The Aether Hero: Awakening of the Elements

Chapter 3: The order revealed

I woke up to the smell of an old book, feeling its rough page stuck to my face. Realizing I had fallen asleep while reading, I laughed quietly. I lifted the book and scanned the pages—only certain parts mentioned the Order of Eclipse. As I looked out the window, I could see the chaotic world outside. Cars raced through the streets, their headlights cutting through the early morning darkness. With a sigh, I grabbed another cup of coffee, glancing at the clock: 2:30 AM. "Why am I up?" I muttered to myself, taking a sip of the bitter drink.

Just then, my phone rang. It was Maya.

"Hello?"

"Alex, I'm surprised you answered. Can't sleep either?"

"Not really."

"Well, do you mind if I come over? I've got some new info on the Order of Eclipse."

"Isn't your family home?"

"Yeah, but I need to talk to you about this."

"Sure, why not? Just be careful."

"Got it. Be there soon."

I put my phone down and stared at the strange symbol in the book—a crescent moon with a circle around it, filled with ancient rune symbols. I traced the design with my finger, wondering what it all meant.

A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. I opened it to find Maya standing there, carrying a bag full of supplies and a laptop.

"Have you eaten?" she asked, not waiting for an answer before tossing me a sandwich.

"Thanks," I said, unwrapping it to find turkey and cheese. I took a bite—it was surprisingly good.

"Alright, Maya, what have you got?" I asked between bites.

She pulled out her laptop and opened a slideshow full of research on the Order of Eclipse. "Does this look familiar?" she asked, showing me a photo of Berlin during the fall of 1989. My eyes widened as I recognized the symbol from the book spray-painted on a wall in the background.

"Oh my God," I whispered.

She continued, flipping through more slides. "This symbol shows up everywhere. The gun that killed JFK had it engraved on the barrel, and even some German tanks in WWII bore the mark."

"How did you find all this?" I asked, astonished.

"I reached out to someone on the internet—an anonymous user. He knew your name, Alex. He said he had information we needed, but I didn't think he'd be this detailed. He warned me that the Order is very much active, and they know about you."

A crackle from the hideout radio interrupted us. "Hello, hello? Is anyone there? Come in."

"What the hell?" I muttered, picking up the receiver. "This is Alex. Who's this?"

"Ah, Alex. I'm Elias Blackwood. I have information on the Order of Eclipse, but we need to meet. Come to the old subway station."

"Why can't you come here? Sounds like a trap."

"I assure you, it's not. Just meet me there, and you'll understand."

Maya nodded, recognizing the name. "It's the guy I've been talking to."

"Alright, we'll be there," I replied, feeling uneasy.

We arrived at the abandoned subway station, the air biting cold. I pulled my leather jacket tighter around me. Maya, as usual, wore her usual outfit and didn't seem to notice the chill.

"You sure you're not cold?" I asked.

"No, I'm fine," she replied, brushing off my concern. I offered her my jacket, but she just rolled her eyes.