BLOODBOUND FATE

bag filled with unfamiliar symbols stitched in silver thread. The moment she stepped inside, the air in my ro

g the bag on my desk, "it's time t

voice barely above a whisper. "Leaving where? Yo

y panicking," she said gently. "But you'll unde

rd. "The... Im

Aetherion,"

rmed, my heartbeat shifting into an unfamiliar rhythm, as if my body itself

like I've heard th

tly. "Because your soul rememb

lded neatly at the bottom. "Aetherion exists parallel to the human world," she explained. "Hidden by ancient seals and pr

yet warm, like it was alive. The moment I touched it, glo

. "Your power is awakening too fast. Oth

ed. "You mean...

ly. "And curious ones. Bot

the air. The rune pulsed, humming with energy, and the floor beneath us rippled l

Ms. Gina said fi

nod before the world

ched solid groun

let, gold, and deep blue. The structure floated slightly above the ground, as if gravity had no authority here.

Ms. Gina said softly. "A

his looks like something ou

" she replied. "

udying. One boy summoned fire that curled around his arms without burning him. Nearby, a girl controlled the wind, lifting herself in

g space, time slowing briefly around certain individua

ents?" I aske

mmortal must train. Power with

"What if I can't do any of this?" I asked quietly. "What if I don

hand on my shoulder. "Calista," she said softly, "you don

?" I re

Different. That's why the prophecy exis

leasing a wave of warm, unfamiliar energy that made my breath

citement collided within me. I didn't know what aw

It was home and yet, it felt lik

..laughter echoing through stone halls, the sound of my own voice calling a name I couldn't remember, and the feeling

ickly, steadying me. "The A

spered. "How is t

. "Aetherion is alive in its own way," she explained. "It recog

Some students turned fully toward us, their eyes narrowing with curiosity, amusement, inspiration, and something else

em yet. You are still new so they don't know you. But once

ne of them, a girl with silver eyes glowing faintly, stopped and stared at me

hey can feel me," I

y. "And that is why your trai

hed impossibly high, constellations moving slowly above as if the sky itself had been

s. Gina said. "Where immortals f

and anticipation twisting inside

ering. "You won't," she said. "Because thi