The entrance of the chamber sighed shut, the echoing thud swallowed by the chirping of crickets in the church gardens. Sunlight, dappled and cool, fell on the worn wood of the benches around the fountain where Longwei sat, his posture as still and serene as a carved Buddha. A faint smile played on his lips as he watched them emerge, blinking in the sudden brightness.

  “Congratulations,” he said, his voice a low rumble that carried surprisingly well over the gentle splash of water. The words hung in the air, a moment of unexpected quiet before the storm of their emotions broke loose. Robert’s jaw tightened, a flicker of disbelief in his eyes. Emma, usually quick with a comment, simply stared, her breath catching in her throat. Only Freddie, ever Freddie, managed a nervous chuckle.

  Longwei rose, his movements fluid and graceful. He walked towards them, his gaze settling on each face in turn, assessing, perhaps, the weight of their newfound responsibility. “You have received the Aetheric band,” he said, his voice now edged with a quiet intensity. “Good. You have taken a significant step towards your destiny. But the journey is far from over.” He paused, his eyes sweeping across their faces. “You must return to your world, train, and hone your skills. Prepare yourselves. Not just your world is counting on you… this one is too. The Aetheric band… their power will unlock when the time is right.” Robert, his face set with a newfound resolve, stepped forward, shoulders squared. The determination in his eyes was palpable, a stark contrast to the hesitant young man he’d been only hours ago. “Yes,” he said, his voice ringing with conviction. “We will.” He turned, his gaze meeting the expectant eyes of his companions. “It’s time to go back to Imperial City.”

  A wave of quiet pride washed over the group. They nodded, a silent pact sealed in the shared weight of their adventure.

  Freddie, unable to contain his usual wry humor, let out a low whistle. “And to think,” he murmured, a grin spreading across his face, “he didn’t even *want* to be a part of this in the first place.”

  Darian, still slightly shaken, offered a nervous laugh. “Right, well… I guess I should call a cab back to my house-?”

  Robert chuckled, a low sound in his chest. He raised a hand, a subtle gesture that sent a ripple of shimmering energy through the air. A swirling vortex of light opened before them, the soft hum of unseen power a stark contrast to the earlier silence. “No need for a cab, Darian,” Longwei said, his smile widening. “We’ll be using a portal this time.”

  The shimmering portal pulsed, spit- ting out figures one by one like coins from a slot machine. Darian lingered at the edge, the others already swallowed by the swirling light. He felt a hand on his arm — light, yet firm. Longwei.

  Longwei’s smile was as warm as the late afternoon sun filtering through the ancient garden’s towering trees. “I haven’t introduced myself,” he said, his voice a low rumble that held an unexpected gentleness. “I am Longwei. A pleasure to meet you.”

  His gaze, dark and keen, held Darian’s. “And your name?” “Darian,” he replied, a little breathless, the strangeness of the moment settling in. “Nice to meet you, too.”

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  Longwei’s smile deepened, a subtle shift that hinted at something more than polite pleasantries. “Ah, Darian. What a lovely name. May I… see your hands, please?”

  The request hung in the air, unexpected. Darian’s brow furrowed. “My hands? For what?”

  Longwei’s expression remained open, inviting, yet the question held an undercurrent of purpose. “Oh, just to check something.”

  Hesitantly, Darian extended his hands, palms up. Longwei’s fingers, surprisingly delicate, brushed lightly against Darian’s. His eyes, however, were fixed on Darian’s right hand. There, nestled in the center of his palm, was a small, dark mole, encircled by faint, swirling lines–a curious birthmark Darian had always considered unremarkable.

  A flicker of something–understanding? Recognition?–crossed Longwei’s face. “Have you… always had these marks?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

  Darian shrugged, a muscle twitching in his jaw. “Yeah. No one knows why. I used to get bullied for them when I was younger.” The memory, it seemed, still stung.

  Longwei let out a soft chuckle, a sound that held both sadness and a strange sort of comfort. “Children can be cruel,” he murmured, his fingers gently releasing Darian’s. “Go on. Go with your friends.”

  Darian stepped through the portal, the shimmering light engulfing him. The portal flickered, then vanished, the garden plunged into silence—a silence so deep Longwei could hear the rustle of leaves settling, as if the world itself was holding its breath.

  Then, softly, he spoke.

  “You were right.” His voice was quiet, but it carried the weight of centuries. “They figured it out faster than expected.”

  Behind him, the air shifted. A figure emerged from the shadows, clad in a light white gown, his face obscured by the hood’s deep cowl. He moved without sound, stopping just beside Longwei, his presence as steady as the ancient stones beneath their feet.

  “They’ll return in a few weeks,” the hooded man said. “Northwest of the city. Don’t be late.”

  Longwei smirked, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement. “Oh, don’t worry. Six hundred years, and I’ve never missed an appointment.”

  The man extended a hand, offering a folded slip of parchment. Longwei took it, unfolding it with deliberate care. The symbols etched into the paper glowed faintly before fading.

  “May I ask what this is?” Longwei’s tone was polite, but there was an edge beneath it—a quiet disapproval.

  “A spell,” the man replied. “Use it on them when they return. It’ll give them… a slight advantage. The effects will last about an hour.”

  Longwei’s fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around the parchment. He had never been one for handing power so freely. Strength, in his experience, was earned—not gifted.

  “Shouldn’t they work for it?” he asked, his voice calm but firm.

  The hooded man exhaled, the sound of heavy with unspoken knowledge. “I understand your hesitation. But without this, they will die. Trust me—I’ve seen how this unfolds. Many times.”

  A beat of silence. Then, reluctantly, Longwei nodded. “I see.” “I also advice you not to tell Thomas or Lyra about what happen here”

  As the man turned to leave, Longwei’s voice cut through the stillness once more.

  “And Darian?” He tilted his head, studying the hooded figure. “I’m surprised the Etherion Dominion never noticed him. You wouldn’t happen to know why?”

  The man chuckled—a low, knowing sound. “A simple probability spell. That’s all it took.”

  Longwei let out a dry laugh. “Ah. Those always come in handy.”

  The hooded man melted back into the shadows, leaving Longwei alone with the parchment, the weight of the future pressing against his palms.