Sera's POV
"We need weapons," Thorne says, pacing the war room she brought us to. "Dorian won't fight fair."
"I have my powers," Kaine says, shadows already gathering around his hands.
"And I have..." I look at my own hands. Golden light flickers weakly. "Barely any training and a power I don't understand."
"Which is why this is suicide," Thorne snaps. She's angry, but through the bond, I feel Kaine's understanding—she's scared. Scared for us. "Dorian has been planning this. He has the Codex. He has hostages. He has every advantage."
"He doesn't have our bond," I say quietly.
Both of them look at me.
"The eternal bond," I continue, the idea forming as I speak. "The Trial Realm said it could be our strength or our destruction. Dorian doesn't have anything like that. He's been alone for three thousand years, just like Kaine was."
Kaine's eyes narrow thoughtfully. "You think the bond gives us an advantage?"
"I think it's the only advantage we have." I stand up, my fear transforming into determination. "I can feel your emotions. You can feel mine. We know what each other needs without speaking. That's powerful."
"It's also a weakness," Kaine argues. "If he hurts you, I'll feel it. I might hesitate. Freeze."
"Or you'll fight harder." I meet his silver gaze. "Like you did in the Trial when my copies attacked me. You didn't freeze then."
Through the bond, I feel his surprise. Then something like pride.
"She's right," Thorne says slowly. "The bond makes you stronger together. But Sera, you need to be able to defend yourself too. You can't rely on Kaine to save you every time."
"Then teach me. We have four hours."
Thorne and Kaine exchange looks.
"That's not enough time to—" Thorne starts.
"Then we use what time we have." I'm not backing down. "Lyric is in danger because of me. Because I opened that box. Because I created this bond. I'm not hiding while someone else saves her."
Kaine studies me for a long moment. Then he nods. "Teach her."
The next three hours are the most intense of my life.
Thorne takes me to a training room and doesn't go easy on me. She throws spheres of energy at me—not enough to kill, but enough to hurt. A lot.
"Your Realm Walker power lets you see connections," she explains as I dodge another blast. "Use it! See the connection between my power and where it's going!"
I focus, and suddenly I can see it—golden threads linking Thorne's hand to the energy spheres. I can see where they'll go before they get there.
I dodge the next three easily.
"Good! Now try redirecting one!"
I reach out with my power, grab the thread, and pull. The sphere changes direction, flying back toward Thorne. She blocks it with a laugh.
"You're a natural! Again!"
We practice until my whole body aches. Dodging. Redirecting. Opening small portals. Seeing the threads that connect everything.
Meanwhile, Kaine teaches me basic combat. How to fall without breaking bones. How to protect my vital organs. How to fight dirty when necessary.
"Forget honor," he says, demonstrating a move. "Dorian won't have any. Go for eyes, throat, anything that hurts."
"I've never hit anyone in my life," I admit.
"You will tonight." His expression is grim. "And you'll need to hit hard."
By the time we're done, I'm exhausted, bruised, and bleeding from a dozen small cuts. But I'm also more confident. I know what I can do now.
Thorne brings me new clothes—dark, flexible, with protective padding hidden inside. "Can't have you fighting in jeans."
"Thank you," I tell her. "For everything."
She smiles sadly. "Just come back alive. Both of you."
Midnight approaches too fast.
We stand in the Veil Court's portal room. Kaine and I are going alone—Dorian's orders. Thorne will monitor from here, ready to send backup if needed.
"Last chance to reconsider," Kaine says, looking at me.
"Not a chance."
He almost smiles. "Stubborn."
"You like it."
Through the bond, I feel his agreement. He does like it.
Thorne opens the portal to my apartment building. "The Codex blocks most tracking magic, but I'll do my best to keep tabs on you. If things go wrong—"
"They won't," I interrupt, trying to sound more confident than I feel.
"If they do," Thorne continues firmly, "break something. Anything. I'll feel the dimensional disturbance and come running."
Kaine takes my hand. His skin is cold but his grip is strong. "Ready?"
"No. But let's go anyway."
We step through the portal into my apartment hallway. Everything looks normal—familiar doors, familiar carpet, familiar smell of Mrs. Chen's cooking from downstairs.
But my apartment door is open. Waiting.
Kaine and I exchange glances. Through the bond, I feel his alertness. His readiness to fight.
We enter together.
The lights are off, but I can see Lyric tied to a chair in my living room. She's unconscious but breathing. Relief floods through me.
"Lyric!" I start toward her.
Kaine grabs my arm. "Wait. It's too easy."
He's right. Where's Dorian?
"Hello, brother." The voice comes from everywhere and nowhere. "Miss me?"
Dorian steps out of the shadows near my kitchen. He looks exactly like Kaine—same features, same height—but his eyes are different. Darker. Colder. More cruel.
"Let her go," I demand. "I'm here. That's what you wanted."
"Part of what I wanted." Dorian circles us slowly. In his hand, he holds a book bound in chains—the Codex of Unmaking. "But plans change. I've been reading this fascinating book. Did you know there's a spell that doesn't just transfer Realm Walker power? It duplicates it."
Kaine tenses beside me. "What are you talking about?"
"I don't need to steal her power. I can copy it." Dorian's smile widens. "Which means I can let you keep your little mortal pet and still get what I need."
"You're lying," Kaine says flatly.
"Am I?" Dorian opens the Codex, and dark energy pours out. "The spell requires three things: a Realm Walker's blood, an eternal bond to anchor the power, and a willing vessel to receive it."
He snaps his fingers.
More figures emerge from the shadows. Five of them. They look human but move wrong, like puppets on strings.
"Possessed humans," Kaine breathes. "You're making an army."
"Just five for now. But once I copy her power, I can create more Realm Walkers. Dozens. Hundreds." Dorian's eyes gleam with madness. "I'll rewrite every cosmic law. Break every chain. Become the god this universe should have made me in the first place."
"You're insane," I say.
"I'm visionary." He begins chanting in a language that makes my ears hurt. The Codex glows brighter.
I feel something pull at my chest—not the bond, but my Realm Walker core. It's being drawn toward the book.
"Fight it!" Kaine shouts, but I can't. The pull is too strong.
Golden light starts pouring out of me, flowing toward the Codex. I scream as pain rips through my body.
Kaine lunges at Dorian, but the possessed humans block him. They move unnaturally fast, attacking in perfect coordination.
Through the pain, I see Lyric's eyes flutter open. She sees me being drained, sees the chaos, sees the monsters fighting Kaine.
And she does something incredibly stupid and brave.
She throws herself sideways, chair and all, crashing into Dorian.
The spell breaks for just a second.
It's enough.
I yank my power back, stumbling. Kaine breaks free from the possessed humans and reaches me.
"Portal!" he shouts. "Get us out!"
I try to open one, but I'm too weak. The power drain took too much.
Dorian stands, furious, shoving Lyric's chair aside. "You'll pay for that, human."
He raises his hand, dark energy gathering. Not aimed at me or Kaine.
Aimed at Lyric.
"NO!" I scream.
Everything happens at once.
Kaine throws himself in front of the blast, taking it full force. He crashes to the ground, not moving.
Through the bond, I feel his life force flickering. Dying.
And something inside me breaks.
Not breaks—shatters.
My Realm Walker power explodes outward, wild and uncontrolled. The entire apartment building shakes. Dimensional tears open everywhere.
"Sera, stop!" Dorian actually looks scared. "You'll destroy everything!"
But I can't stop. Won't stop.
Kaine is dying. My best friend is in danger. And I am done being powerless.
The tears multiply, and through them, I see other realms. Other worlds. Other versions of reality.
And in one of them, I see something that makes my blood run cold.
Hundreds of Dorians. An army of them, all wearing the same cruel smile.
"Oh no," I whisper.
The real Dorian follows my gaze and sees what I see. His face lights up with sick joy.
"You've done it," he breathes. "You've opened the doors to the multiverse. Now I don't need to copy your power—I can just call my other selves through and—"
He doesn't finish.
Because the other Dorians aren't waiting for permission.
They start pouring through the tears. Dozens of them. All of them converging on our reality.
And they're not here to help their alternate self.
They're here to eliminate the competition.
The Dorians attack each other, fighting for dominance, for the Codex, for the right to be the one true Dorian.
My apartment becomes a war zone.
And somewhere in the chaos, Kaine's life force flickers one more time.
Then goes dark.