Shirei completed his inspection of the temporal rift, meticulously searching for magical traces that might confirm its definitive closure.
There's no way to know for sure, but I don't sense anything here.
"The portal is sealed," assured his Tenebrae.
"Perfect," he concluded before heading back toward the Equinox Flowers.
Without further delay, he began focusing the mana around him. "Come closer. With spectral travel, we can reach the next temporal rift immediately."
Ada's expression quickly turned to concern. "Wait… you want to go already?" she asked, the surprise evident in her tone.
Havel, exhausted and aching from the wound on his leg, added, "I'm in no condition to fight yet, idiot."
Cragar's son clenched his palm, dispersing the mana particles, realizing his mistake. I forgot, I'm not alone.
A veil of guilt crossed his face. "I'm sorry."
The Blendbreed addressed the Tenebrae in his mind, who still followed him like a loyal ally, even though their agreement had run its course.
Reno, can you do something to help him?
The creature's response echoed in his thoughts: My song can heal him, but he will still need to rest if he wants to recover his strength.
I see.
Shirei instructed his spectral companion to wait in the Interworld and approached Havel. Gently, he lifted him over his shoulder. "I'll help you. Let's go back to the manor."
The warrior seemed taken aback by the gesture. "I don't need your help, I can handle myself," he grumbled.
Despite his initial reluctance, caused by the identity of the Forbidden Heir, he silently appreciated it. Ada joined them, positioning herself on the other side to offer additional support. Together, the trio set off toward their refuge.
As they crossed the battlefield, now stripped bare, curiosity got the better of Rutia's daughter, and she turned to the new Equinox Flower.
"Shirei, did you seriously want to take all of us there with spectral travel?"
The violet-eyed Blendbreed nodded, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Is that strange?"
Ada shook her head, surprised. "I just didn't expect something like that," she admitted, then decided to elaborate. "In the textbooks dedicated to the powers of Blendbreeds, all the peculiar abilities are detailed, including those of Cragar's children."
She paused to adjust Havel's shoulder, trying to make the journey more comfortable. "Spectral travel is considered the most common ability for you all, so most of the information focuses on that. I didn't know it was such a powerful skill."
Shirei stepped over a pile of swords along their path. "What exactly does it say?"
Before the Blendbreed could answer, Havel cut in. "Wait, let me get this straight—since you've been at the park, you've never even opened a book? What the hell have you been doing all this time?"
Without a word, Ada gave him a light slap on the back of the head.
"What's wrong with you, Ada!? Can't you see I'm injured?" protested Sidal's son, indignantly.
"You're not going to die from a slap on the back of the head, Granbish. Stop whining."
Havel let out a heavy sigh as Shirei's lips curved into a faint smile.
Ada wasn't finished. She turned to the leader with a reproachful tone. "How can you lecture him when you've only studied combat manuals yourself?"
"One is still better than none…" Havel muttered defensively.
The girl raised her hand in a threatening gesture, and the Blendbreed immediately shut his mouth. At that moment, Shirei distracted the two from their comic squabble by asking, "Havel, could you teach me what you studied sometime?"
Ada hid a smile of approval. Well played, son of Cragar.
The leader's face lit up. He tried to mask his emotion by lifting his chin and puffing out his chest. "You and me? Not even dead…"
Ada raised her hand again.
"Alright. Once I'm healed," he replied in a tone meant to sound distant but clearly tinged with satisfaction.
"Thank you," nodded the violet-eyed Blendbreed before turning back to Rutia's daughter. "What's said about spectral travel?"
Ada noticed with pleasure how the atmosphere had lightened and couldn't help but appreciate it. "First of all, it requires a massive expenditure of mana—so much so that attempting it in succession causes serious exhaustion and fainting."
She paused, ensuring Shirei was following, then continued, "Traveling through the Interworld across long distances negatively affects the minds of Cragar's children, leading to migraines," then, with a note of concern in her voice, she added, "And transporting other living beings with you is highly discouraged."
Shirei furrowed his brows slightly. "I don't understand."
"If the contact is broken, there's a risk the traveler could be lost forever in the Interworld, with no chance of return."
Shirei remained silent for a moment, reflecting on the information he'd just received. "Has it ever been like that for you?" the girl asked.
"No," confirmed the Blendbreed, shaking his head. "At first it was strange to navigate, and I couldn't move properly, but I figured it out after a few months of practice at Cragar's palace."
"And the mana cost?"
"It's never been a problem."
Ada immediately justified the assumption. "It's obvious you're able to convert aether while traveling, reducing mana output and creating a stable energy balance."
Havel, who had remained silent until then, made a grimace of annoyance. "Alright, we get it. Purple, you're a genius. Congrats, Forbidden Heir. Stop rubbing it in us common Blendbreeds' faces."
Rutia's daughter stifled a laugh and urged them to move on. The Blendbreeds reached the manor and brought Havel to the first floor, laying him on a bed so he could rest. Reno was instructed to take care of his treatment as much as possible. Afterward, Shirei and Ada returned to the living room.
Cragar's son approached the Blendbreed seated on the armchair and asked, "Still no word from Lilies Park?"
Ada checked her phone, her brow furrowed. "No…" she replied with a grimace of disappointment. Then, lifting her gaze toward Shirei, she added, "You know, you should get one too."
The girl raised her arm, showing the phone. "In situations like this, it's really useful. Missions in the mortal world are fairly frequent—it's not that rare for a monster to cross through the gates of the Underworld or the interdimensional rifts of the Otherworld."
"If it happens as often as you say, why aren't there Blendbreed units already stationed in those areas?"
"Because…" she paused, unable to find an answer. "I don't know… that's a fair question. We should ask the divine Aena. Anyway, back to phones—there's no one you'd like to hear from?"
Shirei remained silent for a moment, his gaze distant. He first thought of his half-sister, whom he could never stop worrying about, then of Marina. A subtle warmth rose in his chest as the image of Ien's smiling daughter formed clearly in his mind.
I suppose there is, he admitted to himself. But aloud, he said, "I can always write letters and have them delivered."
"And how would you manage that?"
"Ammir."
"The god of travel descending into the mortal world just to deliver your letter? You must think very highly of yourself."
"No," replied the Blendbreed calmly. "I think he's interested in me."
Ada looked at him with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "You're one of those skeptics when it comes to technology. Marina's the same, even though she adores Darryl."
Shirei's eyes lit up with interest when he heard the blonde's name. "Do they have a strong bond?" he asked, trying to keep his tone neutral.
"Yes," the girl confirmed, a fond smile softening her face. "Darryl has always been like the older brother none of us ever had."
Her tone became more nostalgic as she continued, "You know, at the beginning, when we Blendbreeds were first brought to the park, we were all terrified."
Shirei sat back comfortably, his gaze fixed on Rutia's daughter.
"What happened to you was more intense, but the process is usually the same. The gods send a miniature mask and a letter to their offspring, and Aena alerts us with the details about the Blendbreeds we have to retrieve, she paused, her eyes distant, as if reliving those moments. Few kids are truly eager to follow us. Most are scared, shattered, and don't know what to do. That's normal—your world just collapsed. But it doesn't make our job easy."
Her voice softened, and a gentle smile lit up her face. "Having Darryl—an adult, laughing, cheerful, and ensuring your safety…"
Understanding the weight of those words, Shirei murmured, "It must be comforting."
Ada nodded, then her tone shifted, becoming more serious. "It is. So much so that even a simple boy like Havel can become obsessed with the image of a hero."
Shirei, noticing the concern in her voice, tried to reassure her. "You don't need to worry about him. It's a moderate-to-mild wound—he'll be fine."
"I know, but I'm not talking about that. You're thinking only of combat and his physical condition. I'm thinking of my friend. The way he always throws himself into the fray…" she sighed deeply. "It terrifies me. Havel hasn't been the same since you defeated him."
"It was just a duel. It wasn't deadly, so I treated it as training."
"The fact that it wasn't deadly doesn't make it just a 'duel.' You lack empathy. I know because I used to be that way too. People have feelings and thoughts. For someone, being defeated could be worse than being wounded."
Cragar's son watched Ada closely, noting the depth of what she called feelings.
"Even so, it's impossible to prefer physical pain over a simple defeat with no consequences."
He couldn't fully understand what she was saying, but he concluded, "You care a lot about Havel."
It wasn't a question, but a gentle statement.
"Yes. He…" Ada smiled, lost in her memories. "He was also my hero."
For a moment, the Blendbreed seemed like she wanted to say more, but then she shook her head lightly, as if to bring herself back to the present. "So, will you explain why you wanted us to stay on this mission?"
Shirei answered calmly. "I had a dream."
"A dream," Ada repeated, disappointed. "We stayed here for a dream? That's the only reason?"
Shirei's silence spoke for itself.
"What did you dream of?"
"Rakion, the Severe."
Ada's eyes widened in surprise. "The god of time?"
"Yes. He wants to declare war on the gods and invade both Lilies Park and Daffodils Academy."
Ada shook her head vehemently, her tone now incredulous and almost indignant. "No, wait," she stopped him. "The divine Rakion? We're talking about the father of the divine Emion? The king of the Third Generation? The one who established the Golden Empire? That's impossible! He entered eternal rest after passing his mask and his role as king of the gods to his son."
"Apparently, that's not the case," Shirei countered.
"Impossible!" Ada exclaimed, raising her voice. "It's written everywhere and everyone knows it!"
Shirei remained silent, observing the girl's reaction with interest. He hadn't yet seen her lose her composure, but he had to admit—it was an interesting side of her. Ada, realizing her overreaction, quickly composed herself. She cleared her throat, a slight blush rising in her cheeks. "Sorry. I didn't mean to be so dramatic. Still, it doesn't change the fact that the Age of the Ancients ended centuries ago."
The boy nodded slowly, reflecting on the implications of what he had dreamed. The situation was more complex than he had initially thought. "I'm certain it wasn't just a dream."
Ada studied him, curiosity and doubt clear in her eyes. "How can you be so sure?"
"Salix, the one who 'attacked' the park, was there," he paused, his intense gaze fixed on the unlit fireplace. "He's the one who made me have that dream with his powers."
Ada leaned forward, her voice now urgent. "Tell me everything in detail."
Shirei nodded and began to narrate in his calm voice. As he went on, weaving in the information gathered from Reno, Ada's expression slowly changed. The daughter of Rutia sat with her mouth slightly open, her eyes wide in shock.
When he finished, she was visibly shaken. Her voice trembled. "Y-you're right. We need to stop the monsters and destroy the temporal rifts as soon as possible."
"Definitely," Shirei agreed.
A heavy silence fell between them.
The son of Cragar considered whether to share something more. Eventually, he took a deep breath and decided to reveal the full truth. "The dream doesn't end there, actually. I also saw a younger version of myself."
Ada looked at him with renewed interest. "What did he want from you?"
"He told me I need to become stronger, to understand what I have in my hands, and to get help from…" Shirei trailed off, leaving the sentence unfinished.
From the bearer of darkness, he completed in his mind.
The silence lingered as he reflected. His eyes settled on Ada, realizing that she—with her ability to channel darkness—must be the bearer mentioned by the younger self in his subconscious.
"From whom?"
The boy locked eyes with the Equinox Flower. His voice was low, almost reverent, when he spoke again. "Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead," the girl replied, still confused by his words, sensing the importance of the request.
"How does one cross a path?"
The question seemed to fill the entire room with magical energy. Ada fell silent for a moment, surprised. Her usually steady gaze betrayed a flicker of hesitation.
"Was it your subconscious that spoke to you?" she finally asked.
Shirei nodded, his dark eyes reflecting the dancing light filtering through the windows.
"Marina explained vaguely what it is, but I didn't know it could be accessed like a physical place."
Ada inhaled deeply, as if gathering her thoughts. "Let me give you a general overview," she began, her voice taking on a more formal tone. "Each deity has their own Divine Pathway, which we Blendbreeds can walk through the inherited ichor to uncover new aspects of our powers. The path you walk is defined by the type of mana sealed within your Divine Core during development and from the person you are."
Shirei was about to ask a question, but she stopped him. "I already know what you're going to ask. 'Pathway' and 'Trail' are synonyms, but they're not the same thing. The Divine Pathway is a general term; the Evanescent Trail is a specific zone within the Blendbreed," as she spoke, she touched the small hollow just above her sternum—an almost unconscious gesture that seemed to connect her to the divine essence she described. "In my case, it contains the magic of Rutia. In your—"
"Cragar's," Shirei concluded.
"Exactly," the girl confirmed with a nod. Her gaze grew distant for a moment, as if she were contemplating realities beyond the perception of the Mortal World. "There are special cases, like the rejection of one's inheritance. I don't know if you're familiar with those."
"Marina mentioned that. Not falling into an Evanescent Trail to live safely away from the monsters."
Ada nodded. "You can also choose to change trails, but it's a very risky process."
"Why is that?"
The Blendbreed's expression darkened. "If something goes wrong, you might suffer a rejection and lose all your powers—or worse, destroy your Divine Core indirectly."
"What does the process involve?"
Ada hesitated, searching for the right words. The silence stretched between them. "I hope you're not thinking of trying it," she finally said, her voice carrying a clear note of warning. "Anyway, I know about a ritual…" she stopped, shaking her head. "Unfortunately, Elaine was the one most interested in it. I don't know much compared to her."
"She wants to change her pathway?" asked Shirei.
The curiosity that gripped him made conversation surprisingly easy—something he wasn't used to. Yet he felt that Ada was sharing something with him. The two were alike, he realized, but he couldn't quite define what they had in common.
Maybe because she's the bearer of darkness?
It was a strange feeling, especially for someone like him who rarely spoke to anyone.
"She said she wants to help those who fail the ritual, to make it safer," explained the daughter of Rutia.
Shirei pulled away from his thoughts and noticed the tone of her voice, which betrayed deep skepticism. "You don't sound convinced."
"Because I'm not," she admitted, a shadow of worry crossing her face, "but I'm certain Aena won't allow it."
She paused to push away the unsettling image of Elaine attempting the passage ritual, then changed the subject. "Back to the trails—they are a metaphysical manifestation of the Divine Pathways, which not everyone can access. It's a sort of epiphany of one's powers that can happen even at unexpected moments."
"Like an awakening?"
Ada nodded, a faint smile curving her lips. "You can think of it like that, yes." Then her gaze wandered, searching for the right words—she wasn't used to talking this much. "The trail appears differently for everyone, depending on your life, the places you've seen, the people you love," she continued, her voice softening almost imperceptibly. "It's very personal in that sense."
Unbeknownst to the two Blendbreeds, a slight shiver ran through the sky, as if Ada's words had touched something fundamental in the cosmic order.
"Along your journey, you'll encounter obstacles that allow you to discover and fully explore your powers," the daughter of Rutia went on, her tone now more solemn. "Keep in mind, though, that the trail has strict rules. You're not free to do whatever you want. Even if you believe you are, in truth you're only following its will."
"If I unlock a power in the Evanescent Trail, will I then be able to use it in reality?"
"Yes and no."
Her cryptic answer puzzled Shirei, but he hid his emotions behind the calm mask of his face.
"You possess the knowledge of that power, but you've never truly used it. You can't master it without training."
A spark of excitement lit up the violet eyes of Cragar's son as he realized he might be close to understanding how to become stronger. "How can I access my Evanescent Trail?"
"Meditation," Ada replied. "Darryl told us we should try channeling mana to our nervous system and relax our body."
"I see."
Rutia's daughter looked at him with a mix of amusement and concern. "You sure? I already told you—not all Blendbreeds can access it, and even those who do can't enter at will. We try and try again until it happens."
Despite the warning, Shirei sat on the floor cross-legged, his determination unmistakable.
"Then you better hope the connection doesn't get interrupted," Ada added, trying to dissuade him.
"I'll succeed," the Forbidden Heir declared confidently, his voice charged with a confidence that could easily be mistaken for arrogance.
"If you say so… we'll see."
The area around them seemed to hold its breath.
The leaves of the plants outside stopped rustling, the birds fell silent. It was as if nature itself waited in anticipation, a silent witness to an event that would lead the Blendbreed to a new level. As Shirei closed his eyes and began to focus, the atmosphere around them subtly shifted. An invisible energy began to build, like electricity before a storm. Ada remained still, withholding any judgment, fully aware of what she was witnessing. The silence deepened as the Blendbreed sank further into his meditation, attempting to open the door to his Evanescent Trail. Ada watched him closely, her body tense like a drawn bowstring. She had decided not to speak, so as not to disturb the young son of Cragar's concentration, but a sense of apprehension tightened in her chest.
Time flows differently in the trail compared to our world, she thought, silently chastising herself for not warning him. If he actually reaches the Evanescent Trail, he could end up stuck like this for days.
She was almost certain Shirei wouldn't be able to enter the trail so easily.
Hypocritically, I didn't even tell him how to get out.
The boy's extraordinary talent always made him an unpredictable enigma.
But what if he succeeds? It took me eleven months my first time, Rutia's daughter reflected. If he pulls it off without any preparation, I'll end up treating him the way Havel does.
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, mana began to be expelled from Shirei's body in the form of blue particles, which, after a few moments, shifted into a deep royal purple. The air in the living room began to vibrate, charged with magical energy. Ada held her breath, her eyes wide with astonishment. She could almost feel the power emanating from the boy in invisible waves, rippling through the air and slightly shaking both the curtains and the ornaments.
It wasn't normal; no Blendbreed could generate that much power from nothing.
Who the hell are you?
Meanwhile, immersed in his meditation, Shirei perceived the particles of energy swirling around him.
That wasn't his goal.
He needed to call them to him and channel them toward his spine.
He imagined them, keeping his eyes still shut, as they disappeared and reappeared outside his body.
His concentration was total.
Lights began to dance before his eyelids. With a force of will, Shirei forced himself not to open them, resisting the urge to interrupt the process. He could feel his mind drifting away from his body, a strange yet familiar sensation, as though he had already experienced this moment in the past.
If my subconscious spoke to me about this, it means it has happened before, and I can do it again.
Ada watched with a mix of awe and fear, fully aware she was witnessing something extraordinary and potentially dangerous.
A Blendbreed who can enter the Evanescent Trail at will… it would shake anyone.
The stories about that legendary general from the Daffodils Academy came to her mind. Right, they said he could do it. Too bad he was quickly recruited into the divine army.
The girl found herself unsure of what to do, torn between the desire to stop the process and the curiosity to see how far the young Blendbreed could push himself. Shirei continued to sink deeper into his meditation. His consciousness seemed to float in an indefinite space, a void. The living room of the villa vanished from his perception, replaced by an enveloping darkness.
This sensation… his inner voice echoed in that world devoid of matter.
Despite the total darkness, he felt his body moving, as though guided by an invisible, unknown force. Gradually, something began to materialize in his field of vision: a rocky area, indistinct but tangible. With a mix of excitement and caution, he tried to approach it.
I made it, he thought with a flash of satisfaction. He had reached his Evanescent Trail.
However, his joy was short-lived. Suddenly, he collided violently with what seemed to be an invisible wall. The pain was immediate and searing, as if he had crashed into a barrier of pure energy. The shock was so intense that it caused him to snap his eyes open, abruptly interrupting his vision.
He recoiled backward, losing his balance in the physical world. His body hit the ground, expelling air from his lungs. Only then did he feel the light filter through his closed eyelids. With an effort, he opened his eyes, finding himself lying on the living room floor.
The sudden transition from the ethereal world of his almost-divine path to the solid reality of the mansion left Shirei disoriented and panting. The phantom pain of the impact with the invisible barrier lingered.
Ada approached. "Are you okay?"
The boy, still shaken by the experience, struggled to focus on the room around him. Small beads of sweat dotted his forehead. He began to rise, trying to process what he had just experienced. The daughter of Rutia stood still, staring at him, her lips curled into a faint smile that Shirei struggled to interpret.
Is she happy? he wondered, confused by the girl's reaction.
"You were close," said the Blendbreed.
Shirei lowered his gaze as frustration settled in his mind. "Yes."
"It's perfectly normal," the girl reassured him. "As I told you, Blendbreeds can't do it on command. It took me almost a year for my first time."
Despite the comforting words, he didn't seem relieved. His eyes concealed a deeper concern from the Flower of Equinox: time. Time he felt he didn't have.
An invisible, constant pressure on his shoulders.
He had to become more powerful, he had been told relentlessly. If he didn't improve, if he didn't create a stronger version of himself, there would be serious consequences.
"Are you going to get up?" Ada asked, extending a hand that was ignored.
She sat across from the Blendbreed and searched for his violet eyes. Her approach hit Shirei like a slap. He suppressed the annoying feeling of disappointment and repositioned himself, despite the failure.
"Shall we meditate together until Havel wakes up, what do you think?"
Shirei breathed, before nodding. "Yes, thank you."
As he prepared for another attempt, the young girl's words echoed in his mind. For the first time in his life, he hadn't succeeded on the first try. He had faced the same difficulties that every Blendbreed encountered.
And, more importantly, a companion was there, by his side, helping him.
He was not alone in this race against time.
There were people willing to stand by him.
Shirei closed his eyes, and an involuntary smile tugged at his lips.
In that moment, surrounded by the comfort of the mansion and Ada's reassuring presence, he felt something he had never truly experienced in his short life.
Normality.