Luca sat on the edge of the bed, his fingers still trembling from the unstable bolt of lightning he had summoned. The purple flickers in his mana hadn't faded completely. He stared at his palm in silence, the scent of ozone still in the air.
The door creaked open.
"Luca?" Lyra's voice trembled as she rushed in, Sera and Zane right behind her.
Zane's gaze fell to the charred mark on the wooden floor. "That wasn't normal lightning."
Luca nodded slowly. "I tried to use my powers, but it wasn't just blue—it was... purple too. It wouldn't stay stable."
Zane's brows furrowed. The moment he heard purple, something inside him stirred.
> "Uh oh. That's not good," Nyx said, voice echoing sharply in Zane's head.
Sera blinked. She heard it too.
Zane glanced at her, and she gave a subtle nod. They were both hearing Nyx now—and what she said next made Zane's heart tighten.
> "His lightning affinity's been contaminated. When you purged the curse, some of your Void slipped into him. Your powers... they're mixed. And the Void doesn't mix well with anything."
"What does that mean?" Zane asked aloud, startling the others.
Lyra looked confused. "What does what mean?"
"Nyx," Zane muttered, then turned back to Luca. "She's... a voice in my head. Only Sera and I can hear her."
Luca blinked. "Cool... and a little creepy."
> "Zane," Nyx warned, "you need to touch him. The Void needs to recognize itself in him, or it'll keep fighting his lightning. Right now, it's like he's caught between two storms."
Without hesitation, Zane stepped forward and gently placed a hand on Luca's shoulder.
A low hum filled the room. The light dimmed slightly. Then—
Luca's eyes flashed, one glowing bright blue, the other deep violet. His breath caught. For a heartbeat, crackling lightning flickered up both arms, switching colors in wild, chaotic bursts.
Sera watched in awe. "Zane, it's stabilizing!"
A final pulse of power surged between them—and then, it was gone.
Luca slumped forward, panting. His eyes returned to normal.
> "It's settled... for now," Nyx whispered. "But in battle, the Void inside him will stir. It's unstable. Untrained. Dangerous. He'll need guidance—and restraint."
Zane let go, nodding. "I'll help him."
Luca looked up. "I don't know what that was... but I feel clearer now. Like the storm inside me finally calmed."
Zane smiled. "Good. But next time it wakes up, you'll need to be ready."
Lyra wrapped her arms around her brother, eyes misty. "We'll figure this out. Together."
Sera clapped her hands. "Well, this just got a lot more interesting."
Zane glanced at the faint shadow clinging to Luca's aura. The Void had left its mark—not a curse, but a link.
And something told him this was just the beginning.