The gateway shimmered like water held in the air.
From a distance, it looked fragile. Up close, it buzzed with quiet power—light woven into shape, anchored by runes carved into two stone pillars. Faded banners of Umbravale's sigil clung to their sides, worn thin by the wind.
Kieran stepped forward first.
He placed his hand on the rune.
It pulsed once—recognizing the divine spark within him—and the shimmer expanded, forming a doorway just wide enough for one person to pass at a time.
"Still works," he murmured.
Selene stood beside him. "Last chance to turn back."
Talon groaned. "If anyone even jokes about that, I'm pushing them through."
One by one, they passed through the veil.
The other side was colder. Brighter.
Stone walkways. Warded trees. The low hum of protective enchantments running through the walls.
They stood on a wide platform suspended over a steep valley, nestled in the cliffs that bordered Umbravale's outer rim. The structure was half watchtower, half checkpoint—meant to hold returning Awakened until cleared.
A figure in dark robes approached quickly from the other end of the platform.
Corvan.
He looked older than he had days ago. Eyes sunken. Robes dust-streaked. But his voice was steady.
"You're alive," he said. Not a question.
"Barely," Calla muttered.
He scanned each of them, gaze lingering on Kieran—and the crimson feather now tucked into his belt.
"We have much to discuss."
They were led down through winding stone halls, into a debrief chamber lined with pale blue crystal. Warm light filled the space—designed to soothe. On a long table, food had already been laid out. Simple, hearty. Meat. Rice. Tea.
Nova didn't wait for permission. She sat. Ate.
Talon followed.
Rei stood, arms crossed. Sera sat without a word.
Calla leaned against the far wall.
Kieran faced Corvan.
"There was a Trial," he said.
"I know."
"It didn't end when it should have. It bled into something else."
Corvan's jaw tensed. "The Choir."
"You know of it?"
"I've heard the name. Whispers from the south. From other ruins. No confirmation—until now."
Selene stepped forward. "It mimicked us. Our fears. Our voices."
Talon added, "It tried to overwrite us."
Corvan nodded slowly. "You weren't supposed to encounter anything past Bronze-tier. Whatever you triggered... it shouldn't have been there."
"We didn't trigger it," Kieran said. "It was waiting."
Corvan stared at him for a long moment.
Then he nodded once.
"You'll be observed for a few days. Monitored. Tested. But make no mistake—you're no longer Initiates."
He looked at the rest of them.
"Any of you could've died in that place. You didn't. That means something."
Later, when the others rested, Kieran stood at the balcony overlooking the academy grounds.
Students trained below—sparring, studying, laughing.
Normal.
A world untouched by the ruin they had just left.
Selene stepped beside him.
"You think we're different now?" she asked.
"I know we are."
She watched him a moment. "What will you do with the feather?"
Kieran didn't answer.
Not yet.
The wind carried the sound of bells from the temple below.
And in the back of his mind, Revelation stirred.5