The bridge was still shaking. Kael stood at its center, staring at the cracks spreading across the stone beneath his feet. Eron remained beside him, neither brother moved. The Keepers had stepped away from the bridge, and for the first time since Kael had met them, they looked uncertain. Kael turned toward the oldest Keeper. “You said we were chosen because something is coming.”The Keeper nodded. “And now you are telling us that we were never meant to become Guardians?” Kael asked.“You were meant to become them,” the Keeper replied. “But not because we selected you.”“Then who did?” Kael asked.The Keeper did not answer.Eron stepped forward. “You need to stop speaking in pieces.”The Keeper looked at him. “I do not know who chose you.”“Then find out,” Eron replied.“We have spent centuries protecting the bridges.” The Keeper said.“And yet something crossed one without you knowing,” Eron said.The Keeper lowered his head. “Yes.”Kael looked at the bridge. The cracks had stopped

The bridge remained closed for three days. Kael had ordered it; nobody argued, not even the Keepers. After the unknown destination had appeared, everyone understood that the bridge was no longer something they could treat like an ordinary road. Kael spent most of those three days in the Keeper’s chamber, studying every record they had.Eron stayed with him; they found references to hundreds of worlds. Some had been destroyed, some had disappeared, and some had closed their bridges and refused all contact, but there were also records of worlds that had survived. Worlds where humans, demons, and other races had learned to live without gods ruling over them.Kael found that part interesting. “You see this?” he asked.Eron leaned over the table. “What?”“This entry.” He replied.Eron read it. “World of Luma.”“Yes,” Kael replied.“It says the world has had no major war for eight hundred years,” Eron said.Kael nodded. “How?”Eron shrugged. “Maybe they are better at talking.”Kael smiled.

Elias did not answer immediately. He stood before the open doorway beneath the bridge, staring at the ancient chamber on the other side. Thousands of figures remained motionless inside. Kael could still feel the presence that had called his name.Eron kept one hand near his sword. “Who are they?” he asked.Elias swallowed. “They are the ones who came before the gods.”Kael looked at him. “The Architects.”“Yes,” Elias replied.“You said they were buried,” Kael muttered.“They were,” Elias replied.“Then why are they still here?” Kael asked.Elias shook his head. “I do not know.”The oldest Keeper stepped forward. “You know more than you are saying.”Elias looked at him. “I know enough to be afraid.”Kael turned toward him. “You have been hiding this from us for years.”“I was trying to protect you,” Elias whispered.“You do not get to make that decision for me,” Kael muttered.Elias lowered his eyes. “I know.”Kael’s anger softened when he saw the exhaustion on the older man’s face. E

Kael kept staring at the sealed envelope. Eron stood beside him, watching the bridge. The stone had stopped moving after the knock, but neither brother trusted the silence anymore.“What are you waiting for?” Eron asked.Kael looked at the seal. “Elias told me to open it when the bridge spoke again.”“It just knocked,” Eron said.“I know,” Kael muttered.“So open it,” Eron whispered.Kael did not move.Eron studied his face. “You are afraid of what is inside.”Kael gave a small nod. “Yes.”Eron seemed surprised by the answer. “You have faced gods without being afraid.”“I was afraid then too,” Eron muttered.“You never looked it,” Eron said.“That does not mean I was not,” Kael replied.Eron looked at the envelope. “What do you think he wrote?”“I do not know,” Kael replied.“Then why are you treating that piece of paper like it is going to attack you?” Eron asked.“Because Elias knew something was coming,” Kael replied.Eron’s expression changed. Neither of them said anything for sev

Kael did not move after the bridge went dark. He stood in front of it with Elias’s letter still inside his coat, while Eron remained several steps behind him. The words were gone. The warning was not. THEY ARE NOT NEW.THEY HAVE ONLY STARTED TO WATCH YOU.COME ALONE, KAEL.Eron finally broke the silence. “I hate that thing.”Kael looked over his shoulder. “The bridge?”“Yes,” Eron muttered.“You used to like it,” Kael whispered.“I used to think it was a useful magical structure,” Eron replied.“It is still useful,” Kael said.“It talks now,” Eron replied.Kael turned back toward the bridge. “That is a fair complaint.”Eron walked closer. “What worries me is that the Keepers are afraid of something they refuse to name, and the bridge knows about it.”Kael nodded. “That worries me too.”Eron studied his brother. “You are thinking about going through.”“I am,” Kael replied.“Alone?” Eron asked.“I have not decided,” Kael replied.Eron gave him a tired look. “You have decided.”Kael almo