The Sanctum was alive with an energy that Valerie hadn't yet encountered. The usually composed and quiet Keepers were buzzing with conversation, exchanging hushed words, and glancing toward the grand entrance.
It wasn't hard to sense that something—or someone—was about to change the calm.
As Valerie walked through the marble halls, she overheard the murmurs of the guards.
"She's back… after all this time."
"I heard her mission was a success."
"How do you think Veader will react?"
Curiosity piqued, Valerie quickened her pace. She found herself standing before the grand hall where Veader, as usual, was examining the glowing map of Aeloria.
Sky leaned casually against a pillar, a knowing smile on his face.
"What's going on?" Valerie asked, stopping next to them.
Veader didn't glance up, his voice measured and cool.
"Keira has returned."
"Keira?" Valerie repeated, her confusion evident.
"Who is she?"
Sky's grin widened.
"Keira is the one everyone's been waiting for. She's been on a long mission. You could say she's… the Keeper of the moment. The jewel of Aeloria, always on the frontlines."
"She's a Keeper," Veader added, his tone neutral.
"Her mission has concluded. Now she returns with information we need."
Valerie could feel the weight of Sky's words, the importance of this woman hanging in the air. Before she could ask more, the large doors to the hall creaked open.
A woman stepped through, and the room seemed to change the moment she entered. Keira was stunning, her long, silvery hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of light.
Her presence commanded the room, not just because of her beauty, but because of the authority she carried. Her deep amber eyes scanned the room, sharp and calculating.
"Veader," she said with a voice that was both calm and powerful.
"Keira," Veader replied, his tone respectful but distant.
"I trust your mission was successful."
She nodded, her gaze shifting slightly as if assessing the space around her. Her eyes landed on Valerie, and she smiled—a practiced, flawless smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"And who is this?" Keira asked, her voice light but with an edge of curiosity.
"This is Valerie," Veader explained, his tone softening ever so slightly.
"She has become… important to the current situation."
Keira's gaze sharpened, and Valerie felt the weight of her scrutiny.
"A human?" Keira asked, her voice laced with quiet disdain.
"How unexpected."
Valerie held her ground, not allowing herself to show any discomfort.
"I don't know why you find that so surprising."
Keira raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but not impressed.
"Fascinating."
Sky, ever the playful presence, leaned forward with a smirk.
"Ah, Keira, still as charming as ever. You've been off completing your 'important' missions, and yet you still manage to make an entrance."
Keira shot him a glance, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Some things never change, Sky."
Valerie could feel the tension in the air, but it wasn't until Keira's expression shifted, growing more serious, that she understood the gravity of the situation.
"Veader," Keira said, turning her attention back to him.
"I've gathered what you asked for. The mission was… difficult. The Rift is shifting in ways I didn't expect. It's not just chaos—it's trying to find something."
The room grew quiet. Valerie could sense that this was the kind of information they had all been waiting for.
"The Rift is seeking something?" Veader's voice held a rare edge of concern.
Keira nodded, her face grim.
"Yes. It's searching for something powerful, something… beyond anything we've encountered before. And we need to prepare."
Valerie felt a knot form in her stomach. The Rift had already been a threat, but now it seemed even more dangerous.
"I'll begin gathering the Keepers who are ready," Veader said, his tone now filled with resolve.
"We'll need all of you—every Keeper, every ally—to face this."
Keira glanced at Valerie again, her eyes cool and unreadable.
"I'll do whatever is necessary, of course. But… I wonder how well your 'unusual ally' will fare against what's coming."
Veader didn't respond, his gaze locked on Keira, and for a brief moment, Valerie could feel the tension between them. It was clear that Keira didn't think Valerie belonged here—at least not yet.
Sky leaned toward Valerie, his voice low.
"Don't let her get under your skin."
Valerie nodded, though she didn't feel as confident as she wanted to. Keira's presence was imposing, and Valerie could sense the weight of the challenges ahead.
As Keira moved to talk to Veader about the next steps, Sky stood beside Valerie, a faint smile on his face.
"That was Keira. The one who always gets the praise, always gets the attention. She's a master at turning heads."
"And I'm supposed to trust her?" Valerie asked skeptically.
Sky shrugged.
"Trust is earned. But Keira gets things done, even if she's a bit… self-centered."
Valerie watched as Keira spoke with Veader, their conversation turning serious. The room was charged with tension, and Valerie couldn't shake the feeling that her role here—her involvement in whatever was coming—had just become even more complicated.
One thing was certain: Keira wasn't just back to check in. She had brought something vital with her—and it was up to everyone in the Sanctum, Valerie included, to figure out how to use it.