Miyu froze.
"Gate…born?"
The boy—no, Alpha—stepped closer. He studied her like she was a puzzle only half-assembled.
"You opened the Rift," he said. "From the other side. With ink."
"I didn't know what I was doing!" Miyu blurted. "I just… drew. It wasn't supposed to—this isn't real!"
He gave a half-smile. "It's more real than your world. Just… harder to see."
The werewolf behind him paced slowly, never taking its glowing eyes off her. Its fur rippled in the silver light, and Miyu could tell it was tense—on edge. Like her presence alone was a threat.
The Alpha raised a hand. The beast halted.
"I'm Kael," he said, voice calmer now. "Alpha of the Silver Hollow. And you are…"
"Miyu," she whispered. "I'm just… Miyu."
"No one who enters the Ink Gate is just anything."
Miyu swallowed.
Her gaze darted around. Trees. Mist. Shadows. The air here felt charged—like magic clung to every leaf and root. The place pulsed with energy, alive and ancient.
Kael turned and began walking. "You should come. It's not safe out here."
She didn't move. "Safe from what?"
He stopped and looked over his shoulder.
"The Others," he said. "The ones who weren't born from ink, but want to steal its power. If they scent you out here alone… they won't ask questions."
Miyu hesitated. Her instincts screamed to run in the opposite direction. But she had no idea where she was, and this Kael—despite his sharp tone—was the only familiar thread in this unraveling dream.
She followed.
They moved quickly, deeper into the forest, until they reached a hidden path veiled by a mossy stone archway. Beyond it lay a hidden hollow—lit with glowing crystals, guarded by silent, humanoid figures with golden eyes.
Inside the hollow, Kael led her to a circular room built into a hill, filled with parchment, scrolls, and floating ink glyphs that danced through the air like fireflies.
He motioned to a carved seat. "Sit."
Miyu obeyed, still dazed.
"Gateborns are rare," Kael said, crouching in front of her. "Born in your world, but bound to ours. The ink in your veins opens doors most of us can't even see. You didn't draw that gate. You remembered it."
She stared at him. "But I'm… ordinary. I go to school. I'm not some magical chosen one."
Kael gave her a look—ancient and sad. "Power doesn't care who's ready. It just arrives."
Thunder rumbled outside.
Kael stood. "You have two choices, Miyu. Pretend this is a dream and wait for the Others to find you."
He walked to the center of the room and picked up a silver-tipped brush.
"Or learn to fight your way through it."
---