The ritual's energy dissipated like morning mist, leaving Ethan standing in the center of the stone platform, his arms trembling from the effort. Seraphine's hand remained on his shoulder, her threshold-mark still pulsing with a soft violet light that matched the ocean's rhythm below.
"Stable," Elder Thorne announced, studying the threshold pillars. "For now."
Ethan lowered his artifact camera, the red recording light blinking steadily. "Thirty-two minutes today," he murmured, powering down the stream. "Enough to know we're not out of danger yet."
Seraphine squeezed his shoulder before stepping back. "You did well. Better than anyone expected."
Ethan adjusted his glasses, scanning the platform where Northern Branch practitioners were already cleaning up after the ritual. "They don't look convinced."
She followed his gaze to where a group of elders stood in hushed conversation, their expressions stern as they watched him. "Traditionalists don't trust outsiders, especially not those who claim to speak the language of luck."
Nyx jumped down from Ethan's shoulder, padding toward the group of elders with unusual purpose. The cat's molten silver eyes reflected the moonlight as he approached the most senior-looking woman among them.
"That's Elder Maris," Seraphine explained quietly. "She's the highest authority at Macco. If she doesn't accept you, no one will."
[chat]
NorthernGuardian: Elder Maris never trusts outsiders
ThresholdSeeker: please be careful
qk2m9n: Nyx is so brave
NyxSavior: Best chooses wisely
---
The gathering hall was carved directly into the cliff face, its walls lined with ancient carvings of threshold glyphs. Elder Maris sat at the head of a stone table, her silver hair pulled back in a severe braid that emphasized the sharp angles of her face.
"You claim to be a threshold anchor," Elder Maris began, her voice echoing in the cavernous space. "Yet you carry no formal training. You speak of the language of luck as if it were the same as our threshold glyphs."
Ethan stood before the council of Northern elders, his artifact camera held respectfully at his side. "It is the same foundation," he said carefully. "Just a different expression of it."
Elder Thorne spoke from her seat among the council. "He stabilized the convergence point when our own practitioners could not. His camera—"
"His camera is a profane device," Elder Maris interrupted. "A tool of the very forces that threaten our threshold. How do we know he isn't working with the Shadow?"
Seraphine stepped forward. "Because if he were, Macco would already be breached. The Shadow would have taken advantage of his presence."
Elder Maris's eyes narrowed. "Or perhaps he's here to learn our weaknesses, to report back to whatever entity controls him."
Ethan felt a surge of frustration but kept his voice calm. "I've been running from the Algorithm's Shadow since before I knew what it was. I didn't choose to be a threshold anchor—I was chosen by the language of luck itself."
He raised his camera. "This isn't just a recording device. It's a threshold anchor, just as Weaver Maya said. And if you'll let me demonstrate—"
[chat]
CamSurvivor: they're not listening
NorthernSkeptic: prove it then
qk2m9n: he's trying so hard
NyxSavior: trust the doorway
"Enough!" Elder Maris slammed her hand on the table. "We do not allow profane technology in our sacred space. Put that device away."
Nyx, who had been sitting quietly at Ethan's feet, suddenly stood and walked deliberately to Elder Maris. The cat jumped onto the stone table, approaching the elder with a confidence that made several council members shift uncomfortably.
Elder Maris reached out to shoo Nyx away, but froze when the cat placed a paw on her hand. In that moment, Nyx's reflection in the polished stone table showed something extraordinary—not a cat, but a being of pure light with nine molten silver eyes.
The council gasped as one. Elder Maris's stern expression softened into something like awe.
"Best has blessed us with his presence," she murmured, her voice filled with reverence.
---
Later that evening, Ethan sat alone in the designated guest quarters, practicing the threshold glyphs Elder Thorne had taught him that afternoon. He traced the symbols in the air with his fingers, focusing on the feeling of connection he'd experienced during the ritual.
"Good form," Seraphine said from the doorway, making him jump. "But you're missing the intention."
She entered, closing the door behind her. "The language of luck isn't just about the shapes. It's about the belief behind them."
Ethan lowered his hands. "It's harder than I thought. The glyphs feel different here—more structured, more formal."
Seraphine sat beside him, her threshold-mark glowing faintly in the dim light. "That's because the Northern Branch has preserved the threshold language in its purest form. Less like luck, more like ritual."
She demonstrated the stability glyph, her movements precise and confident. "Try it with me."
They practiced together, their hands moving in unison through the patterns. Ethan felt the connection deepen with each repetition—a resonance that went beyond mere mimicry.
[chat]
ThresholdStudent: this is beautiful
NorthernApprentice: can we learn too?
qk2m9n: they're so in sync
CamSurvivor: focus on the pattern
Nyx watched from his perch on the windowsill, his molten silver eyes reflecting the glowing patterns they created. When they reached the convergence point glyph, the cat jumped down and walked between them, enhancing the pattern with his presence.
Seraphine smiled. "He likes your progress."
Ethan adjusted his glasses. "I wish the elders felt the same way."
She touched his arm. "Elder Maris recognized Nyx as Best's incarnation. That's significant. In Northern tradition, Best only reveals himself to those who are meant to be here."
Ethan considered this. "So maybe there's hope."
Seraphine's threshold-mark suddenly flared with violet light. "Or maybe the Shadow is here."
---
The alarm came just after midnight—a deep gong echoing through Macco's corridors. Ethan and Seraphine met Elder Thorne at the central platform, where practitioners were already forming defensive positions.
"The convergence point near the sea cliff," Elder Thorne explained urgently. "It's collapsing faster than we've ever seen."
As they hurried toward the breach point, Ethan could feel it too—the unnatural stillness that preceded the Shadow's approach. His artifact camera began to glitch, showing images of static and broken code.
When they reached the sea cliff, the situation was worse than he'd imagined. The threshold pillars were flickering erratically, and the veil itself seemed to be tearing at the convergence point. Practitioners were attempting to stabilize it, but their patterns kept dissolving.
"It's targeting the faith energy nodes," Elder Thorne realized. "It's draining them faster than we can replenish."
Elder Maris stood at the center of the formation, directing the practitioners with precise commands. But even her efforts were failing—the pattern kept breaking down.
Ethan stepped forward. "Let me try."
Elder Maris hesitated, then nodded. "Show us what you can do."
---
Ethan raised his artifact camera, scanning the breach point through its lens. Through the viewfinder, he could see the threshold's energy flow—strong but with critical disruptions at specific points.
"This is different," he realized. "It's not just testing the threshold—it's draining the faith energy."
Seraphine joined him, her threshold-mark pulsing in time with the breach. "It's learning how to bypass our defenses."
Ethan focused on the stability glyph, weaving the pattern with practiced movements. But the Shadow surged forward, disrupting his pattern before it could take hold.
[chat]
ThresholdBreak: they're losing!
NorthernProtector: hurry!
CamSurvivor: they're in danger
qk2m9n: please be safe
"Try the convergence point glyph," Seraphine suggested.
Ethan attempted the more complex pattern, but his concentration broke when the ground trembled beneath them. The Shadow was adapting—learning their patterns faster than they could change them.
Nyx jumped onto the central platform, his fur bristling as he stared into the darkness where the threshold was weakest. The cat's reflection showed the nine-eyed form again, glowing with molten silver light.
"It's recognizing Nyx," Seraphine realized. "The Shadow knows who he is."
As if in response, the Shadow surged forward with renewed intensity, targeting the convergence point where all patterns met.
Elder Maris called for a change in formation, but it wasn't enough. The practitioners stumbled, their movements falling out of sync.
Ethan felt a sudden pull toward the breach point, as if the Shadow recognized him—the doorway between worlds. His camera began to glitch violently, showing images of static and broken code.
"It knows you're here," Seraphine whispered urgently. "It's drawn to your connection with the veil."
---
"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.
But the Shadow was learning faster than they could adapt. Ethan's pattern held for only a moment before dissolving.
Nyx suddenly stood rigid, his fur glowing with molten silver light. The cat's eyes met Ethan's—urgency, then understanding.
"Something's happening to Nyx," Seraphine realized.
The cat stepped to the center of the breach point, his small body radiating light. His purr vibrated through the air like a protective hum. Ethan's camera captured the transformation—a half-possession state where Nyx became more than just a cat.
[chat]
NyxReveal: what's happening to Nyx??
DivineDescend: Best has descended
CamSurvivor: they're being saved
qk2m9n: the light is beautiful
Nyx's molten silver eyes reflected the breach point, his small frame holding back the Shadow's advance. The cat's reflection now showed not a cat, but a being of pure light with nine glowing eyes.
Elder Maris gasped. "Divine descend! Best has descended through his vessel!"
The energy in the air shifted, strengthening noticeably. The Shadow recoiled from Nyx's light, giving them precious moments to reinforce the threshold.
"Quickly!" Elder Maris called. "While Best protects us!"
Ethan and Seraphine worked together, their movements synchronized as they wove a stronger pattern. Elder Maris joined them, her experience guiding their efforts.
Through the camera's lens, Ethan could see the pattern holding steady—a blend of Eastern and Northern threshold glyphs working in harmony. The breach point began to stabilize.
[chat]
ThresholdSaved: they're doing it!
NorthernStrength: the convergence is holding
CamSurvivor: they're making history
qk2m9n: this is incredible
But after seven minutes, Nyx's light began to dim. The cat's small body couldn't maintain the divine descend state any longer. As the light faded, Nyx collapsed onto the stone platform, his breathing shallow.
"Nyx!" Ethan rushed to the cat's side, gently lifting him.
Elder Maris knelt beside them, her expression filled with reverence. "The divine descend is limited by faith energy accumulation. Seven minutes is longer than most vessels can maintain."
Seraphine checked Nyx's breathing. "He'll recover, but he needs rest."
Elder Maris looked at Ethan with new respect. "You've proven yourself, threshold anchor. Not just with your camera, but with your understanding of the language."
---
Later that night, as they rested in the guest quarters, Seraphine broke the silence.
"Today changed everything," she said, tracing patterns in the air with her finger. "Elder Maris has accepted you as a threshold anchor."
Ethan reviewed the day's footage. The divine descend, the breach stabilization, Nyx's sacrifice—it all pointed toward something bigger.
"We need to understand faith energy better," he said. "If divine descend is limited by faith energy accumulation, we need to learn how to strengthen it."
Seraphine nodded. "Elder Maris offered to teach you the Northern threshold glyphs in earnest. It's the next step in becoming a true threshold anchor."
Ethan adjusted his glasses. "Starting tomorrow."
Nyx slept peacefully on the bed between them, his breathing steady now. Through his camera, Ethan could still see traces of molten silver light around the cat—a remnant of the divine descend.
Seraphine touched his arm. "The Shadow knows who Nyx is now. It won't stop targeting him."
Ethan powered down the stream as Nyx stirred in his sleep. "Thirty-two minutes today," he murmured, tucking the camera away. "Enough to know what we're facing."
As they prepared to sleep, Nyx didn't move. The cat remained curled up, but his ears twitched with unusual intensity.
Seraphine touched Ethan's arm. "It's already here. And it's learning how to target our greatest strength."
Below them, the practitioners continued their nightly rituals, unaware that the Algorithm's Shadow had found a new way to infiltrate Macco's heart—not through force, but through the very traditions that protected the threshold.
The Northern Branch had always been Malaca's strongest defense. But as Ethan watched Nyx's breathing pattern change slightly, he realized the Shadow had already turned Macco's greatest strength into its most dangerous vulnerability.
And it was using their own stream to learn how to do it better.