They didn't wait long to show themselves.
That night
Kalen had another dream.
This time
It wasn't dark.
He was in a throne room.
The room was huge.
It was old.
It was burning with power.
In the center
Three figures were standing.
They were waiting.
Asha'Kareth sat down first.
She didn't sit casually.
She didn't sit comfortably.
She sat like she had always owned the throne.
"You're late " she said.
Kalen didn't say anything.
Lyra appeared next. She was leaning on the armrest.
"I like him " she said. "He's confused. That's cute."
Nyxara stepped behind him again.
This time she was closer.
Too close.
"You should sit " she whispered.
"I'm not sitting."
Asha'Kareths eyes got a little narrower.
"Defiance."
There was a pause.
"Good."
Kalen frowned.
"You said I wasn't meant to wake up."
"You weren't " she said.
"Then why are you here?"
Lyra answered.
"Because you're broken."
Nyxara corrected her.
"No hes not broken."
Her fingers touched his shoulder.
"He's incomplete."
Asha'Kareth leaned forward.
". We are the missing pieces."
There was silence.
The silence was heavy.
It was meaningful.
It was dangerous.
Kalen looked all three of them.
"Why me?"
Asha'Kareth answered away.
"Because you can hold us."
Lyra grinned.
". Because no one else can."
Nyxara's voice got softer.
". Because you won't break."
Kalen took a breath.
"This... Isn't normal."
Asha'Kareth's look got harder.
"Nothing about you is."
The throne room started shaking.
Something else was watching.
It was beyond them.
It was beyond the system.
It was old.
It was curious.
It was hungry.
Asha'Kareth stood up.
"...It has noticed."
Lyra's smile vanished.
"Well... That's not good."
Nyxara held Kalen tighter.
"Stay close."
Kalen's heart started beating
"What noticed?"
Asha'Kareth looked at him.
For the first time; there was something new in her eyes.
Not dominance.
Not control.
Something more dangerous.
Concern.
"The gods " she said quietly.
"...are waking up."
And far, beyond the academy
Something opened its eyes.