Chase wished for her. Because fate had decreed that he would be the one to save the Tribe when evil seeded. For a long time, almost every living thing on the planet believed that this was the ultimate goal—he who would save us all. True. I'm guessing quite frequently. But, there are those people who selected the road to their own ruin. Either temporarily or indefinitely. He could have been one of the unlucky few. Be cautious of what you hope for. The rumors have it, but he didn't pay any heed. Chase did not beg a falling star to help him keep the tribe safe on the night in question. He merely desired to be content. The desire to find true love. He thought that true love had an eternal essence. He did. Stella descended from the stars the same night. His desire. Yet, if wishes could be granted, why didn't his hope for bliss and eternal love come true? Why did it tear him to shreds? Perhaps not all of our desires are granted; perhaps a meteor's fall does not magically fulfill all of
The core, once a searing inferno, had transformed into a mesmerizing spectacle. A white dwarf, a circular tapestry of purest white, akin to ethereal smoke, emerged from the cosmic forge. Yet, within this celestial masterpiece, a profound shift unfurled. Threads of the smoky fabric darkened, becoming ebony strands woven from the fabric of death itself. As this transformation unfolded, fumes spiraled, giving birth to tendrils of smog and luminescence that waltzed in a cosmic dance. Astonishingly, I felt not only the unraveling of the universe but the essence of my very being. Energy dissipated like morning mist under the first rays of dawn. My body, my essence, my soul—all dissolved into the ephemeral tendrils of the void. A breathtaking realization washed over me. I had perished. Not unlike the countless deaths I'd endured before. This passing was but a fragment of the countless I'd faced—a normal cycle, an incessant fate I bore. Death was a well-worn garment, woven into my existenc
The rhythmic journey of the train to the southern realm of the land had stretched on for nearly a day and a half by then. Days of preparation had led to this point—a journey that would span several days itself: our migration to the fabled city of Tribus. Guided by the hands of my parents and my brother Avi, we had painstakingly readied ourselves for what lay ahead—a relocation into the heart of Tribus, a place revered and sought after. Our passage through the bureaucratic labyrinth had been lengthy, but the blessing of three powerful clans finally shone upon us. Leviste, Aragon, and Santi—the trio that held dominion—had sanctioned our ascent to the grandeur of Tribus. In this neighborhood, only the chosen few can claim residence. It's an honor of the highest order to hail from a city overseen by three influential families, their joint rule encompassing business, education, technology, military prowess, and nature's abundance. But entry is no trivial feat. Aspiring citizens must end
"Invitation, Miss?" the man in the tuxedo paired with a black bowtie asked me when I tried to enter the gate into the Arcane Circle of Baristo. I gave the invitation to him, and he examined it in great detail before accepting it. His dark eyes gave the invitation a careful examination before moving on. As he handed back the card, the smile on his face returned. The fact that the man was strikingly handsome was the clincher. He examined my entire physique in great detail. I ought to confess that despite the thick spectacle frame that matches the thickness of his eyebrows, he was pretty handsome. This is despite the fact that he had the power to stop my blood cold in its tracks. It was almost as if I'm looking at a model who's in the middle of getting her makeover when I look at his jawline since it was that perfect. I smiled back at him when he did, which he seemed to like. I was taken aback when I felt someone suddenly put their hand on my chest, which caused me to jump. It was only
He was very hot and lovely to look at. In plain view before my very eyes. Half-naked. Sweating. It's almost as if I've already met him in one of my nightmares before. Almost. Or was it all just a dream? I had the impression that we were connected in some odd way. Why do we become brighter whenever we are in each other's presence? Who is he? He was either a god or a fallen angel who had been sent from the mystery mountain of Noah to torment me by scorching the surface of my flesh. As I was still outside the Tribus, it appeared to me that the legends were true and that the gods actually resided in this location. They were not an illusion. I tried to take a small step backward, but as soon as my legs were able to lock with the rest of my body in what seemed to be an incomprehensible sensation, they stopped moving on their own and I was unable to go farther. Once more, the lights started to come on. It appeared as though we were unable to see the moon at all when we were in the bush. H
I heal. I possessed the ability to heal individuals of their ailments and wounds, including cuts and burns of varied degrees. I could even heal people who had died from their injuries. In addition to that, I was able to heal myself. I revitalize. My physical make-up will never acquire an inclination to rid itself of any of its constituent parts. I probably won't die. Avi has the ability to see the relationships between individuals. They could even break them or bind them on purpose at her own will to bring those who were destined to meet each other together, but doing so would need a lot of energy from her and may even cost her her life if it was way too much. She was much too young to be engaging in such behavior. The present that my brother Avi and I were given was something that had been a topic of investigation for my father for quite some time. My father brought up the subject of fate weavers and falling stars quite frequently while we were in Samaria. That's us. But our paren
"We're here," dad said as he pulled over the shiny new automobile next to a wooden fence bearing the Tribian mark. Neither Avi nor I have ever seen the inside of Tribus Academy, though she may have seen it already. The ivy-covered old wooden gate and fence were very substantial in height. The wall and gate looked like they cost a fortune to build. Since no one else seemed to be in the building, Avi felt a sense of mystery and anticipation about the place. "Cool! This is like the movies I’ve binge-watched! Like students go to an out-of-this-world school and they discover their powers. The cliche still feels so exciting when they come into actuality!" Avi clapped her hands as we gazed at the tall gate of Tribus Academy. "Papa, can we go now?" My suspicions were verified when Dad got out of the car to assist my siblings and me in exiting the building. After opening the door to the vehicle, he proceeded to the trunk of the vehicle and placed the two suitcases of a medium size that had b
The unexpected occurrence appeared out of nowhere. The particulars and the plethora of arguments for our positioning here are sufficient to leave me unable to articulate my thoughts. This place could not even come close to recreating the ambience of a regular schoolroom. Because of this, the new atmosphere that greeted us as soon as we went inside was a very pleasant shift. I had not adequately prepared. This conversation was not hidden from Avi. She has witnessed everything and then some. Every living thing is connected to one another by a network of cords that are colored red, black, white, and blue. I have no doubt that she was clairvoyant regarding every possible contact. One good example of this is how the door of the provost's office opened on its own. A young woman with a tanned skin, long black hair, deep gray eyes that were obscured by thick glasses, and low stature walked through the door that creaked. She was dressed in the same manner as the children that we had seen ear
Chase wished for her. Because fate had decreed that he would be the one to save the Tribe when evil seeded. For a long time, almost every living thing on the planet believed that this was the ultimate goal—he who would save us all. True. I'm guessing quite frequently. But, there are those people who selected the road to their own ruin. Either temporarily or indefinitely. He could have been one of the unlucky few. Be cautious of what you hope for. The rumors have it, but he didn't pay any heed. Chase did not beg a falling star to help him keep the tribe safe on the night in question. He merely desired to be content. The desire to find true love. He thought that true love had an eternal essence. He did. Stella descended from the stars the same night. His desire. Yet, if wishes could be granted, why didn't his hope for bliss and eternal love come true? Why did it tear him to shreds? Perhaps not all of our desires are granted; perhaps a meteor's fall does not magically fulfill all of
My mind was deluged with disturbing visuals. There appeared to be no living things. Nothing but an enormous void of darkness exists. Should we consider Tribes over at this point? Is this what my bleak visions of the future mean? So, this is it? "Chase," Mira muttered behind me. He clung to my arm, which he hadn't done in a long time because he hated me for losing Sandro. "Please tell me what you see, Isabel. Please let me know if you can see the photo of us... of Tribus." I stammered as I tried to speak. As thick black smoke gradually enveloped the entire dome, my entire system trembled. "I'm not seeing anything. I can't. Nothing is visible to me!" "This can't be happening," said Fina, who was standing behind me. The density of the dark smoke increased. None of the doom tree's limbs were visible to us. Our shared anxiety united us. Is it the end of everything? The last place I saw Chase, my eyes widened as I noticed a small light there. That is until the intensity of the storm
A strong breeze blew. Leaves, small branches, and sand fluttered in the breeze. The entire opening of that volcano was barely visible to me. Even with my glasses on, I fell asleep because my lashes are short. I leaned in close to Fabian and Stella. "Clypeus!" Mira begins to cast her spell. Then, gradually, a semitransparent, glass-like dome forms around us. Mira sat behind the sobbing Fabian, comforting his back. Many people see it as rude and hard, but there is a hint of sadness on its face. It is understanding. "She desired to live. I could see it in her eyes. She wanted to be with us, but fate had other plans." The man hugged Stella's body once more. "She's a pleasant person. I'm sorry for your loss, Fabian and Isa "Fina, who was sitting at Stella's feet, made a sad statement. Even though Fina's statement was brief, I could sense her sincerity. I was surprised to hear Mira sobbing behind Fabian. Perhaps he is sorry for what he did to Stella. Tears formed on the bridge of her ey
A piercing scream filled the volcano's mouth. Fighting with opponents had almost rendered me paralyzed. Chase here. I can hear his anguish from where I am. He's finished it. It has been completed. Stella has been drained to death by him. Stella... My dearest friend. She's left. She was consumed by both, as I have seen many times. All of my friends were being taken away from me by fate. Sandro. Myra. Oswin. Now Stella. Tears streamed down my cheeks gradually. I really wish we had more time. Stella exudes positivity. I wish it had ended differently. This is not the case. This is not the case. Chase yelled once more. This created a powerful wave of energy. The man is in mourning. I understand your anguish. That is why his power has been increased by a factor of two. Never underestimate the strength of a bereaved soul. It is capable of destroying an entire village in its grief. Thank you very much! I raised my eyes to the doom tree's flowers once more. My heart was pounding
From the glowing cylinders strewn about, three divine forms form a triangle. A tailcoat tuxedo in a scotch mist white with solid silver Gothic buttons was what Sir Ultra wore. As he descended into the volcano's crater, his mournful gaze followed me. Sir Blue Dane, decked out in a brown military jacket and worn pants, stood across the way. Sir Strike comes down from up high in his trademark black trenchcoat and blows off the Santis. The nearest landing spot was right here, and he kept looking between me and Chase, who was still asleep. That's right, they've finally arrived. Trinity touched down in the volcano's sandy crater. They didn't waste any time, Blue Dane and Ultra. As soon as they landed, they unleashed a barrage of counterattacks on their foes. Meanwhile, I was aware of Sir Strike's close proximity to me. In an instant, his jaws tightened and his golden eyes narrowed. "I hope we're not late," he said quietly as he yanked the grass wrapped around me with all his effort. Whe
Like a light of a single firefly banishing in the prey's mouth, his burning eyes were gone, and so was his grip, which was almost an inch away from my hands. Oswin was able to move him to the point where the bullets would have passed through, which should have been for the enemy. Chase hesitated when he got to his new place, but as soon as he did, three bullets hit his right chest in quick succession. Chase almost recoiled as the bullets hit his body. White, icy mist splattered from the gunshot. like a ball bursting inside after hitting a sharp and deadly bullet. My heart slowly disintegrated seeing his demise. "Chase!" I screamed. I tried to run towards where the man was now unable to move and what looked like a lump of ice in the standing. Chase was frozen solid, metaphorically speaking. He was paralyzed from the neck down. As the scalding liquid trickled down my cheeks, I made an effort to close the gap. As I walked up to the man, tears filled my eyes. It didn't go unnoticed b
This scene was shattered by four shots fired in rapid succession. My first taste of the pungent, cold gunpowder came from the locusts released by Isabel's magical rifle.The next thing I noticed was the smell, which seemed to be deteriorating muscle, fabric, and rubber. When I turned around to face the shadow sorcerers following me, I saw that they, too, were dissolving like ice in the presence of a powerful flame. Isabel praised them as she walked toward them with her gun still pointed at Sandro. Myra and Oswin stayed inside the massive energy orb. Sandro made a gesture that his black coworkers should not attack. I think he was trying to protect Isabel. The all-black group didn't do anything as the student regent moved closer to his old friend. Sandro froze in place. Isabel approached him, the rifle pointing directly at his face. As the man traced a path between them, I saw Isabel take a few gulps at a time. When he got close enough, I could see the whites of his eyes reddening un
"Detrahet me in vas+," came a whisper in the wind. It echoed in my head. Detrahet me in vas... I was suddenly reminded of the mark it made on my mind during the silent hour at the academy, which Isabel informed me meant "bring me the vessel."As the four dark sorcerers held me captive, I fought to free myself. The tight grasp of their dry hands and sharp nails had already begun to irritate my arm and leg. I was definitely terrified when I saw his face again, and I let out a shriek. The look on his face spelled doom for me.I felt my chest disappear. Because of the attention I received from my peers, the struggle was particularly intense. Chase emerged from hiding behind the massive boulder and began to stand. Time will tell, but it seems likely that it will bolt off again soon.They are doomed to die. If it didn't finish, people could feel sorry for me, and that would lead to many deaths. I would not tolerate pity on anyone else's part.But what should I do first, and how?It seemed t
Each passing second was accompanied by the shrill sound of my heart. Then the noise level skyrocketed, and I could see everything happening right in front of my eyes. It felt like my body was going numb with each pulse of my heart and every pump of my veins.A part of me felt like it was wasting away, but my brain wouldn't let me give up.Yes. I did my best to stick to the established sequence. My world nearly came apart at the seams because I trusted the weaver's prophecy. I thought that the beginning and end of my story were written by the universe itself.But.In the middle of the beginning and the end, a pause gave me a chance to alter my fate, if I so chose.This was presented to me by him.I needed Chase to give me hope so that I could keep going until the battle was over. To fight back at every turn, and perhaps throw a wrench into what the foresightful weavers and seers have planned.As he raced to save me, I realized he wanted to prove that he would fight and try to change fa