They carried the tablet through the night — toward a hidden cave the rift-walkers had marked on the map.
The cave was small — entrance hidden by vines, interior dry.
They set the tablet on the floor.
It glowed — faint crimson.
Miko touched it again.
Vision.
The Mother Rift — massive, under the academy.
Sealed — but cracking.
Figures in robes — academy elders — chanting.
Kael's father among them.
Veyra too.
They fed the seal — drops of blood on the altar.
The seal drank.
The rift pulsed — stronger.
The vision shifted.
The Unnamed — watching from the shadows.
He didn't intervene.
He just watched.
The vision ended.
Miko gasped — staggering.
Kael caught her.
"What did you see?"
Miko's voice shook.
"Your father.
Veyra.
They're feeding the seal.
To wake the Mother Rift."
Kael's face hardened.
"I knew."
Miko looked at him.
"You knew?"
Kael nodded.
"I suspected.
I didn't want to believe."
Miko stared.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Kael's voice was quiet.
"Because I didn't want you to look at me like you're looking now."
Miko stepped back.
Kael reached for her.
Miko pulled away.
"I trusted you."
Kael's shadows coiled — tight.
"You still can."
Miko looked at him.
"How?"
Kael stepped closer.
"Because I'm here.
With you.
Not with them."
Miko felt tears prick her eyes.
"I don't know who to trust anymore."
Kael took her hand — gentle.
"Trust me."
Miko looked at their joined hands.
The seal pulsed — once, gentle.
Him.
Miko exhaled.
"Okay."
Kael pulled her close — arms around her.
"We end this.
Together."
Miko nodded — against his chest.
"Together."
The tablet glowed — soft.
The seal stayed quiet.
For now.
To be continued…