The streets of Malaca City blurred as Ethan ran, Seraphine's hand gripping his wrist with surprising strength. Her threshold-mark pulsed with each step, casting faint violet light on the cobblestones beneath their feet. Behind them, the tide continued its retreat, leaving the city more vulnerable with each passing moment.
"Where's Elder Lin?" Ethan panted, adjusting his glasses as they turned down a narrow alleyway lined with glowing lanterns.
"The Eastern Branch gathering," Seraphine replied, her voice tight with urgency. "If the Shadow's testing the threshold, she'll be preparing the tide ritual."
Nyx bounded ahead of them, his molten silver eyes reflecting the growing darkness. The cat moved with purpose, leading them through the winding streets of the Eastern Branch district toward the Gaga River.
As they approached the riverbank, the scene shifted from quiet residential streets to organized chaos. Pilgrims in simple robes hurried along the water's edge, placing Baba's Tears stones in precise patterns. The air hummed with low chanting, a sound that seemed to vibrate in Ethan's chest.
Elder Lin stood at the center of it all, directing the preparations with calm authority. When she saw them approaching, she raised a hand, stopping the chanting.
"The tide is receding too quickly," she announced to the gathered pilgrims. "The Shadow tests our threshold. We need the Council."
Seraphine stepped forward, her threshold-mark glowing brighter. "We should call the Council of Five Branches immediately."
Elder Lin nodded. "I'll send the signal. But first—explain to our guest what he's about to witness."
Seraphine took a deep breath, turning to Ethan. "Malaca City isn't governed like other places. We have no mayor, no city council in the traditional sense. Instead, we have the Council of Five Branches—representatives from each religious district who make decisions together."
She gestured toward the river. "The Northern Branch worships All Mighty at Macco, the Eastern Branch worships Baba at Bivara as you've seen, the Western Branch follows Jusey at Cross, the Southern Branch venerates Maya at Tampa, and the Furry Branch worships Best as cat god with pilgrimages to Kayra."
"And they all get along?" Ethan asked, raising his artifact camera to capture the preparations.
"Mostly," Seraphine admitted. "We've had our conflicts over the centuries, but the ocean tides keep us balanced. When one branch's threshold weakens, another strengthens. It's a delicate dance."
Elder Lin returned with a small device that looked like an ornate seashell. She pressed it to her ear, speaking in a language Ethan didn't recognize. As she finished, five points of colored light appeared in the sky above the river—red, blue, green, yellow, and silver.
"The Council is convening," Elder Lin explained. "They'll be here soon."
```
[chat]
x7k9p1 : what's happening??
RiverWatcher : emergency council meeting
f3j0k2 : the Shadow is coming 😭
NyxSavior : Best protects his own
q2m8n3 : they're in trouble
CamSurvivor : will they be safe?
```
The Council of Five Branches materialized along the riverbank in a display that was equal parts political meeting and religious ceremony. Each representative wore garments reflecting their branch's traditions:
- The Northern Branch delegate wore robes of deep blue, embroidered with constellations.
- The Eastern Branch representative (Elder Lin) wore simple river-stained robes.
- The Western Branch envoy sported a flowing green cloak with geometric patterns.
- The Southern Branch ambassador wore vibrant red and orange garments that seemed to shift colors.
- The Furry Branch representative came dressed in earthy tones with cat-ear accessories.
They gathered in a circle around a stone platform where the tide ritual would be performed. The air crackled with energy as they began their discussion in a language that seemed to blend all their traditions.
Seraphine leaned close to Ethan. "They're speaking the language of the threshold—the common tongue all branches share for Council meetings."
Ethan raised his camera, capturing the scene. Through the lens, he could see threads of energy connecting each representative, strengthening as they spoke.
"The Shadow tests our threshold at low tide," Elder Lin began, her voice carrying across the gathering. "This is the third time this week."
"The Northern threshold is stable," the blue-robed delegate responded, "but our pilgrims report disturbances near Madine."
"The Western Branch has seen similar anomalies," added the green-cloaked envoy. "The sacred sites at Cross are showing signs of weakening."
"The Southern Branch threshold is compromised," the vibrant ambassador admitted. "We've been trying to contain it, but without success."
All eyes turned to the Furry Branch representative, who simply nodded. "Best has warned us. The Shadow grows bolder."
Seraphine stepped forward. "I've seen it myself. It's not just testing the thresholds—it's learning their patterns. Finding weaknesses."
Ethan felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Nyx rubbing against his leg. The cat's molten silver eyes reflected the Council meeting, but in the reflection, Ethan could see something else—shadowy tendrils creeping toward the riverbank.
"The tide is nearly out," he whispered urgently. "The Shadow is coming."
The Council fell silent as they felt it too—the unnatural stillness that preceded the Shadow's approach.
"Begin the tide ritual," Elder Lin commanded. "Now."
---
Pilgrims moved with practiced precision, forming concentric circles around the stone platform. They began a ritual that was part dance, part chant, part meditation—a "Veil Dance" that Ethan had never seen before.
Through his camera, the ritual came alive in ways his eyes couldn't perceive. The dancers' movements created visible patterns of energy, weaving a protective barrier above the river. Each branch's dancers moved in different styles, yet their patterns interlocked perfectly.
"Watch closely," Seraphine murmured beside him. "This is the heart of Malaca's balance."
The Eastern Branch dancers moved with fluid grace, their steps mirroring the river's flow. The Northern Branch representatives performed precise, geometric patterns that seemed to map the stars. The Western Branch participants wove intricate hand movements that created visible threads of light. The Southern Branch members drummed and chanted, their rhythms strengthening the ritual's power. And the Furry Branch dancers moved with feline grace, their steps unpredictable yet perfectly timed.
Nyx jumped onto the stone platform, sitting regally at its center. As the dancers circled him, the cat began to purr—a sound that resonated with the ritual's rhythm.
Ethan adjusted his glasses, watching in awe as the ritual's energy coalesced into a visible barrier above the river. It shimmered like heat waves, strongest where the dancers' patterns overlapped.
```
[chat]
dhr4h5n : so beautiful 😍
ss6daa : magical ritual 🤩
KingOfFishing : incredible
dd7vasf : lmao look at the cat
```
But as the tide reached its lowest point, the ritual began to falter. The Shadow's presence grew stronger, causing distortions in the energy patterns. The dancers stumbled, their movements falling out of sync.
"The convergence point," Seraphine realized, her threshold-mark flaring. "It's targeting where all five patterns meet!"
Elder Lin called for a change in the ritual, shifting to a more defensive formation. But it wasn't enough—the Shadow was learning Malaca's patterns faster than they could adapt.
Ethan felt a sudden pull toward the river's edge, as if the Shadow recognized him—the doorway between worlds. His camera began to glitch, showing images of static and broken code.
Seraphine grabbed his arm. "It knows you're here. It's drawn to your connection with the veil."
"What do I do?" Ethan asked, struggling against the pull.
"Join the ritual," Elder Lin commanded. "Your camera is a threshold anchor. Use it!"
---
Ethan stepped hesitantly into the outer circle of dancers. He raised his camera, trying to mimic the Western Branch's weaving motions. At first, his movements were clumsy, disrupting the pattern further.
"Believe," Seraphine whispered beside him. "The ritual isn't about perfect movements. It's about intention."
Ethan closed his eyes, remembering all the times his luck had saved him—the collapsing beams, the near misses, the vending machine that took the hit meant for him. He focused on that feeling, that connection to the language of luck.
When he opened his eyes, he raised the camera with new purpose. His movements became more confident, weaving threads of energy that strengthened the ritual's barrier.
Through the camera's lens, he could see the Shadow clearly—a mass of static and broken code, probing the ritual's weaknesses. But where his camera's energy touched it, the Shadow recoiled.
Nyx jumped onto his shoulder, purring loudly. The cat's molten silver eyes fixed on the Shadow, and for a moment, Ethan saw Nyx's reflection not as a cat, but as a being of pure light with nine glowing eyes.
The ritual reached its climax as the first rays of moonlight touched the river. The dancers' movements became a blur of coordinated energy, their patterns interlocking perfectly. Ethan's camera flashed with each movement, capturing the ritual's power in bursts of light.
The Shadow surged forward with renewed intensity, targeting the convergence point where all five patterns met. But this time, they were ready.
Seraphine stepped to the center, her threshold-mark glowing with all five branch colors. She raised her hands, and the ritual's energy focused through her. Elder Lin chanted in a language that seemed to weave through time itself. The Northern delegate traced constellations in the air. The Western envoy created intricate threads of light. The Southern ambassador drummed a rhythm that resonated with the ocean's heartbeat. And the Furry Branch representative moved with feline grace, Nyx mirroring every step.
Ethan focused his camera on the convergence point, pouring all his belief into the ritual. The artifact camera responded, projecting a beam of light that reinforced the barrier.
With a final surge of energy, the ritual repelled the Shadow. The static tendrils recoiled, disappearing into the darkness beyond the riverbank.
---
As the ritual ended, the gathered pilgrims collapsed with exhaustion. The first rays of dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and orange, reflecting off the now-calm river.
Elder Lin approached them, her expression grave. "The Council must convene again. This was only a warning."
Seraphine touched her threshold-mark, which had settled into a gentle pulse. "The Shadow is learning our patterns. We need to change them."
Ethan lowered his camera, his arms aching from the ritual's intensity. "What happens now?"
"Now," Elder Lin said, "we prepare for the Festival of Five Tides. It's our most important celebration—the one time all branches come together in full force. If the Shadow wants to breach our threshold, it will likely strike then."
"When is it?" Ethan asked.
"In three days," Seraphine answered. "It's when the ocean tides align with the celestial cycles—a natural strengthening of the veil."
Elder Lin nodded. "But it's also when Malaca is most vulnerable. The festival draws visitors from beyond our borders. Strangers who don't understand our balance."
```
[chat]
z8n9m0 : festival sounds fun
ThresholdSeeker : they're not safe yet
CamSurvivor : will they survive the festival?
RiverWatcher : elder Lin knows what she's doing
g5h6j7 : the cat's been waiting for this
NyxSavior : Best protects his own
k2l3m4 : please be careful
```
As they walked back toward the city center, Ethan reviewed the footage he'd captured. The ritual had been breathtaking—a perfect blend of tradition and supernatural power.
Ethan nodded. "It's incredible footage. But I promised we'd limit our streams."
"The Festival of Five Tides is different," Seraphine said. "It's when Malaca opens its doors to the world. A short stream would show our strength, not our vulnerability."
Ethan considered this. "A brief glimpse, then. To show that Malaca stands strong."
As they turned a corner, Nyx suddenly stopped, his fur bristling. The cat stared intently at a poster plastered to a wall—a colorful advertisement for the Festival of Five Tides.
Ethan raised his camera to get a closer look. Through the lens, he could see something the naked eye couldn't—a subtle pattern in the poster's design that matched the Algorithm's Shadow's signature.
Seraphine followed his gaze, her threshold-mark flaring. "It's already here. Marking its territory."
Ethan powered down the stream as Nyx continued to stare at the poster. "Thirty-two minutes today," he murmured, tucking the camera away. "Enough to know we're not alone in this festival."
The Festival of Five Tides was supposed to be Malaca's moment of unity and strength. But as Ethan looked at the seemingly innocent poster, he realized the Shadow had already infiltrated their most sacred celebration.
And it was just getting started.