Elara's eyes snapped open.
The ceiling above her was cracked, beams half-broken. But that wasn't what made her freeze.
Everywhere she looked—floating words and glowing marks clung to the world.
[Table: Damaged – 64% Stability]
[Chair: Broken – 92%]
[Exit: North – Distance 12m]
Her breath caught. She blinked hard. The words stayed.
"What… is this?" she whispered.
She lifted her hand and swiped through the air, trying to push the signs away. She reached out, touched one—her fingers went straight through.
Her heart skipped.
It wasn't floating in the room.
It was inside her eyes.
A chill ran down her spine. And then—
"You're awake."
Her body jerked. Elara scrambled up, fists ready, her heart pounding.
"Who's there?!" Her voice shook as she turned fast, scanning every corner.
Silence.
Then the voice again. Calm. Male. Inside her head.
"Don't bother. You won't find me. I'm not… out there."
Her skin prickled.
"…Then where?"
"Here. With you. My designation is Nexus. System Core, linked."
She staggered back against the wall, shaking her head. "System…? Core…? What are you talking about?"
Before the voice could answer—
Step. Step.
The sound came from the doorway.
Elara snapped her hood up fast, pulling it low over her face, and dropped into a defensive stance. Her vision flashed again—
[Ralon Vaelith]
[Arcane: Arc 3 ]
[Threat Level: Very High]
[Disposition: Controlled]
Her throat tightened. Arc 3. That was far beyond her.
The figure stopped just inside the doorway. The hood still shadowed his face.
Then, slowly, he pulled it back. His pointed ears caught the faint light.
Elara's stance faltered. She stared, confused, cautious.
"Who are you? And… and how did I—?"
He cut her off, voice steady.
"Thought it'd take longer for you to wake. Weird."
She blinked, not understanding.
"Relax," he said, holding his hands out slightly. "If I wanted to hurt you, you'd already be dead. Don't you think?"
That made her stiff shoulders loosen just a little.
"The name's Ralon." His eyes flicked down. "And judging by the mark on your hand… you must be Elara."
At once, she clenched her fist and covered the crest with her other hand. Her chest tightened.
"How do you…?"
"Long story," he said flatly.
He studied her for a moment, his eyes unreadable. Then he turned slightly, motioning toward the hall.
"Come with me."
Elara hesitated, then followed close behind.
Her vision flickered again. Words floated beside everything she passed.
[Door: Unlocked – 78% Integrity]
[Wall: Structural Weakness – 42%]
[Stairwell: North – Distance 15m]
The glow shifted with her gaze, as if the world itself had been labeled. She tried to ignore it.
Ralon's voice broke the silence.
"We were sent by your father to find you."
She almost tripped.
"…My… father?"
Ralon glanced sideways. "Right. You've never met him, have you?"
Her throat tightened. She looked down.
"…My mother… mentioned him sometimes."
"And where is she now? Your mother?"
Elara's steps slowed. Her fingers curled against her palm.
"…She passed. Last year."
Ralon said nothing. The silence stretched between them, heavy.
Then—
He already knew.
The voice slid through her head like a whisper. Nexus.
Elara's eyes snapped to Ralon. "You… didn't hear that?"
Ralon looked at her, brow furrowed. "Hear what?"
She shook her head quickly. "…Nothing."
But inside, she locked it in her mind.
Only she could hear Nexus. Whatever it was.
---
The next room opened wider. Dust clung to cracked walls, but two figures moved sharply in the center. Knives flashed, quick arcs in the dim light. Their feet struck the ground with precision—fast, strong, agile.
But the moment they noticed her, they stopped.
One, a girl with tied-back hair, straightened with a curious smile.
"She's awake. That's fast."
The other, a tall guy with a blade in his hand, only glanced at her… then looked away, jaw tight.
Ralon gestured between them.
"Ava. Zelphar."
Elara swallowed, her eyes flickering. Numbers appeared beside their names in her vision.
[Ava Serelith]
[Arcane: Arc 3]
[Threat Level: Very high]
[Disposition: Warm]
[Zelphar Draven]
[Arcane: Arc 3]
[Threat Level: Extreme]
[Disposition: Hostile]
Both stronger than her. Her stomach knotted.
The girl stepped forward with an easy grin.
"Hi. Ava. Arc 3."
Elara's reply came out cautious, guarded.
"…Elara."
Ava tilted her head. "And Arc?"
Elara hesitated. Her hand twitched at her side. "…One. Arc 1."
Zelphar let out a sharp laugh through his nose. He kept cleaning the knife in his hand but his voice was low, angry.
"Great. So we've been risking our lives searching for the lost heir, and she's just Arc 1?"
Elara flinched, heat burning her cheeks.
"Enough," Ralon's tone cut through, steady but not harsh. The kind of voice that expected obedience.
Zelphar didn't look up. "Try telling that to the Black Sigil when they catch us. Let's see if your steady voice works on them too."
A tense silence pressed down for a beat.
Then Ava broke it, her voice warm and light. She smiled at Elara, almost teasing.
"Don't mind him. Honestly, it's nice having another girl around. I was getting tired of being the only one."
Elara blinked, caught off guard but a small part of her tension eased.
But Zelphar finally stood, sliding the cleaned knife into its sheath. His eyes were cold when they landed on her.
"We can't stay here. Not with her awake. The Black Sigil will come, and when they do…" He shook his head.
Ralon's gaze flicked to him, then back to Elara. His expression softened just slightly.
"Are you steady enough to move? Long distance."
Elara swallowed, then gave a small nod. "...I can."
Ava was already gathering a light pack, slinging it over one shoulder. Zelphar grabbed his own without another word, movements sharp.
"Then let's go," Ralon said simply, stepping toward the doorway.
Elara fell in beside him, her hood drawn low, footsteps quiet. For a moment, she dared to lift her voice, barely above a whisper.
"Uh… where exactly are we going?"
Ralon didn't look at her. His answer was steady, almost matter-of-fact as the echo of their boots filled the hall.
"Vaeloria"
Elara's breath caught.
Her mother had mentioned the name before, but only in passing. Hearing it now was different. It was no longer a story. It was real.
And it was waiting.
---
To be continued...