Antonella’s POV
The forest stretched endlessly ahead of us, a sea of green that swallowed the morning mist and muffled every sound. We had been moving since dawn, following the faint pull of energy Sybil had traced on the map. The ground was soft beneath our boots, damp from last night’s rain, and the air tasted of pine and iron.
Kira walked ahead of me, eyes narrowed in concentration. She was always quiet during missions, her focus razor sharp. Jonas followed close behind, his movements easy but alert, his fingers brushing the hilts of the twin blades strapped to his sides.
I carried a pack, but what weighed more than the supplies were the expectations. Damian’s instructions echoed in my head: Get in, get them, and bring them b
3rd POV – Aftermath of the BreachThe courtyard reeked of burnt air and faded shadows. The silence after the fight was heavy, the kind of silence that made every heartbeat feel too loud. The hybrids stood scattered across the stone, breathing hard, sweat streaking their faces. The rune lines that usually glowed steady silver now flickered weakly, like a candle about to go out.Sybil knelt over the cracked stones where the last shadow had left its mark. Her fingers hovered just above the faint, jagged rune etched into the floor. “This was no accident,” she murmured. “This was a deliberate probe. A map.”Damian crouched beside her, his voice low and tight. “How long until they come back?”
3rd POV – Morning CalmThe courtyard was still when the hybrids arrived at dawn. Mist curled around the cobblestones, pale threads catching the soft light of the rising sun. Dew clung to the rune lines carved into the ground, making them gleam faintly like veins of silver.For the first time since Leif’s arrival, the courtyard felt almost peaceful.Damian stood in the center, waiting as they filtered in. His expression was calm, but his eyes missed nothing: every shift in posture, every shadow of doubt. After the chaos of the vision threads and the search for the sixth hybrid, he knew they needed this morning—a slow one.“Today,” he said, once they had formed a loose circle, “we refine. No rushing. No pushing past your limits. It’s about control, and it’s about trust.”Antonella stretched, smirking. “Finally, a day without you yelling at us to dodge faster.”“Don’t tempt me,” Damian replied dryly.Warm-upThey began with movement drills: unarmed, smooth, and deliberate. Each step was
3rd POV – Morning at the CourtyardThe morning air was still and calm, carrying the scent of dew-soaked earth. The courtyard—once a place of battles and drills—now had a quieter energy. The training circle had been swept clean, and new rune lines traced by Sybil glowed faintly under the cobblestones, stabilizing the wild mix of hybrid powers that would fill the space.For the first time since the vision threads, the pack wasn’t here to clash. Today was for control, not combat.Damian stood at the edge of the circle, arms folded, as the hybrids gathered. His gaze swept across them, lingering a little longer on Leif. The boy was still an enigma—untamed energy coiled under fragile calm.“You won’t touch a weapon today,” Damian said. “Today, it’s about breathing. Focus. Learning to hold back without losing the strength behind it.”Antonella smirked. “That sounds like meditation with a side of torture.”Damian’s mouth curved slightly. “If you can’t hold your power steady, you’ll hurt yours
Antonella’s POVThe forest stretched endlessly ahead of us, a sea of green that swallowed the morning mist and muffled every sound. We had been moving since dawn, following the faint pull of energy Sybil had traced on the map. The ground was soft beneath our boots, damp from last night’s rain, and the air tasted of pine and iron.Kira walked ahead of me, eyes narrowed in concentration. She was always quiet during missions, her focus razor sharp. Jonas followed close behind, his movements easy but alert, his fingers brushing the hilts of the twin blades strapped to his sides.I carried a pack, but what weighed more than the supplies were the expectations. Damian’s instructions echoed in my head: Get in, get them, and bring them b
Mia’s POVThe great hall was silent after the last vision thread vanished. The magic that had filled the room—a tapestry of past, present, and possible futures—was gone now, leaving behind a residue that clung to the air like mist. My chest rose and fell with heavy, deliberate breaths as the enormity of what we had just witnessed began to settle in.No one moved.Damian stood at the far end of the table, hands pressed flat against the surface, his jaw tight. Around us, the hybrids shifted uneasily. Some rubbed at their arms as if trying to wipe away the sensation of those vision threads brushing against their skin. Others just stared, eyes wide and unblinking.The council chamber suddenly felt too small for the weight we
Mia’s POVI dreamed of a girl with no name.She stood in the courtyard of the old palace, barefoot, wrapped in white thread that clung to her like spiderwebs. Her face was blank—not emotionless, but literally blank. No eyes. No nose. No mouth. And yet, when she looked at me, I felt like I was being judged.She raised her hand.And in the silence between heartbeats, I heard a voice not spoken aloud."You forgot me."I jolted awake, heart hammering. Damian’s hand rested on my back in an instant.“Mia?”