ã€ŠGod interface: dual ascensionã€‹


 Chapter 1: A game of chance

    The late afternoon sun dipped lower over the Colosseum, stretching golden light across the ancient stones. Tourists moved like slow rivers through the cobblestone streets, some pausing to snap holographic pictures, others captivated by the lively street performers scattered around the square.

    Dawn barely paid them any mind. She stood near the entrance, arms crossed, tapping her fingers impatiently. This whole trip was supposed to be the perfect birthday sendoff before she turned eighteen. One last school-funded vacation before the real world kicked in. But Luke, as usual, had other ideas.

    He wasn¡¯t looking at the Colosseum¡¯s towering ruins or the historical markers embedded in the pavement. His gaze drifted through the crowd, scanning the real show¡ªthe performers working offstage. Pickpockets. Scammers. Con artists.

    A man in a bright red vest juggled flaming torches, his wide, exaggerated movements keeping eyes locked on him. But Luke wasn¡¯t watching the fire. He was watching the hands moving through the audience.

    The pickpocket brushed by him¡ªquick, practiced fingers slipping toward his pocket.

    Luke moved faster. His own fingers brushed against the pickpocket¡¯s coat as he stepped away, smooth and natural. When the thief¡¯s hand came up empty, Luke¡¯s wasn¡¯t. A small billfold now rested between his fingers.

    He rolled it lazily, as if deciding whether to tip the fire juggler. The pickpocket hesitated, eyes flicking to the wallet that should¡¯ve been his.

    "Luke."

    Dawn¡¯s voice cut through the moment, quiet but pointed.

    He exhaled, flicking the wallet back into the pickpocket¡¯s coat before the guy even noticed.

    "You really can¡¯t help yourself, can you?" she muttered.

    "Not my fault he was sloppy," Luke said with a smirk.

    Dawn sighed, rubbing her temples. "It¡¯s not about catching him, it¡¯s about you confronting him. Like the time you got us kicked out of the magic show because you took the deck to prove it was loaded?"

    Luke scoffed. "That guy was a hack."

    Dawn ignored him. "Don¡¯t repeat that here. I¡¯d really like to get inside at least once before we get kicked out."

    Luke sighed, finally stepping away from the performers. "Fine, fine. Let¡¯s go see your pile of rocks."This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    "Pile of¡ª" she muttered something under her breath, rolling her eyes.

    They made their way through the crowd, dodging tourists and holo-sign advertisements hovering in midair.

    Then a familiar voice called out.

    "There you are!"

    Chris jogged up, out of breath, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Man, I¡¯ve been looking for you everywhere."

    Luke raised an eyebrow. "Didn¡¯t know we were lost."

    "Well, I lost you when lecture broke. The crowd was ridiculous." Chris waved vaguely toward the opposite side of the square. "I knew there were only two places you could be¡ªhere, or the Pantheon. I guessed wrong."

    "So you guessed wrong and still ended up here?" Dawn asked.

    "Well, yeah," Chris grinned. "Once I realized my mistake, I figured you hadn¡¯t left yet. So here I am."

    Luke shook his head. Chris had a bizarre talent for being both wrong and right at the same time.

    As they moved toward the Colosseum entrance, Luke¡¯s eyes caught something else¡ªa coin game nestled between the street vendors. A man flipped a large silver coin, flashing a too-easy smile as another tourist lost.

    Luke clicked his tongue. "Classic move."

    Chris followed his gaze. "What?"

    "The scam. The game looks fair¡ªfifty-fifty odds. But it¡¯s not. The dealer controls the flip. The house always wins."

    Chris squinted at the table. "I dunno, looks pretty simple to me. You just call heads or tails, right?"

    Luke sighed. "You really don¡¯t get it?"

    "Get what?"

    "The trick. See how he flips it the same way every time? That¡¯s because he¡¯s palming it. He doesn¡¯t actually let the coin spin in the air¡ªhe guides it so it lands exactly how he wants."

    Chris nodded slowly, thinking hard. "So I just bet tails then, right?"

    "No, it¡¯s not that simp¡ª"

    Dawn yawned and stretched. "You realize you¡¯re wasting your breath, right?"

    "I¡¯m just saying," Luke muttered. "Just watch for a few rounds. No one will win."

    Chris, for once, said nothing. He was actually watching, just as Luke had told him to.

    Then a woman stepped forward. She had been standing just a few feet from them only moments ago, blending in so well that Luke hadn¡¯t even noticed her.

    She glanced at Chris, smiled, then turned toward the table.

    "Tails," she said, placing her bet.

    Luke barely registered it at first. His mind was still on Chris, on explaining the scam, on the fact that he had finally gotten him to listen.

    Then the coin flipped.

    Tails.

    A cheer rose from the small crowd. The woman grinned, scooping up a stack of credits.

    Chris lit up. "See, Luke? You were right! You just bet tails!"

    Before Luke could stop him, Chris stepped forward, billfold in hand.

    "Fifty credits on tails!"

    Luke¡¯s stomach twisted. Chris didn¡¯t realize it yet. But this was how they got you.

    The dealer barely reacted, offering the same friendly nod as he flipped the coin into the air.

    Heads.

    Chris froze.

    The dealer smirked, sliding the credits into his pouch. "Luck comes and goes, my friend."

    Chris stared at the table. "Wait¡ªbut¡ª"

    Luke grabbed his shoulder, pulling him away before he could do something stupid. "Tough break, man. You gave it a shot."

    Chris sighed, rubbing his face. "Yeah, I guess¡­"

    Luke barely heard him. Because now it was his turn.

    He stepped up to the table. The dealer raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t comment. "New player, same game?"

    Luke placed a single bill down. "Tails."

    The dealer flipped the coin.

    Heads.

    Luke sighed. "Figures."

    As the dealer reached for the bill, Luke¡¯s hand moved. A slight shift in weight, his knuckles brushing against the dealer¡¯s coat. A casual motion¡ªa flick of his fingers, lifting every credit in the man¡¯s belt pouch before he even realized it.

    By the time Luke stepped away, his hands were empty.

    Chris patted his shoulder. "Man, you lost too? Guess that¡¯s just how it goes, huh?"

    Luke nodded. "Yeah. Just how it goes."

    Dawn, however, wasn¡¯t buying it. She caught his sleeve. "Luke. Tell me you didn¡¯t¡ª"

    Luke pulled the stack of stolen credits from his sleeve, twirling them between his fingers.

    Chris¡¯ eyes went wide. "Wait¡ªwhat?! How did¡ªwhen did¡ª"

    Luke smirked. "Took back what was ours."

    Dawn groaned, rubbing her temples. "And everyone else¡¯s?"

    Luke shrugged. "Figured the guy owed more than just Chris."

    Chris grinned. "Dude, you are my hero."

    Luke only laughed. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he

    saw her.

    The woman from the game.

    She wasn¡¯t looking at the dealer.

    She was watching him.

    Luke¡¯s stomach twisted again. Yeah. This wasn¡¯t over.

 chapter 2: A game of skill

    Dawn¡¯s grip on Luke¡¯s wrist was tight as she yanked him away from the gambling table, dragging him through the crowd with the force of a battlefield commander. Chris stumbled after them, barely keeping up.

    "You¡¯re both idiots," she muttered under her breath, her pace unrelenting.

    Luke twisted his wrist, slipping free of her grasp, but he didn¡¯t slow down. He could tell by the way she was moving¡ªsharp, quick steps, tense shoulders¡ªthat she was pissed. And when Dawn was pissed, it was usually best to let her get it out before arguing.

    Chris, however, didn¡¯t have that kind of survival instinct.

    "Hey, what¡¯d I do?" he complained, jogging to her side. "I just¡ª"

    "You encouraged him," she snapped, shooting him a glare. "We¡¯re supposed to be the older ones here, Chris. Not the other way around."

    Chris frowned. "I mean¡­ yeah, but it was awesome."

    Dawn groaned. "That¡¯s exactly the problem!"

    Luke sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Alright, alright. I get it. No more showing off in public."

    Dawn scoffed. "Like hell you do."

    Luke smirked but said nothing. He had no intention of stopping. He was good at what he did¡ªtoo good. And whether it was sheer skill or just bad luck, situations like this always seemed to find him.

    Dawn knew it too. That was the real reason she was annoyed.

    She knew her little brother couldn¡¯t help himself when trickery, sleight of hand, and deception were involved. He¡¯d always been clever¡ªtoo clever, or maybe not quite clever enough. Dawn had never been able to decide which.

    And honestly? She couldn¡¯t even blame him. It wasn¡¯t like she was perfect.

    Dawn had her own weakness.

    She could never resist a good fight.

    Not just brawls¡ªany fight. Duels, wars, feuds, bar fights, street squabbles, she devoured them all. The strategy, the technique, the raw human instinct behind them¡ªit fascinated her. While other people obsessed over kings and emperors, she cared about the warriors.

    She¡¯d been in Rome for a week now, and she couldn¡¯t tell you a single thing about the city¡¯s politics, architecture, or culture. But she could tell you about every famous duel fought on Roman soil. She could name every general who had ever bled here.

    And as they stepped through the towering archway of the Colosseum, she finally felt what she¡¯d been waiting for all week.

    Her chest tightened. A rush shot through her veins.

    This.

    This was what she lived for.

    She would never get to watch a real gladiator fight, never see two warriors battle to the death in this arena like they had centuries ago.

    But standing here¡ª**on the very same ground where blood, sweat, and screams had once filled the air¡ª**was the closest she would ever get.

    She exhaled slowly, taking in the full scope of the ruins.

    The Colosseum wasn¡¯t just a building. It was a battlefield. And battlefields never forgot the warriors who had fallen on them.

    She closed her eyes for a second, letting the weight of history settle on her skin.

    Luke, meanwhile, felt something entirely different.

    He had been here for days already, walked past the Colosseum multiple times, but he had never actually looked at it. Not really.

    His eyes weren¡¯t on the ruins, the tourists, or the performers weaving through the crowd.

    For the first time since they arrived, he wasn¡¯t watching people at all.

    Instead, he saw the statues. The symbols. The layout of the entire arena.

    And suddenly, he understood.

    Or¡ªalmost understood.

    Something about this place wasn¡¯t right. Not the ruins, not the building¡ªthe land itself.

    It felt¡­ older than it should be. Not in the way history usually felt, but deeper. Like the earth beneath the Colosseum had a memory¡ªone that the builders had tried to preserve through every statue, every carving, every deliberate placement of stone.

    A language was being spoken here, one far older than Latin.

    And somehow, he knew it.

    It was right there, just beyond his grasp. He could almost read it, almost understand what it was trying to say.

    But the words never fully came.

    He clenched his fists, a strange buzz filling his chest¡ªnot fear, not excitement, just¡­ something.

    Dawn and Chris didn¡¯t seem to notice.

    Chris, in fact, had only noticed one thing¡ªthe smell of food.

    His stomach growled loudly. "Oh man, do you smell that?"

    Dawn barely looked at him. "What?"

    "That smell. I don¡¯t even know what it is, but I need it."

    Luke snapped out of his thoughts just in time to see Chris scanning the crowd, completely oblivious to the fact that something was wrong.

    Luke exhaled. If Chris wasn¡¯t feeling anything strange, then maybe¡­

    Maybe it was nothing.

    He pushed the feeling away and followed Dawn as she walked toward a tour group gathered near the center of the arena. A tour guide was finishing his speech, half-informative, half-promotional, rattling off facts about the Colosseum while also pushing various attractions.

    Dawn had tuned him out.

    Until she heard one thing.

    "The highlight of the day, of course, is the Gladiator Challenge! For those of you interested in testing your mettle, you can sign up to fight against a classically trained gladiator¡ªwooden weapons and padded armor, of course!"

    Dawn¡¯s head snapped toward him.

    Luke saw it immediately. That gleam in her eyes.

    Oh no.

    "Dawn."

    She didn¡¯t even look at him.

    "Dawn, no."

    A slow grin stretched across her face.

    "I have to see this."

    She was already moving before Luke could stop her.

    Chris, still tracking the scent of his mystery food, perked up. "Wait¡ªpeople can fight real gladiators?"

    Luke groaned.

    Chris grinned.

    "Dude, we have to do it."

    Luke stared at him. "You? In a fight? Against a trained gladiator?"

    Chris rolled his shoulders. "I mean, how bad could it be?"

    Luke exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face.

    Dawn looked at Luke and grinned.

    "We don¡¯t have to partake," she said, tilting her head toward the attraction, "but I at least want to watch a few bouts. I¡¯ve never seen a classically trained gladiator, have you?"

    Luke sighed but didn¡¯t argue. If Dawn wanted to watch, they were watching.

    They made their way through the crowd, sticking close together as they wove between tourists and guides. Luke kept a watchful eye on his own pockets and those of his group, but thankfully, there seemed to be fewer pickpockets inside. Likely because there were plenty of places for tourists to lose their money willingly. And only one way out¡ªback through the Street of Thieves.

    The gladiator ring itself wasn¡¯t large. It was about the size of a slightly oversized boxing ring, with a low wooden wall on each side. Lining those walls were rows of wooden weapons¡ªgladiuses, spears, short staffs.

    A short line of teenagers, grinning eagerly, waited their turn.

    Luke frowned. He¡¯d expected something more¡­ dramatic. But what stood before him was nothing more than a tourist attraction with a stage performer playing warrior.

    At least, that¡¯s what he thought¡ªuntil he saw the current match.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    A stocky boy, maybe eighteen or nineteen, stood in the ring. He gripped a wooden broadsword in the overhead stance common for katana in movies and video games¡ªboth hands high above his head, blade pointed skyward.

    Dawn immediately recognized the mistake. There were overhead stances for that kind of sword, but the one the boy was attempting wasn¡¯t one of them. In reality, a broadsword of that weight needed to be held closer to the body, not left hanging in the air.

    Still, it was wooden, so he could manage.

    The gladiator standing across from him, however, looked entirely at ease. He wore the classic tunic and skirt, strapped-on sandals, and carried a wooden gladius and shield, the latter missing a small notch in the side¡ªa detail so historically accurate it almost surprised her.

    The boy, on the other hand, had just thrown the padded tunic and skirt over his jeans and T-shirt. His sneakers looked out of place next to the gladiator¡¯s period-appropriate sandals.

    A bell rang. The match began.

    The boy sprang forward, swinging wildly at the gladiator¡¯s center mass, but his strikes met only shield and sword.

    Every time the wooden broadsword came crashing down, the gladiator simply angled his shield or parried just enough to redirect the force.

    Three strikes.

    Then four.

    By the fifth attempt, the boy was visibly slowing down.

    Dawn felt herself frowning. That wasn¡¯t good. He was too focused on offense, putting everything into each swing without considering defense, footwork, or conservation of energy.

    It wasn¡¯t surprising, then, when on the sixth swing, the gladiator sidestepped, caught the strike on his sword, and smoothly pivoted¡ªwhacking the boy¡¯s ribs hard as he passed.

    The solid thunk of wood hitting padding echoed through the ring.

    The boy staggered sideways, gasping.

    The crowd cheered.

    The gladiator turned toward them, raising his sword high, miming the dripping blood gesture that ancient warriors once used to show off their kills.

    Dawn raised an eyebrow. A bit much.

    But maybe that was part of the act.

    When she looked back at the boy, she noticed his stance had shifted.

    His hand lowered on the grip, his blade angled forward rather than overhead. His feet adjusted, weight more balanced.

    And his eyes¡ªwet with pain, but determined.

    Dawn¡¯s grin widened.

    Oh. Maybe he wasn¡¯t just another idiot after all.

    Luke wasn¡¯t paying attention.

    His focus was still outside the ring, scanning the crowd.

    He hadn¡¯t been able to confirm it yet, but he was almost sure that the woman from outside had followed them.

    Chris, meanwhile, was barely paying attention at all.

    While Dawn was invested in the fight and Luke was tracking a potential tail, Chris was entirely consumed by the smell of food.

    Something meaty, spiced, and vaguely unfamiliar lingered in the air.

    Chris was currently trying to decide if he should ask what it was before or after eating it. Or if he wanted to know at all.

    Another gasp from the crowd snapped both of them back to the match.

    The gladiator had gone on the offensive.

    The boy had parried and dodged two strikes already, and as the gladiator raised his shield to block another, the boy took advantage of the momentum¡ªstepping into the opening, shouldering the gladiator back, and slashing down across his chest.

    The crowd erupted.

    The gladiator hit the ground.

    For a moment, everything was still.

    Then the boy whooped, gripping his sword with both hands, shaking it over his head in celebration.

    Dawn¡¯s grin faded.

    He was being stupid again.

    Luke noticed it too.

    He sighed. "Dawn, tell me he¡¯s not¡ª"

    "He is," she muttered.

    The boy had completely let his guard down.

    Which meant that when the gladiator sprang to his feet in one swift motion and rushed him from behind, the only warning he got was the sharp intake of breath from the crowd.

    By the time the boy turned around, the wooden gladius was already thrusting forward.

    A perfect strike to the chest.

    The boy staggered.

    The gladiator didn¡¯t let up.

    A slash¡ªblocked.

    Another thrust¡ªdeflected, but barely.

    Then a third.

    Right to the ribs.

    The exact spot he had already bruised.

    The match was over.

    The boy fell to one knee, clutching his side. He tried to play it off, turning his stumble into an awkward bow.

    But Dawn knew that look.

    She knew exactly what kind of pain he was in.

    Chris, who had barely been paying attention at first, now looked at Luke, eyes wide.

    Luke was thinking the same thing.

    Chris had asked, "How bad could it be?"

    Apparently, pretty damn bad.

    The fight had been just brutal enough that Luke was certain of one thing.

    If he knew his sister¡ª**and he did¡ª**this fight had all but sealed her decision.

    Dawn was always drawn to conflict.

    Not in a mean way. Not in a cruel or trashy way.

    She didn¡¯t like one-sided fights. She liked justice. She liked people getting what they deserved.

    And right now, she wasn¡¯t so sure the gladiator deserved to win.

    Sure, beat him if you¡¯re better. That was the point.

    But going for the already bruised ribs? Attacking while the kid¡¯s back was turned?

    That wasn¡¯t just ruthless. That was dishonorable.

    Luke exhaled.

    Yeah.

    Dawn was going to fight.

    And Luke was absolutely not getting in the ring

    The next challenger stepped forward.

    She was younger than the last boy, maybe seventeen, with a lean, toned build and a confident but measured expression. Unlike her friend, she didn¡¯t hesitate at the weapon rack. Instead of the heavy broadsword, she took a gladius and shield¡ªjust like the gladiator.

    Dawn¡¯s brows lifted slightly.

    Smart choice.

    As the girl strapped on the padded gear, Dawn noted the way she held the weapons. She knew how to grip them properly¡ªnot too tight, not too loose. Shield up, sword angled¡ªnot defensive, but poised to strike.

    She¡¯s trained.

    Not just swinging sticks with friends, but real training. Maybe even formal lessons.

    She stepped into the ring, rolling her shoulders as she adjusted her stance. The gladiator barely reacted.

    The bell rang.

    The girl didn¡¯t hesitate.

    She lunged immediately¡ªfast, aggressive, closing the gap with a clean, sharp thrust aimed straight for his chest.

    The gladiator didn¡¯t move.

    He simply angled his shield.

    Clack.

    The strike deflected harmlessly.

    The girl reset quickly, slashing at his side. This time, he tilted his sword, catching the blade lazily, pushing it aside.

    Still, she didn¡¯t stop.

    Another thrust¡ªsidestepped.

    Another slash¡ªhe jumped back, not even bothering to block.

    Dawn¡¯s jaw tightened.

    He¡¯s not even trying.

    He was reading her. Studying her.

    The girl¡¯s attacks were sharp, clean, and precise¡ªbut too rigid.

    Like she had only ever practiced against dummies.

    She knew the forms, the movements, the execution¡ªbut not the flow of real combat.

    And the gladiator had figured that out immediately.

    Instead of fighting, he simply toyed with her.

    Five minutes passed.

    The crowd started murmuring.

    The girl attacked, again and again. He dodged, again and again.

    She was starting to tire.

    Finally, she adjusted her footing. She planted herself lower, feinted left, then thrust hard for his ribs¡ªa clean, decisive strike.

    For the first time, the gladiator had to actually react.

    He pivoted¡ªtoo late.

    The tip of her wooden gladius skimmed his padding.

    It wasn¡¯t enough to score, but it was close.

    The gladiator¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly.

    And then, he ended it.

    In an instant, he rolled sideways¡ª

    A quick thrust straight into her ribs¡ªfour points.

    Before she could react, he spun back around, parrying her sword away¡ªthen a sharp slash across her torso¡ªtwo points.

    She stumbled back, breath catching.

    She tried to reset, to lift her shield¡ªbut he was already moving.

    He jumped back, dodging with ease, then lunged forward in a final sharp thrust¡ªstraight to her stomach.

    Four more points.

    Ten total. Match over.

    The girl froze for a second.

    Then slowly, she exhaled, lowering her sword.

    The crowd cheered.

    The gladiator gave a small nod of respect¡ªbut nothing more.

    He hadn¡¯t been fighting her.

    He had been playing.

    Chris let out a low whistle. "Damn, she actually lasted a while."

    Dawn folded her arms, shaking her head. "She could¡¯ve won if he actually took her seriously."

    Luke raised an eyebrow. "You think so?"

    Dawn scoffed. "Of course. He played with her the whole time. Look at how fast he ended it the second she got close. He could¡¯ve done that from the start."

    Chris frowned. "I mean¡­ yeah, but she got close, right? Maybe if she had better endurance¡ª"

    "Endurance wasn¡¯t the issue," Dawn interrupted. "He was reading her movements the entire fight. The moment he figured out her patterns, it was over. She was too rigid, too practiced. He exploited it."

    Luke nodded slightly. "Yeah, I saw that too. He didn¡¯t even block half the time. Just dodged."

    Chris snorted. "Sounds like a cheap way to win."

    Dawn smirked. "Sounds like a good way to win."

    Luke sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Alright, well, at least that¡¯s the end of it."

    Chris turned, about to agree, but then his eyes landed on the next person stepping forward.

    The smallest of the three friends.

    The scrawny one.

    Chris¡¯s expression fell. "Oh, no."

    Luke groaned. "Oh, yes."

    Dawn exhaled sharply. "This is about to get ugly."

    The next challenger hesitated before stepping into the ring.

    He was the smallest of the three friends, wiry and thin, barely filling out the padded tunic as he strapped it over his clothes. His grip on the gladius was unsure, fingers adjusting and readjusting as he tested its weight.

    The taller boy¡ªthe first one to fight¡ªcupped his hands around his mouth and called out, "You¡¯ve got this! Just play it smart! Don¡¯t be stupid like me!"

    The scrawny boy turned, offering a small, nervous nod.

    Chris leaned over to Luke. "Should we¡­ stop this?"

    Luke exhaled. "No. We should just brace for impact."

    Dawn didn¡¯t comment. She was watching the gladiator.

    Something about his stance had shifted.

    The cocky grin had faded, replaced by something colder. His grip on his gladius had tightened, his muscles coiled just slightly beneath the tunic.

    He wasn¡¯t just looking at the boy anymore.

    He was looking at all three of them.

    Dawn¡¯s jaw clenched.

    He¡¯s pissed.

    He had seen the group for what they were¡ªa trio of friends, standing together¡ªand he didn¡¯t like it. He had crushed one, humiliated another, but now?

    Now, the last of them had stepped forward.

    And that, to him, was an insult.

    The scrawny boy finished adjusting his gear and took a breath. Instead of the heavy broadsword his friend had used, he opted for the gladius and shield¡ªlike the gladiator himself. A smart choice, but it didn¡¯t matter.

    The bell rang.

    The boy barely had time to react before the gladiator rushed him.

    He had no interest in letting the fight play out.

    The scrawny boy lifted his shield¡ªtoo late.

    The gladiator rammed into him, full force, slamming his shoulder into the boy¡¯s chest.

    His feet left the ground.

    The crowd gasped as he hit the dirt hard, air knocked from his lungs.

    Dawn tensed.

    Luke muttered, "Yeah, this isn¡¯t a fight. This is a message."

    The boy scrambled to his feet, gasping, but the gladiator was already moving.

    A brutal thrust to the ribs¡ªfour points.

    The boy staggered back, barely keeping his grip on his weapon. His shield dipped slightly.

    The gladiator didn¡¯t hesitate.

    A swift, clean slash across the chest¡ªtwo points.

    The boy sucked in a sharp breath.

    Dawn¡¯s eyes flicked to the bruised spot on his ribs.

    Same place.

    He had aimed for the same exact place where the first boy had taken his worst hit.

    Chris whispered, "That¡¯s¡­ messed up, right?"

    Luke¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. "Yeah."

    The scrawny boy gritted his teeth and lunged forward, swinging wildly.

    The gladiator angled his sword¡ªnot to parry, but to disarm.

    A flick of his wrist, a sharp tap to the boy¡¯s gladius, and the wooden weapon went spinning to the ground.

    The boy froze, staring at his empty hands.

    Luke exhaled. "That¡¯s game."

    The gladiator confirmed it a second later.

    A final thrust¡ªstraight to the same bruised ribs.

    Four points.

    Ten total.

    Match over.

    But he wasn¡¯t bowing.

    He wasn¡¯t laughing it off.

    He was standing there, fists clenched at his sides, blinking hard.

    Tears welled up in his eyes.

    Dawn looked away.

    Chris muttered, "Damn, man¡­"

    The boy turned, walking off stiffly, his head down.

    The first boy had lost with overconfidence.

    The girl had lost with dignity.

    The scrawny boy had lost with humiliation.

    And Dawn had seen enough.

    The line was gone.

    The remaining kids waiting had all taken one look at the last fight and silently stepped back. Some wandered off, pretending they had never been in line at all. Others murmured amongst themselves, shaking their heads.

    But one person stepped forward.

    Dawn.

    Ten-dollar bill in hand.

    The gladiator looked up.

    For the first time, his grin flickered.

    Luke felt a hum in the air.

    Then he saw it.

    That golden sheen.

    Dawn grabbed a wooden gladius from the rack, testing its weight. She didn¡¯t ask about the rules. She didn¡¯t hesitate.

    She stepped into the ring, locked eyes with the gladiator, and smirked.

    "Alright," she said.

    "Let¡¯s see how you do against someone who fights back."

 Chapter 3: Marked by Fate

    Dawn rolled her shoulders, shifting her grip on the wooden gladius. The crowd had thinned, but those who remained were buzzing with excitement after the last fight. The gladiator across from her was relaxed, rolling his neck as if this was just another sparring match. His stance was casual, his weight even, shield resting lightly on his forearm. He didn¡¯t see her as a real threat.

    Dawn smirked. Good.

    Luke stood near the edge of the arena, arms crossed. He wasn¡¯t thrilled about this. He never was when she fought. Chris, however, was practically vibrating with excitement.

    ¡°Alright, Dawn! Wreck him!¡± Chris shouted. ¡°Show him what happens when he fights a real warrior!¡±

    Dawn snorted. ¡°Chris, I haven¡¯t even hit him yet.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but you will.¡±

    The gladiator let out a short chuckle, shaking his head. ¡°You sure about this?¡±

    Dawn twirled her gladius, planting her feet. ¡°More than you.¡±

    The crowd laughed, and the gladiator¡¯s grin flickered for just a second. He adjusted his stance, bringing his shield up.

    The announcer raised his hand. ¡°Same rules apply. First to ten points wins. One point for limb strikes, two for torso slashes, four for a solid thrust. Combatants ready?¡±

    Dawn rolled her neck, exhaling slowly. The gladiator nodded.

    The bell rang.

    Dawn moved.

    She darted forward, thrusting fast toward his ribs. His shield intercepted her strike with ease, absorbing the impact without so much as a flinch. She pulled back and immediately swung again, low this time.

    Blocked.

    The gladiator wasn¡¯t just reacting¡ªhe was reading her.

    They circled, watching each other. The air between them was tight with tension. The crowd had gone quiet, sensing the shift. This wasn¡¯t like the other fights.

    Chris leaned toward Luke. ¡°Dude, she¡¯s actually holding her own.¡±

    Luke didn¡¯t respond. His eyes were locked on the fight. Dawn struck again, feinting high before sweeping her blade low. The gladiator didn¡¯t bite. He stepped back, adjusting with just enough effort to show he wasn¡¯t taking her seriously.

    Luke exhaled through his nose. ¡°She should¡¯ve landed something by now.¡±

    Chris grinned. ¡°You¡¯re just mad she¡¯s better at this than you.¡±

    Luke didn¡¯t argue, but his arms tightened over his chest. Chris smirked, leaning back. ¡°Man, even if she slacks in school, at least I know she never skipped combat training.¡±

    Luke tensed slightly but didn¡¯t look away from the fight. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Chris kept talking, rambling about the training they¡¯d had growing up, but Luke¡¯s focus was slipping. Because something felt off.

    Dawn wasn¡¯t slowing down. If anything, she was moving faster. Each time the gladiator adjusted, she was already reacting before his move fully extended.

    Luke squinted, rubbing his temple.

    He could see the fight shifting¡ªliterally.

    The tiniest shimmer flickered in his vision, a faint glow appearing on the gladiator¡¯s shield.

    Luke blinked. It was gone.

    No¡ªthere.

    Again.

    A flicker, like a mark showing him exactly where to hit.

    He barely had time to register it before Dawn struck directly at the same point.

    The crack was sharp, sudden. The wooden shield split clean down the middle.

    The gladiator stumbled back, staring at the broken remains in disbelief. The crowd gasped.

    Chris gawked. ¡°Holy crap. Did she just¡ª?¡±

    Dawn didn¡¯t hesitate.

    She saw the shimmer on his sword now.

    She moved without thinking, striking exactly where Luke had seen the glow.

    The blade snapped at the base.

    The gladiator dropped what was left of his weapon. His mouth opened, like he wanted to protest, but Dawn stepped forward, raising her gladius.

    Luke knew what was coming.

    Thrust.

    Slash.

    Thrust.

    She mirrored his earlier attack pattern, striking the same points he had hit on his previous opponent. The scorekeeper barely called out the points before Dawn lowered her weapon.

    ¡°Ten.¡± She turned to the announcer. ¡°I win.¡±

    The crowd erupted.

    Luke exhaled slowly, tension tightening his chest.

    Dawn tossed her gladius back onto the rack, unzipping the padded armor as she walked toward them.

    Chris was losing it. ¡°That was insane! You wrecked that dude! He didn¡¯t even stand a chance!¡±

    Dawn smirked. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say wrecked.¡±

    Luke, however, hadn¡¯t moved.

    Dawn nudged him. ¡°You¡¯re staring again.¡±

    Luke hesitated. ¡°You don¡¯t feel weird?¡±

    Dawn raised an eyebrow. ¡°Weird how?¡±

    ¡°You were¡ªyou knew exactly where to hit. You broke two weapons. And your hair¡­¡±

    Dawn blinked. ¡°My hair?¡±

    ¡°It was¡­ glowing. Kind of.¡±

    Dawn rolled her shoulders. ¡°I feel fine.¡±

    Luke¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    He watched her for another second, but she looked¡­ normal. Relaxed.

    Maybe he was imagining things.

    Dawn stretched, exhaling. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get out of here. Where¡¯s Chris?¡±

    Luke blinked.

    Chris wasn¡¯t there.

    Dawn turned, scanning the crowd. ¡°Seriously?¡±

    Luke inhaled slowly. ¡°He was just here.¡±

    Dawn¡¯s smirk faded. ¡°You lost him?¡±

    Luke sighed. ¡°I didn¡¯t¡ªhe was right there.¡±

    Dawn folded her arms. ¡°Alright. Where would he go?¡±

    Luke already knew the answer before she finished asking. He turned toward the food stalls.

    Sure enough, just past the rows of vendors, he spotted an alleyway.

    And standing at the edge, half-shadowed, was a man.

    Chris was walking toward him.

    Luke¡¯s stomach twisted.

    ¡°Dawn.¡± His voice was tight. ¡°We need to go. Now.¡±

    Dawn followed his gaze.

    Chris had just taken a bite of something¡ªa sandwich of some kind. The man in the alley motioned for him to come closer.

    Chris obeyed.

    Dawn was already moving.

    Luke exhaled, forcing his shoulders to relax. ¡°Alright. Before we go in there, you need to know something.¡±

    Dawn stopped shot him a look. ¡°Oh, great. What now?¡±

    Luke rubbed the back of his neck, glancing toward the alley. ¡°That woman from earlier¡ªthe one at the gambling table? She was in on the scam. I think she saw me lift their coin purse, and I¡¯m pretty sure they followed us in.¡±

    Dawn¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°And you¡¯re just telling me this now?¡±

    Luke held up a hand. ¡°I didn¡¯t think they¡¯d try anything in such a public place. I figured they¡¯d just watch us for a bit, maybe see if I had more to steal.¡± He gestured toward the alley. ¡°But now, with Chris gone and that guy leading him somewhere, I think we have a bigger problem.¡±

    Dawn crossed her arms, tapping her foot. ¡°So, what¡¯s your plan?¡±

    ¡°We go in, get Chris, and get out,¡± Luke said. ¡°No fighting if we can help it. Just take him and walk away.¡±

    Dawn gave him a long look before sighing. ¡°You¡¯re a useful idiot, but you¡¯re my idiot.¡± She adjusted her stance. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    They moved up together, stepping into the alley.

    Chris was standing there, sandwich half-eaten, looking up at the men in front of him. There were three of them¡ªtwo broad, thuggish types and one wiry guy with a sharp grin. The woman was lingering in the back, watching.

    Chris turned as Luke and Dawn approached, relief flashing across his face. ¡°Oh, hey! There you are, I was just¡ª¡±

    The wiry guy stepped forward and swung.

    His fist connected with Chris¡¯s stomach.

    Chris gasped, stumbling back, his sandwich slipping from his hand and hitting the ground. He dropped to his knees, coughing.

    Dawn and Luke froze.

    For a split second, neither of them moved.

    Then, as one, they both stepped forward.

    A silent understanding passed between them.

    Chris wasn¡¯t just Luke¡¯s best friend. He had been there since they were toddlers¡ªsince Luke was three and Chris was five, when they had met at a local park. He was practically family. Even Dawn considered him one of them.

    And this guy just hit him.

    Luke¡¯s fists clenched, white-hot fury coursing through his veins.

    The wiry guy turned, smirking. ¡°You want your money back? You¡¯re picking the wrong fight.¡±

    Luke¡¯s voice was ice. ¡°We¡¯re not here for money.¡±

    The guy chuckled, nodding toward Dawn. ¡°Oh, we know. We were after our money at first. But after our boss saw your girl fight, we decided to take her as interest.¡±

    Dawn¡¯s expression darkened.

    The man gestured lazily at Chris. ¡°We also noticed you have a habit of trying to bail this idiot out.¡±

    Luke barely heard him.

    Chris was still on the ground, clutching his stomach, the remains of his sandwich scattered across the sand.

    Luke stepped forward.

    At the same time, Dawn moved.

    So did the men.

    From Chris¡¯s point of view, everything blurred.

    There was a flash of motion¡ªa meaty slap followed by a sickening crunch.

    Luke and Dawn moved like two halves of the same storm.

    Chris barely registered what was happening. One second, the thugs had the upper hand. The next, Luke had driven his elbow into the wiry guy¡¯s throat, sending him reeling.

    Dawn, meanwhile, struck one of the broad guys square in the ribs. There was a sharp snap¡ªthe unmistakable sound of something breaking.

    Luke wasn¡¯t Dawn, but together, they were unreal.

    For Luke and Dawn, the fight felt slow.

    Once again, the faint shimmer appeared.

    Luke saw it first¡ªsubtle glows marking weak points, exposing their enemies¡¯ openings like bright targets. The moment his mind registered them, Dawn was already moving.

    It was like she could see what he saw.

    Every time he noticed a vulnerable spot, Dawn struck it before he even had time to speak.

    Luke barely had time to question whether he was seeing something real, or just spots from his rising blood pressure.

    The wiry man tried to get back up.

    Luke didn¡¯t hesitate.

    His foot slammed into the guy¡¯s chest, driving him back down.

    The thug coughed, gasping for air.

    The second broad man attempted to grab Dawn from behind, but before he could even lock his grip, she drove her elbow back into his ribs¡ªright where Luke had noticed the shimmer.

    Another crunch.

    The man stumbled, his face twisting in pain.

    Luke turned, locking eyes with the woman in the back.

    She wasn¡¯t moving.

    She was watching.

    And then, very deliberately, she reached into her hair.

    Her fingers grasped something¡ªa pin, holding her bun together.

    She pulled it free.

    And the second it left her hair, it shifted.

    The small pin expanded, stretching outward, twisting and lengthening into the unmistakable shape of a sword.

    Luke¡¯s breath caught in his throat.

    He turned to Dawn. She saw it too.

    They exchanged a glance.

    Chris, groaning on the ground, missed all of it.

    The woman stepped forward.

    And for the first time, she spoke.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡±

    Luke and Dawn didn¡¯t move.

    The remaining thugs struggled to rise, groaning.

    The sword in the woman¡¯s hand gleamed under the dim alley light.

    And Luke realized, with perfect, terrifying clarity¡ª

    They weren¡¯t dealing with normal people anymore.

    The men groaned as they backed away, clutching their injuries. One of them spat blood onto the pavement. Their confidence had evaporated.

    The woman, however, wasn¡¯t rattled.

    She stepped forward, her grip tightening around the gleaming blade. She leveled it at Dawn, her expression unreadable.

    ¡°Surrender now,¡± she said, her voice cool and controlled. ¡°Come with us willingly, and we¡¯ll train you. Teach you. Even protect you.¡± Her gaze flicked over the beaten men behind her. ¡°Keep fighting, though? And we¡¯ll drain you for everything you¡¯re worth.¡±

    A thick silence followed.

    Luke, Dawn, and Chris all spoke at the same time.

    ¡°Drain her?¡±

    ¡°Her blood?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s weird slang for harvesting organs,¡± Chris muttered.

    Dawn¡¯s stomach twisted. ¡°Vampires?¡±

    Luke, however, wasn¡¯t thinking about blood. He wasn¡¯t even thinking about the woman¡¯s words. He was too busy piecing together something else.

    The weird glow. The weak points. The way Dawn moved in perfect sync with what he saw.

    It wasn¡¯t just adrenaline. It wasn¡¯t just instinct.

    Dawn had some kind of power.

    And he could see it.

    His mouth went dry.

    The woman had a sword. A real sword. Maybe, if Dawn had a weapon, she could hold her own. But Luke wasn¡¯t sure they stood a chance¡ªeven together¡ªagainst someone armed.

    Chris took an uneasy step back. ¡°Sooo, do we¡­ run?¡±

    Dawn didn¡¯t move. ¡°No.¡±

    Luke swallowed hard. ¡°Dawn¡ª¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re not taking me anywhere.¡±

    The woman tilted her head slightly, as if considering her. ¡°Shame.¡±

    She lunged.

    Dawn barely dodged.

    The blade sliced through the air, missing her shoulder by inches.

    Luke shoved Chris back. ¡°Run!¡±

    Chris didn¡¯t need to be told twice.

    Dawn ducked another swing, darting back. ¡°A little help, Luke?¡±

    Luke¡¯s mind raced. He needed a weapon. A plan. Anything.

    His eyes flickered to the fallen thugs. Their weapons were wooden, useless. The woman¡¯s sword shimmered with a faint blue glow.

    Not just a sword. A magic sword.

    Luke clenched his teeth. They had to try.

    No matter what being drained meant¡ªno matter who was right¡ªit couldn¡¯t be pleasant.

    And he wasn¡¯t about to let it happen.

    Chris barely had time to react before another figure stepped into the alleyway.

    The gladiator.

    Still in full costume, still armed¡ªthis time with a new wooden two-handed sword.

    Chris didn¡¯t hesitate. He dove headfirst into the very same bruised ribs Dawn had battered earlier.

    The man wheezed as the air left his lungs, his grip on the sword loosening. It clattered to the ground, and before anyone could react, Chris snatched it up and hurled it toward Dawn.

    ¡°Catch!¡±

    Dawn twisted mid-step, reaching out and grabbing the hilt just as the magic blade came down toward her.

    The wooden sword splintered on impact.

    Luke¡¯s stomach twisted.

    More movement.

    Three more thugs rounded the corner at full sprint.

    This whole place was a den of thieves and crooks.

    Luke¡¯s mind raced. Why would a school bring kids here? Let them roam around?

    They had beaten a cheat and humiliated a bully. And now? They were fighting for their lives.

    Dawn held her ground, but it was clear the fight wasn¡¯t going in her favor.

    Her wooden sword was one-third its original length.

    Chris and Luke were backed against a wall.

    The only weak spot Luke could see on the woman was out of Dawn¡¯s reach.

    And he was unarmed.

    Chris was unarmed.

    They were out of options.

    Then, suddenly¡ª

    A shadow dropped from the rooftop above.

    Luke barely had time to register the figure before he landed.

    A tall man.

    No¡ªa giant.

    He hit the ground without a sound, standing tall with a cane in his grip.

    But as he moved, the cane shifted.

    In one fluid motion, it extended¡ªtwisting, shifting, growing.

    By the time the woman realized what was happening, the cane had become a sword.

    A broad sword.

    Perhaps the biggest Dawn had ever seen.

    And before she¡ªor anyone¡ªcould react, the man whipped it through the air like lightning.

    The woman staggered back.

    The thugs froze.

    They knew their boss was different.

    They had seen her weapon change.

    But this new stranger?

    They had no idea what he was.

    Luke¡¯s mind reeled.

    None of this made sense.

    What the hell kind of technology was this?

    Weapons had come a long way since gunpowder, sure.

    Rail-guns, magnetized projectiles¡ªthose existed.

    But this?

    This was something else entirely.

    Luke tried to rationalize.

    Maybe it was nanotechnology.

    Maybe it was hardened light¡ªsome kind of projected force-field.

    That would explain why both weapons had changed forms.

    But even as the idea formed, he dismissed it.

    It¡¯s impossible.

    Impractical.

    Fantasy.

    The woman lunged.

    The man met her head-on.

    Their weapons clashed, ringing through the alley like a bell.

    Dawn watched, stunned.

    The strength behind the man¡¯s swings was unreal.

    The woman faltered.

    She wasn¡¯t used to being overpowered.

    And then¡ªin a single decisive strike¡ª

    She was disarmed.

    Her blade flew through the air.

    It spun¡ªonce, twice¡ªbefore landing dangerously close to Dawn.

    Without thinking, Dawn caught it.

    The thugs saw the fight turn against them.

    They didn¡¯t hesitate.

    As soon as their leader lost her weapon, they ran.

    Even the woman, now weaponless and outmatched, took a few steps back¡ªthen turned and fled down the alley.

    Dawn¡¯s fingers tightened around the hilt.

    And in that moment¡ª

    The sword shifted.

    It wasn¡¯t a sword anymore.

    It had become a spear.

    A golden spear, shimmering like the sun itself.

    Luke, Dawn, and Chris barely had time to process before the stranger finally turned to them.

    For the first time, they saw his face.

    He was familiar.

    Luke¡¯s brain struggled to place him.

    But before he could ask anything, the man stepped forward.

    He grabbed Dawn¡¯s wrist, lifting her hand so she could see the weapon up close.

    Then, just as quickly, the spear shrunk.

    The glow vanished.

    The weapon was gone.

    In its place was a hairpin.

    Seven inches long shaped like a spear still with silver wings curled around the base.

    It looked so innocent.

    So¡­ ordinary.

    The man¡¯s voice was calm, but firm.

    ¡°Keep it.¡±

    Dawn stared at him. ¡°What is it?¡±

    The man didn¡¯t answer.

    Instead, he gestured toward the exit of the alley.

    ¡°Go back to your hotel. Now. Lock the door. Don¡¯t leave again until your flight tomorrow.¡±

    Dawn opened her mouth to protest, but the man cut her off.

    ¡°I know you have questions.¡± He turned to Luke and Chris. ¡°Follow her. Listen to her.¡±

    Then¡ªfinally¡ªhe met Dawn¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°You turn eighteen tomorrow.¡±

    Dawn stiffened.

    The man¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change.

    ¡°Your father left you and your brother a gift. I was told to remind you¡ªwhen you return home, you and your brother should open them.¡±

    Dawn took a step forward, her voice sharper now. ¡°How do you know our father left us something? And what is it?¡±

    She knew they had inheritance gifts.

    She also knew they were meant to wait until they were eighteen.

    The fact that this stranger knew about them¡ªand was telling them to open them even Luke before Luke¡¯s eighteenth birthday¡ª

    It was shocking.

    The man exhaled, turning back toward the alley¡¯s exit.

    ¡°Your uncle told me to tell you.¡± His voice was steady. ¡°And if he says it¡¯s time, then it¡¯s time.¡±

    Luke and Dawn exchanged a glance.

    They only had one uncle.

    Not by blood¡ªbut in every other way that mattered.

    If he was breaking their father¡¯s rule¡ª

    Then something big was happening.

    The man adjusted his coat, and without another word, he disappeared down the alleyway.

    As he disappeared, he diminished to a more normal size, and his sword transformed back into a cane.

    Leaving them standing there¡ªstunned, breathless, and filled with more questions than ever

    The walk back to the hotel was silent.

    Not the kind of comfortable silence that came with exhaustion, but the heavy, suffocating kind.

    The kind that pressed down on their shoulders, settling deep in their bones.

    Dawn led the way, shoulders squared, jaw tight.

    Luke followed just behind her, his mind still racing, spiraling. He felt like he was missing something¡ªsome key piece of information that should make all of this make sense.

    Chris trailed at the back, still rubbing his ribs. He had insisted he was fine, but Luke had caught the way he winced every time he breathed too deep.

    None of them spoke.

    Not even Dawn.

    And that was what scared Luke the most.

    Dawn never let things linger. She was either mad enough to punch something or calm enough to crack a joke.

    But this?

    This silence was something else entirely.

    It wasn¡¯t until they reached the hotel lobby that she finally broke.

    ¡°I¡¯m taking a shower,¡± she muttered.

    She didn¡¯t wait for an answer¡ªjust shoved open the door to their room, grabbed a change of clothes, and disappeared into the bathroom.

    Chris flopped onto the bed, groaning.

    ¡°Dude.¡± He let out a slow exhale. ¡°That was the single worst vacation experience of my life.¡±

    Luke snorted. ¡°That¡¯s because you keep trying to one-up your worst vacation experiences.¡±

    Chris cracked one eye open. ¡°Hey, that¡¯s called growth.¡±

    Luke rolled his eyes but didn¡¯t argue.

    He was too tired to argue.

    Too tired to think.

    Too tired to do anything except collapse onto the bed and stare at the ceiling.

    His head was pounding.

    Not just from the fight, but from everything.

    The woman.

    The weapons.

    The strange man who knew about their father¡¯s gift.

    And then there was Dawn.

    Luke had seen something during her fight.

    Something that shouldn¡¯t have been possible.

    And for the first time, he had no logical explanation.

    His thoughts spiraled, looping over themselves like a glitching record.

    At some point, he must have dozed off.

    Because when he opened his eyes again, it was to the sound of Dawn kicking his bed.

    ¡°Wake up, dumbass.¡±

    Luke groaned, rolling over. ¡°What time is it?¡±

    ¡°Eleven.¡±

    Luke shot up. ¡°AM?!¡±

    Dawn snorted. ¡°No, PM. We slept for a whole day and the hotel just let us stay for free.¡±

    Luke swung his legs over the side of the bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me up sooner?¡±

    ¡°Because I was asleep, too.¡±

    Chris groaned from the other bed. ¡°Guys, why do we do this to ourselves?¡±

    Dawn grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulder. ¡°Because we¡¯re¡ª¡± she shot them both a look and corrected herself¡ª¡°You two are idiots

    Luke glanced at the clock.

    One hour until checkout.

    Seven hours until their flight.

    A long-ass flight.

    With nothing to do except sit in a cramped seat and think.

    Dawn sighed, dragging a hand through her hair.

    ¡°Well,¡± she muttered. ¡°Guess we better get moving.¡±

    Luke took one last look at the hotel room.

    The bed.

    The desk.

    The spot on the floor where they had collapsed, exhausted, confused, and more lost than ever.

    He had a feeling that by the time they got home, things would only get stranger.

 Chapter 4: Awakening

    <h4>5:30 PM ¨C 30 Minutes Until Takeoff</h4>

    After the late morning rush and the tedious process of providing documentation, security checks, and endless waiting, most of the day had passed in a haze.

    Now, Luke and Dawn stood near the gate, scanning the airport terminal with growing irritation.

    ¡°Where the hell is Chris?¡± Dawn muttered, arms crossed tightly.

    ¡°He went to the bathroom,¡± Luke said. His voice was flat, but his fingers drummed against his leg impatiently. ¡°An hour ago.¡±

    The words hung in the air between them.

    Dawn huffed. ¡°He should¡¯ve known better than to disappear today of all days.¡±

    Luke didn¡¯t respond. He was already running through possibilities in his mind. Chris might¡¯ve just gotten distracted, lost track of time. It wouldn¡¯t be the first time.

    But after last night¡¯s events, that excuse didn¡¯t sit right.

    Their flight was about to leave.

    And Chris was nowhere in sight.

    <h4>A Late Arrival</h4>

    Chris strolled up grinning like an idiot, a half-eaten pizza box in hand like he''d just won the lottery.

    "Where the hell have you been?" Dawn snapped, her arms still crossed, her foot tapping.

    Chris held up the pizza proudly. "Had to grab some food. Figured we could use it after last night."

    Luke''s frustration melted the moment the smell hit him. His stomach twisted¡ªhe hadn¡¯t realized just how hungry he was. Without hesitation, he snagged a slice and took a bite. Dawn, still glaring, hesitated for half a second before grabbing a piece herself.

    Chris plopped into a seat between them, taking another massive bite. "Man, I¡¯m always hungry, but after yesterday?" He shook his head. "I think that was the hungriest I¡¯ve ever been."

    Luke and Dawn exchanged a glance.

    Now that he mentioned it, they felt the same way. It wasn¡¯t just stress. The fight, the weird glowing marks, the tension¡ªit had drained them. Maybe they''d burned through more energy than they realized. Or maybe¡­ maybe it was something else.

    Neither of them said anything. They just kept eating.

    It wasn¡¯t until the pizza was nearly gone that Chris finally leaned back and asked, "So, uh... the money you liberated from the coin game. You still got it?"

    Luke paused mid-chew.

    The way Chris phrased it made it sound noble. Liberated. Like he''d done some kind of public service instead of nearly getting them all killed. He swallowed and nodded. "Yeah, I still have it."

    Chris let out a relieved breath, looking satisfied. "Good. ''Cause after all that, I¡¯d hate to think we did it for nothing."

    Luke frowned, suddenly feeling a little foolish.

    That money had caused way more trouble than it was worth. But still, giving it back didn¡¯t make sense either. They didn¡¯t deserve it.

    Dawn set her crust down and leaned forward, her voice low.

    "What happened yesterday... seriously. What was that?" She eyed Luke. "What¡¯d you steal, three hundred bucks? That¡¯s not worth killing over. They probably make that in a few hours, easy."

    A heavy silence settled over them.

    Because deep down, they all knew¡­ this wasn¡¯t just about the money.

    Luke finally broke the silence.

    ¡°It was you, Dawn. Believe it or not.¡±

    Dawn raised an eyebrow, chewing the last bite of crust. ¡°What?¡±

    Luke set his slice down, suddenly not feeling as hungry anymore. ¡°Did my stupid move at the coin game piss them off? Sure. But that woman already had you pegged¡ªshe was following us from the start.¡±

    Dawn frowned. ¡°That¡¯s¡ª¡±

    ¡°She was there before I lifted the wallet,¡± Luke cut in, voice firm. ¡°I didn¡¯t even notice until she wanted me to. I think the coin game was her way of testing me, and I¡¯m pretty sure I failed. But you, Dawn?¡± He leaned forward. ¡°They already had you marked. Our fate was decided long before I stole their wallets. Before you beat that gladiator.¡±

    Dawn didn¡¯t say anything.

    Chris, who had been idly picking at the crusts left in the box, suddenly looked up. ¡°Wait, so... you¡¯re saying she knew Dawn was gonna be a badass? Before she even fought?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what she knew,¡± Luke admitted, running a hand through his hair. ¡°But I do know she was watching us. And I do know she wasn¡¯t looking at me¡ªat least, not until I got her attention. It was Dawn she was following.¡±

    Dawn exhaled, shaking her head. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make any sense. If this was about me, then why were you the one she called a thief?¡±

    Luke gave her a dry look. ¡°I was a thief.¡±

    Chris snorted. ¡°A very successful thief.¡±

    Luke ignored him. ¡°Think about it, Dawn. What if the whole thing¡ªour fight, the scam, even the coin game¡ªwas just a way to see what we¡¯d do? And maybe, just maybe, it wasn¡¯t me they were really after.¡±

    Dawn stared at him for a long moment. ¡°So what? You think that gladiator was in on it too?¡±

    Luke hesitated, then sighed. ¡°Honestly? I don¡¯t know. Maybe he was coming after you for revenge. Maybe he just picked the wrong alley for a break and Chris here gave him a diving headbutt to the ribs.¡±

    Chris grinned proudly. ¡°One-hit KO, baby.¡±

    Dawn groaned. ¡°You landed on the guy, Chris.¡±

    ¡°Exactly.¡±

    Luke shook his head, ignoring them both. ¡°Point is, this wasn¡¯t some random street scam gone wrong. That woman was watching us. And she wasn¡¯t alone.¡±

    The weight of his words settled over them.

    Dawn crossed her arms, staring down at the floor as if the answers were hidden in the tile.

    Chris just blinked, still catching up.

    Luke, sensing that Dawn was almost convinced, pushed on.

    "If this was about the coin game, then tell me this¡ªwhy did the girl who won chase me instead of the guy I robbed?"

    Dawn hesitated.

    Luke pressed further. "Why did she have a magic hairpiece? And why did she say she was gonna ¡®train or drain¡¯ you? Not me. You."

    Dawn¡¯s frown deepened.

    "The wiry guy said it himself," Luke continued. "She was interested in you. After your fight. The same fight where I saw you glow¡ª"

    Dawn shot him a doubtful look.

    Chris, still catching up, blinked in confusion.

    But before anyone could respond, the intercom chimed, and a clear, robotic voice announced the next boarding group.

    They gathered their bags and moved toward the gate in silence.

    The past 180 years had seen staggering advancements in computing, AI, and transportation. Quantum computing had revolutionized consumer tech in the 2030s, and by now, it was integrated into every vehicle on the planet. Every car, plane, and boat utilized quantum GPS and AI pilots that calculated the most efficient routes and speeds in real time.

    Their plane, for example, was more akin to an ICBM programmed to land safely than a traditional passenger aircraft. With VTOL technology, airports no longer needed massive runways¡ªjust designated landing platforms.

    Boarding was quick and efficient, and soon, they were settled into their private four-person cabin.

    It was just the three of them.

    Luke leaned forward in his seat, lowering his voice.

    "Fine, sis," he said, watching Dawn closely. "So you doubt me when I say you glowed¡ª"

    Dawn scoffed.

    Luke ignored it.

    "But maybe you¡¯ll believe me when I tell you," he continued, "I could see your ability. That thing you did, spotting the weak points in their weapons? I saw it, too."

    Dawn¡¯s smirk faltered.

    Chris, now slumped into his seat with his hands behind his head, muttered, ¡°Man, this trip is getting way weirder than I signed up for.¡±

    Luke wasn¡¯t done.

    "You saw what happened to the shield, Dawn. That wasn''t normal."

    Dawn¡¯s fingers tightened around the armrest.

    Because whether she wanted to admit it or not¡­ Luke wasn¡¯t wrong.

    Chris sighed dramatically, stretching his arms behind his head. ¡°Man, this trip is getting way weirder than I signed up for.¡±

    Dawn scowled, arms crossed tight. ¡°Yeah? Try living it.¡±

    Chris didn¡¯t bother waiting for more debate. He slid lower into his seat, pulled his hoodie up, and closed his eyes. ¡°You guys wake me up when we¡¯re there,¡± he muttered. Within minutes, he was asleep.

    Luke, however, wasn¡¯t done talking.

    ¡°You really don¡¯t remember feeling something?¡± he asked, watching Dawn closely.

    Dawn¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°I don¡¯t know, okay?¡±

    Luke raised an eyebrow.

    She exhaled sharply through her nose. ¡°Look, maybe I did. Maybe I felt something.¡± Her hands clenched against her arms. ¡°But I wasn¡¯t thinking about weird energy or glowing or whatever the hell you¡¯re on about. I was fighting.¡±

    Luke sat back, thoughtful.

    Dawn shifted under his gaze, rubbing a hand across her face. ¡°You¡¯re still stuck on it, huh?¡±

    Luke didn¡¯t answer immediately. He turned his gaze toward the window instead, watching the sky streak past in a blur of deep blues and soft oranges.

    ¡°¡­It felt old,¡± he said finally. ¡°Like something ancient was trying to wake up inside of me.¡±

    Dawn let out a short, humorless laugh. ¡°Great. So, what, you¡¯re possessed now?¡±

    Luke gave her a look. ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡±

    Dawn shook her head, muttering under her breath. ¡°Jesus Christ¡­¡±

    He didn¡¯t let up. ¡°You think it has anything to do with Dad?¡±

    Dawn stiffened.

    Luke pressed on. ¡°I mean, what if¡ªwhat if this isn¡¯t just about us? What if this ties into him? His work? His life?¡±

    ¡°¡­Or his death,¡± Dawn murmured.

    Luke nodded slowly.

    They both sat with that thought for a moment.

    Dawn suddenly leaned forward, gripping her hair. ¡°God, I hate this.¡±

    Luke waited.

    She slammed her head back against the seat. ¡°Every time I think I have my life figured out¡ª¡± She gestured wildly. ¡°¡ªsomething stupid happens! First, Dad dies, and we¡¯re just supposed to deal with it. Then Mom¡ª¡± Her throat caught, but she pushed past it. ¡°Then Mom lost her mind, and now I¡¯m supposed to believe I¡¯m glowing in the middle of a fight? And some rando in an alley wants to drain me for it?¡±

    Luke let her vent.

    Dawn scoffed, shaking her head. ¡°You¡¯re the logical one. Tell me. Does this make any goddamn sense to you?¡±

    Luke rubbed his temples. ¡°No.¡±

    Dawn threw up her hands. ¡°See?!¡±

    ¡°¡­But it feels real.¡±

    Dawn froze.

    Luke looked at her steadily. ¡°You felt something. Maybe you don¡¯t want to admit it, but you know I¡¯m right.¡±

    Dawn swallowed hard, looking away.

    Silence.

    ¡°¡­If Mom wasn¡¯t like this,¡± she finally muttered, voice quieter now, ¡°she might have answers.¡±

    Luke sighed. ¡°Yeah. But who knows if we¡¯d get her or one of her other selves?¡±

    Dawn let out a bitter laugh. ¡°Right. So, what, we just figure this out ourselves?¡±

    ¡°Looks like it.¡±

    Dawn groaned, dropping her head back.

    The conversation lulled, both of them lost in thought.

    Eventually, exhaustion caught up to them.

    Luke¡¯s head dipped back against his seat. Dawn pulled her hoodie over her eyes.

    And for the first time in over a day, they both slept.

    it was sometime later when Chris stirred, mumbling something under his breath.

    Luke cracked one eye open. ¡°What?¡±

    Chris shifted, rubbing his face. ¡°Mmm¡­mystery meat¡­¡±

    Dawn let out a snort. ¡°Oh, great. He¡¯s dreaming about food.¡±

    Chris smacked his lips, still half-asleep. ¡°Best damn sandwich I ever had¡­¡±

    Luke raised an eyebrow. ¡°You mean the one you took two bites of before getting kidnapped?¡±

    Chris frowned, eyes still closed. ¡°...Yeah.¡±

    Dawn smirked. ¡°I thought you were traumatized by yesterday.¡±

    Chris yawned, stretching. ¡°I am. But you don¡¯t just forget a sandwich like that, man. That thing was perfect. Softest bread, spiced just right, and the meat¡ªGod, the meat. Like some ancient, forgotten recipe from the gods themselves.¡±

    Luke rolled his eyes. ¡°Yeah, well, you got jumped before you could finish it, so clearly it wasn¡¯t that divine.¡±This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    Chris finally opened his eyes. ¡°No, that¡¯s what¡¯s killing me, man. What was it? I never got to ask.¡± He paused, looking genuinely troubled. ¡°Dude¡­what if it was, like, something crazy? What if I ate some illegal space animal or¡ª¡±

    Dawn laughed. ¡°You had one bite. You¡¯re acting like you lost a lifelong friend.¡±

    Chris sighed dramatically. ¡°I¡¯ll never know.¡± He turned to Luke. ¡°Bro, this is gonna haunt me.¡±

    Luke smirked. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll survive.¡±

    Chris placed a solemn hand over his chest. ¡°Will I, Luke? Will I?¡±

    Dawn rolled her eyes and shoved him. ¡°Shut up and grab your bag, drama queen. We¡¯re home.¡±

    Chris grumbled, but obeyed.

    As they gathered their things, the intercom crackled.

    "Passengers, please proceed to the exit gate."

    Luke slung his backpack over one shoulder. Dawn adjusted her duffel strap.

    Chris took one last, longing glance at the airplane seat. ¡°Goodbye, mystery sandwich. We shall never meet again.¡±

    Luke pushed him toward the aisle. ¡°Let¡¯s go, idiot.¡±

    Stepping off the plane, they felt the shift immediately.

    Austin wasn¡¯t just home¡ªit was one of the most technologically advanced cities in the world.

    Italy had its timeless beauty, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the ruins of Pompeii¡ªbut those places were relics, preserved like museum exhibits. The ancient districts clung to the past, while Austin had raced ahead.

    Here, technology shaped everything.

    Without thinking, all three of them reached for their holo-watches, securing them onto their wrists.

    The slim, translucent bands lit up, displaying a flickering interface.

    In Italy, outside of the tourist centers, the watches had been little more than glorified phones. But here?

    They were essential.

    Bank accounts, IDs, transit access, apartment keys all tied to the device. Lose your watch, and you might as well not exist.

    Chris sighed, rolling his wrist as his watch synced to the city¡¯s network.

    ¡°Man¡­ I forgot how fast everything loads here.¡±

    Dawn checked hers, making sure it was fully activated. ¡°Yeah. No more digging for cash or scanning IDs.¡±

    Luke did the same, watching as his display scrolled through notifications. Even the security checkpoints were automated now. Just a scan of your wrist, and you were good to go.

    They walked toward the exit gates, blending seamlessly into the throng of returning travelers.

    But despite the familiar hum of futuristic efficiency, something about being home felt¡­ off.

    And none of them could shake it.

    Victor stood waiting outside, just as he always did, standing tall and unshaken by the chaos of the airport''s automated unloading bay.

    Three luggage drones hovered beside him¡ªone for each of them.

    Without a word, all three teens stepped forward, dropping their bags onto their respective drones. The moment the weight was registered, the small, sleek machines whirred to life and began following Victor¡¯s lead toward the car.

    A low, collective sigh of relief left them.

    They were home.

    Maybe not in the comforting, nostalgic way it should¡¯ve felt¡ªbut at least they weren¡¯t in a place where gladiators and street gangs with magic weapons were after them.

    They climbed into the sleek, black vehicle waiting in the loading zone¡ªone of the city¡¯s top-tier autonomous luxury cars.

    Victor took his seat up front, barely acknowledging them beyond the usual courteous nod.

    The doors sealed shut with a quiet hiss, the cabin **soundproofed, temperature-controlled¡ª**every bit of it calculated for maximum comfort.

    And then they were moving.

    Or rather, flying.

    Luke let out a low whistle as the car shot into traffic, accelerating to 150 miles per hour within seconds.

    The speed was impressive, but nothing unusual.

    Every vehicle in Austin¡ªhell, in most major cities¡ªhad been upgraded with Quantum AI Drivers.

    Traffic accidents? A thing of the past.

    Every car, truck, and transport worked in perfect harmony, each one preemptively adjusting course in real-time, swerving through impossibly tight gaps, never touching another vehicle.

    Luke smirked, leaning back in his seat. ¡°You know¡­¡± he mused, glancing at Chris. ¡°These past few days have kinda sucked. Coming home isn¡¯t the exciting return and relief it usually is.¡±

    Chris snorted. ¡°No kidding.¡±

    Dawn, staring out the window, said nothing.

    Luke continued, his smirk widening. ¡°But man¡­ am I glad to no longer be in the stone age.¡±

    Chris barked out a laugh. ¡°I¡¯ll drink to that. If I were old enough. And if Victor wouldn¡¯t tattle.¡±

    Victor, eyes fixed ahead, remained as silent as ever.

    The city lights flickered past in a blur, neon reflections casting strange shadows across their faces.

    And yet, for all the advancement, all the seamless technology¡­

    Luke couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that, despite everything, this city was just as blind as he¡¯d been two days ago.

    They had no idea what was coming.

    The sleek black car glided silently up the long, gated driveway.

    The estate loomed ahead¡ªa sprawling modern mansion with tall glass windows, intricate architecture, and a pristine lawn that stretched further than necessary.

    Chris let out a low whistle. ¡°You know¡­ I always forget how loaded you guys are.¡±

    Luke barely glanced up from his holo-watch. ¡°We¡¯re not that loaded,¡± he replied flatly.

    Chris shot him a look. ¡°Dude, come on.¡±

    Luke shrugged. ¡°Our uncle controls most of our money. We just live in a nice place and have a full house service. I¡¯m not saying we don¡¯t have it made, but it¡¯s not like we¡¯ve got unlimited cash to throw at all our problems like some kids at school.¡±

    Chris barked out a laugh. ¡°See, you¡¯re funny because you say things like unlimited cash and fix all our problems. Meanwhile, I have zero cash to throw at zero problems.¡±

    Luke, sensing the golden opportunity, raised an eyebrow. ¡°Zero problems? Zero money? Sounds good. I had some money and several problems. I threw all my money, fixed some, and some remain.¡±

    He smirked, glancing at Chris.

    ¡°I have it worse. Plus, my dad¡¯s dea¡ª¡±

    A sharp punch to the shoulder cut him off.

    Luke winced, rubbing the sore spot.

    Dawn glared daggers at him. ¡°It¡¯s not a joke,¡± she sneered.

    Luke sighed, his smirk fading.

    ¡°Yeah¡­ I know.¡±

    Chris, sensing the tension, shifted uncomfortably. He coughed, rubbing the back of his neck.

    "Hey, uh¡­ I almost forgot," he said, clearly grasping for a distraction. "But tomorrow''s your big eighteen, right, Dawny?"

    Dawn shot him a deadpan glare.

    "Don¡¯t call me that."

    Chris grinned, unbothered. "Yeah, yeah. But seriously, you got any big plans? Fancy rich girl party? Maybe, I dunno, a new sports car gift-wrapped in the driveway?"

    Dawn snorted, crossing her arms. "Yeah, right. Pretty sure my big gift is just access to some inheritance paperwork and a bunch of responsibilities I don¡¯t want."

    Chris leaned back, grinning. "Man, you really know how to celebrate, huh?"

    Luke, still rubbing his shoulder, gave Dawn a sideways glance. "Actually¡­"

    She frowned. "What?"

    Luke hesitated, his fingers tapping against his leg as he debated how to say it.

    ¡°It¡¯s about what that guy said back in Rome,¡± he started. ¡°The one with the cane¡ªwho saved our asses.¡±

    Dawn raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yeah? What about it?¡±

    Luke leaned forward, lowering his voice slightly. ¡°We always knew we had some kind of inheritance waiting for us at eighteen, but he knew too. And more than that, he said we should open them as soon as we get home.¡±

    Dawn rolled her eyes. ¡°So what? Our uncle told him.¡±

    Luke shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not the part that¡¯s bugging me. The way he said it¡­ It was like we couldn¡¯t wait¡ªlike something changed.¡±

    Chris, who had been half-listening, perked up. ¡°Wait, you mean, like, your uncle changed his mind? Or, like, there¡¯s some secret family thing that¡¯s about to go down?¡±

    Luke rubbed his chin, thinking. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But the way he phrased it¡ªit wasn¡¯t a suggestion. It was a warning.¡±

    Dawn crossed her arms. ¡°So what? You think opening our inheritance is gonna drop some massive bombshell on us?¡±

    Luke¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°I know something¡¯s up.¡± He glanced out the window as the mansion loomed closer. ¡°And I don¡¯t think we get to be oblivious anymore.¡±

    The car glided to a stop at the front entrance, and Victor was already stepping out before the doors even unlocked. The luggage drones hovered patiently behind him, awaiting further instruction.

    The moment Dawn, Luke, and Chris stepped onto the marble walkway, the mansion¡¯s grand entrance loomed before them¡ªtall, modern, and pristine, with massive glass windows reflecting the twilight sky. The sleek, polished double doors slid open automatically, a soft chime welcoming them home.

    Luke barely acknowledged it. He was still replaying everything in his head, still chewing on what the man in Rome had said.

    They weren¡¯t supposed to open their inheritance until they were eighteen. That was the rule.

    But now, suddenly, waiting was no longer an option?

    Dawn exhaled sharply as she stepped inside, rolling her shoulders like she was shedding off the weight of the last few days. ¡°I swear, if one more person gives me cryptic bullshit about our inheritance, I¡¯m punching something.¡±

    Victor, still as composed as ever, turned back to them. ¡°Your uncle has instructed that you both go to the study immediately.¡±

    Dawn shot him a flat look. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not suspicious at all.¡±

    Chris raised an eyebrow. ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t that room always locked?¡±

    Victor simply nodded.

    Luke exchanged a glance with Dawn.

    The study.

    Their father¡¯s study.

    The room no one had entered since the day Owen died.

    Victor led them through the halls, past towering bookcases, sleek decor, and elegant lighting that cast long shadows over the polished floors. The house was as massive as ever, but right now, it felt impossibly small, like the walls were pressing in with unspoken expectations.

    Chris trailed behind, clearly out of his element. ¡°Sooo, just to be clear¡­ no one¡¯s been in there in, like, years, right?¡±

    ¡°Not since Dad,¡± Dawn murmured, eyes locked ahead.

    Luke¡¯s fingers tapped against his leg as they approached the heavy wooden doors. Unlike the rest of the house¡¯s modern aesthetics, the study doors remained untouched¡ªdeep mahogany, intricately carved with the same crest that had been on their father¡¯s ring.

    Victor pressed a panel beside the door, and with a quiet click, the locks disengaged.

    Luke swallowed.

    Dawn squared her shoulders.

    Victor pushed the doors open.

    Inside, the study was exactly how they remembered it.

    Dim lighting. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. The massive oak desk at the center, untouched, covered in scattered notes, an old-fashioned globe, and a single, neatly placed pen.

    And sitting behind that desk, waiting for them, was Liam.

    Luke stopped cold.

    Chris, however, blinked in confusion. ¡°Wait¡­ the gardener?¡±

    Liam¡ªwho had, for as long as they could remember, been the quiet, distant caretaker of the estate¡¯s grounds¡ªwas now seated comfortably in their father¡¯s chair, fingers folded neatly on the desk.

    His piercing gaze met theirs, unreadable as ever.

    Dawn, never one for patience, stepped forward. ¡°Alright. No more games. What the hell is going on?¡±

    Liam gestured to the two chairs in front of him. ¡°Sit.¡±

    Luke was the first to piece it together.

    His eyes flicked over Liam¡¯s face¡ªsharp features, piercing gaze, the same composed demeanor he¡¯d seen before. But now, under the dim lighting of the study, the realization hit him like a freight train.

    The alleyway. The fight. The sword.

    The man who had appeared out of nowhere. The man who had saved them.

    It was him.

    Luke¡¯s breath caught in his throat. ¡°You¡ª¡±

    Dawn, still not quite making the connection, crossed her arms. ¡°Alright, enough. You¡¯re gonna tell us what the hell is going on, and you¡¯re gonna tell us now.¡±

    Liam¡¯s expression remained neutral as he slowly rose from his seat.

    And as he did, something impossible happened.

    His presence grew.

    Not in the sense of simply standing taller¡ªhe expanded, his entire being seeming to stretch beyond the physical limits of the room. The shadows deepened, the air thickened, and suddenly, he wasn¡¯t just Liam the quiet gardener anymore.

    He was something ancient.

    Something powerful.

    His voice, calm but unwavering, carried a weight that pressed into their very bones.

    ¡°Sit.¡±

    The single word slammed into them like a physical force.

    Dawn¡¯s breath hitched as she stumbled a step back. Luke felt his knees weaken, and for the first time in years, he found himself obeying without question.

    Chris, eyes wide as dinner plates, dropped into the nearest chair without a second thought.

    Liam waited for them to settle, then slowly lowered himself back into the desk chair, his gaze heavy.

    Silence stretched between them.

    Then, finally, he spoke.

    "You have questions," he said. "I have answers. But not all of them. Not yet."

    Dawn, still gripping the arms of her chair, exhaled sharply. ¡°Yeah, no kidding. Let¡¯s start simple¡ªwhat the hell are you?¡±

    Liam¡¯s lips twitched slightly. Not quite a smile, but close.

    ¡°A guardian,¡± he said. ¡°And an old friend of your father¡¯s.¡±

    Luke, heart still hammering in his chest, could only stare.

    This was going to be big.

    And something told him¡­ he wasn¡¯t ready.

    Liam let out a slow breath, his presence still weighing heavy in the air. He leaned forward, his fingers tapping lightly against the desk.

    "Like I said," he began, "I don¡¯t have all the answers yet. First, your father left you these gifts." He gestured to the two locked boxes sitting on the desk. "They will answer a lot of your questions. But I¡¯ll warn you¡ª" his gaze darkened, his voice measured, "¡ªneither I nor anyone else truly understands what you''re about to undergo. I know these boxes contain answers. I just don¡¯t know how to obtain those answers. That part is for you two to figure out. Together."

    Dawn eyed the boxes, hesitant, but Luke could see the gears already turning in her head. Chris, for once, remained quiet, watching with an expression somewhere between curiosity and uncertainty.

    "And as for Chris," Liam continued, his gaze flicking to their friend. "Your father was clear¡ªhe wanted no one to know about this. Not your mother. Not the staff. No one. The only people meant to be aware were me, your Uncle T, and you two."

    Luke and Dawn exchanged a glance.

    Uncle T.

    Tyrell.

    Their father¡¯s closest confidant¡ªthe one who now held control over the vast majority of their family¡¯s assets. The one who, despite his seemingly distant approach to their upbringing, had always made sure they were taken care of.

    Chris shifted uncomfortably. ¡°Okay, so, uh¡­ does this mean I should leave, or¡­?¡±

    Liam studied him for a moment before shaking his head. ¡°Your uncle and I both agreed you¡¯d likely end up telling him anyway¡ªif not immediately, then eventually. And after what I saw in Rome¡­ I think you¡¯ll be more useful in helping them figure this out than you realize.¡±

    Chris blinked. ¡°Wait¡­ really?¡±

    Liam nodded. ¡°I saw you help them back there. You didn¡¯t have to, but you did. That counts for something.¡±

    Chris rubbed the back of his head, clearly unsure of how to take that.

    But before any of them could speak, Liam raised a hand.

    "And before you ask¡ªno. This isn¡¯t your fault. And it isn¡¯t your father¡¯s fault either."

    Luke¡¯s stomach twisted. He hadn¡¯t even said anything, but somehow, Liam had already seen it on his face.

    "You guys are both victims of circumstance," Liam continued, his voice firm but not unkind. "Nothing more. Nothing less."

    Silence settled over the room.

    Luke swallowed hard, his eyes flicking back to the boxes.

    He had a feeling that once they opened them¡­ nothing would be the same again.

    Liam reached for the two ornate boxes, their surfaces smooth with intricate engravings that shimmered faintly in the dim light. He placed one in front of Dawn, the other in front of Luke. The weight of the moment pressed down on them, heavier than the boxes themselves.

    Luke hesitated before lifting the lid.

    Inside, nestled in dark velvet, was a small, metallic device. It looked like a hybrid between a piece of armor and a modern medical tool¡ªlike a blood sugar reader designed with old-world craftsmanship. A polished band of silver wrapped around the base, tapering into a pointed tip lined with faint, circuit-like etchings. At first glance, it seemed simple. But the longer Luke stared, the more unnatural it felt.

    Dawn lifted hers cautiously, rolling it between her fingers. It was cold to the touch, unnervingly so, yet the moment her skin made contact, it sent a pulse through her fingertips. She nearly dropped it.

    Luke¡¯s jaw tightened. "What¡­ is this?"

    Liam exhaled through his nose. "A key. A test. A burden." His gaze flickered to them both. "And your father¡¯s last gift."

    Dawn swallowed, shifting uncomfortably. "What exactly are we supposed to do with it?"

    Liam gestured toward the devices. "You already know."

    Luke exchanged a glance with Dawn.

    It was obvious.

    It had a slot for a finger. A single-use mechanism designed for a prick of blood.

    Dawn stared at hers like it might bite her. "So¡­ what? We just stick our fingers in and hope it doesn¡¯t kill us?"

    Chris, who had been leaning forward curiously, suddenly scooted back. "Yeah, I don¡¯t like that wording."

    Liam remained unmoving. "It won¡¯t kill you." Then, after a beat, he added, "Probably."

    Chris made a choked noise.

    Luke narrowed his eyes. "That¡¯s really reassuring."

    Liam¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. "I told you. I don¡¯t have all the answers. But I do know one thing¡ªonce you use it, there¡¯s no going back."

    A heavy silence followed.

    Dawn let out a slow breath. "Well¡­ nothing¡¯s been normal for a while now."

    Without another word, she placed her index finger inside.

    Without hesitation, Luke followed. He couldn¡¯t let Dawn be braver than him.

    The moment his finger slipped into the device, he regretted it.

    A sharp prick¡ªthen pressure. The metal band tightened, glowing with an eerie, pulsating light. It constricted around his finger, too tight, far too tight. Luke barely had time to register the sensation before the pain shot up his arm like wildfire.

    His knees buckled.

    He fell out of his seat, hitting the floor beside the desk. The two ornate boxes sat empty above him, their contents now fused to their new owners.

    Liam remained seated, unmoved. Chris was frozen, his eyes darting between them, somewhere between horror and fascination. Dawn had curled in on herself in her chair, her body stiff as she clutched her arm, gritting her teeth.

    Luke barely noticed.

    His vision swam, his breath caught in his throat.

    The pain wasn¡¯t just in his hand¡ªit was in his mind.

    Crawling forward on instinct, he barely processed what was happening. Then he looked down.

    The device was¡ªchanging.

    Glowing.

    Floating.

    Its pieces no longer solid but suspended, shifting¡ªbreaking apart into intricate, floating runes. Light, data, something more than mere symbols swirled in front of him. He saw shapes¡ªmath¡ªequations that he barely recognized but somehow understood. DNA strands coiled in the air like threads of code, interwoven with history itself. Dates flickered in and out of existence. Was that¡­ files? Programs?

    He wasn¡¯t sure anymore.

    Then the images came.

    Not from the device.

    From within him.

    Overlayed in his vision¡ªflashes of unknown places, whispers of voices he had never heard but somehow knew. He could feel something pouring into him¡ªknowledge, memories, power.

    It was too much.

    Too much.

    He barely had time to register the weight of it before his mind shut down.

    And everything went black.

    Dawn barely felt the sting of the prick before the weight of it hit her.

    It wasn¡¯t pain at first. Not like Luke.

    It was pressure¡ªlike something had wrapped around her bones, her muscles, her very being, and was pulling.

    Her breath hitched.

    The device squeezed tighter, the light intensifying, seeping into her skin like molten gold. She curled in on herself, clutching her arm as it trembled under the force of something she couldn¡¯t understand.

    And then¡ª

    The world shattered.

    Images burst into her mind, rapid, uncontrolled. Not words or thoughts but sensations.

    Strength. Power. Hunger.

    A heartbeat¡ªnot hers.

    She saw warriors clashing on fields soaked in blood. Spears flashing in the light of a burning sun. A sky painted red with fire and fury. Women with golden wings standing over fallen men, their voices singing in languages she didn¡¯t know but recognized.

    Her pulse pounded in her ears. Her breath was ragged. She could hear the roars of battle, feel the heat of war, taste the iron in the air¡ª

    And she knew.

    She had been here before.

    The thought wasn¡¯t hers. It wasn¡¯t real. It couldn¡¯t be real.

    And yet.

    The knowledge settled deep into her bones, a truth she could no longer deny.

    She gasped as the force of it pressed into her, like something was waking up inside her¡ªsomething ancient, something hers.

    Her skin burned. Her body ached. And then¡ªnothing.

    The memories, the sounds, the chaos¡ªeverything snapped away.

    Darkness swallowed her whole.

    She woke up slowly.

    The first thing she noticed was the rough texture of the blanket over her. Then the ache in her limbs, a deep soreness that made her feel like she¡¯d been through hell.

    She groaned, shifting slightly, her eyes cracking open.

    Soft light filtered through wooden beams. The air smelled of fresh earth and old wood. There was a faint whir of machinery in the distance, and the steady thrum of something¡ªnot quite electricity, but not quite natural either.

    She blinked.

    Where the hell was she?

    Her mind was still sluggish, heavy. She turned her head, wincing as her muscles protested.

    Across the small room, Luke lay in another bed, completely out cold.

    Chris sat in a rickety chair between them, his elbows on his knees, watching her.

    The moment her eyes met his, he grinned.

    He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice to a whisper.

    ¡°Happy birthday, Dawny.¡±

    Dawn groaned, closing her eyes again. ¡°Shut up, Chris.¡±

    Luke groaned as he forced his eyes open, his head pounding like someone had taken a hammer to his skull. His body felt impossibly heavy, like gravity had doubled overnight. Every nerve in his body buzzed with exhaustion, and his thoughts lagged behind, struggling to catch up.

    The first thing he noticed was the digital clock on the wall.

    9:26 AM.

    That sent his mind into calculation mode.

    They¡¯d boarded their flight at 6:00 PM in Italy. The seven-hour time difference meant that, at that exact moment, it was only 11:00 AM in Austin.

    The flight had lasted 4.5 hours, meaning they¡¯d landed in Austin at 3:30 PM local time. Add another hour for customs, baggage, and the drive home, and they would¡¯ve arrived at the estate around 4:20 PM at the latest.

    Now, it was the next day.

    They¡¯d been out for over seventeen hours.

    And somehow, he still felt like he could sleep for another twenty-four.

    A groggy noise from the other bed drew his attention.

    Dawn.

    She sat up slowly, eyes bleary, looking like she¡¯d just been hit by the same truck that had flattened him. She didn¡¯t say anything, but the exhaustion on her face mirrored his own.

    Then, there was Chris.

    Still slouched in his chair, arms crossed, watching them closely. He didn¡¯t look exhausted, just impatient.

    Finally, he threw up his hands and said the only thing that mattered.

    ¡°So what the fuck was that?¡±

 Chapter 4: "You Fight Like a Mortal"

    Chris¡¯s question hung in the air. It also hung in Luke¡¯s mind.

    What was it? Where was it?

    Why was he waking up in an empty tool shed, lying on a military cot?

    Why was Chris still here¡ªhad he not slept for seventeen hours?

    Why did his body feel like he had been put through a grinder, then left to bake under the sun?

    Luke wasn¡¯t used to this. Normally, he was good at answering questions, at making sense of situations before anyone else could. His mind was sharp, quick. But now, for the first time in a long time, he didn¡¯t have a single answer.

    Because every question he thought of depended on five others he hadn¡¯t answered yet.

    He hated this feeling.

    He rubbed his eyes, groaning. "I don¡¯t know."

    Dawn exhaled sharply through her nose. "Neither do I." She shifted, running a hand through her hair before fixing her eyes on Chris. "What happened? After we¡ª" She hesitated. "After we passed out?"

    Chris scratched his cheek. "Well, for starters? You glowed."

    Dawn¡¯s eyebrows pulled together. "Excuse me?"

    Chris gestured vaguely at them. "Like, lit up. Bright as hell. And then¡ªboom. Lights out. You both dropped like rocks." He leaned back in his chair, watching them carefully. "I thought you died for a second. But then Liam showed up, checked your pulses, and told me to help him move you guys in here."

    Dawn¡¯s expression darkened. "Why here?"

    Chris shrugged. "Didn¡¯t ask. He just said you¡¯d be better off waking up here than anywhere else." He paused, then motioned at Luke. "Besides, I figured he¡¯d wake up and do his whole brain thing, and he¡¯d figure it out."

    Luke frowned. "Chris, my brain doesn¡¯t always just work like that."

    Chris gave him a pointed look. "Yeah? Well, mine never does and I¡¯m not seeing any other ideas right now, genius."

    Luke opened his mouth, then shut it.

    Fair.

    Instead, he sat up straighter, forcing his mind past the exhaustion, past the ache in his limbs. His thoughts needed to start making sense.

    He flexed his fingers.

    And then he noticed.

    The device.

    Gone.

    Luke stiffened, glancing at Dawn. Her eyes met his, and without a word, they both looked down at their hands empty. The device was gone.

    "Where the hell¡ª"

    Chris raised a hand. "Oh. Right. Yeah. You mean the glowy things?"

    Luke¡¯s gaze snapped to him. "Yes, Chris. The glowy things."

    Chris hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "So, uh¡­ how do I put this?" He exhaled. "You guys absorbed them."

    Dawn¡¯s face blanked. "What?"

    Chris nodded. "Yep. Just¡ªshoom¡ªright into your bodies. Gone. Like they were eaten."

    Luke¡¯s breath caught.

    Dawn shot out of bed. "The fuck do you mean, inside us?"

    "I mean inside you, Dawn!" Chris threw his hands up. "Like, literally vanished into thin air. One second they were glowing, the next poof."

    Luke stared down at his hands, flexing them again. He felt normal.

    Mostly.

    But something was¡­ different.

    It wasn¡¯t something he could see. It wasn¡¯t even something he could fully grasp.

    But it was there.

    Like a whisper at the back of his mind.

    Dawn turned back to Chris, eyes narrowed. "And you didn¡¯t think to wake us up immediately after that?"

    Chris scoffed. "Oh, sure! Let me just wake up the two unconscious, possibly magic-infused people and say, ¡®Hey, guys, you ate a weird device, thoughts?¡¯ Great idea, Dawn."

    Luke pinched the bridge of his nose. "Alright. We need answers." He inhaled sharply, forcing himself to focus. "Liam¡¯s the only one who can give them to us."

    Dawn nodded. "Then let¡¯s find him."

    Chris, however, didn¡¯t look convinced. He crossed his arms, leaning back slightly. "I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s a good idea."

    Dawn turned to him. "Why not?"

    Chris hesitated. "Because he¡¯s the one who put you in here."

    Luke frowned. "And?"

    Chris ran a hand through his hair. "I dunno, man. It just¡ªit felt off. Like, he didn¡¯t want you waking up in the house. Said it might be too much."

    Dawn¡¯s brow furrowed. "Too much what?"

    Chris shrugged. "Hell if I know. I just know he was weirdly calm about the whole ¡®two teenagers swallowed a glowing object¡¯ thing. And now you want to go straight to him for answers?"

    Dawn crossed her arms. "Well, yeah. Who else do we ask? The tool shed?"

    Chris sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "Fine. Whatever. You¡¯re right. After waking up from a magic coma, clearly the best next step is to confront the six-foot murder gardener. Why didn¡¯t I think of that?"

    Luke was already moving toward the door.

    He reached for the handle¡ª

    And it swung open before he could touch it.

    Liam stepped inside.

    The shed felt smaller the moment he did.

    He shut the door behind him with a quiet click.

    Luke tensed. Dawn stiffened beside him.

    Chris, however, just exhaled sharply. "Oh, well, that¡¯s not ominous at all."

    Liam¡¯s gaze swept over them. His expression remained unreadable. "Good. You¡¯re awake."

    Luke squared his shoulders. "Yeah, we¡¯re awake. Now what the hell is going on?"

    Liam didn¡¯t answer immediately. Instead, he reached up, fingers tracing something into the dust of the doorframe. Symbols. Luke recognized them, even if he didn¡¯t understand them.

    A whisper¡ªtoo soft to catch¡ªslipped past Liam¡¯s lips.

    Then, he unlocked the door and pushed it open.

    The world beyond the threshold was wrong.

    Not the estate.

    Not the shed.

    Not Austin.

    Luke inhaled sharply. The air was different. Thicker.

    Liam turned back to them, his face as calm as ever.

    "I told you," he said. "I don¡¯t have all the answers. I only have some of the answers."

    He stepped aside, gesturing toward the open door.

    "But if you want any of the answers, come with me."

    Luke hesitated. His fingers twitched at his sides. He could feel Dawn shifting beside him, Chris hovering uncertainly behind them.

    "Come with you where?" Luke asked.

    Liam¡¯s lips twitched into a faint smile.

    "Well," he said, "your father called it the garden."

    Luke frowned. "The garden?"

    Liam tilted his head slightly. "Tell me, have you ever wondered why you have an on-staff, twenty-four-seven gardener¡­" He let the question hang. "¡­but no garden on your property?"

    Luke¡¯s stomach twisted.

    He had wondered. It was one of those background thoughts that never fully mattered.

    Until now.

    Dawn narrowed her eyes. "Wait. This is the garden?"

    Liam gestured toward the vast, unfamiliar world beyond the shed.

    "This," he said, "is the garden."

    Dawn stepped forward cautiously. Something about this place felt familiar. Her eyes flicked to Luke, but he didn¡¯t seem to notice anything strange¡ªat least, not in the way she did.

    As she stepped out of the shed, her breath hitched.

    The sky stretched wide and endless above them, unlike anything she had seen before. The landscape was a clash of eras¡ªmassive Mesoamerican structures loomed in the distance, their stepped pyramids carved with intricate Norse runes. The air was thick with the scent of jungle and stone, warm but not oppressive. It was strange. It was impossible.

    And yet¡­ she knew this place.

    Her dreams had painted landscapes like this before¡ªvisions she¡¯d always dismissed as fleeting fantasies, meaningless fragments of imagination. But this wasn¡¯t a dream.

    This was real.

    Liam, watching her carefully, tilted his head. ¡°Do you remember this place, Dawn?¡±

    She hesitated before answering, her fingers curling at her sides. ¡°Yes¡­ and no.¡± Her voice was quieter than she intended. ¡°I¡¯ve dreamed of it. It feels familiar. But I don¡¯t know why. Have I been here before?¡±

    Liam nodded once, solemn. ¡°Yes. Before Owen passed, he used to bring both of you here. But I suspect Luke was too young to remember.¡±

    Luke casually shrugged. ¡°Yeah, I definitely don¡¯t recall any of this.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    ¡°Me either,¡± Chris added.

    Everyone turned to him with a mix of confusion and disappointment.

    Chris frowned. ¡°What? Just thought I¡¯d make that clear.¡±

    Dawn exhaled sharply, shaking her head. Of course Chris hadn¡¯t been here before. But she had. She just didn¡¯t know why.

    And that unsettled her more than anything else.

    They stood in a vast stretch of grassland, the earth beneath them soft but firm. To the left, a sandy beach stretched toward an ocean that shimmered under an unfamiliar sky. A few tropical trees swayed lazily in the breeze, their leaves rustling like whispers. Ahead, a stone pathway led from the shed to a massive step pyramid, its silhouette looming against the horizon.

    Liam stepped forward, his voice steady but expectant. ¡°Come with me.¡± Without waiting for a response, he started down the pathway.

    Dawn hesitated before following, her eyes scanning the landscape in quiet awe. In the distance, she spotted movement¡ªfigures too far to make out clearly, but creatures nonetheless. Animals? People? She couldn''t tell.

    Then¡ª

    A piercing screech split the air.

    Dawn¡¯s instincts flared, and she snapped her head upward, expecting an attack. A shadow passed overhead, wings wide, a creature unlike anything she had ever seen. Her breath hitched. She locked eyes on it, muscles tensed¡ª

    And then it happened.

    A rush of information slammed into her.

    Lights flickered in her vision, words and symbols she didn¡¯t recognize flashing across her mind like a terminal on overdrive. She saw Phoenix¡ªthen numbers, abbreviations, attributes, things she couldn''t process. Her head spun. It was too much, too fast¡ª

    She yanked her gaze away, squeezing her eyes shut. The second she looked away, the overload vanished.

    Blinking rapidly, she forced herself to open her eyes again. Her vision had returned to normal. No numbers. No lights. No words.

    What the hell was that?

    She turned to Luke, expecting him to have noticed something¡ªbut he was caught up in a conversation with Chris, oblivious to everything around him.

    ¡°Okay, so¡­ if this is just a pocket dimension, how big is it? Like, a whole galaxy? Or is it just the area we can see? What happens if we sail across that ocean? Is it endless, or does it loop? Or¡ªwait¡ªis this technically a flat Earth situation?¡±

    Chris actually seemed to consider it. ¡°Shit, dude, what if we are on Flat Earth? But not, like, our Earth, just this one?¡±

    Luke snapped his fingers. ¡°Exactly! Like, if this place only exists in a contained space, then traveling far enough might just¡ª¡±

    Dawn clenched her fists.

    Of course Luke wasn¡¯t taking this seriously. He was distracted by the excitement of the situation, fascinated by the unknown, but Dawn?

    Dawn was starting to tremble.

    This wasn¡¯t fun. This wasn¡¯t some cool adventure.

    What were those devices they absorbed? Who was Liam, really? Were those gifts truly from their father? Sure, they¡¯d always known they were meant to receive something from him one day¡ªbut how did they know this was it? And Liam¡ªhow much did they really know about him?

    Nothing.

    He watched them. He rarely spoke. He hated answering questions.

    Sure, he¡¯d saved them from that woman¡ªbut what if that had been part of something bigger? What if he wasn¡¯t their protector, but their captor?

    She needed to think.

    Our parents would never have wanted us here.

    The thought came fast, reflexive.

    But then¡ª

    Her stomach twisted.

    Not parents. Parent.

    She swallowed hard.

    Her father was dead.

    The realization hit like a punch to the gut, stealing her breath, her vision blurring for just a second.

    And suddenly, the fear turned sharp.

    Their mother still had money. A lot of money.

    Was this about ransom?

    Was Liam leading them into captivity? Were they meant to be hostages?

    Uncle T.

    Was he in on it?

    Was he waiting for them on the other side of that temple door, ready to confirm the deal?

    Her stomach lurched, nausea rolling through her.

    Luke wasn¡¯t even thinking about it. Chris wouldn¡¯t know the difference. They were just following because Liam was a familiar adult.

    But this? This wasn¡¯t some family trip.

    This wasn¡¯t a game.

    Luke¡ªher little brother¡ªwas still a child.

    But today, she wasn¡¯t.

    Not anymore.

    Her fear solidified into something else.

    Resolve.

    Liam had grown larger before. He had a shape, shifting, magic and giant long sword, sure.

    But Dawn had a spear she assumed was the exact same kind of weapon.

    She could explain this to Luke later. She didn¡¯t care if Chris agreed.

    They weren¡¯t taking another step until she knew what was going on.

    And that was the last thought she had before she moved.

    Her spear was in her pocket, secured there before the flight to keep it from slipping out of her hair. A magic weapon. A secret. One she hadn¡¯t drawn since Rome.

    Luke and Chris were still behind her.

    She stopped walking, letting Liam gain a few steps ahead¡ªjust enough distance to create a safe gap. Then, with controlled precision, she raised her hand slightly in front of her, fingers subtly shifting into an old signal their security had drilled into them as kids.

    A game at the time.

    A lesson in reality.

    Fall back.

    Luke would remember it.

    And to her surprise, both Luke and Chris reacted instinctively, stepping back without hesitation.

    She didn¡¯t waste time figuring out why it worked.

    She was just glad it did.

    Now for the fun part.

    She was going to beat Liam like a damn answer pi?ata.

    Dawn took another step forward, creating more space between them and locking herself into position. In one swift motion, she reached into her pocket, gripping the tiny hairpin-sized spear, and willed it to extend.

    Nothing.

    Liam was already turning.

    Her pulse hammered. What did I do last time?

    She stared at the small pin in her palm, willing it to do something¡ªanything.

    Then¡ª

    A flicker. A pop-up, translucent and hovering in her vision, like an ad on her holo-phone but somehow inside her head.

    Activate? Y/N

    The text moved when she moved her eyes, unsettling and unnatural, like it was tracking her thoughts.

    Her breath caught.

    She focused hard on Y.

    Nothing.

    She gritted her teeth. Come on, come on!

    "YES!" she shouted.

    The word had left her lips, a desperate command rather than a thought, and suddenly, the world changed.

    Her spear flared to life, golden light bursting from the tiny hairpin as it expanded to its full size in her grip. She had no time to question it. No time to think.

    Focus.

    The moment she forced her mind into combat, something shifted inside her.

    A sharp ping rang in her head, then a computerized voice: [Valkyrie Rage Activated]

    Dawn¡¯s pulse surged. Her body felt weightless, powerful. A golden haze rimmed her vision, making everything sharper, brighter, clearer. She wasn¡¯t just moving faster¡ªshe could predict his movements.

    Liam hadn¡¯t turned yet. He was still mid-motion, about to face her.

    She had the advantage.

    Dawn struck.

    The spear cut through the air with a roar of power, the sheer force bending the grass beneath her feet. He wouldn¡¯t be able to dodge¡ª

    CLANG.

    Liam¡¯s sword was already there, his blade intercepting hers with impossible speed. Sparks scattered between them, and the impact jarred her bones, but she didn¡¯t stop. She twisted, bringing the spear back in a fluid arc aimed at his ribs¡ª

    Miss.

    Liam had already moved.

    Dawn didn¡¯t hesitate. Attack, attack, attack.

    Her body moved on instinct, a flurry of thrusts and swings, each one guided by something beyond her own skill¡ªbut none of them landed. Liam was simply gone before the strike could reach him, stepping aside, shifting back, avoiding her every move with the kind of ease that made her stomach twist.

    She was faster, stronger than ever before. So why couldn¡¯t she hit him?

    Her breathing turned ragged, frustration burning through her veins. She clenched her teeth and lunged again, her spear slicing through empty air as Liam sidestepped effortlessly.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± she snapped, spinning into another strike.

    Liam parried with ease, his expression unreadable.

    Dawn grit her teeth. ¡°Are you really working for our father?¡± Another thrust. Blocked. ¡°Or is this a trap?¡±

    Liam sighed, dodging another wild swing. ¡°You¡¯re asking the wrong questions, Dawn.¡±

    She nearly growled, her heart hammering. ¡°Then answer the right ones! Where did this device come from? Did our father really send it? Or is this something you did to us?¡±

    Liam stepped back, avoiding her entirely. ¡°This isn¡¯t the time for this. You¡¯re burning through your energy too fast. Let¡¯s stop, and I¡¯ll take you to the temple¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡±

    Her voice cracked through the air, raw and furious.

    He was avoiding it. Dodging her questions like he dodged her attacks. Like none of this mattered, like he wasn¡¯t the one leading them in circles. Like they were just supposed to trust him because he said so.

    No.

    No more blind trust.

    If he wasn¡¯t going to give her answers¡ª

    Then she¡¯d take them from him.

    Her grip on the spear tightened. Fine. If she couldn¡¯t outmaneuver him, she¡¯d overwhelm him.

    She launched forward, her body moving faster than her thoughts. Every muscle screamed as she poured everything into one decisive, brutal strike¡ª

    He caught it.

    With one hand.

    Dawn¡¯s eyes widened in shock.

    Liam didn¡¯t move, didn¡¯t flinch. He simply held the glowing spear in his grasp, his expression unreadable.

    "You fight like a mortal," he said, voice steady.

    Dawn gritted her teeth, twisting her body, trying to pull away¡ªbut his grip was unbreakable. He wrenched the spear from her hands like she was a child, spinning it in his grasp before sending it flying.

    She barely had time to react before his palm came up.

    A wall of force slammed into her chest.

    She hit the ground hard, rolling twice before skidding to a stop in the dirt, gasping for breath. The golden haze flickered at the edges of her vision, but she forced herself up, planting a hand against the earth to steady herself.

    A warning flashed across her vision.

    [Ond: Low]

    She shook it off, pushing forward. She wouldn¡¯t stop. Couldn¡¯t stop.

    Liam watched her rise, unimpressed. "Still standing?"

    Dawn wiped the blood from her lip and spat to the side. "Try harder."

    She sprinted toward him, forcing everything into her next attack. Feint high, strike low¡ªshe twisted, aiming for his legs this time.

    Liam sidestepped with ease, but she adjusted mid-motion, spinning into another strike. Her fist lashed out, a wild but forceful hit meant to test his reaction.

    Another block.

    He moved so effortlessly, reading her every move like an open book. He wasn¡¯t just faster¡ªhe knew what she was doing before she did it.

    Her frustration flared, and with it, another ping.

    [Ond: Critical]

    She ignored it.

    Dawn ducked low, shifting her weight onto her back foot, readying for another push¡ª

    A sudden pulse of energy rippled through her body.

    [Energy-saving mode activated Valkyrie rage deactivated.]

    The words were in Norwegian, sudden and foreign in her mind. The moment she registered them, her limbs slowed, her strength faltering as if something had drained out of her in an instant and her glow diminished.

    She staggered.

    Liam took advantage of the hesitation, stepping in and catching her wrist before she could react.

    Dawn barely processed the motion before she was airborne. The world tilted, and she slammed into the ground again, the impact jarring every bone in her body.

    Her vision blurred.

    She heard footsteps¡ªquick, heavy.

    Luke and Chris moved at the same time.

    Luke didn¡¯t think. His body moved before his mind could catch up, instincts overriding reason.

    Dawn was on the ground. Dawn never lost. Not like this.

    Chris was already ahead of him, charging forward without hesitation, fists clenched.

    Liam sighed. ¡°And here we go.¡±

    Chris swung first, aiming a wild, furious punch straight at Liam¡¯s face.

    It didn¡¯t land.

    Liam wasn¡¯t there anymore.

    Chris stumbled, his momentum throwing him off balance, but before he could hit the ground, Liam reappeared beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder¡ªthen flipping him over effortlessly.

    Chris hit the dirt hard, groaning. ¡°What the hell¡­¡±

    Luke pulled Dawn to her feet. She saw the world in slow motion, her vision still swimming. Distantly, she heard him say, "You''re down, not out," the same words their old fighting coach used to drill into them.

    Her training kicked in. He was right. She forced her vision to focus, the world stabilizing around her. She shifted into an unarmed stance. Luke stood to her right, Chris moving in on her left.

    Liam sighed and, with a flick of his wrist, turned the weapons in his hands into two training sticks¡ªmostly nonlethal, Dawn thought.

    They moved in.

    Dawn took a step forward, but her legs buckled beneath her, exhaustion crashing over her like a tidal wave. Liam shifted, prepared to react, but she waved the boys on, forcing herself to stay conscious.

    Luke was shaken. He hadn¡¯t expected a fight¡ªmuch less for Dawn to look so helpless against anyone. Liam had called her mortal. What did that make him?

    But when Dawn fell, his mind cleared. He stepped toward her instinctively, but she waved him off.

    That meant one thing.

    She needed him to handle this.

    If Dawn was relying on him, then he would handle it.

    Liam had seen him slack off in class, but this wasn¡¯t school. This wasn¡¯t some drill. He might have coasted through theory, but he loved to wrestle. And fighting? That was just another game of positioning.

    They were still closing the gap. At incredible speed, neither he, Liam, nor Chris had even taken a full step.

    That¡¯s it.

    Luke adjusted his stance¡ªintentionally bad, something half-resembling Muay Thai. Let Liam think he was arrogant enough to try a style he barely remembered. Let him assume he was going for something foolish.

    But at the last second¡ªwhen Chris had him tied up¡ªLuke would strike.

    He was good at groundwork.

    The moment the plan clicked in his mind, a robotic voice echoed through his skull.

    "Enemy analyzed. Allfather¡¯s Sight now available."

    His breath hitched.

    Then, immediately¡ª

    "Allfather¡¯s Sight activated."

    A pinpoint of light appeared in his vision.

    It hovered just slightly lower than where he¡¯d originally planned to strike. He adjusted, trusting it over his own instinct. But then, five more dots appeared, shifting and disappearing in sequence. First one. Then two. Then another¡ª

    His brain struggled to keep up with the shifting predictions.

    Then he saw something else¡ªChris had one.

    His own hand had one.

    Liam and Chris clashed. Chris stayed standing¡ªbut just barely. Liam flicked his wrist, striking Chris across the knuckles like a misbehaving schoolkid.

    Luke gritted his teeth, shutting off the interface¡ª

    The second he did, a massive headache exploded behind his eyes.

    Luke¡¯s head felt like it had been cracked open. His vision blurred, his skull throbbed like someone was drilling into it, and every breath felt heavier than it should have. His body was drained, his limbs leaden, exhaustion hitting him harder than he¡¯d ever felt before.

    Liam sighed, glancing between them. ¡°Are you guys done?¡±

    Luke shot him a glare through the pounding in his skull. ¡°No.¡± His voice came out rough, breathless.

    Dawn straightened, still shaky but holding herself together. ¡°We¡¯ve got questions.¡± She gestured between herself and Luke, her expression hardening. ¡°You gotta answer them before we trust you again. Too much has happened. We trusted you, and things only got worse¡ªweirder. And now you want us to keep following you blindly?¡±

    Liam exhaled through his nose, not looking particularly moved.

    Dawn wasn¡¯t having it. ¡°No more dodging. Who are you really? You called me a mortal¡ªwhat the hell does that make you?¡±

    Luke wiped a hand down his face, still fighting through the exhaustion. ¡°She¡¯s right. And I¡¯m embarrassed it wasn¡¯t me who noticed first¡ªwe don¡¯t know anything about you.¡±

    Chris, still catching his breath, let out a low whistle. ¡°Yeah, no offense, man, but we just got our asses kicked by a gardener with a magic sword.¡±

    Liam¡¯s lips twitched in an amused smile. ¡°No offense taken.¡±

    Then he met their gazes, his amusement fading. For the first time, something weighty settled behind his eyes¡ªsomething ancient, heavy.

    ¡°You want answers?¡± His voice was even, but it carried something deeper beneath the surface. ¡°Then follow me.¡±

    He turned toward the temple.

    Dawn didn¡¯t move. ¡°Not good enough. Talk now.¡±

    Liam stopped but didn¡¯t turn back.

    ¡°I am Heimdall.¡± His voice wasn¡¯t loud, but the name settled into the air with an unshakable weight. ¡°Watcher of worlds. Guardian of the Bifr?st. And for the last several years, your father¡¯s last line of defense.¡±

    Silence.

    Dawn¡¯s fingers twitched at her side. Luke tried to process what he¡¯d just heard, but his head was still fogged from the interface shutdown.

    Chris blinked. ¡°Okay. That...is not what I expected.¡±

    Dawn swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady. ¡°You¡¯re saying you¡¯re a god?¡±

    Liam¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change.

    ¡°Not exactly.¡±