The Covenant Seal

The air inside Calderon's office was still charged with mana, the images in the mana well slowly fading back into shifting ripples of energy. The weight of everything they had just learned hung over the room.

Calderon didn't speak for a moment. Instead, he studied Luke and Lila, his sharp gaze lingering on the Covenant Seals they bore. Finally, he let out a slow breath, setting his staff down beside his desk.

"Too fast," he muttered. "Far too fast."

Luke frowned. "What do you mean?"

Calderon folded his arms. "The world is changing at a speed none of us could have prepared for. I had hoped to guide you—to help you understand what you were becoming, to offer knowledge before you were thrown into this war." His voice carried a weight of regret. "But fate has made that choice for us."

He turned to Luke. "You've changed. You can feel it, can't you?"

Luke swallowed, instinctively reaching up to touch the Gimel mark on his forehead. He wasn't the same as when he'd first stepped into the Shardrealm. There was a deeper current of power inside him now—something more refined, more stable. He wasn't struggling to grasp mana anymore. He could feel it as if it had always been a part of him.

Calderon nodded. "You went in as Bet and returned as Gimel. That is no small thing."

Lila's glow pulsed softly. "You know what that means."

"Of course I do." Calderon's eyes flickered toward her. "You two walk a path that no one on Earth has walked before. Not even those who learned from the Ancient Builders."

Luke stiffened. "Then how do you know about it?"

Calderon gave a knowing smile. "Because the Ancient Builders left behind records, and because I have spent my life studying what little remains of their knowledge. Those who came before you—those who tried to reach the heights of mana mastery—relied on artifacts and incomplete teachings. But they were not Knights. Not in the way that you are." He gestured between them. "Your bond, your Seal—this is something wholly unique to you."

Luke exchanged a glance with Lila.

"You are the first Knight on Earth," Calderon said plainly, picking up his staff once more. "And she is the first Celestial."

A beat of silence stretched between them. The weight of those words settled in Luke's chest like a heavy stone.

"Which means we don't have anyone to follow," Luke said slowly. "We're figuring this out as we go."

Calderon nodded gravely. "And that is precisely why you must be careful. There is no guidebook for what lies ahead. Only instinct, discipline, and trust."

Luke let out a slow exhale. "Then tell us what we need to do next."

Calderon turned back to the mana well, tapping the rim with his fingers. The surface rippled, forming an image deep within the Riftwilds. A strange, flickering glow pulsed in the middle of the chaotic landscape.

"We've detected an irregular mana signal," Calderon said. "One that does not match any known Rift anomaly."

Lila's golden glow flickered. "An irregular signal?"

Calderon nodded. "It appears for brief moments, then vanishes. As if something—or someone—is shifting in and out of our perception."

Luke's gut tightened. "Solas."

"I believe so." Calderon's expression was unreadable. "Dr. Adrian Solas was the last person to interact with the Astral Heartstone before the Shatterstorm. If anyone understands what happened—and where the Heartstone might be—it's him."

Lila crossed her arms. "Then we have to find him before Echelon does."

Luke clenched his fists. "We're going after him."

Calderon studied them carefully, then nodded. "I had a feeling you'd say that. You'll need to start at ground zero. You should make your way to the Heartstone's last known location. It's where both it and Solas disappeared from."

Luke nodded, "Where is that, exactly?" 

Calderon tapped the mana well once more, revealing a map of the Ozarks. He pointed to the exact center of the region. "The Arcadium Ruins. It was there that Solas made his final stand against Echelon. It is where he vanished, and it is where you must begin."

Luke took a deep breath. "And if Echelon gets to him first?"

Calderon's expression darkened. "Then we are all in far greater danger than we realize."

Calderon's expression darkened. "Then we are all in far greater danger than we realize." He exhaled slowly, fingers tightening against his staff. "Elias Voss is not a fool. He doesn't want to destroy the world, not in the way most would assume. No, he wants to reshape it—to mold it into something new. He believes mana is the next stage of human evolution, and that those who cannot adapt to it are… expendable."

Luke's stomach turned. "You're saying he wants to create a new world where only the strongest survive?"

Calderon nodded grimly. "More than that. The Heartstone is unlike any known artifact. If Voss succeeds in harnessing its power, he could force another mana event—one even greater than the Shatterstorm. The first was an accident. A crack in the veil. Voss wants to rip it open completely."

Lila's glow flickered erratically. "That's insane. The Aetherion Universe would flood into this one. Earth wouldn't just change—it would collapse."

Calderon's voice was steel. "Which is why you must reach Solas first. He's the only one who knows what really happened, and where the Heartstone might be now."

Lila hovered slightly closer. "We won't let him face this alone."

Calderon studied them for a long moment, then nodded. "Then you will need every advantage you can get. Before you leave, I want you to visit the Vault inside the Elara Library."

Luke remembered the strange door with the glowing runes that he had been drawn to when last he visited the library. He looked at Calderon, "Why do you want us to go there?" Luke thought he had an idea of why already, but he wanted to be sure.

"Inside the Vault lie treasures of untold power. Some we understand, many are an enigma. The Astral Heartstone itself once rested in the Vault. There are many, many useful items that could help you on your journey. When you get there, take one item. However, be warned, people have died in the past because of their greed. Be certain that you do not make the same mistake," Calderon explained.

Calderon's expression became unreadable. "The Vault is not just a collection of artifacts—it is a test in its own right. Some believe it chooses who enters, rather than the other way around."

Lila's glow pulsed slightly. "Then why let us in?"

"Because if you are meant to walk the Radiant Path, then the Vault will show you what you need. Not what you want."

Luke and Lila shared a look, both feeling the weight of this new decision. 

"You will only have each other to depend on out there," Calderon said, eyes narrowed. "The Riftwilds, as Lila had so aptly dubbed them, are unlike anything else on Earth. What you experienced at the Hale Estate is nothing compared to the dangers that lie in wait. Be sure you are both as prepared as possible before setting out."

"Us? Aren't you coming too?" Luke asked.

Calderon shook his head sadly. "Unfortunately, it is no easy task for me to leave Everhearth. If I leave no one will be here to ensure the barrier stays up. That is my solemn duty as Headmaster, and one I take very seriously, especially now that it is a matter of life and death."

Luke nodded, understanding the old man's words. He certainly wouldn't be the one to suggest putting all the people at Everhearth in danger. He looked at Lila, her golden eyes twinkling with reassurance. He sighed, thoughts of what was to come rushing through his mind.

Luke's pulse quickened as he suddenly felt eyes on him. A sharp, analytical gaze—like someone was studying him from a distance. He turned his head subtly, scanning the shadows beyond Calderon's office windows.

Nothing.

But the feeling didn't fade.

Lila must have sensed his tension because she spoke softly. "Luke?"

He hesitated. "There's someone watching us."

Calderon's expression darkened instantly. "Describe them."

Luke frowned. "I only saw her for a second back in the courtyard—tall, silver hair, sharp eyes. She wasn't afraid, just… watching."

Lila's glow flickered as she remembered. "She disappeared almost instantly."

A heavy silence followed.

Calderon's grip tightened on his staff. "Selene Ardent. The Horizon Seer."

Luke's stomach dropped. "Who is she?"

Calderon's voice was grim. "One of Echelon's elite. A Seer—not just in name. She can see mana patterns, track anomalies, predict movements. She's been watching Everhearth for weeks."

Lila hovered closer. "How do you know this?"

Calderon's expression didn't change. "Everhearth's intelligence network is vast. We've kept tabs on Echelon's movements since long before the Shatterstorm."

Luke felt a chill creep up his spine. "So she knows who I am."

"Oh, I guarantee she does." Calderon's eyes sharpened. "And if she was watching you in the courtyard, it means Echelon has already taken notice of your existence."

Lila crossed her arms. "Which means they're moving faster."

Calderon nodded. "Yes. And that means you need to move faster, too."

Luke and Lila turned to leave Calderon's office. Luke stopped and turned around once more, saying, "Headmaster, I haven't had time to ask, and barely time to stop and think. Will my family be okay here without me?"

Calderon nodded with a smile, "Yes, don't worry about them. I will ensure they have everything they need. We've already given them a large apartment on campus and they will be able to stay as long as they wish."

Luke's brow furrowed, "But, what about the cost?"

The Headmaster chuckled lightly. "I think you have already begun paying that for them, don't you?" 

Luke nodded as understanding washed over him. The Headmaster was going to take care of his family at no cost, because of what Luke was doing."

Calderon's eyebrows rose as if he'd just remembered something. "Oh, I almost forgot!" he exclaimed, shuffling over toward a shelf on the other side of his office. Once there, he opened a small, ornately designed iron box and withdrew something. The old man turned, then, and looked at Luke with a glimmer in his eyes. 

He walked closer to Luke and handed him a glossy, solid black ring. 

"What's this?" Luke asked in interest. 

"This is the reward I haven't had time to give you yet, for what you did at the Hollowtree Cafe," Calderon explained.

"Hollowtree Cafe? You mean when Luke stopped that robber?" Lila asked.

The Headmaster nodded, his eyebrows raised. "Indeed. That was no small feat, young Luke. And I think every successful Trial deserves a reward."

Luke's head snapped up, "A Trial? That fight was a Trial? I thought those were all going to be in Shardrealms."

"I believe they can come in many forms, but I will defer to our Celestial friend here," Calderon said, motioning to Lila. 

Lila smiled at Luke, then said, "Yes, that was technically a Trial. The Trial concept is fluid. At its core, a Trial is whatever event causes one on the Radiant Path to reach a new level. They can show up in any number of forms. Many times it will be something grand and obvious, like the Shardrealms. Other times it will be far simpler, but not necessarily easier, like protecting the lives of the people in that Cafe."

Luke's mind flooded with memories of the fight. How he instinctively pulled in mana in a moment of desperation and formed his first mana cloak, and how he'd been pummeled, but ultimately came out successful. 

He looked to Lila again, "And I suppose there's no real way of knowing beforehand, huh? The fight at the Hale Estate was pretty terrifying, but that didn't turn out to be a Trial."

Lila nodded, "Well, like I said, some are going to be very obvious. But yes, we will face many Trials that we won't be able to prepare for in advance."

"But what about you," Luke asked. "You didn't really do anything in the Cafe other than watch me get beat up." 

Lila chuckled at that, saying, "I have a pretty good sense for these things. I knew helping you would only hinder you, so I chose not to, which was the right choice."

"Yeah I guess so…" Luke muttered. "Anyway, thank you for the ring, Headmaster." Luke wasn't really one for jewelry, but he wouldn't turn it down. 

Calderon laughed loudly. 

"What's so funny?" Luke asked. 

"That is not just a ring, Luke. That is a Voidband." 

Luke looked at the old man, confused and unsure what to say. 

Lila perked up at the word, though. "Wow, that's a really valuable gift, Luke."

"Okay, but… what is it?"

Lila huffed, "Sometimes, Luke…" she said, trailing off. A moment later she spoke up again, "It's a storage ring. It contains a separate plane of existence, a contained voidspace, designed to hold objects. Powerful voidbands even allow living beings to enter them, though that kind is extremely rare and hard to come by. You just have to will it and whatever you're touching or holding in your hands will be put into the storage ring, assuming it doesn't exceed the limits of the void inside the ring. When you want it back you just have to snap your fingers and think about the item, and it will return."

Luke's face lit up, "Whoa! Really? I never knew something like this even existed…" He looked at the ring with newfound interest. "Thank you so much, Headmaster. This is going to help me a lot, I'm sure!" 

He slipped the ring onto his left middle finger. It fit snugly, like it was exactly his size. 

The old man laughed softly. "You deserve it, Luke. Now, you both best be on your way. And don't forget to go to the Vault before you leave." 

With that Luke and Lila both shook Calderon's hand and turned to leave his office. The old headmaster watched them go with a mix of respect and apprehension. 

As Luke and Lila left Founder's Hall, they were immediately intercepted by Sophia, Aiden, and Ava.

Sophia's expression was pure frustration. "You're going back out there?! After you just got back?!"

Ava's face was pale. "Luke, what if you don't come back this time?"

Aiden was silent, his fists clenched at his sides.

Luke sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I have to do this."

Sophia shook her head. "You don't have to do anything. You're choosing this."

Luke met her glare with a steady gaze. "Yeah. And I'd make the same choice every time."

Before Sophia could snap back, a firm voice interrupted them.

"Is this something you have to do?" Nathaniel Hale. Their father.

Luke turned to meet his father's gaze. For a long moment, neither spoke. Then, Luke nodded. "Yes." 

Nathaniel exhaled slowly, placing a firm hand on Luke's shoulder. "Then do it." He squeezed lightly. "But make sure you come back."

Ava hesitated, then quietly pressed a small charm in the shape of a shield into Luke's palm. A symbol of protection.

Luke gave her a small smile. "I will."

He gave each of his family members a hug, ensuring them he would return. When he got to his older sister Sophia, her expression still bore her frustration. 

Luke smiled softly and said, "Sophia, trust me. If I don't go then really, really bad things are going to happen. Lila and I are the only ones who can stop it." 

Her face softened, "Fine, little brother. Just be careful, okay?" 

Luke nodded and stepped back. "I don't know how long we'll be gone, but there's no way we're not getting back here. We'll see you all again." 

Tears welled up in the eyes of his younger sister and mother, while Sophia was clearly doing everything she could to hold them in. Luke's father wore a stoic expression, always the rock his family could depend on. Aiden's face was red. Luke could tell that he wanted to do something, anything, to help Luke, but he couldn't allow it. Not while Aiden had no way of defending himself against the new threats the world was facing. 

"Lila, let's head to the Vault," he said, looking toward his companion. 

With a nod, she turned toward the Library with Luke in tow, both waving goodbye to the Hales. 

Luke looked at the small shield charm in his palm, feeling its slight warmth before willing it to enter the voidband. For a heartbeat, nothing happened—then the air around his fingers shimmered, like the space itself had folded inward. In an instant, the charm was gone, vanished into the unseen void.

He flexed his fingers, turning his hand over. No weight, no sensation. It was simply… elsewhere.

"That is never not going to be cool," he muttered.

As they moved toward the library, Luke risked one final glance back. His family was still there, watching. His father's unreadable gaze. Sophia's arms crossed, masking her worry with frustration. Aiden's clenched fists. Ava and Evelyn's teary eyes…

He felt their emotions pressing into him, an unspoken weight settling on his shoulders. But he couldn't afford to falter.

"Let's go," he said, voice steady. And with that, he turned and did not look back.