🌊 Still at the Lake
 Late afternoon bled gold across the Enchanted Lake. The rippling water mirrored two figures on its surface — one calm and curious, the other carved in quiet power.
Kevin kicked at the pebbles near his boots. "So… you ever smile? Or is that against Chimera rules?"
Derek arched a brow. "I do — when it's worth it."
 "That's basically a no," Kevin teased, tossing a small stone. Each skip left a faint blue spark across the lake. "Come on, you've been here a whole day and haven't told me one thing about yourself."
"There's nothing to tell."
 Kevin gave him a look. "That's the biggest lie I've heard since Nia said she could bake." A beat. Then, to Kevin's surprise, Derek almost laughed — low, quiet, genuine. "You're relentless." "Guilty."
 The air stilled. Their eyes met and for a moment, something wordless hummed between them. Then the wind shifted. The magic around the lake pulsed, cold and sharp.
 Derek straightened. "We're not alone."
⚡ The Arrival of the Tribrids
Four shadows emerged from the treeline, their presence slicing through the air like lightning.
 At the front strode Gabriel Pierce tall, bronze-skinned, eyes gleaming with molten amber. The ground trembled faintly under his boots; his energy was layered vampire, witch, and werewolf in one. He smirked when he saw Derek. "So the rumors were true. Velmora's newest mystery toy actually exists."
 Kevin's stomach flipped. "Oh no."
Derek shot him a glance. "You know them?"
"Unfortunately," Kevin muttered. "They're the Tribrids."
 Gabriel's grin widened. "Oh, Kevin Stone remembers me. I'm touched."
Behind him came the Voss twins — Damon and Draymon. Damon's hair was streaked with red firelight, his energy volatile; Draymon's was moon-silver, eyes calm but unreadable. They walked like mirrored storms — dangerous in opposite ways.
 Last came Lucy Adams, all poise and frost, her hand resting possessively in Damon's.
 "Didn't think you'd be hanging around lakes with strangers, Kev," Damon said, grin sharp.
 Kevin rolled his eyes. "It's called 'a school tour.' Not that you'd know what class attendance looks like."
 Lucy chuckled. "Still has a tongue on him. I like that." Derek's expression cooled. "You're interrupting."
 Gabriel tilted his head, studying him. "Six signatures. I can feel them from here. Vampire, wolf, witch, phoenix, banshee, dragon…" He smiled thinly. "The Council wasn't exaggerating."
 Damon whistled. "Six? Overkill."
 Draymon's eyes flicked to Kevin, softening for half a second before settling on Derek again. "And unstable," he said quietly. "If your control slips, you'll take this lake and half the city with you."
 Kevin stepped forward. "Enough. He's not your enemy." Gabriel smirked. "Relax, Stone. We're not here to fight." His tone darkened. "Not yet."
 Lucy's gaze slid to Derek. "The Council's watching you, Chimera. And so are we. The balance doesn't like change — and you scream change."
 A wave of magic rippled through the air, stirring the water into a whirl. The Tribrids turned to leave, fading one by one into the mist.
 Gabriel's voice lingered in the echo:
"See you soon, Derek Stone. Let's find out which of us the world truly fears."
🌌 Aftermath
 Silence settled, heavy and electric.
Kevin exhaled. "Well… that could've gone worse."
 Derek's eyes were still on the lake. "You know them." "Yeah. We were… classmates once."
 "Friends?" Kevin hesitated. "Something like that."
 Derek looked at him then, golden eyes sharp. "Be careful with them. They don't follow rules."
 Kevin half-smiled. "Neither do you."
For the first time, Derek didn't deny it. "That's why this should worry you."
 The lake rippled again, and for an instant, their reflections blurred — six wings shadowed three pairs of eyes, merging, separating, waiting.