Kieran turns to look over his shoulder. Even without seeing the look on his face, I can tell shock has set in.
He rises to his feet and steps toward the balcony door. "The barrier...it..."
The world shakes again and the barrier cracks in a different place. Is something from the outside attacking? Is it that eye staring back from beyond the abyss?
"Kieran," I say, trying to project calmness. Before I can continue, my Guide interjects.
"You must find Rylin immediately."
"We have to go, Kieran," I state, my voice trembling. The dancing lights in the sky begin to darken. The barrier is failing.
I jump to my feet and lead Kieran away and out of the house, opting for the front door instead of the ladder as the ground continues to tremble. My mom isn't home. I just pray she's somewhere safe.
We erupt into the street and start a quick jog heading south. There's nobody else around that I can see. Maybe everyone's hiding inside. I grab his hand to ensure we can't be separated as we hurry by Memorial Park. Just a bit further and we find ourselves outside Rylin's house. She is standing by the gate as if she were waiting for us.
"She already knows her duty," my Guide informs me as I reach her. "Especially now that the barrier is failing fast."
"You're going to the planet below," she says. She doesn't sound like herself. Rylin is normally so reserved and easygoing. Seeing the look of fierce determination in her eyes is off-putting.
"What are you talking about!? Kieran exclaims, pointing at the sky. "We have some bigger problems here if you haven't noticed!"
Rylin looks up to the sinister glowing eye staring down at us as if she had only just noticed it for the first time. "Encephalim," she states plainly. "They're coming for August. The longer you stay, the worse the damage will be."
Kieran steps away, his eyes darting everywhere, moments from a breakdown. He's usually the strongest of the three of us. But I know something he doesn't, on account of my guide. That's the only reason I've been able to keep my head clear. Does Rylin also know something we don't?
"Kieran, you have been taught how to use the Arcanics, have you not?" Again, Rylin sounds nothing like herself. As if she were possessed. I furrow my brow. Is this really the girl I've pined over for all these years? I've not seen this side of her. It almost feels as if she were devoid of any emotion.
" Of course, Ry," he says. His guard is lowered now, at least a little bit. He's thinking clearly.
"Then you must go. Little Moon Town will survive. The people know what to do."
Rylin passes her gaze on the horizon, further south still. "By the way, August," she mutters, a brief light of humanity returning to her eyes:
"Why the hell are you in a bathrobe?"
I look down. I was in the middle of getting changed when the quakes started. I didn't get around to actually putting the clothes on.
"D-don't worry about that," I say, blushing. At least in the turmoil as we were running out of the house, I slipped my runners and robe on.
We all stop as another quake sets in, followed by the sound of shattering glass. My attention darts to the sky as a piece of the barrier is blasted away, fading into nothingness. The eye in the sky is gone. Could the Encephalim be lurking elsewhere? At least it's not inside the barrier - not yet, anyway.
We run to the heart of Memorial Park - nestled in between the flowering trees and the Springtide Canal is a large structure dedicated to the study and reverence of magic. It's also where a teleportation Arcanic is, although I've never seen it used. We refer to it as the House of the Shaman, a reference to the resident Shaman who acts as the keeper of magical knowledge.
"Er, August..."
I turn to Kieran as we continue jogging down the street, my robe flapping in the wind behind me.
"Don't be mad at me, okay? I wanted to tell you. I did. But..."
As we arrive at the House of the Shaman, I look up. Again I find myself confused. There are dozens, dozens of people standing here. It looks like they're waiting. Waiting...for me?
"August Madera!" calls a voice. Out of the shadows within the House of the Shaman, someone steps out. I recognize him. It is the Shaman himself.
"The Encephalim is coming for you! You must go! There is no time!"
I blink and shake my head, stepping toward the Shaman. "What do you mean? Why are all of you here? Did you know this was going to happen!?"
The Shaman looks at me with growing concern. "No." His voice is gruff and full of worry. He's in just as much of a stupor right now as I am. "Your friends were supposed to bring you here today, but we had no idea an Encephalim would attack. It is always a fear, of course...those abominations feast on magic. Only the magic of the moon can keep them at bay."
There is a moment of silence before the Shaman speaks again. "I planned to speak with you today and take our time. We all did," he notes, looking at the dozens of people gathered here.
"But there is no time. Not with the Encephalim drawing near. Go to the shrine of earth. Kieran must become your vessel. Now go. Go!"
Kieran looks to me and holds out one hand, the other latched onto a strange device. The Arcanic.
"Ready, buddy?" he smiles, coaxing me toward him.
I look back to Rylin. Isn't she supposed to come as well? As I think this, as if she could read my mind, she tilts her head to the left.
"I have to stay here. I'm the one blessed by the moon, after all." her voice is listless, distant. Nothing like what I remember. Why is she so different?
"I'll see you again, August. As soon as Kieran becomes your Vessel. Return to Little Moon Town. Then, we can tell you everything."
And with that, time seemed to slow down. I grasped Kieran's hand and the magic of the Arcanic began to whisk us away as I looked back to Rylin. Wondering where it went wrong. Wondering what will happen next.
As the Arcanic activates, another moon quake, this one more powerful and violent than any before it. I look up to the sky as I see it covered in blackness. The barrier has shattered completely. And staring down at me again, a large, glowing, yellow eye. It's the last thing I see as I am thrown to the ground by the impact of the quake and the Arcanic activates.