THE OUTLIERS

*******_Flashback_********

The abandoned chapel remained as it always had—silent and brooding, tucked away in a forgotten corner of Tumberville. The mid-afternoon sun filtered through the broken stained-glass windows, its rays catching motes of dust swirling in the air. Despite the daylight, the space felt heavy, as though the shadows refused to yield completely.

Two figures stood near the altar, their postures tense. The faint hum of energy emanating from the ancient stone filled the space, like the low thrumming of a heartbeat.

"It's time," the woman said, her silver hair glinting in the pale light. She pressed her hand against the altar, and the faint glow of runes flickered to life beneath her touch.

The man beside her remained still, his gaze fixed on the faintly glowing carvings. "They've begun to awaken," he said, his voice measured. "Their powers are surfacing, but they're fragmented. They don't understand what's happening."

"They will," the woman replied, her tone sharp. "The storm triggered the Rift. Whether they're ready or not, it's begun."

The man frowned, crossing his arms. "They don't trust us. They don't even know we exist."

"They don't need to," she said firmly, turning to face him. "Not yet. But they must trust each other—or we're all doomed."

The man shook his head, his expression clouded. "We've kept our distance for too long. If the others make their move first—"

"They won't," she interrupted. "Not if we're careful. Besides," she added, her eyes narrowing, "our presence now would only confuse them. Let them piece the truth together. Let the Rift push them toward us. When the time is right, they'll seek us out."

The man looked unconvinced. He moved closer to the altar, running his hand over one of the glowing runes. "And if they don't? If they're not strong enough?"

The woman hesitated, her hand hovering over the altar as if searching for an answer within the ancient symbols. Finally, she said, "Then Kali'ana will consume them, and us with it."

The man cursed under his breath. "We're betting everything on children."

"They're more than children," the woman said, her tone icy. "You've seen what they can do. The Rift chose them for a reason."

The man sighed, stepping back. "We don't have much time. The storm was a signal. If we felt its ripple here, the others did too. We need to move before they intervene."

The woman turned to him, her eyes blazing. "Let them come. If the Outliers can't face the darkness on their own, they'll never survive what's waiting on the other side of the Rift."

The man fell silent, his gaze drifting to the glowing runes as they began to dim once more. Outside, the sounds of Tumberville carried on as usual, oblivious to the forces gathering in the shadows.

*_Flashback ends*_