Chapter 23: The Crossing

The sirens shattered the morning calm.

Milo and I froze as the sound echoed through the valley, bouncing off the hills like a warning bell. It was the kind of sound that made your stomach drop and your brain start calculating how fast you could run with a backpack, a sword, and a sarcastic best friend in tow.

In the distance, two police cruisers rolled into town, their lights flashing, their presence unmistakable.

“They’re looking for us,” Milo whispered, peeking through the blinds.

My heart pounded. “How did they know?”

Talon stepped out from the shadows of the hallway like he’d been waiting for a dramatic entrance. His jaw was clenched, his eyes sharp. “The Eerie are manipulating minds. They’ve planted stories. Twisted truths.”

Zeke appeared behind him, scanning the horizon through a cracked window. “They’ll search the house. The school. Every place you’ve touched. Even that weird sandwich shop you like.”

“Hey,” Milo said. “That place has great pickles.”

Yuel’s voice was low and calm, as always. “We can’t let them take you.”

Narrin nodded, arms crossed. “It’s time.”

I turned to them, my satchel already slung over my shoulder. “Time for what?”

Talon’s eyes gleamed. “To return to Aeloria.”

Milo hesitated. “But the veil? We haven’t strengthened it enough yet.”

Zeke grinned. “We never said it was the only way.”

Yuel stepped forward, holding a shard of crystal pulsing with light. It hummed softly, as if it were remembering something ancient and slightly annoyed. “There’s an old path. Dangerous. Forgotten. But it will take us there.”

Narrin placed a hand on my shoulder. “You belong to both worlds. But only one will protect you now.”

I looked at Milo. “Are you ready?”

He gave her a crooked smile. “I packed snacks. So yeah, let’s go.”

Outside, the sirens grew louder. Tires crunched on gravel. Voices barked orders. The police were getting closer.

Inside, the Royals moved quickly. Talon and Zeke pushed furniture against the doors. Yuel drew sigils in the air with glowing fingers. Narrin stood by the window, watching the cruisers roll to a stop.

“Okay,” Milo said, “but just to clarify—this isn’t going to explode, right?”

Yuel gave him a serene smile. “Only a little.”

“Comforting,” Milo muttered.

The Royals formed a circle, their sigils glowing, the air thick with magic. The crystal shard rose from Yuel’s palm, spinning, humming, tearing a seam in reality. The air rippled like heat off pavement. A portal shimmered into view—swirling light, shifting colors, and the faint scent of ozone and lavender.

Behind them, the police were at the door.

“Open up!” someone shouted. “We have a warrant!”

I took Milo’s hand.

“Last chance to back out,” I said.

“Not a chance,” he replied. “Besides, I’m pretty sure I left my toothbrush in Aeloria.”

I squeezed his hand. “Let’s go.”

And together, they stepped through.

The world bent.

Colors twisted. Sound warped. I felt like I was falling sideways through a dream made of thunder and silk. Milo screamed something that sounded like “I REGRET EVERYTHING,” but it was hard to tell over the roar of magic.

Then—light.

And silence.

And grass.

They landed in a heap on a hillside under a violet sky, the portal snapping shut behind them with a sound like a sigh.

I groaned. “Okay. That was worse than the last time.”

Milo rolled onto his back. “I think I left my spleen in the portal.”

Talon stepped through next, perfectly upright, not a hair out of place. “You’ll get used to it.”

Zeke stumbled out behind him, clutching his stomach. “Speak for yourself. I think I just time-traveled through my own breakfast.”

Yuel and Narrin followed, both calm and composed, as if they’d just stepped off an escalator.

I sat up, brushing grass from my hair. “Where are we?”

Yuel gestured to the valley below. “The outskirts of Aeloria. Far from the capital. Far from the Eerie.”

Narrin added, “For now.”

Milo looked around. “Okay, but... is it just me, or is the sky purple?”

“It’s always purple here,” Zeke said. “You get used to it. Eventually. Or you go mildly insane. It’s a toss-up.”

I stood, my flame flickering to life in my palm. “We need to move. If the Eerie can manipulate minds in our world, they might be able to track us here.”

Talon nodded. “There’s a safehouse nearby. Old, hidden, and probably full of spiders.”

“Great,” Milo muttered. “I love spiders. Especially the ones that can cast spells.”

They began walking, the Royals leading the way through the tall grass and winding paths. The air was thick with magic, the kind that made your skin tingle and your thoughts feel like they were being gently stirred by invisible spoons.

“So,” Milo said, “what exactly is this ‘old path’ we just used?”

Yuel glanced at him. “It’s a remnant. A fracture in the weave of worlds. It was sealed centuries ago.”

“Then how did you open it?”

“I asked nicely.”

Milo blinked. “Seriously?”

“No,” Yuel said. “I threatened it with our elements.”

I laughed. “I like it.”

They reached the safehouse just as the sun dipped below the horizon. It was a crooked stone cottage nestled between two hills, covered in moss and mystery. The door creaked ominously as Talon pushed it open.

“Home sweet haunted home,” Zeke said.

Inside, it was dusty but intact. I lit a flame in my palm, casting warm light across the room. There were old books, faded maps, and a suspicious number of empty teacups.

Milo dropped his bag. “Okay. First order of business: food. Second: sleep. Third: not dying.”

“Fourth,” Zeke added, “figure out how to stop the Eerie from turning your world into a magical dumpster fire.”

“Right,” Milo said. “That too.”

I sat by the window, watching the stars emerge in the violet sky. Aeloria felt different now. Heavier. Older. Like it remembered everything she’d done—and everything she still had to do.

Milo joined me, handing me a cup of tea. “You, okay?”

I nodded slowly. “I think so. It’s just… a lot.”

He bumped my shoulder gently. “We’ll figure it out. One weird, magical, probably-dangerous step at a time.”

I smiled. “Thanks for coming with me.”

“Always,” he said. “Besides, I’m pretty sure I’m on a few watchlists back home now.”

Outside, the wind whispered through the grass.

Inside, the fire crackled.

And in the distance, something stirred.

Because the crossing was only the beginning.

And the real fight was still to come.