Astral Flow

Chapter 11

Stars, that was the first thing the duo saw as they exited the portal.

Brilliant flickering lights amidst the dark blue night sky, shining so brightly for them.

It was a surreal sight after exiting the darkness, almost feeling like they'd stepped into another universe entirely.

Ryder gazes up, watching as each light begins to shine brighter than normal, glowing brilliantly and painting the night sky differing shades of blue and purple.

His mind wanders as he gets lost in their beauty, enraptured by the ever expanding universe before them.

Somehow it felt... safe... it felt like home, untainted by the situation they were in.

Without realizing it he slowly reaches a hand up, as if wishing to touch the stars, yet as he does so something new occurs.

A shooting star flies past them, leaving behind a trail of bluish white light behind it as it pierces the night sky.

Following its path Ryder runs forward into a clearing to get a better look of where it went, seeing the trail fly out of his view and towards what he could only assume would be the mainland.

"When the first truth is found and the path to freedom sought, only then shall my light pierce through the veil of dark..."

Ryder turned to the voice to see Yuria standing there, behind her being two familiar faces.

Laurence and Demea.

Both of them looked up in awe at what just occurred, trying to figure out what had happened.

"What are you guys doing here?" Lily asks confused as she steps closer to them, "and what were you talking about?" She looks to Yuria for some form of guidance.

"She's speaking of the apocryphal texts found in the forgotten's home." Laurence speaks up while looking at Ryder and Lily, slightly concerned. "There was one book we found, it was referenced by other texts and notes... but was hidden away in a place most wouldn't think to look."

"As for why we're here... well I figured you'd want a little welcoming back party." Yuria states with a bit of smugness, though she still held an air of mystery about her.

How did she know where they'd be and when they'd come out?

Ryder wanted to question her on it but didn't, as he knew now was not the best time for it.

Even if she was using them as a means to an end they were also getting something out of it, something that, at the moment, seems to be helping them.

"Alright, so then what does it mean? Something good or bad?" Ryder asks while focusing on Yuria.

"Well it means you're one step closer to your goal." She smiles and crosses her arms behind her back. "All you lot need to do now is go find the impact."

"Wait, so it really did crash?!" Demea asks in a hurry while walking in front of Yuria. "Do you know what this means?! It means the ancient magic that book was referring to is still active!"

Everyone looks at Demea and Yuria with curiosity and concern, what could she have meant?

What did she know?

Calmly Lily spoke up once again, trying to get things calmed down.

"Demea, what are you talking about? What ancient magic?"

"Yeah, I'm curious about that as well... I didn't know you'd deciphered more of that book." Laurence spoke up, now stepping forward as well.

For a moment Demea looked around at the group, clearly nervous and unsure of what to do.