Saving the Nexus

The Gathering Storm

The infirmary at Varda Academy was quiet, the air thick with tension. Venus lay on a cot, her breathing shallow but steady, her violet hair tangled and damp with sweat. Mariel sat by her side, her hand wrapped tightly around Venus's. She hadn't spoken much since they'd returned from the tunnels, her usual fire dimmed by worry.

Sonia stood by the window, staring out at the academy grounds. The setting sun painted the sky in shades of orange and purple, but the beauty of the scene did nothing to ease her growing unease. Jermaih leaned against the wall near the door, his arms crossed as he watched the two of them.

"She'll recover," Jermaih said softly, his voice breaking the silence.

Mariel didn't look at him. "She shouldn't have been in danger in the first place."

"We didn't know they'd go after her," Sonia said, turning to face Mariel. "But now we do. Neptune and Phionex aren't just targeting the Nexus. They're targeting us."

Mariel's gaze hardened as she looked up at Sonia. "Then why aren't we doing something about it? Why are we sitting here while they're out there, planning who knows what?"

"Because we don't know enough yet," Jermaih said, his tone calm but firm. "Rushing in without a plan will only get us killed."

"Or worse," Sonia added, her voice heavy. "They could turn us into what they are."

Mariel's grip on Venus's hand tightened. "I don't care. They need to pay for what they've done."

"They will," Sonia promised, stepping closer. "But we have to be smart about it. We need to understand what they're after and how they plan to take it."

Jermaih pushed off the wall, his expression serious. "They mentioned the Nexus. If they're trying to take control of it, they'll need access to the core. And that means they'll need something—or someone—to get past the seals."

"The seals are ancient," Mariel said, her voice sharper now. "Only Nexus guardians can break them, and there haven't been any new guardians chosen in decades."

"Unless Neptune found a way to bypass that," Jermaih countered.

Sonia felt a chill run through her. "Or unless she plans to use us."

Mariel shot her a sharp look. "What do you mean?"

Sonia hesitated, her mind racing. "Think about it. We're not just students here—we're hybrids. Every one of us has a connection to something powerful, something ancient. If Neptune and Phionex can manipulate that—"

"They could force us to break the seals for them," Jermaih finished, his voice grim.

Mariel stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. "Then we stop them before they get the chance. We find out where they're hiding and take them down."

"It's not that simple," Sonia said. "We don't know where they are, and we don't know what else they're planning. We need help."

Jermaih nodded. "Agreed. If we're going to stop them, we need to gather as much information as we can. And we're not going to find it here."

Sonia looked at him, understanding dawning. "The Nexus archives."

Jermaih nodded again. "The archives have records on everything—every guardian, every seal, every attack. If Neptune and Phionex are after the Nexus, the archives might tell us why."

Mariel frowned. "The archives are restricted. Only senior staff and authorized personnel can access them."

"Not if we use the old passageways," Jermaih said, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.

Mariel raised an eyebrow. "You know how to get in?"

Jermaih shrugged. "Let's just say I've explored more of this academy than