The shadow's we carry

The group tumbled back into the Repository, landing in a heap on the cold stone floor. The Veil's energy snapped like a live wire, and the Orrery of Threads dimmed, its glow fading into a faint hum.

Lira gasped for air, her chest heaving. The words of the Voidborn echoed in her mind, chilling her to the core.

Everything.

"Is everyone okay?" Selene asked, pushing herself up and scanning the room.

"I've been better," Aelis muttered, rubbing her shoulder. She looked at Lira, concern flickering in her eyes. "You froze back there. What happened?"

Lira's hands tightened around the Veil, her knuckles white. "It spoke to me. The Voidborn… it's tied to this." She glanced at the inert Orrery. "It said the Veil is both a key and a prison. That I'd have to sacrifice everything to wield it."

Selene's jaw clenched. "We need to figure out what it meant—and fast. If the Syndicate knows about the Voidborn, they could use it against the entire city."

"Assuming they haven't already," Aelis said grimly.

The Warden, who had remained silent since their return, finally spoke. "The Voidborn is not just a threat to this city. It is a danger to all realms. If it escapes its prison, the consequences will be catastrophic."

Lira's head snapped toward the towering machine. "Then why did the Veil choose me? If it's so dangerous, why put this power in my hands?"

The Warden's glowing eyes flickered. "The Veil does not choose lightly. It sees potential where others see weakness. But with that potential comes risk. You are its bearer, Lira. What you do with that power is your choice."

The team's escape from the Repository was tense. Every creak and groan of the ancient structure set their nerves on edge, but they encountered no Syndicate forces. The tunnels above were eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind.

As they emerged into the city streets, the weight of the Veil's revelations settled over them like a storm cloud. Vertis buzzed with life around them—neon signs flickering in the misty air, the hum of hovercars blending with the chatter of pedestrians. It was a world blissfully ignorant of the danger lurking beneath its surface.

"We can't stay out in the open," Selene said, leading them toward a safe house tucked away in a forgotten alley.

The safe house was small but secure, its walls reinforced with tech designed to scramble Syndicate surveillance. Selene immediately began setting up her equipment, her movements sharp and methodical.

Aelis leaned against the doorframe, watching her. "What's the plan, Selene? We can't keep running blind."

Selene didn't look up. "We're not running blind anymore. The Orrery gave us a glimpse of the Voidborn and its connection to the Veil. If we can find more relics tied to it, we might uncover a way to stop it."

"And if we don't?" Aelis asked.

Selene's hands stilled for a moment before she resumed typing. "We will. We have to."

Lira sat in the corner, the Veil resting on the table in front of her. She stared at it, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The whispers were faint now, a distant hum at the edge of her consciousness.

"Lost in thought?" Aelis's voice broke through the haze.

Lira glanced up as the rogue sat beside her, her expression unusually soft.

"More like drowning in them," Lira admitted. "I don't know if I can do this, Aelis. The Voidborn… it feels like I'm in way over my head."

Aelis chuckled softly. "Join the club. None of us signed up for this, Lira. But you're not alone in this fight. We've got your back."

Lira managed a small smile. "Thanks."

Aelis gave her a pat on the shoulder. "Now get some rest. Selene's probably going to drag us into another death trap tomorrow, and you'll need your strength."

But rest didn't come easily.

That night, Lira's dreams were plagued by visions of the Voidborn. She saw its shadow spreading across the city, consuming everything in its path. The Veil glowed in her hands, but its light flickered, as if it, too, was afraid.

She woke with a start, her heart pounding. The safe house was quiet, the faint hum of Selene's equipment the only sound.

Lira looked at the Veil, its surface shimmering faintly in the darkness. She reached out to touch it, and the whispers returned, clearer than before.

The Voidborn's prison weakens. You must decide—will you seal it… or free it?

Lira pulled her hand back as if burned. The weight of the choice pressed down on her, suffocating.

But one thing was clear. Whatever the future held, it was up to her to face it.