The sun was like a dying ember. Shedding its final orange color of the day in the western sky.
Just as its last sliver dipped below the horizon, three figures emerged from the cave mouth. Countess Ashworth. Elder Keystone. And Professor Valecove.
Professor Valecove was a little bit pale. A bloodied bandage was wrapped around his arm. The two stronger figures seemed utterly unfazed.
Countess Ashworth did not offer explanations. Her voice cut through the silence. Crisp and devoid of warmth. "Everything has been handled."
Elder Keystone, without any word, took out his compact, ornate buckler. And threw it on the ground. With a whispered incantation, it expanded. Its metallic surface gleaming.
The three stepped onto it. And then, they ascended into the twilight sky and vanished. Zooming away. Without so much as a nod or a backward glance.
Jack had long felt the shift. The oppressive, lingering aura of the spatial crack within the cave had dissipated. The problem was indeed solved. At least for now.
But, another sensation had pricked at his enhanced awareness. A dense, cold knot of negative energy clung to Elder Keystone. A vast and potent 'thing'. Jack couldn't discern its nature, but the feeling was profoundly unsettling.
He had a bad feeling about that 'thing'. A very bad feeling. Yet, he could do nothing. Countess Ashworth and Elder Keystone were simply too powerful, too far beyond his current capabilities. He filed the information away. He could do nothing at present.
Sir Shellarrow was already moving. His heavy boots were crunching on the loose rock. "Let's confirm."
Jack, Reina, Nick, Olward, Amaranth, and Lucca followed him into the cave. The tunnel was cold. Damp. And smelled faintly of earth and blood. They reached the cavern where the pedestal and spatial crack had been.
Now, there was nothing but a smooth, unblemished rock face. The space crack was gone. Sealed completely. A testament to the power of the kingdom's elite.
"It used to be there." Jack pointed above the pedestal. "It's gone now."
Nick Glaiver exhaled slowly. "Thank the stars. That's a relief. Well, everyone, I'll be heading back to Mirebarrow."
He sighed. "It's supposed to be a holiday vacation for me. Now, I've only got a few days left before I had to go back to Lonestone University. Why don't you all join me?"
Olward Overgale grunted. "Sounds good to me. My joints aren't what they used to be, and a proper bed beats cold rock."
Amaranth White exchanged a glance with Lucca. "We appreciate the offer, Nick, but we have an appointment in Calmcoast Town. We're already running late as it is. We really need to get going." Her tone was polite but firm.
Lucca Rowmore merely nodded in agreement. His hand was still staying at the hilt of one of his many daggers. He never abandoned his vigilance.
Jack considered it. He glanced at Reina, who offered a subtle, affirmative nod. "Mirebarrow sounds fine. We need to resupply anyway."
He knew the town's general store would have what he needed. Besides, a quiet night in a proper inn would be a welcome change from camping. "But it's already dark. We'll camp here for the night and head out in the morning."
Everyone agreed. The thought of navigating the treacherous terrain at night was unappealing. Even with the perceived absence of threats.
They returned back to their camp site. The air was slowly growing colder as the last light faded.
Sir Shellarrow offered to take the first watch. They would, as usual, take turns taking the night watch duty.
Hours later, deep in the heavy silence of the night...
Within his tent, beside the sleeping Reina, Jack activated his [Incarnation Shift]. His physical form gradually dissolved into shimmering motes of light. Reforming as Jack Mystery. The mysterious specter, ethereal and silent.
He drifted through the sleeping camp. Past the slumbering forms of Reina, Nick, Olward, and Sir Shellarrow.
Amaranth and Lucca were on the late-night guard shift. Positioned by the campfire. Their figures silhouetted against the campfire light and the faint starlight.
Jack materialized fully. A pale, ghostly gleam in the gloom. He appeared not far from them. His presence was slightly chilling the air.
Lucca's hand shot out. Six daggers were materializing mid-air. Their points aimed directly at Jack's. His eyes narrowed. Ready to strike.
"Hold, Uncle!" Amaranth's voice cut in. Sharp with recognition. She lowered her own misty hand. But a faint glow was still emanating from her palm. "It's him. The specter from the Webmother's Inheritance. Jack Mystery."
Jack tilted his head. A gesture of casual amusement. "Glad to see you still recognize me, Ms. White. And greetings to you to, Mr. Rowmore. No need for the theatrics. I was just passing by. Though, I must say, it's quite the coincidence finding you two camping in this... er... delightful wilderness."
He feigned ignorance of whatever had happened here. "I've been looking for you, Ms. White. For quite some time now, actually. Lucky break for me finding you here."
Amaranth lowered her gaze slightly. A hint of suspicion in her eyes. "Me? Why?" Her voice was even.
Jack extended a translucent hand. A small, intricately carved crystal coin floated from his palm. Solid, yet transparent and shimmering with faint rune-like numbers. It drifted towards Amaranth. Stopping precisely before her.
"An invitation." Jack said as the coin dropped into Amaranth's hand.
He continued. His voice was a low, resonant whisper. "You'll notice the string of numbers on the coin. It will dwindle down one number every hour. When they reach zero, you'll be invited to a meeting. One I believe you'll find... useful. It's for people like us. The Fateless. To gather."
Lucca shifted. His daggers were still hovering. Though less aggressively. "Fateless? What in the blazes are you talking about?"
Jack's spectral eyes seemed to fix on Lucca. Though the mask gave nothing away.
"Anyone without fate. Rare individuals. Those immune to prophecy, fortune-telling, divination... A closed book to those who try to read the threads of destiny." He paused, letting the words hang in the still night air. "Ms. White, you are one of these few. A true Fateless."
Amaranth glanced at the coin. Then back at Jack. "And what if I don't accept this 'invitation'?" There was a challenge in her tone.
Jack Mystery gave a spectral shrug. A movement that implied utter indifference. "Up to you. It's an invitation, not a command."
"The meeting will be in the spiritual world. Happens once a month. And it only lasts an hour." He continued. Providing the details with a detached air. As if discussing the weather.
He elaborated more. "There's an extremely... experienced senior sister there. Another Fateless. She's the one who extended this invitation, actually. She could probably answer any questions you have about being Fateless. Or about transcendent development in general."
Jakc stopped and sighed. "She's very knowledgeable, if a bit lazy and introverted. Only willing to talk to others once a month. For an hour. That's why the strict schedule. Anyway, I have given you the invitation. Accepting it or not it your decision. Farewell!"
Having imparted his message, Jack Mystery's form began to shimmer. Dissolving back into the night. He didn't wait for a reply. He didn't seem to care if she accepted or not.
His presence simply faded. Leaving behind only the chill in the air and the faintly glowing crystal coin on Amaranth's palm.
Amaranth looked at the coin. Its surface was cool beneath her fingers even as it radiated a faint, internal light. The numbers on its face glowed faintly.
She looked around. "He's... gone?"
Lucca lowered his daggers completely. The magical light around them winking out. "What was that all about? 'Fateless'? A spiritual meeting? Is this some kind of cult?"
He looked at her. Concern etched on his face. "Are you really... immune to prophecy? What does that even mean?"
Amaranth turned the coin over in her hand. "I don't know, Uncle. When she was still alive, mother always told me that my future was... blurry. Difficult to read. My teacher also always said I was an anomaly in divination. But immune to prophecy? That's a strong claim."
She looked at the numbers on the coin. "A meeting in the spiritual world... once a month. For an hour. And a senior sister who knows everything but is too lazy to share it more often."
A faint, amused smile touched her lips. "It certainly sounds interesting."
"You're not actually going to try it, are you?" Lucca asked. His voice was wary.
"I don't see the harm." Amaranth replied. Her pragmatism was overriding any fear. "An hour. Once a month. If nothing comes of it, then I've lost an hour. If it's real... And there's a senior sister who can genuinely answer questions, then it could be invaluable." She tucked the coin carefully into a pouch.
The rest of the night passed without incident. The lingering chill from Jack's visit slowly faded. Replaced by the familiar cold of the wilderness.
...
With the first hint of dawn, the camp stirred. A sparse breakfast was shared. And the remaining individuals packed up and prepared to depart. Amaranth and Lucca offered their farewells.
"Good luck in Mirebarrow, everyone. We'll head directly to Calmcoast." Amaranth waved goodbye as she summoned one of her flying mist serpent.
"Safe travels!" Nick called after them.
Amaranth nodded. She jumped on her mist serpent. Lucca gave a curt wave. Standing on his flying daggers. And they drifted off on their unique 'mounts'. Down the rough track that led towards the coast.
Sir Shellarrow transformed into his Thunderbird form. Olward and Nick were a little bit hesitant as they jumped on his back.
"I'll see you two in Mirebarrow soon." Sir Shellarrow said. His voice was reverberating in that mythical creature form.
"We'll see you there, then, Sir Shellarrow." Jack said as he mounted his hoverbike. The powerful engine humming to life beneath him.
He gave a nod to Reina. She smoothly climbed onto the passenger seat of the hoverbike. As they started to move, her long black hair was flowing behind her like a silken banner.