Tavara – The Forgotten Chamber beneath Valemont Estate
The chamber's air crackled with energy. Candles burned blue, their flames unnaturally still. Alina stood at the center of a ring of ancient sigils, each pulsing in rhythm with her heartbeat. Aunt Lucia circled her, the ceremonial dagger glinting in hand.
"You are of the Ninth Line," Lucia said solemnly. "But power without balance destroys. You must face what lies within… and what hunts from without."
Alina's lips trembled. "Why now? Why me?"
Lucia paused. "Because you're the key, child. The first born in three generations with the pure convergence gene. The bloodlines across the globe are waking, but only one can anchor the shift."
Suddenly, the walls trembled. A mirror embedded in the floor shimmered—and from it emerged a shadowy copy of Alina, eyes silver, voice twisted. Her greatest fears. Her buried rage. Her desire for power.
Lucia stepped back. "The trial begins."
Location; Caracas, Venezuela – The Rivari Estate
Nora stood in a walled courtyard lit by fire torches. Across from her was a tall man—broad-shouldered, dark-skinned, with piercing amber eyes. Her uncle, Rafael – head of the South American branch of the Valemont line.
"I received your signal," he said. "But why summon me here?"
Nora handed him the decrypted scroll. "Because Tavara isn't the only battleground. The prophecy includes you—and your children."
Rafael's expression shifted. "They're twins. Just turned sixteen."
"They'll be targets soon."
Just then, a guard ran in, bloodied and breathless.
"Señor! The mines! They've been breached—by cloaked operatives! And one of the twins is missing!"
Rafael's expression hardened. "Then the war has come to my doorstep."
Location; Siberia – Redveil Archives
Damien, flanked by Viktor and the cyber-forensic team, navigated an underground network of archives beneath permafrost and centuries of secrets. Cold mist curled from their lips. Every wall bore ancient writings in Latin, Old Slavic, and something much older.
They stopped at a stone vault.
"This was where my mother's side hid the truth," Damien muttered. "Where bloodlines weren't just born—they were forged."
He placed his palm on a glowing sigil. The door hissed open.
Inside, rows of frozen capsules lined the walls. Each held a person. Some familiar. Some not. All had the Valemont mark.
"This is… a blood archive," Viktor whispered. "Preserved lineage. Experiments. Possible heirs."
Damien's gaze locked onto one capsule in particular—a young woman with his eyes.
"She's my cousin," he said quietly. "From the line that disappeared during the Russo-Valemont feud."
A siren blared.
"Unauthorized presence detected. Self-purge in 180 seconds."
Location; Tavara – Forgotten Chamber, Seconds Later
Alina's shadow-self lunged, fists blazing with energy. The two collided, light and dark, blood and intent. Every strike echoed with trauma—memories Alina had buried since childhood. Pain, rejection, longing.
"You want to lead them?" the shadow spat. "You, the forgotten daughter? The unstable brat?"
Alina screamed, releasing a wave of light so bright the entire chamber shuddered.
Lucia rushed in as silence fell.
Alina stood alone—panting, glowing, eyes lit with ancient power.
"The trial is over," Lucia said. "You have been chosen."
Alina looked up. "What now?"
"Now," said Lucia, "you inherit."