absorb Artifact Energy into Host Core.
Kael's heart raced. "The system wants me to absorb it."
"Absorb it?" Lyra repeated, incredulous. "Are you insane? What if it overloads your Core—or worse, explodes?"
Kael hesitated, her words feeding the doubts already swirling in his mind. But the system's urgency pressed him forward.
[System Override Initiated: Absorption Required to Stabilize Artifact.]
The Core within him flared to life, pulling him toward the pedestal. Kael reached out, his hand trembling as it hovered over the orb.
"Kael…" Lyra's voice was tense, a warning and a plea.
"I have to," he said, more to himself than to her. "If we leave it, it could create another Rift—or something worse."
As his fingers brushed the orb, a surge of energy shot through him, filling his veins with liquid fire. The room around him vanished, replaced by an endless expanse of stars and shadows. Kael's Core pulsed wildly, struggling to contain the foreign energy flooding into it.
[System Alert: Artifact Energy Successfully Absorbed.]
Core Synchronization Increased: 10% → 18%.New Functionality Unlocked: Rift Anchoring.
Kael gasped as the vision faded, collapsing to his knees. Lyra was beside him in an instant, her hands gripping his shoulders.
"What happened? Are you okay?"
Kael nodded weakly, his breaths ragged. "I absorbed it. The Core… it's stronger now. And I think… I think I can stabilize Rifts without fully closing them."
Lyra frowned. "Stabilize them? Why would you want to do that?"
"To study them," Kael said, his voice gaining strength. "If we can understand how they work, we might find a way to stop them for good."
Lyra's expression softened, a hint of admiration in her eyes. "You're either the bravest person I've ever met—or the dumbest."
Kael managed a weak laugh. "Probably both."