Chapter 5 – Secrets in the Night
The laughter of the day still lingered in the air long after the rides had closed. The neon glow of the amusement park painted the evening in hues of crimson and violet, flickering over faces flushed with joy. Vaibhav was still breathless, his hair a mess from the rollercoaster that had made Alicia cling to his arm for dear life. Anika had nearly toppled over from laughing at his panicked expression, while Theo insisted he could have gone another five rounds without batting an eye.
They wandered through the park until the stars pricked open in the dark sky, the once-bustling streets slowly emptying of families and couples. Even so, the group carried a warmth between them that outshone the cooling night. For once, Lin Xuan allowed himself to simply observe, his sharp gaze softening at the sight of bonds forming between those who had gathered around him. Yan'er leaned into his side, her hand brushing his sleeve with unspoken familiarity, and he did not move away.
By the time the moon rose high, the family found themselves in the glow of a quiet restaurant tucked into a corner of the district. The glass doors parted soundlessly, and they stepped into a room alive with a gentle hum of machinery. A robotic attendant glided forward, its silver frame polished to perfection, eyes glowing with sapphire light. It bowed, motioning for them to follow.
The table it guided them to was a wide circle of obsidian glass, reflecting the lights above like a pool of captured stars. They settled down, and menus unfolded before them in holographic display. Dishes from across realms shimmered—earthly delicacies and rare meats across the United Earth.
Alicia's eyes sparkled as she flipped through the options. "Brother, they have Ursa meat here! Vaibhav, you must try this one."
Vaibhav groaned, pretending to clutch his chest. "Alicia, that's robbery. You want to bankrupt me before we even become cultivators?"
Her soft laughter earned her a glare of mock betrayal from him, while Anika teased, "Don't worry, Vaibhav, your wallet isn't needed here. Master is paying."
Lin Xuan raised a brow at her but said nothing. The robot soon returned, placing steaming platters before them. Scents of spice and sizzling oils mingled in the air, drawing out murmurs of delight.
They ate for a while in comfortable chatter. Daichi compared staff techniques with Arjun, Prabhat silently filled Vaibhav's cup with tea as though he had done so countless times before, and Vivan leaned close to Theo, exchanging quiet jokes only the two of them seemed to understand.
But then, amid the easy warmth, Lin Xuan's voice cut through the clatter of utensils.
"Vaibhav. Alicia."
His tone was calm, but the gravity behind it silenced the table at once. His gaze, steady and unreadable, rested on the two of them.
The robot withdrew after serving, leaving only the low hum of the lights above. Vaibhav straightened, a hint of nervousness stiffening his shoulders. Alicia set down her chopsticks slowly, her cheerful expression faltering.
"Are the both of you planning to enter the Nexus?" Lin Xuan asked, his voice steady, devoid of hesitation.
Vaibhav exchanged a glance with Alicia. For a moment, it was as though they sought courage in each other's eyes. Then Vaibhav bowed his head slightly.
"Yes, Master. We are."
Silence stretched, thick and unyielding. Lin Xuan leaned back, fingers steepled beneath his chin, as though weighing truths too heavy for the young to carry.
"Well then," he said at last, his tone quiet but sharp enough to cut through the air. "Alicia and Vaibhav… I have to tell you the secrets of yours."
"Secrets?" Vaibhav whispered, almost to himself, but his voice trembled.
Alicia's lips parted, her heart hammering against her chest. She did not know why, but her brother's words carried a chill deeper than the coldest wind.
Lin Xuan's eyes softened briefly as they met hers. "Alicia, do you know that humans who enter the Nexus are granted a powerscreen?"
"Yes," she replied, trying to steady her voice. "Brother, I've read of it."
"Good." Lin Xuan nodded. Then his voice grew grave. "But you won't get that powerscreen. You cannot evolve as humans do… because you are not human."
The words fell like a blade into silence.
Alicia's breath caught. Vaibhav's chair scraped the floor slightly as he turned sharply to her, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Not… human?" His voice cracked.
Alicia shook her head violently. "Brother, that… that can't be right. I—"
But Lin Xuan's expression did not waver.
"You were not born on Earth. You were born in Urn'thar," he said firmly. "Not only you, Alicia. Anika, Arjun, Theo, Daichi, Vivan… all of you share the same origin. All of you are connected to one another. You carry a special bloodline and abilities that no ordinary human could possess."
A hush settled over the table.
Yet while Alicia and Vaibhav struggled to breathe through the revelation, the others sat calm. Anika's usual grin had dimmed into something quieter, more knowing. Arjun's fists tightened around his knees, but he did not look surprised. Theo and Vivan exchanged a fleeting glance before lowering their eyes, while Daichi kept his arms crossed, silent as stone. Prabhat, as always, remained unreadable, though the faint flicker of his gaze toward Vaibhav betrayed a trace of concern.
Alicia's hands trembled as she clutched the edge of the table. "If I… if I was born there, then—brother, beasts can't leave their realm. Isn't that the law of the Nexus? Beasts cannot cross."
"You're right," Lin Xuan said, his tone patient but firm. "But I did not say you belonged to that realm. I said you were born there. You are not a Nexus beast. You do not possess a Nexus shard, nor the limitations of their kind. Your birth was… different. What you are, I will tell you once you grow strong enough to withstand the truth."
Alicia's lips quivered. She looked to Vaibhav, desperate for an anchor, but he too looked shaken, his brows furrowed deep as though the ground beneath him had crumbled.
Lin Xuan's gaze turned to him.
"Now… you, Vaibhav."
The weight of the words pressed down on the boy's chest. His throat went dry, his mind racing with questions he feared to ask. What secret did his Master see in him? What truth was buried in his bloodline?
The night in the restaurant stretched long, shadows bending closer as if to listen.