The task was given without ceremony, and perhaps that was what unsettled them most.
They were to search for the Long missing blood and artifact of the goddess Lupercalia— Objects spoken of more in warnings than in records. The officials spoke as though the relics had simply drifted out of history, lost to time rather than taken by force. All that was known was where the trail went cold: somewhere within the United States. No city. No landmark. Just a vast stretch of foreign land and silence.
Questions rose, but answers did not follow.
No one explained why the items mattered now. No one said who else might be searching. The elders only stressed urgency, their voices carefully measured, as if too much clarity would invite something unwanted. When the meeting ended, the teens were left with the uncomfortable sense that they had been told exactly what was necessary—and nothing more.
Preparation came quickly after. Supplies were checked, roles loosely discussed, though nothing felt firmly decided. It was Mrs. Mason who finally stepped forward, pressing an aged map and a compass into their hands. The map was worn at the edges, its markings faint, as though it had been unfolded too many times by travelers who never finished their journeys.
"Nyxoria was crossed long before gates were built," she said quietly. "These will help you remember how." She added without explaining further.
The final day arrived with an unnatural stillness. Training grounds that were usually loud fell quiet as the four gathered at the border. Others watched from a distance—friends, rivals, even those who had whispered accusations in the days before. Some believed the Masons had bent fate itself. Others believed the quest was punishment disguised as honor.
Goodbyes were brief. No one lingered too long.
There was an understanding shared among them all: crossing realms was never just distance—it was risk, change, and the possibility of not returning whole. As they stepped forward, the air shifted, Nyxoria's familiar glow dimming behind them.
For the first time, they moved beyond its borders.
The world ahead felt heavier, less forgiving. The compass needle trembled before settling, pointing not north, but somewhere unseen. No one commented on it. They adjusted their packs, exchanged a final glance, and continued on—unaware of how much had already been set in motion, or how closely their steps were being counted.
"You're all gonna be okay!" Cole could hear Mr. Bruce's voice ringing in his ear.
"Good luck bro!" Percy's voice came in.
"I know you will make us all proud!" Mrs. Mason's voice was in his head too. He wasn't quite sure about what others were thinking but then he was sure about one thing — ....
This Quest won't be that easy.....
And just like that, four of them were out of Nyxoria.