Luke stopped on the top step leading up toward the Elara Library entryway, his gaze shifting to Lila. He looked up to the sky. It was a surreal tapestry, unlike anything Luke had seen before. The once-familiar blue was fractured with streaks of vibrant, unnatural hues—rippling ribbons of gold, violet, and emerald threading through the clouds like living veins of light.
The clouds themselves seemed restless, shifting unnaturally fast, as if propelled by unseen forces. Occasionally, shimmering motes of energy drifted through the air, faintly glowing like embers caught in an eternal updraft.
At the horizon, the colors deepened, as though the veil between Earth and some other realm was wearing thin. The sun hung low, its usual brilliance softened by a halo of iridescence, refracting in a way that painted the campus buildings in a kaleidoscope of shifting light. Even the air felt charged, prickling Luke's skin, reminding him that the world wasn't as grounded as it used to be.
It was breathtaking and unsettling all at once, a constant reminder that the explosions, the tears in the veil, and the massive influx of mana from the Aetherion Universe, was already rewriting the rules of reality.
"It's eerily quiet out here," he said, deciding not to comment on the strange new sky.
Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the sky as well, then the campus that spread out before them.
The campus was deserted. Walkways that had been buzzing with life that morning were now eerily silent. Doors hung ajar.
"Where did everyone go?" Lila muttered, her voice low.
"They must have run," Luke said. But the air was too still. His eyes swept over the empty walkways and deserted benches. Not a single person stirred in the area. He shifted his gaze back to her.
"Hey, speaking of people that can't be seen, you still haven't explained why no one else can see you."
Lila sighed, crossing her arms as she leaned against the stone railing of the steps, which looked kind of weird to Luke since she was still floating off the ground a few inches. "I was wondering when you'd get around to asking that. You've been holding it in for a while now."
"Well, it's kind of hard not to wonder," Luke said, descending a few steps to stand closer to her. "You're floating right there, talking, moving things, flipping books off shelves. Anyone else would notice a floating book or, I don't know, the fact that you're an actual person. But they don't."
"The Covenant Seal lets you see me. Everyone else's minds just… filter me out. They can't process what they don't understand."
Luke leaned against the railing, his brow furrowing. "Does that mean it's always going to be like this? Just you and me, talking while everyone else thinks I've lost my mind?"
Lila chuckled softly. "Not necessarily. As the mana flow in this world increases and people begin to adjust, some might start to sense things they couldn't before. But more importantly, as the Seal between us strengthens and you grow in your abilities, my presence will become more substantial here. Eventually, people will be able to see me."
"Eventually?" Luke echoed, his tone skeptical. "What's the catch?"
"There's no catch," she said, shrugging. "It's just how the bond works. The stronger you become, the more visible I'll be. That doesn't mean I'll suddenly show up on the evening news, but to those with even a flicker of mana sensitivity—or to those tied to you—I'll become tangible."
"Those tied to me? You mean my family?" Luke asked.
"Yep, they should have no trouble seeing me. At least those related to you by blood, that is," she finished.
Luke nodded, considering what she'd said. Then, he tilted his head, a sly grin creeping across his face. "So, you're saying it's up to me? The stronger I get, the less awkward it'll be for me to explain why I'm talking to myself?"
"Exactly," Lila said, returning his grin. "Think of it as motivation. Besides, it's better this way for now. If people could see me right now, they'd probably freak out. And not in a good way. A Celestial suddenly appearing out of nowhere would raise a lot of questions the world isn't ready to answer."
Luke glanced back at the empty campus. "I guess you've got a point. But it'd still be nice to have someone else confirm I'm not crazy."
Lila reached out and lightly tapped his shoulder, her touch surprisingly solid. "You're not crazy. You're just... ahead of the curve. Trust me, when the time is right, I'll be standing right here where everyone can see me. But until then, we've got work to do."
Luke straightened, letting her words settle. He couldn't deny the weight of the responsibility she hinted at, but the promise of what lay ahead? That was enough to keep him moving forward.
Luke descended the stone steps before him, Lila drifting along beside him, the sound of his footsteps muted against the faint rustling of wind through the empty campus. The eerie quiet gnawed at Luke's nerves. He kept glancing over his shoulder, half expecting someone—anyone—to emerge from one of the dormitories or lecture halls.
"They've all holed up inside," Lila said, as if reading his mind. Her eyes scanned the shadows beneath the trees lining the walkway, alert to every flicker of movement. "Smart, really. They know something's wrong, even if they don't understand what."
"Wrong like what?" Luke asked, his tone laced with unease.
"Something is moving through the mana flow," she replied cryptically, her sharp gaze darting across the quad. "Nothing immediate, but this kind of quiet usually means people sense a storm coming."
Luke frowned but said nothing, keeping pace beside her. They passed under the tall arches of the central promenade, Luke's footsteps echoing faintly off the stone. A flicker of movement caught his attention. He turned to see a few faces peering out from behind curtains and blinds in the residence halls. Slowly, cautiously, doors began to creak open. One or two students stepped out, their expressions wary as they glanced up at the sky, then around the seemingly normal campus.
"They're starting to come out," Luke murmured, relieved to see signs of life but still feeling the odd weight of the air.
Lila tilted her head, observing the tentative movements of the students. "Humans are good at sensing when something's off, even if they can't name it. But they'll convince themselves everything's fine soon enough. That's how it always starts."
Luke let out a dry laugh. "Great. That's reassuring."
They walked on in silence for a while, the murmurs of the few students brave enough to step outside trailing faintly behind them. As they neared Founder's Hall, Luke broke the quiet.
"You know," he started, glancing sideways at Lila, "I just realized I don't actually know much about you."
She looked at him, one eyebrow raising slightly. "You know plenty."
"No, not really," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"I'll explain later," Lila said, shaking her head. "Right now, your family needs you."
"You're right, I need to check on them," he said to Lila. "I hope they're okay."
Lila nodded, "Sure. How do we do that?"
"Hold on, I'll call them." Luke pulled his phone from his pocket and called his dad, Nate Hale. The call went directly to voicemail. When he called his mother, Evelyn, he got the same result. Anxiety gripped his chest as his worries mounted. "What is going on?" he muttered.
Each failed call made his chest feel tighter, like something was physically closing around his lungs.
Voicemail.
His stomach twisted. He dialed again.
Voicemail.
Why wasn't anyone answering?
It wasn't just a bad signal. It wasn't just panic.
Something was wrong.
He clicked his older sister Sophia's name, and he heard ringing. "Come on Sophia, please be home," he whispered.
The line continued to ring and ring. Finally, though, someone answered. "Sophia, are you guys okay?"
"Luke! Luke! Help us!" His sister's screams sent a chill down his spine.
"Where are you!? What's going on!?" he shouted into the phone.
"There are monsters here, Luke! I don't know what to do! We're all hiding in the house I think, but I'm alone." Sophia began to sob. A harsh click. Silence.
"No, no, no—come on!" Luke's voice cracked as he redialed. Voicemail. Again. Voicemail.
His hands clenched into fists. His pulse roared in his ears. Something had cut her off.
"My family is in trouble," he said, shaking with adrenaline and fear. "We have to go. Now."