A carriage rumbled down the dirt road at a hurried pace, its wheels kicking up dust as it approached the red-and-black-draped base camp ahead. The Marvilion sigil gleamed proudly on its side, flapping slightly in the wind.
Inside the carriage, two boys sat across from each other—locked in a silent war of personal space and mutual disdain. One had golden hair, his white-and-gold Marvilion uniform pristine and pressed. The other, dressed in black and violet bearing the Vaelgrim crest, had onyx-black hair and equally sharp eyes.
"Remind me again," said Theodore, his tone dry, "why am I stuck in this carriage with you?"
"Oh, don't flatter yourself, prince," Caelan replied, stretching his arms behind his head like he owned the whole carriage. "I'm only here because it's about my brother. And, well… my father got summoned by the Emperor. Lucky me."
Theodore narrowed his eyes. "Just… don't embarrass yourself while you're here. Or us. You'll bring shame to my House."
"You don't need my help for that," Caelan said with a smirk.
Theodore groaned, pressing his fingers to the bridge of his nose. "It's going to be a long day."
"Oh, we agree on something. Miraculous."
Theodore crossed his arms. "I still don't understand how someone like you ended up with a polite little brother like Revan… and a sweet one like Xander."
Caelan raised a brow. "Jealous? Don't worry, it happens. I'm quite the family treasure."
"Of what exactly?" Theodore scoffed. "Your charming reputation? You're the guy who once fought his own doppelgänger and got a draw."
Caelan placed a hand over his chest, mock-offended. "I won that fight."
"If neither of you could stand by the end, it's a draw," Theodore muttered.
"I literally sliced its head off," Caelan shot back.
"Right after you walked into its traps."
Caelan leaned forward, grinning. "I bet you wouldn't last a minute against it."
Theodore looked like he was seriously considering jumping out of the moving carriage.
Then, as if fate wanted to spare them both, the carriage began to slow and not a minute later it stopped.
The sound of the coachman dismounting echoed outside, followed by the soft creak of the door opening.
Both boys moved at once, attempting to exit the carriage at the same time—only to wedge themselves in the doorway.
"I should go first. This is my carriage," Theodore grumbled, pushing slightly.
"I'm the guest. Manners, prince," Caelan shot back, equally stubborn.
They froze mid-squabble, realizing exactly where they were.
Right outside the main tent of the Gildarion base camp.
And standing before them, arms crossed and brow raised, was King Volcaz himself.
Beside him stood Richard, his coat slung over his shoulder, bandages peeking out from beneath his shirt. Not far behind, Revan leaned against Luna, his own clothes bearing the crest of House Vaelgrim—bandages visible beneath his collar. Luna stood close, clutching his arm tightly as if helping him stay upright.
"What are you two doing?" Revan asked, trying—and failing—not to sound embarrassed.
Both boys scrambled to exit. Theodore went first, followed begrudgingly by Caelan. Composing themselves, they quickly dropped to one knee before the king in a formal bow, then rose.
"Your Grace," said Theodore, "on behalf of House Marvilion, I offer our deepest gratitude. We owe you a great debt."
"And House Vaelgrim is equally grateful," Caelan added. "If there's anything we can do, you need only ask."
"Good," King Volcaz replied simply, then turned to Revan and Luna. "Go home. I still have matters to deal with here."
With that, he disappeared back into his tent.
Revan and Luna began walking toward the carriage.
"We're not finished," Richard called after them. "I'll see you at the Academy. And you too, my princess."
"Yep," Revan replied with a tired smirk.
"Thank you for your hospitality," Luna said politely, giving a small bow.
The brothers returned the gesture, then followed Revan and Luna into the carriage. A moment later, the door shut, and the carriage began to roll forward.
Inside, Revan took a seat beside Caelan, while Luna sat next to Theodore.
Caelan was the first to break the silence. "Alright. What exactly happened to you two?"
"Didn't Father fill you in?" Revan asked.
"You know how he is. Secretive as ever," Caelan muttered.
"We were kidnapped," Revan began, glancing toward Luna. "By a group targeting her. They wanted her power."
Both Caelan and Theodore turned their attention to Luna.
"Yes," she nodded. "They needed my light affinity for something. It had to do with this... glowing parchment."
"A parchment?" Theodore echoed, frowning.
"It floated above a stone table," Revan explained. "Covered in strange writing I've never seen before."
"Did they hurt you?" Caelan asked, eyeing the bandages on Revan.
"Oh, this?" Revan shrugged. "Completely unrelated."
"What about you?" Theodore asked Luna more gently.
"I was unconscious most of the time," Luna said softly. "Revan did all the fighting."
"Well… something new happened," Revan muttered, still a bit unsure himself.
"Something new?" Caelan raised a brow.
Revan hesitated, clearly searching for the right words. Caelan and Theodore leaned forward slightly, waiting.
"Just show them," Luna said with a bright smile, like it was no big deal.
Both boys blinked at her, confused by how cheerful she sounded. Then their gazes shifted back to Revan.
Revan opened his palm.
A small black sphere flickered into existence above it—dark, swirling, bending the light around it as if distorting reality itself.
Caelan's jaw dropped, but a grin spread across his face. "You're… an Etherean now?"
"I guess," Revan replied, smiling faintly.
"What can you do with it?" Theodore asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Honestly? I have no idea," Revan admitted. "Luna saw more than I did."
"I only saw him absorb stuff—and phase through walls or attacks or something," Luna said. "That's all I remember."
Caelan squinted at the swirling black mass. "It's not black fire… What is it? Some kind of void?"
"Can you shoot it?" Theodore asked eagerly.
"Not here, brother!" Luna snapped, giving him a look.
"Let's try something," Caelan said, already unpinning the metal clasp from his coat.
He cautiously brought it close to the orb. As the pin neared the dark sphere, it was sucked in instantly—vanished without a sound.
"It pulls things in," Caelan murmured, fascinated.
"Not exactly," Revan said, glancing at the orb.
Suddenly, the sphere pulsed—and the pull intensified.
The carriage began to rattle. Curtains and tassels flew toward the center. Trinkets hanging on the walls tugged violently in its direction.
Luna grabbed onto the nearest handrest. Caelan braced against the wall. Theodore held on to the frame above his seat.
Then, just as quickly, the pressure eased. The pull stopped.
Revan calmly closed his hand. The orb shimmered once… then vanished into thin air, disintegrating like smoke into the air.
There was a beat of silence.
"That. Was. Awesome," Theodore breathed.
Caelan shot Revan a sideways grin. "Looks like you've been busy."
Revan leaned his head back, sighing. "Yeah. It's been… a week."
"You were gone three days," Theodore corrected.
"Still felt like a week."
"You two should rest," Theodore added. "We'll wake you when we arrive."
"Where are we going?" Luna asked.
"Back to Neightveil," Caelan replied, settling into his seat.
Revan closed his eyes, but a faint smile lingered on his face.
So much had changed—and yet, the road ahead felt like it was only just beginning.