Elara stood outside the old apartment, the night air cool as the clock ticked past midnight. The primal vein's faint pulse still lingered in her mind, and the hidden city's collapse felt like a distant memory.
"We need to find the bay vein," Elara said, her voice soft but clear.
"It holds the truth about Flux and maybe me. Let's go tomorrow." She thought about Mira's sad eyes and the bloodline's call.
It pushed her forward, but she still wondered—was she really part of Calder's trick?
Kael nodded, his gruff voice low. "My gift can help once we're there. The shard's energy keeps me safe in memories, but I need to see the vein first."
He patted the shard in his pocket, ready to use it.
Nyx looked up, her quick mind turning. "I'll check the Circuit for maps. We can't go in blind."
She pulled out her device, starting to work.
Saria spoke, her voice gentle.
"The Luminant elders gave me a guide. The vein's guarded by old spirits. We need their blessing."
Her hands glowed softly, showing her rare Flux power.
Vey added, his voice steady now. "The map shows a path under the docks. My brother might be near it."
He pointed at the holo-map, tracing the route.
They planned through the night, the neon lights casting shadows on the walls. The city buzzed with life outside. Hover cars hummed past, their sleek bodies cutting through the fog.
People walked by in shiny clothes with glowing patches, some with cybernetic eyes that blinked in the dark. Holo-ads floated, selling memory chips and hover bikes, tech that once seemed like sci-fi dreams.
Tall towers gleamed with rich folks, while tent cities huddled in alleys, a sign of the big gap between them. Street vendors sold glowing snacks, and kids played with holo-games that lit up the pavement. The air smelled like metal and fried food, a strange mix of old and new.
Elara watched, her mind spinning. "This world feels so big. Did I help make it, or was I just following Calder?"
She remembered coding the Weave, but doubts grew stronger. Was it her work, or did Calder set her up?
The next morning, they set out for the bay. They took a hidden path through the docks, the water reflecting neon lights. Rusted ships sat still, and old cranes loomed like skeletons.
Hover drones patrolled, their red eyes scanning, but Saria's energy kept them hidden. They reached a cave under a pier, its entrance covered in seaweed and glowing moss. The holo-map led them inside, the air growing cold and damp.
Deep in the cave, the bay vein glowed with huge crystals, their light pulsing like a heartbeat. But shadows moved—tall figures with glowing eyes, Luminant spirits guarding the place. Saria stepped forward, her voice firm.
"We seek the truth of Flux. Give us your blessing."
The spirits hovered, their voices echoing, "Prove your bloodline."
Elara cut her hand, letting blood drip onto a crystal. The vein hummed, and the spirits nodded, stepping back.
"You are chosen," they said. But a loud roar shook the cave—a guardian beast, scaled and fierce, rose from the shadows. Its tendrils whipped, blocking the way.
Kael grabbed the shard, his eyes closing. "I'll dive in," he said. His mind entered the vein's memory, guided by the energy.
Elara watched as his face changed, seeing old times. He saw Luminants guarding the vein in the 1800s, a ritual to seal its power. Then Calder's mother, with traitors, stealing samples in the 2050s, causing a quake that buried the city.
"Flux was theirs," he said, pulling out.
"Calder's mom started the theft."
Nyx scanned the cave, her device beeping. "The beast is tied to the vein. We need more blood to calm it."
She looked at Elara, ready to help.
Saria joined, her energy mixing with Elara's blood. The vein glowed brighter, and the beast roared, tendrils lashing.
Lira added her blood, her mind sending, Together! The energy burst, pushing the beast back. It shrank, turning into a faint spirit, then vanished. The cave settled, the vein pulsing steadily.
Elara put on her headset, diving into the Weave. The vault opened, and a robed figure spoke with a serious tone.
"Flux was born from Luminant blood, sealed to protect the world. Calder's mother broke the seal, using it for Project Nexus. You, Elara, were chosen to fix it, not create the Weave."
A vision showed the first Luminants chanting, the vein forming, then Calder's mother experimenting, Elara as a young coder guided by Calder's lies.
"Your doubt is your strength," the figure said. "Find the traitor."
She pulled out, breathing hard.
"Flux came from Luminants. Calder's mom stole it. I was picked to stop her, not start the Weave." Her voice shook, but she felt clearer.
Kael nodded, his face tired. "The memory shows a traitor—someone close. Maybe Vey's brother."
Vey looked shocked. "He wouldn't… but he might know." His hands tightened on the map.
Nyx checked her device. "The Circuit sent a signal. Calder's tracking us. We need to move."
Her lenses flared, showing urgency.
Saria pointed deeper. "The vein has more secrets. We should stay and learn."
Her energy pulsed, ready to protect.
Lira's mind sent, We're on the right path. Her energy linked them, calming Elara's fears.
They spent hours exploring, finding old Luminant carvings and a hidden room with more files. The city's neon glow seeped in, reminding them of the world above—hover buses, cyber-lungs, and tent cities.
Elara sat, staring at the carvings. "If I'm not the creator, who am I? What's my real job?"
Her doubts mixed with hope, the bloodline's call growing stronger. They decided to dig deeper into the vein and track Vey's brother, seeking the traitor and their next step.
The cave glowed, a mix of danger and discovery, their journey just beginning.