Home Invasion: Part One

As everyone settled into their tasks, Marcus called them back together, holding a thick, old book in his hands. "Before we go any further, I need to tell you about something important. Damien sent us a ritual that could help Jane complete her awakening."

Constantine looked puzzled. "Who's Damien?"

Marcus smiled slightly. "Damien Laurent is the strongest Outcast we have at the moment. He's a genius, especially when it comes to aether, and currently spends most of his time researching it in Nyx. He's been a great help to Jane throughout the years."

Kento nodded in agreement. "If Damien says this ritual can help, then it's worth trying."

"Even though he's a giant douche." Darryl interjected, earning himself a stern look from Marcus.

Marcus continued, "The ritual requires one of us to constantly channel aether into Jane's body until she completes her awakening. To do that, we need the person with the largest aether reserves."

Shift, always prepared, pulled out a small device from her bag. "This device measures aether levels. The intensity of the red color and glow indicates the amount of aether one possesses."

She turned the device on, and it hummed softly as a holographic display appeared, showing a gradient of red hues. She handed it to Marcus, who held it up to each member of the team.

First, he held it up to Darryl. The device glowed a soft red, indicating a moderate amount of aether. Darryl shrugged, not surprised by the reading. Darryl grunted, "I've always been more about physical strength than aether."

Next was Kento. The glow was much stronger. However, there were bizarre fluctuations in the readings – as if something was suppressing his power.

"It's of no use, Marcus." he said. "I have imposed a Covenant on myself; I can't access my full power unless certain conditions are met." he concluded.

"And you never thought to mention that?" Shift interjected. "This is important information, for anything we do as a team! I expected better of you, Ken." she sighed.

"I have my own secrets, Shift, and I don't need to disclose everything to you. I always put my life on the line and do anything you ask of me, all I ask is that you respect my privacy."

"Calm down you two, this isn't the time!" Marcus interjected. He couldn't participate directly because he had to oversee the ritual.

Shift went next. The device showed a bright red, her aether reserves clearly higher than Kento's and Darryl's. She nodded, satisfied but not smug.

"Looks like I'm it." she said.

"Aren't you forgetting someone?" Kento interjected.

Marcus held the device up to Constantine. To everyone's surprise, the device blazed with an intense, almost blinding red glow. The holographic display spiked to its maximum level, and the device buzzed with energy.

"Whoa," Constantine said, looking at the device in awe. "I didn't expect that."

Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Neither did I. You always had massive outbursts of power but your regular aether reserves were around the same level as Kento's. It seems the bond with Murasame has significantly increased that." he concluded. Kento crossed his arms, looking thoughtful.

Shift smirked. "Looks like you're our best bet for this ritual, Constantine."

Constantine nodded, determination in his eyes. "I'll do whatever it takes to help Jane."

Marcus handed the ritual book to Constantine. "Good. Read through this and prepare yourself. We'll set everything up. Shift, you help Constantine with the details. Kento and Darryl, make sure the chamber is secure and everything is in place."

Later, they gathered in the special chamber where Jane lay unconscious. The room was filled with runes, glowing softly with aetheric energy. Constantine stood by her side, holding the ritual book, while Shift guided him through the steps.

"Remember," Shift said, "you need to maintain a steady flow of aether. Too much, and you could overwhelm her. Too little, and it won't be enough to help her through the awakening."

Constantine took a deep breath, placing his hands gently on Jane. "I'm ready."

He closed his eyes, focusing on the bond with Murasame, feeling the immense reservoir of aether within him. The sword materialized in his right hand, earning a gasp from Shift. Constantine placed his left hand on Jane's back and focused. Slowly, he began to channel the energy into Jane, a soft red glow emanating from his hands.

The room was silent except for the hum of aetheric energy. Marcus, Kento, and Darryl watched with bated breath as the ritual began, hoping that this would be the key to helping Jane complete her awakening and return to them stronger.

Above them, in the bookstore, the atmosphere was quite different. It was tense and filled with the faint smell of old books and blood. The quiet had abruptly shattered when a team of mages, led by Viktor, Celestia, and Xander, stormed inside. The trio moved calculated precision towards the counter where Mr. O'Brien, the elderly bookstore owner, stood. He didn't say anything, but maintained his calmness – he was not fighter, nor Outcast, after all – just a simple Unveiled human. Ed O'Brien had a daughter – Alice. She turned into an Outcast, like everyone else there, when she turned 21. He Unveiled himself to stay with her. Even though she had died on a mission years ago, he still stayed with the Outcasts – they were family to him. He straightened his back and faced them defiantly. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice steady despite the fear in his eyes.

Viktor, a tall man with sharp features and a sinister aura, stepped forward. "We know there's an entrance to the Outcast base here. Tell us how to access it."

Mr. O'Brien shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Celestia, her eyes glowing with a cold, blue light, sneered. "You really should reconsider your loyalty, old man. It's not worth dying over."

Mr. O'Brien remained silent; his resolve unshaken.

Xander, with a cruel smile, moved closer, his fingers crackling with dark energy. "Let's make this simple. You tell us what we want to know, and we let you live."

But Mr. O'Brien didn't falter. "I'll never betray them."

Viktor's expression darkened. "So be it."

In an instant, Viktor and Xander descended on Mr. O'Brien with ruthless efficiency. They subjected him to a gruesome interrogation, using dark spells and physical torture. Blood stained the old wooden floors, and the air filled with the acrid smell of burnt flesh. Yet, Mr. O'Brien's lips remained sealed. He would never betray them, betray Alice. Memories of her started flashing in his mind; playing with her when she was little, her high school graduation, her shock and fear when she awakened, the horrors he experiences when he was Unveiled. And, strongest of all, the memory of Marcus coming to him with her body in a shroud, apologizing. She had died at the hands of sorcerers – and he'd be damned if he betrayed her to sorcerers even at the cost of his life.

Finally, Viktor grew impatient. With a flick of his wrist, he cast a quick spell, ending Mr. O'Brien's life in a swift, cruel motion. The room fell silent, leaving only silence and the metallic smell of blood and the stench of charred flesh lingering in the air.

Celestia looked at Viktor. "What now? He didn't talk."

A wicked smile spread across Viktor's face. "He doesn't need to."

Using his necromantic powers, Viktor began chanting. Mana coalesced around Mr. O'Brien's lifeless body, forcing it to rise. The bookstore owner's eyes opened, now devoid of life and filled with a sickly, unnatural glow.

"Open the door to the Outcast base," Viktor commanded.

The now undead Mr. O'Brien, bound by necromantic magic, obeyed. He shuffled towards a seemingly innocuous section of the bookstore, where he pressed a hidden mechanism. A section of the wall slid open, revealing a staircase leading down into the depths below.

Viktor turned to his team, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. "Let's go. The Outcasts won't know what hit them."

But, as he said that, he felt a sudden fluctuation in his mana; he saw Mr. O'Brien, his eyes no longer lifeless, turning a second lever. He stopped the reanimation spell, but it was too late; he had rung the alarm.

"Let's go you fools!" He shouted at the rest as they darted inside the base.

Ed O'Brien lay on the floor of his bookstore, feeling the last vestiges of his life draining away.

"I'm sorry, everyone…Alice…" he murmured. "I tried my best."

He looked at a bracelet on his wrist that Shift had given him. It was an aether bracelet that disrupted could momentarily disrupt magic if he pressed the rune engraved on it – she had given it to him for protection. He, instead, had used it to trade his life for a chance at saving theirs.

"I'm…coming…home…Alice." he muttered, trying to smile, his strength leaving him.

And Ed O'Brien was no more.