He reached for the door and disappeared inside, the soft thud of it closing echoing in the stillness of the night.
I stood there, frozen for a moment, unsure of what to do next.
Translate a godsdamn coat!
I quickly summoned a jacket I’d left in my dorm, and pulled up the zipper, never taking my sight off the house. Back to the matter at hand.
My heart ached with the uncertainty of it all. What if this was a mistake? What if I was crossing a line I couldn’t uncross? Again? But deep down, I knew I couldn’t walk away. Not now.
Closing my lids, I reached out through my haze, searching for James’s presence inside the house. His energy was familiar, strong, and steady. I could sense him, like a beacon guiding me in the dark.
I exhaled slowly, trying to steady the nervous tremble in my hands.I can do this.
With my Nexus in hand, I drew another portal, feeling the magic flow through me, and prepared myself to enter inside—blind, but determined.
JAMES
Shit. Shit, shit—double shit.
Between Maria demanding I’d take over as Leader right the fuck now, which I had flat out refused, and Emma bombarding me with more questions than a whole class of kindergartners on a fucking field trip, the urge to get the hell out of Cyclos was almost unbearable.
The crisp mountain breeze greeted me as I stepped through the portal, but it did little to cool the turmoil swirling inside me. The peacefulness of Switzerland was almost mocking. I hadn’t come for peace; I’d come for space, distance—anything to escape the suffocating tension back at Cyclos.
The Human World. Stephen’s home, where I knew he’d be. One of the few magi, and the only Specialist ever, who preferred living outside the Metasphere for reasons unknown.
I had to talk to him, to explain why I could no longer keep his secrets. Our secrets. He’d understand—I was sure of it. He always did. He had been more than a mentor to me over the years. He was the closest thing I’d ever had to a father, the one person who had shaped me when no one else bothered to. He'd been my guide through chaos and hell, a constant when everything else seemed to fall apart.
And I needed him. Especially now, when I couldn’t face Emma anymore. Not after everything. The thought of Emma, her eyes burning with questions, accusations—ones I couldn’t refute—made my core tighten. I was so damn sick of it.
No more lying.
As I made my way through the snow-dusted streets of Zermatt, the cold bit at my skin, but it did nothing to numb the heaviness inside me. The town was quiet, the kind of quiet that soothed the soul, the kind promising safety. But even standing there, taking it all in, I couldn’t shake the feeling I was being watched.
Turning around a few times to make sure my Offensive-instincts weren’t evolving into paranoia; I was surprised to find no one actually following me. I could’ve sworn I sensed…something.
Arriving at my destination, I pushed open the front door to Stephen’s home and was instantly greeted by the welcome warmth of a roaring fire. I shrugged off my coat and headed upstairs, knowing where he’d be—his study. Always his study.
Opening the door, I found the room exactly as I remembered—walls lined with dark oak bookshelves, every inch crammed with ancient tomes and relics from his endless travels. A large fireplace crackled softly, casting a flickering light which danced across the Persian rugs and polished wooden floors. The familiar scent of leather-bound books and aged wood welcomed me back as if I’d never left.
Stephen sat in his usual chair, at his desk, the soft glow of his silver haze surrounding his features. As I stepped inside, he turned, his face lighting up with surprise and delight.
“James! What a wonderful surprise,” he greeted me warmly, though I could see a hint of confusion in the way his brows furrowed slightly. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
I cracked my knuckles, the reality of my mission heavy on my shoulders. The lies had become unbearable, gnawing at me day and night until I could hardly think of anything else. Emma deserved to know everything, and she’d been more than right in accusing me of fucking up our foundation. But no more.
“I’m done with the lies, Stephen,” I said, holding my voice steady, but it was edged with anger I was trying very hard to keep under control. “I’m telling Emma everything. The truth. About my Leadership. About the Radicals. About everything.”
His expression shifted from warm curiosity to a deepening concern. He stood up slowly, his eyes searching mine as if trying to read the unspoken thoughts behind them. "Why?" he asked, his voice tinged with a hint of urgency, while gesturing for me to join him on one of the plush couches in the room.
I sank into the seat, the leather creaking softly beneath me, as I wrestled with my thoughts, trying to find the right words. But before I could gather them, Stephen spoke again, his tone now sharpened with frustration. "So it doesn’t hurt your relationship? James, you’ve got to see—it's not just about you and her. This situation is much bigger than you.”
“I don’t care anymore,” I said firmly. “We created the Radicals, and now I’m fighting them at every turn to keep them from killing her. It’s my fault! Our fault! I’m telling her the truth, and you can either support it or step aside. It’s your choice.”
“James, we didn’tcreatethe Radicals. We only?—”
“Bullshit,” I interrupted harshly, cutting off whatever rationalization he was about to offer. “You’re telling me youdon’t feel even the slightest bit responsible? I haven’t slept since I found out they had an Amplifier. Have you?”
My mentor stiffened. “I feel more responsible than you’ll ever know,” he said softly, his voice heavy with regret.
