Last minute meeting

Checking the video monitor in front of him, Idris rubbed his eyes to clear his vision. His thoughts were still hazy from exhaustion, but the flashing message on the screen forced him into full alertness.

Council meeting in forty minutes.

Idris sat up abruptly, his pulse quickening. A late-night council meeting? Since when? His mind raced with possibilities, none of them good. He jumped out of bed, throwing on a fresh tunic and fastening his boots in record time.

"Was Seth aware of this? There's no way he’d be okay with being left out."

Without another thought, Idris bolted out of his domicile and headed straight for Seth’s home. He didn’t bother knocking. Instead, he pushed open the door and strode in as if he owned the place.

Seth was exactly where Idris expected him to be—seated at the kitchen table, a steaming cup of coffee in hand. The rich aroma filled the air, mixing with the scent of aged wood and lingering spices from dinner.

"Really, Seth?" Idris scoffed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Drinking coffee this late at night? It’s going to keep you up."

Seth raised an eyebrow, taking a slow, deliberate sip before responding. "That might be a good thing." His tone was dry, but there was amusement in his eyes.

"You're strange as usual," Idris muttered, pacing the floor. "But listen, there's something off. Did you get a notice?"

Seth set his cup down, leaning forward. "A notice for what?"

Idris hesitated. "The council called a meeting. It popped up on my screen just a few minutes ago. I assumed you knew, but... judging by the look on your face, you didn't get an invitation."

Seth’s expression darkened instantly. Silence stretched between them before he stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor.

"How much time do we have?" he asked, his voice tight with anger.

"Not much. Why?"

"I'm going to that meeting."

Seth turned toward the adjoining room, where Charlene had been quietly laying out her clothes for the next day. Without turning, he called out, "Charlene, I’ll be back. Stay here."

Charlene, now used to Seth’s abruptness, raised a brow but nodded. "Got it! Staying here!" she called, though her gut told her something important was happening.

Seth touched the glowing mark on his wrist and reached for Idris’s hand. "Council’s chambers," he muttered.

A bright flash of light engulfed them. In an instant, they were gone.

---

Back at Seth’s Home

Unbeknownst to Charlene, a shimmer flickered in the corner of the room—a presence watching, waiting. Haroon, the same Fate who had tormented Seth and threatened Charlene, lingered unseen, his gaze locked onto her.

Charlene, oblivious to the danger, turned back to her preparations. She smoothed out her travel tunic and examined the soft glow of her journeyer’s sigil on the fabric. A small, excited thrill ran through her. This was it. The path ahead felt inevitable, predestined.

She spoke her thoughts aloud. "I wonder if the hounds like dog biscuits?"

"Look, you little weirdo," ReNew’s voice teased inside her mind. "You better not be thinking about touching those hounds. They’ll bite your hand off."

Charlene smirked. "Maybe Ariels would let me pet her? Did you see all that big fluffy white fur? Don’t you want to run your fingers through it?"

"Naaah! Ha ha ha! I’m trying to keep my fingers!" ReNew’s laughter rang inside Charlene’s head, light and playful.

Charlene’s expression softened. "You know," she mused, "it would be really awesome if I could see and talk to you outside of my head. Do real makeup, do each other’s hair… Wouldn't that be cool?"

ReNew hesitated. "I'm not sure that’s even possible."

"Why not?"

"It’s like... separating part of yourself. We’re symbiotic, Charlene. If we split, we don’t know what might happen. It could weaken us."

Charlene bit her lip, considering. Then, a mischievous grin spread across her face. "Come on, just for a moment. Wouldn't you like to see what you look like?" She held up a mirror, gazing at her reflection.

"I've been curious," ReNew admitted. "But we all know how curiosity killed the cat—meow!"

Charlene giggled. "Real cute, ReNew. Just for a second, okay? I promise we’ll switch back immediately if anything feels off."

ReNew sighed. "Alright... but focus. Think about it in your mind, then blink."

Charlene closed her eyes. Power surged through her, the mark on her forehead glowing bright. She blinked—

—and ReNew materialized before her.

Charlene gasped. ReNew's form was ethereal yet solid, her forehead shimmering with ancient symbols before fading.

"Whoa." Charlene reached out instinctively. "You’re really here!"

ReNew grinned. "Yeah, and I feel—"

The door burst open.

Haroon stood in the doorway, eyes wide in shock at what he had just witnessed. His mouth opened slightly, and then, without hesitation, he shimmered out of the room.

Charlene and ReNew bolted forward, but the effort left them dizzy, collapsing to their knees.

"That... took a lot out of us," ReNew admitted.

"Yeah... we better merge back."

Charlene nodded. She reached out, their hands meeting in a rush of energy. Power crackled between them, warmth flooding Charlene’s limbs.

"You feel that?"

"Yeah. You good?"

"Yeah. Let’s go."

Charlene blinked, eyes glowing. As her vision refocused, she gasped. Glowing footprints trailed across the floor—Haroon’s shimmering essence still lingering.

"We can track him!"

ReNew floated upward, her mark glowing as she ascended high enough to see through the dome. She scanned the council chamber.

"There! Charlene, he’s whispering to the head of the council!"

Charlene’s stomach twisted. "I knew they were in cahoots."

The head of the council’s voice rang through the grand hall, full of venom.

"Seth, your family is weak! Your daughter is unworthy! She will be banished along with you!"

Charlene’s breath hitched. Her father’s voice, thick with anger, echoed in response.

"You shortened her training, then dare claim she isn’t ready! What is your real problem with us?"

The council leader sneered. "You disgust me, Seth. You act almost human."

Seth scoffed. "You fear change. But your time is coming to an end, Head Council."

Charlene pushed through the doors just in time to hear her father’s final words.

"And as for my daughter—she’s taking her journey tomorrow, whether you like it or not!"

Charlene lifted her chin proudly.

Exiting the chamber, she saw ReNew hovering above, her energy crackling in the night air.

This fight was far from over