The aftermath of the attack left us all on edge. The Shades were growing bolder, and the air in Springey seemed heavier with each passing day.
Claire doubled her research efforts, diving into every old text she could find, while Van and Kyle grudgingly patrolled the town together. I couldn't tell if the increasing hostility between them was due to their conflicting personalities or something else entirely.
For my part, I focused on trying to unlock whatever power I supposedly had as the Guardian. I spent hours in the library, practicing with Claire's guidance. The bursts of light I could summon were getting stronger, but they were still unpredictable.
One evening, while I was attempting (and failing) to conjure light on command, Kyle appeared in the doorway of the study room.
"Still struggling?" he asked, leaning against the frame with his usual smirk.
I glared at him.
"I'm getting there."
He walked in, his movements smooth and deliberate, and pulled up a chair across from me.
"You're overthinking it. Power like yours doesn't come from your head—it comes from here."
He tapped his chest, right above his heart.
"That's easy for you to say," I muttered, crossing my arms.
"You seem to have everything figured out."
Kyle chuckled, the sound low and rich.
"You'd be surprised."
I studied him for a moment, my frustration giving way to curiosity.
"Why are you really here, Kyle? What's your endgame?"
His smirk faltered, and for a moment, he looked almost vulnerable.
"Believe it or not, I'm here to help. I may not be a saint, but I know what's at stake if that gateway opens. I've seen what happens when the darkness gets loose."
"Seen it? Or caused it?"
He winced at my question but didn't deny it. Instead, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
"You think I'm a villain, don't you?"
"I don't know what to think," I admitted.
Kyle's dark eyes softened, and he gave me a small, almost self-deprecating smile.
"I've done things I'm not proud of, Amber. But this... this is my chance to do something good for once."
Before I could respond, Van entered the room, his golden eyes narrowing when he saw Kyle so close to me.
"Am I interrupting something?" Van asked, his voice icy.
Kyle leaned back in his chair, his smirk returning.
"Just giving Amber a little pep talk. You should try it sometime, hybrid."
Van ignored him, turning his attention to me.
"Claire found something. She wants us all to meet in the archives."
The tension between them was suffocating, but I stood up quickly, eager to escape it.
"Let's go, then."
---
Claire was waiting for us in the archives, her desk covered in papers and open books.
She looked up as we entered, her expression grim.
"I found a lead," she said, holding up an ancient map of Springey.
"This town wasn't just built on the gateway—it was designed to contain it. These symbols are here," She pointed to several markings on the map.
"Here.. are wards. They form a barrier that keeps the gateway sealed."
"But they're weakening," Van said, studying the map.
Claire nodded.
"Exactly. And I think I know why."
She grabbed another book and opened it to a page filled with illustrations of strange, rune-like symbols.
"These wards need to be renewed every century. The last renewal was almost a hundred years ago, which means we're overdue."
"So how do we renew them?" I asked.
Claire hesitated, her gaze flicking to me.
"That's the tricky part. It requires the Guardian's energy."
"Great," I muttered.
"No pressure or anything."
"It's not as simple as just blasting light everywhere," Claire continued.
"The wards need to be activated in a specific order, and each one requires a different type of energy—strength, wisdom, courage, and sacrifice."
Kyle frowned. "Sacrifice? That doesn't sound promising."
Claire ignored him, turning back to me.
"You're the only one who can do this, Amber. But you'll need help to channel the energy."
Van stepped forward immediately.
"I'll do it."
"So will I," Kyle added, his tone unusually serious.
Claire sighed, rubbing her temples.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but we're going to need all of us working together. This isn't just about protecting the gateway anymore—it's about saving the entire town."
We spent the rest of the evening going over the plan, marking the locations of the wards and assigning roles.
Van and Kyle barely spoke to each other, but they both agreed to help me navigate the challenges of activating the wards.
As we left the library that night, Kyle fell into step beside me.
"You've got this, Amber," he said quietly.
I glanced at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. "Thanks."
Van, walking a few steps ahead, glanced back over his shoulder, his expression unreadable.
As we walked through the quiet streets of Springey, I couldn't help but feel the weight of what lay ahead. The wards, the gateway, the darkness—it all rested on my shoulders. But for the first time, I wasn't facing it alone.
Van and Kyle were opposites in almost every way—one a stoic protector, the other a charming wildcard. And yet, I could feel their support, even in their rivalry.
The question was, could I handle the storm brewing between them while saving Springey from the darkness?