The morning after discovering the Algorithm's Shadow had infiltrated Malaca's entertainment culture, Ethan woke to the sound of rain tapping against the window. Seraphine was already up, standing on the balcony with her wide-brimmed hat pulled low against the drizzle. Her threshold-mark pulsed with a faint violet light that seemed to sync with the rain's rhythm.
Ethan joined her, adjusting his glasses as he watched the city come alive below. The rain had transformed Malaca into a glistening mosaic of reflected lights—each droplet seeming to hold a fragment of the city's supernatural balance.
"Did you sleep?" Seraphine asked without turning.
"Enough," Ethan admitted, pulling out his artifact camera. "Still processing yesterday. I never thought the Shadow would use our own entertainment against us."
Seraphine finally turned, her molten silver eyes serious. "That's how it works. It finds what makes us strong and turns it against us."
Nyx padded out onto the balcony, shaking water from his fur before rubbing against Ethan's leg. The cat's reflection in a rain puddle showed something different—nine molten silver eyes instead of two.
Ethan raised his camera, capturing the moment. "Better turn on the camera now," he said with a nod to Seraphine. "I think we need to talk to Elder Lin about this."
[chat]
rainwatcher42 : morning stream?
CamSurvivor : is it raining in Malaca?
qk2m9n : Nyx looks cute when wet
NyxSavior : the cat knows
---
They found Elder Lin at the Eastern Branch gathering point along the Gaga River, where she was overseeing preparations for the Festival of Five Tides. The ritual site had been transformed into a bustling workshop, with artisans creating decorations that seemed to shimmer with hidden energy.
"Ah, you're here," Elder Lin greeted them, her hands stained with river clay. "I was hoping you would come. We have visitors."
Two figures stood apart from the other pilgrims—older individuals dressed in robes of deep blue and silver that seemed to shift colors as they moved.
"These are the Veil Weavers," Elder Lin explained. "Master Aris and Weaver Maya. They've come to assess the threshold's condition."
Master Aris stepped forward, his eyes holding the depth of ancient oceans. "We've been watching you, Ethan Carter. The doorway who carries the threshold anchor."
Ethan lowered his camera, suddenly self-conscious. "I'm not sure I understand what that means."
Weaver Maya smiled, her voice like the gentle lapping of waves. "Your camera is more than a recording device. It's a threshold anchor—a tool to stabilize the veil during your streams."
"The Goblin Pro?" Ethan asked, holding up the battered device.
"Not just the Goblin Pro," Master Aris corrected. "The artifact camera. The one that survived when others would have failed."
Seraphine's threshold-mark flared as she stepped between them. "How do you know about the artifact camera?"
Master Aris's expression softened. "Because your grandmother entrusted it to Elder Lin's predecessor. And because you, Seraphine, are the latest in a long line of Eastern Branch threshold guardians."
Seraphine froze. "My grandmother never told me—"
"Guardianship is revealed only when needed," Weaver Maya explained gently. "Your family has protected the Eastern threshold for generations. The threshold-mark you bear is hereditary."
Ethan looked between them, his mind racing. "So Seraphine's threshold-mark... it's not just from the attack?"
"It's always been there," Master Aris confirmed. "Dormant until activated. Your grandmother's was activated during the last major Shadow incursion—thirty years ago."
Nyx jumped onto a nearby stone, his molten silver eyes fixed on Master Aris. The cat's reflection showed the nine-eyed form again.
"You see it too," Master Aris observed. "Nyx recognizes his kindred."
---
The Veil Weavers led them to a secluded grove where the river curved in a perfect spiral—the heart of the Eastern threshold. Here, the air hummed with energy, and the rain seemed to fall in slow motion.
"This is where we'll show you how to use your camera properly," Weaver Maya explained, spreading her hands over a stone platform carved with threshold symbols.
Master Aris gestured for Ethan to raise his camera. "The artifact camera responds to belief. But it also responds to the language of luck—the same patterns that saved you throughout your journey."
Ethan adjusted his glasses, remembering Professor Vance's practice tiles. "The interlocking spirals..."
"Exactly," Master Aris nodded. "Those are threshold glyphs. Your camera can use them to anchor the veil during your streams."
Weaver Maya demonstrated, tracing patterns in the air that glowed with soft light. "When you stream, the Algorithm's Shadow can sense the attention you're receiving. It uses that energy to test the threshold. But with proper anchoring..."
She handed Ethan a small pouch of river stones—Baba's Tears. "Place these around your streaming area. They'll stabilize the local threshold. And when you feel the Shadow approaching..."
Master Aris took a deep breath. "You'll need to speak the language of luck through your camera. Not with words, but with intention."
Ethan raised the artifact camera, trying to mimic Weaver Maya's movements. Through the lens, he could see the threshold glyphs forming in the air—fragile at first, then growing stronger as he focused.
[chat]
xk8m3n : so pretty
thresholdweaver : magical place
fj7k4l : beautiful work
CamSurvivor : he's getting it!
"Good," Master Aris approved. "Now try incorporating the Northern Branch threshold glyph."
Ethan frowned. "The Northern Branch?"
"Weavers maintain connections across all branches," Weaver Maya explained. "The Northern Branch threshold at Macco is the oldest. Their glyphs strengthen the entire network."
Ethan attempted the more geometric Northern glyph, but his movements were clumsy. The pattern flickered and died.
"Try again," Master Aris encouraged. "Remember—the language of luck isn't about perfect movements. It's about belief."
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 pattern holding steady—a blend of Eastern and Northern threshold glyphs working in harmony.
Nyx jumped onto his shoulder, purring loudly. The cat's molten silver eyes reflected the glowing patterns, enhancing them.
"Excellent!" Weaver Maya exclaimed. "You're a natural threshold anchor."
Ethan lowered the camera, his arms aching from the effort. "So this is how I can protect Malaca while streaming?"
"Not just protect," Master Aris corrected. "Maintain. The veil has natural rhythms—the veil tides. High tide strengthens the threshold, low tide weakens it. Your streams can help maintain balance during vulnerable periods."
Seraphine's threshold-mark pulsed as she absorbed the information. "The Festival of Five Tides coincides with the highest veil tide of the year. That's why the Shadow is targeting it."
"Exactly," Weaver Maya confirmed. "The Festival is when Malaca is most vulnerable—and most visible."
---
Later that afternoon, they gathered in a workshop where Veil Weavers practiced their craft. Instead of physical thread, they worked with threads of energy—visible only through special lenses or to those with threshold sensitivity.
"This is how we maintain the veil," Master Aris explained, demonstrating on a loom that seemed to be made of light itself. "Each thread represents a connection between worlds. We strengthen weak spots and repair damage."
Ethan watched in fascination as the Weaver's hands moved with practiced precision, creating patterns that resonated with the threshold symbols he'd been learning.
"Would you like to try?" Weaver Maya asked.
Ethan hesitated. "I don't know the first thing about weaving."
"Neither did you know the language of luck," Master Aris reminded him. "But you learned."
Ethan took the offered seat at the loom, feeling completely out of his depth. He reached for the threads of energy, but they slipped through his fingers like smoke.
[chat]
qk2m9n : this is amazing
thresholdseeker : can we learn too?
CamSurvivor : he's trying so hard
riverwatcher : bless his heart
"Try with your camera," Seraphine suggested.
Ethan raised the artifact device, focusing on the threads through its lens. Now he could see them clearly—glowing strands of energy that responded to his movements.
He reached again, this time using the camera to guide his hands. The threads still slipped through his fingers, but less frequently.
"Good," Master Aris encouraged. "Now try incorporating the threshold glyph for stability."
Ethan attempted the familiar spiral pattern, but his concentration broke when he sneezed. The threads scattered in all directions, wrapping around his arms and face like glowing spiderwebs.
Seraphine covered her mouth to hide a smile. "You look like a very confused mummy."
[chat]
art4life : best moment ever
NyxSavior : the cat approves
q8m3n2 : please take a selfie
southernbeats : this is better than the supernatural stuff
Nyx jumped onto the loom, carefully untangling the threads with his paws. Within moments, the energy strands were restored to their proper pattern.
"Even the cat is better at this than I am," Ethan muttered, adjusting his glasses.
"Patience," Master Aris said, his eyes twinkling. "Weaving takes time. But you're learning faster than most."
---
As evening fell, they gathered around a fire where the Veil Weavers shared stories of past threshold guardians.
"The Northern Branch threshold at Macco is the oldest," Master Aris explained. "It was established when the first pilgrims crossed the sea to found Malaca City."
Ethan raised his camera, capturing the storytelling. "How did they know where to establish the thresholds?"
Weaver Maya smiled. "The language of luck guided them. Just as it guided your journey here."
Seraphine traced a pattern in the air—the same one Ethan had struggled with earlier. "My grandmother spoke of the First Threshold—the place where Malaca's founders first established the veil."
Master Aris nodded gravely. "The hidden threshold at Malaca's geographical center. Older than all five branches' traditions."
Ethan felt a chill despite the fire's warmth. "The Algorithm's Shadow is targeting it, isn't it?"
"The Shadow seeks the source of all threshold power," Weaver Maya confirmed. "The First Threshold is where the veil is thinnest—and strongest."
Seraphine's threshold-mark flared suddenly. "It's testing the threshold now."
They all felt it—a subtle shift in the air, a momentary stillness where the fire's crackling should have been.
Master Aris stood. "The Shadow grows bolder. It knows we're preparing for the Festival."
Ethan raised his camera, scanning the area through its lens. The familiar static distortions were visible at the edge of the forest—tendrils of the Algorithm's Shadow probing the veil's strength.
[chat]
rainwatcher42 : the Shadow is back
CamSurvivor : they're in danger
qk2m9n : please be safe
NyxSavior : Best protects his own
Nyx jumped to the edge of the firelight, his fur bristling as he stared into the darkness. The cat's reflection showed the nine-eyed form again, glowing with molten silver light.
"The Shadow is learning our patterns," Seraphine realized. "It's adapting to our defenses."
Master Aris placed a hand on Ethan's shoulder. "This is why you must master the threshold anchor technique. During the Festival, you'll need to stream continuously to maintain the veil's strength."
Ethan lowered his camera. "How long can I stream without weakening the threshold?"
Weaver Maya smiled gently. "As long as you maintain the proper balance. Eight to twelve hours should be sufficient for the Festival's duration."
Ethan nodded, remembering his streaming habits. "I can do that."
Seraphine touched his arm. "But you'll need to power down for private moments. The Shadow can't penetrate when the stream is off."
"Thirty-two minutes today," Ethan murmured, tucking the camera away. "Enough to know what we're facing."
---
Later, as they walked back toward their temporary quarters, Seraphine broke the silence.
"Master Aris mentioned the Northern Branch threshold at Macco," she said. "It might hold answers about the First Threshold."
Ethan adjusted his glasses. "You're thinking we should visit it."
Seraphine nodded. "Before the Festival. If the Shadow is targeting convergence points, the Northern threshold might show us where the First Threshold is located."
Ethan reviewed the day's footage. The threshold glyphs he'd practiced, the Veil Weaver's teachings, Nyx's protective stance against the Shadow—it all pointed toward something bigger.
Nyx walked between them, his tail held high like a furry antenna. The cat stopped suddenly, staring intently at a patch of moonlight on the path ahead.
Through his camera, Ethan could see why—the moonlight revealed a pattern in the stones, matching the threshold glyph for warning.
"The Shadow has been here," Seraphine whispered, her threshold-mark pulsing with violet light.
Ethan powered down the stream as Nyx continued to stare at the pattern. "Thirty-two minutes today," he murmured, tucking the camera away. "Enough to know our enemy is closer than we thought."
As they prepared to leave the moonlit path, Nyx didn't follow. The cat remained at the edge, staring at the warning pattern with unusual intensity.
Seraphine touched Ethan's arm. "It's already here. And it's learning how to read our patterns."
Below them, the city continued its nightly preparations for the Festival of Five Tides, unaware that the Algorithm's Shadow had found a new way to infiltrate Malaca's heart—not through force, but through the very traditions that protected the city.
The Festival was supposed to be Malaca's moment of unity and strength. But as Ethan watched Nyx's reflection show nine molten silver eyes staring into the darkness, he realized the Shadow had already turned Malaca's greatest strength into its most dangerous vulnerability.
And it was using their own stream to learn how to do it better.