The plane descended through a sky tinted orange and violet, the Bosphorus shimmering like a blade of light dividing continents. Istanbul rose beneath them, its skyline crowned with ancient spires and modern towers. History and ambition coexisted in every street — two forces forever pulling against each other.
Emilia glanced out the window, still nursing the bandage on her arm. She hadn't fully recovered from the Aether battle in Cairo, but she refused to show weakness. Not in front of Klevin — and not in front of whatever destiny awaited them here.
Klevin sat beside her, deep in thought. He hadn't slept since Cairo. Kael's words haunted him like a splinter lodged behind the heart.
Protect him… When the stars fall… choose his survival.
He clenched his fist. Why did Kael look at him with such pain? Such familiarity?
As the plane touched down, Emilia gently nudged him with her elbow.
"We need you focused, Klevin. Istanbul is political territory — no reckless heroics."
He looked up, managing a faint smile. "Who said anything about heroes?"
Their eyes lingered a moment too long — until the intercom broke it.
They disembarked into a crowd of officials and soldiers. A tall man stood waiting at the gate, uniform crisp, posture sharp as a sword. His presence dominated the space effortlessly.
Commander Arslan.
He stepped forward, extending a hand to Klevin.
"Welcome to Istanbul. We've heard much about you, Klaus Klevin — or should I say, the Aetherlink who unsettles Cairo's ground?"
Klevin accepted the handshake, meeting his gaze steadily. "The ground was already unstable. We just found the cracks."
A subtle smirk tugged at Arslan's mouth.
"And you, Emilia. The Shadow Phase. You caused some trouble of your own."
Emilia folded her arms. "Trouble tends to follow Aether."
"Or Aether follows trouble," Arslan replied. "Here, they are one and the same."
Without waiting, he escorted them into a black armored vehicle. Soldiers flanked them, hands near weapons — not out of security, but precaution.
The drive wound through vibrant streets — ancient mosques alongside neon-lit cafes. Istanbul hummed with life and secrets.
"So," Klevin asked finally, "why did your government summon us?"
Arslan's expression sharpened.
"Because this city is a nexus — where Aether phenomena have intensified. People are disappearing. Officials losing their minds. And beneath Galata Tower…" He paused. "Something is waking."
Klevin felt a chill crawl along his spine.
Arslan continued:
"Your presence will help us uncover who or what is interfering with the balance here. But understand — you are under my authority during this operation."
Klevin opened his mouth to argue — but Emilia spoke first.
"We'll cooperate. As long as transparency goes both ways."
Arslan's eyebrow twitched — she had him there.
The car halted before a fortified research facility. Inside, lights buzzed above steel corridors. Researchers whispered as the newcomers passed.
They entered a secure room — maps of global Aether sites pinned across every wall. Istanbul was circled in red.
Standing over a holographic display was a young woman — sharp features, glasses, hair tied back in a neat bun. Her fingers danced across screens faster than most would blink.
When she noticed them, her eyes widened slightly — not in fear, but intrigue.
"You must be Klevin and Emilia." She approached with calm confidence. "I'm Leyla Haseki — Aether analyst and political researcher."
Her gaze flicked to Klevin, analyzing him like a threat and a miracle at once.
"You're… different from the others. Your Aether signature is unstable — like two forces clashing inside one vessel."
Klevin stiffened. Emilia stepped closer to him instinctively.
Leyla smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I'm not here to experiment on you. But I do hope to understand you."
Arslan cut in. "Enough. Show them what we found."
Leyla tapped a button — a projection flickered to life. It showed video footage: Galata Tower shaking, bystanders screaming as shadow distortions rippled through the air. Symbols appeared on the stone surface — the same that Kael left behind.
Klevin's heart dropped.
"That's Kael," Emilia muttered. "He was here."
Leyla nodded. "And he left behind a transmission. But it's encoded in Divine Aether logic — only someone similar to him could decrypt it."
Klevin frowned. "You want me to read it."
"Yes," Arslan replied. "Tonight. At the tower."
But Emilia stepped between them. "He's not your weapon."
Arslan's eyes hardened. "Everyone is a weapon in a world like this. The only difference is who holds the trigger."
Klevin put a hand on Emilia's shoulder — a soft squeeze. "It's okay. We need answers."
He didn't notice the slight flush touch Emilia's cheeks at his touch.
Leyla's gaze sharpened on the contact — noting it.
But danger interrupted before jealousy could spark — alarms blared, red lights strobing.
"Security breach — Aether anomaly detected inside the building!"
Arslan drew his pistol. "Stay close!"
A deafening boom tore through the hall as shadowy barriers slammed shut — trapping them inside the complex.
Whispers echoed — distorted, unnatural. Figures flickered through the darkness — cloaked shapes phasing through walls like ghosts.
Emilia's eyes widened. "Shit — Aether phantoms!"
They attacked — weapons slicing through reality. Arslan's soldiers fired, but bullets passed uselessly through shifting silhouettes.
Emilia vanished into shadow — reappearing behind a phantom, plunging her blade into its core. It dissolved with a shriek.
Klevin grabbed a metal baton from a fallen guard — but before he could strike, a phantom phased behind him—
Emilia intercepted — teleporting in an instant, blades crossed with the phantom's talons.
"I told you," she breathed, "stay focused."
Klevin stared at her — breath caught. The closeness, the tension — even in chaos, they felt it.
Another phantom charged — this one larger, formed from swirling corruption.
Arslan shouted, "Our weapons can't stop that one! We need Aether—"
His words cut short as Klevin felt heat behind his eyes. A pulse — familiar yet terrifying — surged from deep within his chest.
Voices whispered in his mind — divine, commanding.
Order. Control. Dominate.
His irises burned gold — sigils igniting like brands.
The giant phantom lunged—
Klevin spoke a single word:
"KNEEL."
Divine thunder erupted.
The phantom collapsed mid-air — slammed to the ground, screaming as its form dissolved into ash.
Everyone froze.
Emilia stared — breathless.
Leyla whispered, stunned.
Arslan's expression shifted — awe twisted into fear.
Klevin's voice shook. "What… did I just do?"
Emilia stepped toward him slowly — offering her hand like calming a wild animal.
"Klevin… you awakened a new power."
He stared at his hands — trembling. He could still feel the energy coiling, hungry, inside him.
Arslan broke the silence.
"That ability… could bring nations to their knees."
Emilia glared. "Don't you dare twist this into politics."
But Leyla watched Klevin differently — like she saw a new future forming. One with him at the center.
Arslan holstered his pistol and stepped closer.
"Tonight, we go to Galata Tower. And Klaus Klevin…"
His voice carried the weight of history.
"…you will command the truth from whatever hides there."
Klevin looked at Emilia. She nodded — unwavering loyalty in her eyes.
"Whatever happens," she said softly,
"I'm right beside you."
And for the first time since this nightmare began — Klevin believed he wasn't facing it alone.
Outside, lightning cracked over Istanbul without thunder — silent, silver, ominous.
Kael was calling again.
And this time… Klevin would answer.