Aiden gazed at the stone.
Its somber surface vibrated under his hand, thrumming with ancient, hidden power.
Elena approached. "What did you see? Tell us too. Why aren't you telling us anything?"
Aiden's gaze stayed fixed on the stone. His voice was low and strained.
"Want to know so badly?" he asked. "I saw the one who had cursed them all—the one who had turned them into these ones."
Silence fell over the group.
Aiden's hand then flailed toward the stone once more.
"No!" Elena moved in fast, clutched his wrist. "Don't touch! You'll be hurt!"
Aiden's face turned toward hers, his gaze unshaken. "If that was it, it would've killed me the first time."
Kael's voice cut through the air. "What do you even want? Don't put yourself in harm because of us. Return to your own world!"
Aiden's jaw clenched. "I won't do that. I'll shatter this curse and release all of you—no matter what the cost."
With no hesitation, he put his hand on the stone once more.
A gust of wind exploded outward.
The world around them tore apart in light.
A ring of shining symbols sprang up beneath their feet, surrounding them with a globe of energy. Their eyes blurred. Aiden blinked—and gasped.
Their bodies were on the ground behind them, dead.
"What…?" Elena whispered. "What is this?"
Kael advanced, claws flexing. "Is this a trick?"
Aiden's heart racing. "How is this possible? Have we entered… another world?"
A voice reverberated around them, hollow and ancient.
"You have all entered the World of the Veil—a place from which no one can return."
Everyone came to a standstill.
Reis turned, scanning the vacant space. "Who said that?"
Kael growled. "Show yourself!"
Elena's gaze swept the area. "Aiden… what is this?"
A blinding light burst over them.
From its center, a giant eagle came down—wings open wide, eyes burning with blazing silver fire. It landed with a jolt that rattled the earth.
The group retreated, fear evident.
The eagle's voice thundered again.
"You were not supposed to come here. Why have you entered this realm?"
Aiden moved forward. "I came to make things right. And I will—no matter what."
The eagle cocked its head, feathers rustling.
"Then understand this: the road ahead is not simple. The Veil tries all who cross into it."
Elena's voice shook. "What is it saying?"
Aiden blinked. "Can't you hear her?"
The eagle's eyes fixed on his.
"Only you can hear me. The bond has already begun."
Kael glanced at them. "Aiden? What is it?"
Aiden paused. "Wait. I'll tell you."
Reis grumbled, "This is madness."
Kael intervened, tone cutting. "What is this place? Are we in danger?"
Aiden remained silent.
His mouth was parched.
The eagle's voice resonated in the silence.
"You've put your friends in danger. This world was not created for men. Creatures beyond your dreams walk here. And they slay mercilessly."
Aiden's fists tightened. "What am I supposed to do, then?"
"Keep going. There's one who still recalls the old ways. In front of you is a cave. There lives a man—he might assist you."
The eagle spread its wings again, ready to depart.
"Be cautious… and be vigilant."
With that, it soared into the air and disappeared into light.
The silence it left was crushing.
Kael, Elena, and Reis looked at Aiden immediately.
"What did she say?" Elena asked. "What's happening?"
Aiden wiped sweat from his forehead. "It's… it's another world. The Veil. We're not dead, but we're not alive either. And only I can hear her voice."
Reis stumbled backward. "Then we're trapped."
"No," Aiden said hastily. "There's a way out. We just need to keep going."
Kael's gaze sharpened. "You're sure?"
"I'm not," Aiden confessed. "But I believe what she said."
The moment hung.
Then, something broke it.
A low growl.
Behind them, the earth shook. Leaves whispered, then ripped.
They turned around.
A colossal form materialized out of the fog.
A beast. Half-bear. Half-man.
Its torso rippled with heavy fur, its claws the length of daggers. But from the waist down—it was like a man.
Its eyes blazed red. Saliva hung from its fangs.
"What is that?" Elena breathed.
Kael advanced, blades in hand.
Aiden's voice was strained. "She said creatures would be here."
Reis swore under his breath. "I didn't think she meant that."
The bear-creature released a bass roar that shook the air.
Kael attacked first—his knives cutting through darkness.
The creature deflected with a single arm, then retaliated with savage strength. Kael slammed into a tree.
Elena brought up her gun and fired—but the rounds hardly hindered it.
It charged.
Aiden just managed to grab Elena and yank her out of the way. The creature crashed to the ground where they'd stood.
"Split up!" Aiden yelled. "Draw it off Reis!"
The group dispersed, bobbing through trees and ghostly ruins that glimmered in this foreign world.
The monster pursued Aiden, who ran to the left, pounding heart.
He herded it into a stone ledge—turned abruptly. He slid in the earth, threw up his hand—
A blast of wind burst from his palm.
The creature stumbled backward.
Elena, at an angle, gasped. "What did you do?"
"I don't know!" Aiden yelled. "I just flailed my hand—"
The bear-beast bellowed again, infuriated now.
Kael returned alongside him, wounded but unyielding. "You have abilities here."
Aiden didn't answer. He could sense it. Something stirring within him.
Something connected to the Veil.
Reis staggered towards them. "There's a crevice up ahead—we can trap it!"
"Run!" Aiden shouted.
As one, they ran.
Behind them, the creature pounded forward.
Into a deeper shadow. Into what lurked in the cave.