The shadow in the corner pulsed like a living fog. Andy instinctively summoned a wind barrier, while Peter activated a flame glyph that hovered above his palm like a miniature sun.
The voice spoke again, low and echoing:
"You've opened what should've stayed sealed."
Peter narrowed his eyes. "And you've got the dramatic villain voice down. What are you, the janitor of forbidden secrets?"
The fog shifted, revealing a figure cloaked in fractured light—neither fully present nor entirely gone. It wasn't hostile. Just… ancient.
Andy stepped forward. "Who are you?"
The figure tilted its head. "I am the Echo. A memory left behind by Aeron and Pyros. I guard their legacy."
Peter blinked. "Wait. Our dads left behind a magical voicemail?"
The Echo nodded. "More or less."
🧠 The Message
The Echo raised a hand, and the memory crystals lit up. Images flickered across the chamber—Aeron and Pyros battling side by side, sealing a rift in time, arguing over whether wind or fire made better soup.
Andy watched his father laugh. Peter saw his dad trip over a spell circle and pretend it was intentional.
Peter whispered, "They were… real. Not just legends."
The Echo continued:
"They knew the Shiver wasn't the only threat. A second rift is forming. And only their heirs can stop it."
Andy and Peter exchanged a look.
Peter sighed. "Of course it's us. It's always us."
Andy grinned. "At least we've got matching trauma and cool powers."
🧭 The Next Step
The Echo handed them a sealed scroll. "This contains the coordinates to the Rift Nexus. You'll need allies. And snacks. Lots of snacks."
Peter raised an eyebrow. "Wait, did my dad write that last part?"
The Echo flickered. "He was very food-motivated."
As the vault sealed behind them, Andy and Peter stepped into the moonlight, scroll in hand, hearts pounding.
Peter looked at Andy. "So… save the world?"
Andy nodded. "But first, sandwiches."
And somewhere, deep in the academy's foundations, the second rift began to stir.
Chapter: Rift Prep & Snack Strategy
Back in Dorm 7, Andy and Peter stared at the scroll containing the coordinates to the Rift Nexus. It pulsed faintly, like it was alive—or just really eager to ruin their weekend.
Peter tapped the parchment. "This thing's humming. Either it's magical… or it's hungry."
Andy nodded solemnly. "Same."
They packed for the journey: enchanted cloaks, elemental charms, and a suspicious number of sandwiches. Peter insisted on labeling each one with protective runes. "You never know when a sandwich might save your life."
Andy raised an eyebrow. "Or explode."
Peter shrugged. "Both are useful."
🧭 The Journey Begins
They followed the scroll's coordinates through the academy's outer woods, past the Whispering Pines and into the Fogveil Expanse—a place where visibility dropped and logic occasionally took a coffee break.
Andy used wind pulses to clear the mist. Peter summoned a floating flame orb named "Greg" to light the way. Greg had opinions and occasionally hummed show tunes.
Suddenly, the ground trembled. A rift shimmered ahead—dark, swirling, and very much not part of the school brochure.
Peter squinted. "That's either the Rift Nexus… or a magical blender."
Andy stepped forward. "Only one way to find out."
🌀 Rift Encounter
As they approached, the rift pulsed and released a burst of energy. A figure stepped out—cloaked, masked, and radiating power.
"Who dares approach the Nexus?" the figure boomed.
Peter whispered, "Do we say our names or just pretend we're here for a picnic?"
Andy stepped up. "We're the heirs of Aeron and Pyros. We're here to finish what they started."
The figure paused. "Did you bring snacks?"
Peter held up a sandwich. "Labeled and enchanted."
The figure lowered its hood, revealing a young woman with glowing eyes and a smirk. "Good. You'll need them. The Rift is waking—and it's hungry for more than sandwiches."
Andy and Peter exchanged a look.
Peter sighed. "Why is everything hungry?"
Andy grinned. "Let's feed it a fight."
And as the Rift Nexus roared to life, the trio stepped forward—armed with magic, legacy, and a very well-prepared lunch.
Rift Roast & Revelations
The Rift Nexus pulsed ominously, swirling with shadow and light. The mysterious woman—who had just asked for snacks—took a bite of Peter's enchanted sandwich and nodded approvingly.
"Not bad," she said. "You even warded the mustard. Impressive."
Peter blinked. "Wait… you can taste the runes?"
She smirked. "I'm not just anyone. I'm Lyra, Riftwatcher of the Third Circle. I guard the threshold between realms and occasionally judge sandwich quality."
Andy raised an eyebrow. "So you're like a magical customs officer?"
Lyra shrugged. "More or less. But today, I'm your guide."
🌀 Into the Rift
With Lyra leading the way, the trio stepped into the Rift Nexus. The world twisted—colors inverted, gravity hiccupped, and Peter's flame orb Greg started reciting poetry.
Andy held steady, wind magic anchoring their path. "This place feels like someone spilled a dream and forgot to clean it up."
Lyra nodded. "That's… disturbingly accurate."
They arrived at a floating platform surrounded by memory shards—fragments of past Rift incursions. One shard flickered to life, showing Aeron and Pyros battling a creature made of broken time and sarcasm.
Peter squinted. "Is that thing… insulting them while attacking?"
Lyra sighed. "That's a Rift Echo. They're sentient, rude, and occasionally bilingual."
🧠 The Revelation
One shard pulsed brighter than the rest. Lyra touched it, and a message played:
"To our sons—if you've found this, you're ready. The Rift is evolving. It's no longer just a tear in reality. It's learning."
Andy's breath caught. "Learning?"
Peter frowned. "Like… adapting?"
Lyra nodded. "It's mimicking emotions, memories, even personalities. It's trying to become… real."
Suddenly, the platform shook. A new Echo emerged—this one shaped like Andy, but twisted, smirking, and wearing a cape made of wind.
"Hello, me," it said. "Ready to fight yourself?"
Peter groaned. "I knew we should've packed a second sandwich."Final Chapter: Rift Closed, Sanity Optional
The Rift Echo—Andy's wind-cloaked doppelgänger—charged forward with dramatic flair, shouting, "I am the better you!"
Andy rolled his eyes. "You wear a cape indoors. You're clearly compensating."
Peter, meanwhile, faced his own Echo—a smug version of himself holding a flaming quill and sipping tea from a cup labeled Superior Peter. "I'm everything you wish you were," it sneered.
Peter blinked. "I literally enchanted a sandwich yesterday. I'm doing fine."
Lyra, unfazed, tossed them both enchanted marshmallows. "Feed your Echoes. They hate joy."
Andy hurled a marshmallow at his Echo's face. It exploded in a puff of glitter and existential confusion. "What is this? Sweet… optimism?"
Peter's Echo tried to dodge but tripped over its own ego. Peter casually flicked a flame rune and toasted it like a s'more.
The Rift pulsed one last time, then burped and sealed itself with a sound suspiciously like a kazoo.
Lyra clapped. "Well done. You've defeated your inner drama queens."
Andy wiped glitter off his face. "Can we go home now?"
Peter nodded. "I need a nap. And possibly therapy."
As they walked back toward the academy, Andy turned to Peter. "So… what did we learn?"
Peter thought for a moment. "That magical sandwiches are underrated. And that you should never trust a version of yourself wearing a cape."
Andy grinned. "Agreed."
And somewhere, deep in the archives, the Echoes whispered one last time:
"Next time, bring snacks with dip."