The moment Brown and I stepped out of the shimmering portal, the air around Marielle Eldrath's Magic Tower pressed against my skin like warm silk. The entire structure pulsed with mana—alive, breathing, aware. Aunt Marielle never built anything ordinary. Even her front door had more personality than some nobles.
"Kael, dear!"
Her voice trickled down the spiraling stairs before she appeared, her heels tapping lightly as she descended with the elegance of a queen and the mischief of a fox. She wore a deep violet robe embroidered with beast runes that glowed gold each time she moved. Her silver hair flowed in a long braid down her back, and her deep amber eyes sparkled with excitement—excitement that usually meant trouble.
"You got taller," she said with a grin as she reached me. "And handsomer. You're making it difficult not to kidnap you and keep you in my tower."
"Aunt Marielle." I sighed. "I'm in relationship with lyra."
"And your wife is lucky," she said, flicking her fingers dismissively. "Doesn't mean I can't tease."
Brown coughed loudly beside me.
"Nice to see you again, Lady Marielle."
She winked at him. "You grew too, Brown. Taller, broader… hmm. Good. Kael will need a sturdy shield at his side."
Brown muttered something about "shields don't blush" under his breath.
I ignored them both.
"Aunt," I said, "you said it was urgent. What did you want with Seraphelle?"
At the mention of the Queen Spirit, Marielle's playful smile softened into something serious, almost reverent.
"Follow me. And try not to touch anything. Some of my creatures bite."
Brown froze.
"Is that a joke… or a warning?"
"With Marielle," I whispered, "it's always both."
We climbed the spiraling stairs—five floors up—until we reached a circular chamber glowing white with celestial runes. Floating crystals circled a wide summoning basin filled with star-water. It shimmered like a liquid night sky.
Marielle turned to me, her expression finally matching the tone of her summons—grave, focused, sharp.
"Kael… let Seraphelle out."
I inhaled deeply.
Spirit Gate: Open.
Light exploded behind me, forming a halo as Seraphelle emerged—tall, beautiful, silver-winged, her divine presence so overwhelming that the mana in the tower bowed to her like wind bending grass.
"Marielle Eldrath," Seraphelle said with her usual celestial calm. "You called."
Marielle bowed deeply—not out of fear, but respect. "Queen of Stars, I require your judgment."
Seraphelle tilted her head. "Judgment? For what reason?"
Marielle stepped aside and flicked her fingers. A cage made of golden runes materialized, revealing a creature inside—a beast with fur like obsidian smoke, six glowing red eyes, and chains around its limbs. It thrashed weakly, growling.
"This," Marielle said, "should not exist."
I stepped closer, instincts flaring. "That's… a Void Beast."
Brown stiffened. "I thought they were extinct."
"So did I," Marielle replied. "Until this one appeared at the border of the Otherworld Gate three nights ago—near the path you and Kael used during your investigations."
Seraphelle's wings dimmed.
"That creature," she whispered, "is not a natural beast. It is manufactured."
My blood went cold.
"Manufactured by who?"
Marielle turned to me with an expression I had seen only once in my life—the day she lost a whole squad of tamed beasts to a corrupted summoner.
"The Celestial War has already begun, Kael," she said. "Silently. In shadows. Someone is experimenting—creating new war-beasts using fragments of void energy."
"But why hide it?" Brown asked.
"Because," Seraphelle said, "only beings with high celestial authority can manipulate void fragments without dying. Someone with equal—or near equal—rank to me."
A chilling possibility formed in my mind.
"Another Celestial King…"
Seraphelle met my gaze.
"Or a fallen one."
The room fell silent.
---
Marielle clapped sharply, breaking the tension. "Enough doom. Kael, I didn't summon you just for warnings. I need your help."
She walked to the basin of star-water and touched it. The liquid glowed brighter.
"I'm going to extract the memory trapped inside this beast."
Brown blinked. "Beasts have memories?"
"Everything touched by mana has memories," Marielle said. "The question is whether we can survive seeing them."
Her hand hovered over the water. "Kael, place your hand on the basin. Seraphelle, support the mana link."
Seraphelle stepped forward gracefully. "As you wish."
I placed my palm on the glowing surface.
A shock of cold shot through my arm—then—
FLASH.
I saw—
Dark corridors.
Chains rattling.
Ritual circles dripping with black light.
A robed figure with shifting features—face hidden, voice distorted.
And behind him… thousands of void fragments swirling like captive stars.
The figure spoke:
"Phase Three begins. The Heir must not interfere."
My heart seized.
Me.
They were talking about me.
The memory shattered.
I stumbled backward, but Seraphelle steadied me with a hand on my shoulder.
"Kael," she said softly. "Are you harmed?"
"I'm fine." My breath was shaky. "But… that voice. That place. It felt close. Too close."
Marielle nodded grimly. "It's inside the Otherworld. Deep. But reachable."
Brown said what I was already thinking:
"We need to go there."
Seraphelle's expression hardened. "You are not prepared. The Void is unforgiving—"
"I don't have the luxury of waiting," I said. "My family—my friends—my mother just gave birth to my baby brother. If the enemy is already moving, I can't sit here doing nothing."
Marielle sighed. "I knew you'd say that. Which is why I prepared something."
She flicked her fingers again.
A small sphere floated toward me—silver, pulsing with gentle heat. "Take it. It's a Memory Beacon. If you enter the Void and something happens, this will pull your consciousness back. Your body will follow… hopefully intact."
Brown muttered, "Hopefully?"
"Magic always has a margin," Marielle said cheerfully.
Seraphelle placed her hand over mine.
"Kael. If you go… I go with you."
"I know," I said. "I'll need you."
"Then," Marielle said, stepping back and raising her staff, "brace yourselves."
The runes in the room ignited.
The air thickened with power.
The walls vibrated.
A portal of swirling star-water erupted in the center of the chamber—its core pitch black, its edges shimmering silver.
"The path to the Void Labyrinth," Marielle announced. "Once you step through, your fates will twist."
Brown exhaled. "Kael… ready?"
I looked at him. My best friend. Loyal. Steady. A shield that laughs too little but bleeds too much for me.
"No," I said honestly. "But I'm going anyway."
Seraphelle extended her wings. "Then let us fight destiny."
Together—
Brown at my right,
Seraphelle at my back,
Marielle watching with hope and fear—
I stepped into the darkness.
And the Void swallowed us whole.