The apartment faded in a blink. Marcus staggered as light swirled around him, and when it cleared, he stood in a new place entirely.
A wide stone hall stretched ahead of him—lined with statues, glowing runes, and strange hanging lanterns that burned with blue fire. Massive circular windows looked out at a shifting sky of stars and mist. At the far end, a large doorway pulsed with energy.
"Kiya?" Marcus called, glancing around.
She appeared beside him in a blink, having somehow followed him through the card's magic. She pawed at the stone floor nervously, her ears twitching.
"Well, you came," a familiar voice said.
Marcus turned to see Tyrese leaning against one of the pillars, hands in his coat pockets, a slight grin on his face.
"Welcome to the Veil. This is the in-between—a private sanctuary used by high-ranking members of the Paranormal Control Association. Figured the direct approach would be better than making you take the bus."
Marcus blinked. "What… is this place?"
Tyrese walked over, his tone shifting. "This is where truth lives. You've touched a world most people spend their lives ignoring. Monsters, spirits, the undead… they're all real. And so are people like us—hunters, exorcists, wielders."
Geoffrey appeared from a side door, sipping coffee. "We call ourselves the Phantom Division. Our job is to fight the things that slip through the cracks of reality."
Marcus folded his arms. "And what exactly am I?"
"You," Tyrese said, pointing at him, "are an Awakened Soul. You bonded with an ancient Eidolon Relic during a near-death event. That sword wasn't random—it was a test, and you passed."
Kiya growled lowly as Marcus clenched his fists. "So what now? I join your little monster-hunting club?"
Tyrese shrugged. "Only if you want to. You've got a choice. Go back to pretending nothing happened… or start walking the path that sword opened for you."
Marcus looked at Kiya, who gave him a small nod, her tails rising slightly.
He took a deep breath.
"I want to know the truth. All of it."
Tyrese grinned. "Good. Then your real training starts now."