Chapter 12: Secrets of the System and a Plan to Protect
Caspian Swan stood in the living room of the Swan house, his golden eyes narrowed, the ember flecks within them swirling with a mix of determination and unease. The transmission from Malakar, the Herald of the Eldritch Ancients, had just cut off, leaving the holographic display of his system blank, the silence in the room heavy with the weight of the threat. The vision Nyxara had forced into his mind—Forks consumed by darkness, Bella and Jacob screaming as Void Wraiths descended—still lingered, a haunting echo that fueled his protective instincts. His celestial aura pulsed faintly, a shimmer of light and heat that betrayed the storm of emotions brewing within him. Malakar's words, *"I will personally tear this world apart, starting with your precious sister,"* rang in his ears, a chilling promise that made his phoenix fire flare beneath his skin.
He clenched his fists, his wings of light and flame flickering briefly before vanishing, and turned his attention to the system's interface, which hovered beside him, its blue light casting a soft glow across the room. Bella's laughter drifted in from the kitchen, a stark contrast to the darkness he was facing, and it only strengthened his resolve. He needed answers—needed to understand the full scope of what he was up against, and whether these cosmic entities knew the truth of his existence.
"System," Caspian said, his voice low but firm, keeping his tone quiet so Bella wouldn't overhear. "Those beings—Nyxara, Malakar, the Eldritch Ancients—do they know I'm a reincarnator? Do they know about you, about the system?"
The system hummed, its synthetic voice calm and precise as it processed the query. *"Analysis Complete. No, the entities of the Void—Nyxara, Malakar, and the Eldritch Ancients—do not know you are a reincarnator, nor are they aware of my existence as your system. Your true nature and the system's presence are shielded by the entity who sent you to this universe. The protection is a divine safeguard, woven into your essence, making it imperceptible to beings of this realm and beyond."*
Caspian raised an eyebrow, his tension easing slightly as he absorbed the information. "The entity who sent me here… you mean the one who reincarnated me into the *Twilight* universe? Who is that?"
The system's display flickered, a faint shimmer of gold threading through the blue light as it responded. *"The entity who sent you here is known as Aetherion, the Architect of Realms. Aetherion is a primordial being, older than the Eldritch Ancients, tasked with maintaining the balance of countless universes. It was Aetherion who chose you for this role, granting you the system and your hybrid nature as a half-archangel, half-phoenix, to serve as a guardian in this world. The protection Aetherion has placed upon you ensures that your origins and the system's existence remain hidden, even from entities as powerful as the Eldritch Ancients."*
Caspian exhaled, running a hand through his dark hair, the strands shimmering with faint embers. "Aetherion, huh? That makes sense. If something that powerful is backing me, no wonder these Void creeps can't see the full picture." He smirked, a spark of confidence returning to his gaze. "So they think I'm just some anomaly, a hybrid who's messing with fate. They don't know I've got a system—or that I'm not even from this world. Good. That's an advantage I can use."
The system chimed softly, its tone almost warm. *"You are welcome, Caspian. Aetherion's protection is a testament to the importance of your mission. Your role as Bella Swan's guardian, and as a stabilizer of this world's fate, is critical. The system will continue to assist you in maintaining that balance, while keeping your true nature concealed."*
"Thanks, system," Caspian said, his smirk softening into a genuine smile. "I appreciate the heads-up. If they don't know about you, or that I'm a reincarnator, then I've got the upper hand. They're underestimating me—and that's their first mistake."
He turned toward the kitchen, where Bella was now rummaging through the fridge, humming softly to herself as she pulled out a carton of eggs. The normalcy of the moment—his sister, safe and happy, oblivious to the cosmic threats circling them—grounded him, reminding him why he was fighting so hard. Nyxara and Malakar might be coming for him, but they didn't know the full extent of his power, or the lengths he'd go to protect Bella. And if Aetherion, this Architect of Realms, had chosen him for this role, then he had a purpose—a destiny—that even the Eldritch Ancients couldn't unravel.
Caspian stepped into the kitchen, leaning against the doorway as Bella cracked an egg into a bowl, her movements clumsy but determined. "Making breakfast, Bells?" he asked, his tone light, masking the storm of thoughts in his mind.
She glanced over her shoulder, a small smile on her lips. "Trying to. I figured I'd make scrambled eggs—want some?"
"Sure," he said, moving to the counter to help her. "But you're not burning the house down on my watch. Let me handle the stove." He took over, his hybrid reflexes making the task effortless, while his mind raced with plans. The system's revelation about Aetherion and the protection it provided was a game-changer. It meant he could operate in the shadows, letting the Void entities underestimate him while he prepared for their inevitable attack. He'd train harder, push his power level beyond 260,000, and ensure that when the darkness came, he'd be ready to burn it to ash.
As he stirred the eggs, the system pinged softly, a new alert flashing across its display: *"Proximity Alert: Supernatural Presence Detected. Location: La Push Reservation. Identity: Jacob Black. Status: Normal. No Immediate Threat."*
Caspian's tension eased further, a smirk tugging at his lips. Jacob was a good kid—reliable, steady, and exactly the kind of influence Bella needed. The system's 87% bond rating between them was proof of that, and knowing Jacob was nearby, likely thinking about Bella just as much as she was thinking about him, gave Caspian a sense of stability in the midst of the cosmic chaos.
"Cas, you okay?" Bella asked, her voice pulling him from his thoughts. She was watching him, her brow furrowed with concern. "You seem… distracted."
He flashed her a reassuring grin, sliding the scrambled eggs onto a plate and handing it to her. "I'm good, Bells. Just thinking about some stuff. You know, big brother worries."
She rolled her eyes, but her smile returned as she took the plate. "You worry too much. I'm fine—better than fine, actually. Jacob's… he's really great."
"I know," Caspian said, his tone warm. "I'm glad you're happy, sis. That's all I want." And he meant it—every word. But as they sat down to eat, his mind was already shifting back to the threats on the horizon. Nyxara, Malakar, the Eldritch Ancients—they might not know his full story, but they were coming for him, for Bella, for Forks. And he'd be damned if he let them get close.
After breakfast, Caspian excused himself, heading upstairs to his room under the pretense of needing a nap. In truth, he summoned the system's interface once more, his expression hardening. "System," he said, "open the dimensional dungeon. I'm going back in. If the Void wants a fight, I'll make sure I'm ready to end it before it even starts."
The portal materialized, a swirling vortex of light and flame, and Caspian stepped through, his wings unfurling as he prepared to face whatever challenges awaited him. Aetherion might be protecting his secrets, but it was up to him to protect his sister—and he'd burn through every cosmic horror in existence to do it. The battle was coming, and Caspian Swan was ready to make the Void regret ever crossing his path.