Chapter 9: Kai's Secret

Alex pushed open the door to the rooftop, the gentle morning sunlight warming his face. The rooftop garden was like an oasis, with various exotic plants shimmering in the early light. In the center of the garden, Kai stood with his back to Alex, silent and still.

"You came," Kai said without turning, his voice calm and steady.

Alex approached, noticing that Kai's shadow seemed much deeper than normal. "Yes, I'm here. Edward told me a lot of things."

Kai turned around, his eyes glimmering with mystery in the morning light. "Edward is a good teacher, but some things can only be truly understood through experience. Are you ready to start your training?"

Alex took a deep breath and nodded. "I'm ready. What are we going to do?"

Instead of answering directly, Kai took a step forward. At that moment, Alex noticed something strange: Kai's shadow seemed to come alive, flowing like liquid, then suddenly extending to form a massive black barrier that enveloped the entire rooftop garden in shadow.

"What... what's happening?" Alex asked, taking a step back in surprise.

Kai smiled slightly, "This is one of my abilities. Every Traveler has their unique talent. Mine is manipulating shadows."

Alex stared wide-eyed as the surrounding shadows began to twist and morph, forming various strange shapes. "That's incredible. How do you do it?"

"Focus and practice," Kai said, allowing the shadows to return to normal. "Everyone's ability stems from their deepest inner qualities. My shadow ability comes from my desire to explore the unknown. And you, Alex, what will your ability be?"

Alex looked down at his hands, "I... I don't know. I'm not even sure if I have any special abilities."

Kai walked closer to Alex, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Trust me, you do. We just need to find the right trigger. Come, follow me."

They walked to the edge of the roof, overlooking the entire city. The city was breathtakingly beautiful in the morning light, but Alex noticed that from certain angles, the city's outline seemed to distort, as if multiple realities were overlapping.

"Do you see it?" Kai pointed at those distorted areas, "Those are reality fractures, convergence points of different times and spaces. As Travelers, we have the ability to see and pass through these fractures."

Alex concentrated, trying to see these fractures more clearly. Suddenly, he felt dizzy, and the scene before him began to change dramatically. He saw the city undergo centuries of changes in an instant, from primeval forest to futuristic metropolis, then back to the present.

"I... I see it!" Alex exclaimed, but immediately felt weak, almost falling.

Kai caught him just in time. "Careful, don't push yourself too hard. Your ability is still in its awakening stage, it needs time to adapt."

Just then, a cold wind suddenly swept in. Kai's expression instantly became alert, his shadow beginning to writhe uneasily.

"Something's wrong," Kai said in a low voice, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

Alex also sensed the ominous presence. "Is it Zack?"

Kai shook his head, "No, it's something else. Something older, more dangerous. We need to leave."

But before they could move, the ground of the rooftop suddenly cracked open, and a black mist surged out. The mist quickly coalesced into a humanoid form, but it was far from human. It had twisted limbs and a mouth full of sharp teeth.

"Guardian," the creature hissed, "Give us the new Traveler. His power belongs to the Void."

Kai immediately stepped in front of Alex, his shadow extending like blades. "Go back to where you came from, Void Emissary. You're not welcome here."

The creature let out a piercing shriek and lunged at them. Kai's shadow instantly formed a shield, blocking the attack. But Alex could see that Kai was struggling to maintain it.

"Alex," Kai said with difficulty, "I need your help. Concentrate, imagine the safest place you know."

Alex closed his eyes, picturing his childhood home in his mind. It was the place where he felt the safest and warmest.

Suddenly, he felt a surge of energy from within. When he opened his eyes, he was surprised to find that the scenery around them had changed. They were no longer on the rooftop, but in a cozy living room. The terrifying creature had vanished, with only Kai still standing beside him, looking both surprised and pleased.

"You did it," Kai said, his voice filled with admiration. "You successfully performed a reality jump, and you took me with you."

Alex looked around, recognizing this as his childhood home. "This is... did we really come here?"

Kai nodded, "Yes, although it might be a version in a parallel universe. Your ability seems to be transporting yourself to a safe place in moments of danger. That's a very rare and powerful ability."

Before Alex could process this information, he heard footsteps coming from downstairs. "Oh no, we need to leave. My parents might come up."

Kai grabbed Alex's hand, "Stay calm, focus. Imagine us back at Silver Moon Apartments."

Alex took a deep breath, closing his eyes. He pictured his apartment, the place that had become his new home. When he opened his eyes again, they were standing in his living room.

"Unbelievable," Alex said, catching his breath, "I really did it."

Kai smiled approvingly, "You did well, Alex. But this is just the beginning. The appearance of that Void Emissary means things are more complicated than we thought. We need to accelerate your training."

Alex nodded, feeling excited despite his fatigue. "I'm ready. Teach me everything you know, Kai."

A flash of concern crossed Kai's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination. "Alright. From now on, your real training begins. Remember, Alex, your ability is both a gift and a responsibility. We bear the duty of protecting the balance of the multiverse."

Alex stood straight, feeling a sense of mission rising within him. He knew that from this moment on, his life would never be the same. But with Kai's guidance and his newly discovered abilities, Alex believed he could face any challenge.

As night fell, the lights of Silver Moon Apartments lit up one by one. Within this seemingly ordinary building, a battle concerning the fate of the multiverse was silently unfolding. And Alex, this young man who had just discovered his extraordinary abilities, would play a crucial role in this battle.