" In the Earth Realm, supernatural abilities are forbidden. Only those acknowledged by the Keepers of the Realm are allowed to retain their powers, which are disguised as mere “magic tricks” to conceal the truth from people who have long forgotten the reality of the past. " –Aether
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Within the grand hall of the President’s House, a heavy silence loomed.
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The long, rectangular table stretched across the room like a cold spine of authority. Seated around it were the realm's highest officials, each cloaked in layers of duty, history, and unspoken fear.
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An elderly man, his voice gravelly with the weight of years, finally broke the silence.
“I believe it’s time… we send the chosen young ones.”
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A murmur passed through the room, followed by a solemn nod from another official.
“Yes. It has been five centuries since the last group was sent.”
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Someone leaned forward, fingers steepled in contemplation.
“Do you think they believe we've broken the promise?” he asked, his tone tight with unease.
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A younger voice, sharper and less patient, cut through the room.
“And what if something happens to them just like what happened 7,777 years ago? Are we really willing to forget that?”
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The air grew heavier, as if the past itself had entered the room to remind them of the cost of failure.
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The president, a stern woman with brown-streaked hair and eyes that had seen the rise and fall of many eras, finally spoke. Her voice was calm, but every syllable rang with quiet authority.
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"We did not forget."
She looked around the table, her gaze piercing.
"But fear has ruled us long enough. The prophecy was clear when the veil thins and the stars align, we must act. That time is now."
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A heavy silence followed, thick with memories no one wanted to recall. The incident 7,777 years ago had left scars unseen, but never fully healed. An entire generation lost to the unknown. Promises shattered. Trust broken. But the pact had never been erased.
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The eldest Keeper, cloaked in deep blue robes that shimmered faintly like the night sky, shifted in his seat.
"The young ones this time… they're different. Stronger. Sharper. They were born under the Crescent Eclipse. The signs are all there."
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Another official raised an eyebrow.
"Signs can be misread. What if we’re wrong? What if sending them now dooms us all?"
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The president stood, placing both hands firmly on the polished table.
"And what if waiting damns us worse?" she countered.
"We do not have the luxury of certainty anymore. The cracks in the veil are widening. The Other Realm is waiting."
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Murmurs rippled through the room once more, but this time, there was no protest. Only dread. And resolve.
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A thousand miles away, under the blinding glow of fluorescent lights and the steady hum of excitement, the gymnasium of Nixon State University was alive with chatter.
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Students from every department filled the bleachers, their voices a wave of curiosity and speculation. Banners with the university’s crest hung high above the court, swaying slightly from the ceiling fans. The air was electric not from a game, but from something far more unexpected.
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At the center of the gym stood a wooden podium bearing the university’s seal. Behind it, flanked by a few deans and faculty members, stood President Alondra Reyes, a composed woman in her fifties, with a kind smile and commanding presence.
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She tapped the microphone gently.
“Good afternoon, students.”
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The noise dulled to murmurs, then fell into silence.
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“Today marks the beginning of something extraordinary. For the first time in our university’s history, we are launching an elite, full-sponsored international exchange program.”
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She paused, letting the words sink in.
“One department from all the colleges and it's Students will be selected. Those chosen will represent Nixon State University in a cross-cultural academic collaboration with one of the oldest universities in the world.”
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A ripple of excitement moved through the students.
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“This program will challenge you not only academically but personally. You will learn, grow, and serve as ambassadors not just of our school, but of our country.”
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Students began whispering among themselves. Some eyes lit with hope. Others narrowed with suspicion. Only a few noticed that near the back of the gym, a tall man in a black coat stood observing silently. Unmoving. Unknown.
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President Reyes continued, unaware of the silent observer.
“The names of the selected students will be announced in three days. Until then, keep your hearts open… and your minds prepared.”
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Applause erupted. But somewhere in the rafters of the gym, beneath the ordinary sounds of celebration, something ancient stirred unseen, but drawing closer.
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>: "Tehmeh lor" time has come
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Meanwhile, along the border of the realms standing stones, where the mist clung to the earth like restless spirits, seven figures stood shrouded in black cloaks.
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The wind whispered across the ancient stones, carrying with it the scent of time and forgotten blood.
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They stood still—watching. Waiting.
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“Should we take her now?” one of them asked, his voice low and sharp, barely audible over the rustling wind.
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Another figure, taller than the rest, stepped forward slightly.
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“Noh-dare! Let it be,” he replied, calm but firm. “Let her come to us.”
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A third voice, quiet and cold, agreed.
“Rhykar is right. Let her see what truly happened with her own eyes.”
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Meanwhile, in the Earth Realm, a group of students stepped off a bus, their eyes widening with awe and curiosity as they gazed at the forcefield a shimmering border that seemed to separate their world from another.
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A quiet whisper escaped from one of them.
“Aen’kareth... veyn ashal’ta.” I never thought I'd return
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