The carriage ride back from the Vale estate was quiet.
Arin stared through the window while the city passed slowly outside.
Markets.
Crowded streets.
Laughing people.
None of them knew their world would collapse in four months.
Behind him, Elara leaned forward.
"So?"
Arin didn't turn.
"So what?"
"What happened in the meeting?"
"Cassian offered a partnership."
Elara blinked.
"That was fast."
"Yes."
"And you agreed?"
"Yes."
She frowned.
"Isn't he the one who tried to have you beaten last night?"
"Yes."
"That doesn't bother you?"
Arin looked at her calmly.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because predictable enemies are useful."
Elara leaned back in her seat.
"You're terrifying."
Back at the apartment, Arin immediately returned to the table and opened a notebook.
He began writing quickly.
Elara watched him.
"What are you doing now?"
"Planning."
"For what?"
"The first Gate."
She crossed her arms.
"You're still serious about that."
"Yes."
Elara walked closer and looked at the paper.
The page was filled with diagrams.
City maps.
Timelines.
Supply routes.
Evacuation zones.
Her eyes widened.
"You've planned an entire disaster response."
"Yes."
"For something that hasn't happened yet."
"Yes."
Elara looked at him carefully.
"…You really believe this."
Arin finally looked up.
"I don't believe it."
"I remember it."
Silence followed.
Then—
The compass needle suddenly shook violently.
Arin froze.
Elara noticed instantly.
"That's not good, right?"
"No."
The needle spun wildly.
Then pointed directly toward Elara.
Both of them looked at it.
Then at each other.
Elara frowned.
"Why is it pointing at me?"
Arin stood slowly.
Because it's time.
In the previous timeline, Elara's spatial power awakened suddenly under stress.
Unstable.
Dangerous.
And today…
After the fight last night…
Her mana had already begun changing.
"Step back," Arin said calmly.
Elara didn't move.
"What's happening?"
"Your ability."
"My what?"
Suddenly—
The air around her distorted.
Like invisible glass bending.
The room temperature dropped slightly.
Elara's eyes widened.
"…What is this?"
The distortion intensified.
A small ripple appeared beside her hand.
Reality itself warped.
Arin's mind moved quickly.
This was earlier than expected.
Which meant the timeline had shifted again.
"Elara," he said firmly.
"Stay calm."
"I AM calm!"
The ripple expanded.
A small crack appeared in the air.
Elara panicked.
"What is that?!"
"A spatial tear."
"WHAT?!"
The crack suddenly exploded outward.
A chair across the room vanished instantly.
Gone.
Completely erased from space.
Elara stared in horror.
"I didn't mean to—"
"I know."
Arin stepped closer.
"Listen carefully."
Her breathing was unstable.
"I can't control it!"
"Not yet."
Another ripple appeared beside the wall.
The plaster twisted unnaturally.
Arin grabbed her shoulders.
"Elara."
She looked at him.
"Focus on my voice."
"I'm trying!"
"Your ability bends space."
Her eyes widened.
"…That's impossible."
"Yes."
"But you're doing it."
Another crack appeared in the ceiling.
Small fragments of wood disappeared.
Arin continued calmly.
"Your power reacts to fear."
"So what do I do?!"
"Stop being afraid."
She stared at him like he was insane.
"That's your advice?!"
"Yes."
The distortion pulsed again.
Arin lowered his voice.
"Imagine the space around you… becoming still."
Elara closed her eyes.
Her breathing slowed slightly.
The ripples weakened.
"Good," Arin said quietly.
"Now imagine the cracks closing."
The distortion flickered.
Then slowly…
The air returned to normal.
Silence filled the apartment.
Elara collapsed into a chair.
"…What the hell was that?"
Arin sat across from her.
"Your awakening."
She stared at him.
"You knew this would happen."
"Yes."
"You didn't tell me."
"You wouldn't have believed me."
She rubbed her temples.
"I still don't."
Arin looked at the compass.
The needle had stopped shaking.
Which confirmed it.
Elara Thorn had awakened Spatial Magic.
One of the rarest abilities in existence.
Elara looked at him again.
"So… what now?"
Arin answered calmly.
"Now we prepare you."
"For what?"
He looked toward the sky outside the window.
The same sky that would soon crack open.
"For war."
Far away…
Inside the hidden underground chamber…
The hooded figures watched the glowing projection again.
Timeline Deviation Index: 0.027%
One figure spoke quietly.
"The Thorn anomaly has awakened early."
Another replied,
"The strategist is accelerating the timeline."
A third voice whispered from the darkness.
"Then we must accelerate the correction."
The projection zoomed in again.
Onto Arin.
And beside his name…
A new label appeared.
Primary Disruption Variable