Aetherion — Edge of the First Rift
The rift pulsed like a living wound in the sky,
dimensional light bending reality at its seams.
Kaelen stood at its threshold.
Alone.
Or so he thought.
Behind him, the sound of footsteps.
Six.
Deliberate. Unyielding.
He turned—
and there they were.
Aria Valen — dressed in Sovereign flame
Mira Nightshade — cloaked in voidlight
Selina Dawnweaver — heart pulsing with healing fire
Lyra Windrider — mist swirling around her wings
Lyanna Starborn — runes floating at her fingertips
Princess Valessia Auren — armor trimmed in Aurenfold silver
Kaelen blinked.
"What are you all doing here?"
Aria stepped forward.
"Coming with you."
Mira crossed her arms.
"Obviously."
Selina nodded softly.
"You don't walk into danger alone anymore."
Lyra grinned.
Valessia remained silent, but her eyes said enough.
Kaelen frowned.
"This isn't a game. You could—"
"—We know," Aria cut in gently.
"But we're going anyway."
He looked at them, confused, but didn't protest again.
They're too stubborn.
He didn't know the real reason.
But everyone else did.
POV: Elena Drayce (Mother)
Watching from a high balcony, Elena smiled softly.
"They're not following the Sovereign…"
"They're following the man."
POV: Aerin, Seris, Auriana, and Liora Drayce
In the courtyard below, Kaelen's siblings trained in silence.
The rift glowed above.
But none of them were watching it.
They were focused.
Sharpening.
Evolving.
"One day," Seris whispered,
"they'll speak our names, too."
Aerin nodded, sweat gleaming across his brow.
"And we'll make sure big brother never has to carry the whole sky alone."
Kaelen's Last Look
Before stepping into the rift, Kaelen looked back once.
At his family.
At his siblings.
At the women now standing behind him.
He didn't understand why they came.
But he accepted it.
And then—
he stepped forward.
One by one, they followed.
And the rift closed behind them.
System Notification
[Dimensional Entry Confirmed]
[Realm: Uncharted]
[Threat Level: Cosmic-Grade Hostile]
[Companion Bond Level: MAXIMUM POTENTIAL]
[New Destiny Thread Detected: LEGACY OF SEVEN]
Final Lines
In the skies above Aetherion,
the stars dimmed briefly—
as if holding their breath.
For the Sovereign had left his world…
…and taken his heart's storm with him.