The valley had changed.
Only hours ago, it had been silent, a forgotten place hidden beyond the fracture.
Now, voices echoed among the crystal trees.
The young Traveler wandered through the valley in amazement, stopping every few steps to admire something new.
A flower that glowed when he smiled.
A stream that flowed into the sky.
Birds woven from light that circled above his head before disappearing into sparkling dust.
Adrian watched with a small smile.
"He's taking this surprisingly well."
Mira chuckled.
"When you're young, the impossible doesn't seem so impossible."
The boy looked back at them.
"So... do all worlds have talking trees?"
Adrian laughed.
"I was just about to ask the same thing."
The gentle moment was interrupted by a deep chime.
The sound rolled across the valley.
Every crystal tree fell silent.
The bridges answered.
Silver light rose into the sky, forming three enormous circles above the valley.
Orion's expression became serious.
"They're calling us."
"The bridge?" Adrian asked.
Orion nodded.
"The Council of Keepers."
---
The silver circles slowly descended.
Each settled before one of the Keepers.
One before Elyan.
One before Orion.
One before Adrian.
Caelis stepped back.
"This gathering is not for me."
Adrian frowned.
"You're not coming?"
Caelis gave a faint smile.
"I am an observer."
His golden eyes softened.
"For now."
The circles brightened.
The ground beneath Adrian disappeared.
For a brief moment, he felt weightless.
Then—
He stood inside an enormous hall unlike anything he had ever seen.
The ceiling was filled with stars.
The floor resembled polished glass, beneath which entire galaxies slowly turned.
Towering pillars stretched endlessly upward, each carved with symbols from forgotten civilizations.
At the center stood a circular table made entirely of living crystal.
Three seats waited.
One was occupied by Elyan.
Another by Orion.
The third...
Slowly formed beneath Adrian.
He hesitated.
"I actually get a seat?"
Orion smiled.
"You earned it."
Adrian sat.
The crystal responded immediately.
His mark glowed.
The hall awakened.
Countless symbols lit up around them.
Then a calm voice echoed through the chamber.
"Three Keepers acknowledged."
"Council restored."
Adrian looked around.
"Who's talking?"
"The bridge itself," Elyan answered.
"It rarely speaks."
The voice continued.
"Status of connected worlds."
The crystal table shimmered.
Three glowing spheres appeared.
Earth.
Elyan's world.
The Realm of the Endless.
Each sphere displayed streams of light flowing between countless people.
Adrian immediately noticed something strange.
Earth's sphere was brighter.
"Why is mine glowing more?"
Orion leaned forward.
"The invitations."
He pointed toward Earth.
"They're spreading faster."
Elyan studied the projection.
"Humans adapt quickly."
Adrian smiled proudly.
"We've had plenty of practice."
Then another image appeared.
The crimson horizon.
The mysterious fourth path.
Unlike the other worlds, it remained hidden behind swirling crimson mist.
The bridge spoke again.
"Unknown destination remains inaccessible."
Adrian leaned closer.
"Can it tell us what's there?"
"Negative."
"Who built it?"
Silence.
Then—
"Records unavailable."
Orion frowned.
"That's never happened before."
The bridge possessed memories stretching back countless ages.
For it to lack records...
Someone had erased them.
Or something older than the bridge had existed.
The thought unsettled everyone.
Suddenly—
A warning symbol flashed across the crystal table.
Not silver.
Black.
Caelis' voice echoed from outside the chamber.
"Keepers!"
The hall trembled.
The council dissolved instantly.
Adrian found himself back in the valley.
Caelis stood at the edge of the crystal cliffs, staring toward the horizon.
The black tide was moving.
Not advancing.
Splitting.
Long rivers of darkness peeled away from the main mass.
Mira gasped.
"They're sending scouts."
Caelis nodded.
"They've made their decision."
Adrian walked beside him.
"I thought you said they wanted to observe."
"They did."
Caelis looked toward the countless streams of darkness.
"Now they want answers."
One of the dark streams stopped.
It twisted into the shape of a doorway.
From within emerged a single figure.
Unlike Caelis, this newcomer wore armor formed from black crystal.
His golden eyes burned far brighter.
He carried a long spear that radiated silent power.
He surveyed the valley without emotion.
Then his gaze settled on Adrian.
"So..."
His voice rang across the valley like steel striking stone.
"You are the new Bridgekeeper."
Adrian stepped forward.
"I am."
The armored stranger nodded once.
"I am Commander Vaelor."
He planted the butt of his spear into the ground.
"I have crossed not to wage war..."
A pause.
"...but to issue a challenge."
The valley became silent.
Even Caelis looked surprised.
"A challenge?" Adrian repeated.
Vaelor nodded.
"The Endless cannot trust words alone."
He raised his spear.
"If the Bridgekeeper wishes peace..."
His golden eyes narrowed.
"...prove your strength."
Adrian sighed heavily.
"I had a feeling someone was eventually going to ask me to fight."
Vaelor's expression remained unreadable.
"This battle is not for victory."
"It is for trust."
The mark on Adrian's wrist pulsed once.
Not with excitement.
With recognition.
The bridge had accepted the challenge.
And somewhere beyond the crimson horizon...
The unseen watcher smiled.
Because the next step toward uniting the surviving worlds...
Would not be decided by ancient prophecies.
It would be decided by the choices of those brave enough to stand together.