Location: Earth - 2099, Ruins of Vault IX
Syra's boots crunched over shattered stone and scorched steel. The underground vault had been silent for years—but now, something stirred.
She reached the shattered console at the center, its glass cracked like a spider's web. The faint smell of smoke and ozone lingered.
Syra (muttering): "This place was buried for a reason."
Riven stepped beside her, his half-demonic eyes glowing faintly in the dark.
Riven: "And now it's open again. Coincidence?"
Syra: "No such thing anymore."
They descended further, torches in hand. Etched into the walls were ancient glyphs—once dormant, now pulsing. Syra placed her hand near one. It responded to her blood.
Riven: "Whatever was sealed here… it's watching us."
She flinched. Because he had said those same words—in a dream.
"The first draft is never the final one."
Syra clenched her fist, remembering the slip of paper from the last chapter. It still rested inside her jacket, untouched since it appeared in her palm.
She hadn't told Riven. Not yet.
Scene Shift: The Shadow Sanctum – Hidden Temple of the Four Remnants
Meanwhile, far from Earth, four cloaked figures gathered in a forgotten temple. Stone pillars rose like jagged teeth toward a ceiling of swirling void.
1st Cloaked Voice: "The balance tipped the moment he struck down the gods."
2nd Cloaked Voice: "He rewrites the framework itself. The prophecy must evolve."
A figure stepped from the shadows. The Fourth Remnant.
Fourth Remnant (growling): "Then she must die. The girl. The Kaelion heir."
Third Remnant: "Fool. Killing her might trigger the Reset."
The First Remnant raised a single hand. All fell silent.
First Remnant: "We wait. Let her bleed first. Let her break."
Back to Syra – Present, Earth
Inside Vault IX, a chamber hissed open. Dust exploded outward. Syra shielded her eyes.
There, inside—stood a mirror. It shimmered, not with reflection, but memory.
Syra (whispers): "That's…"
The mirror lit up, showing Author, walking through fire.
Riven (shocked): "Is that… now?"
Syra: "No. That's... not a memory. That's a live feed."
And then, Author paused. In the mirror.
He looked directly at Syra.
Author (through the mirror): "Not yet, Syra. Not yet."
The mirror shattered into dust.
Riven: "What the hell is going on?"
Syra (quietly): "He's fighting something we can't see. Not yet."
Scene Shift: The 1st God – In the Court of Eternity
The First God stood atop his divine plane, watching the stars. The Upper God had returned to silence.
1st God (to himself): "He was supposed to vanish. But he returned with fire."
A golden page floated to him. It was scorched. But the word on it glowed:
Syra.
1st God: "So be it. If she holds the final draft… we must prepare."
Closing Scene: Somewhere Between Realms
Author sat on a floating piece of ruin—once a divine palace, now debris in the space between worlds.
He opened his notebook. A single blank page stared back.
Author (quietly): "Chapter Two... and still no plan."
He began to write.
But the ink trembled.
Because something—or someone—was now writing back.
Mysterious Text Appearing on Page:
"You are not alone in the edit anymore."
Author's eyes narrowed.
Author: "Impossible."
End of Chapter 2