Orion's Rise: From Zero to Hero in Two Worlds

Chapter 26

The strange sparks had faded by the time the final bell rang, but Jared's hands still tingled like they'd fallen asleep.

"Hey," Tomáš called out across the parking lot. "We're heading to the mall. Some middle schoolers have been acting tough lately. Want to help put them in their place?"

A month ago, Jared would have been right there with them. Now the idea made his stomach turn. "Pass. Got stuff to do."

"Since when do you have stuff to do?" Martin chimed in. "Come on, man."

"I said no."

Jared turned away before he could see their reactions. The walk home took him past the park, where fallen leaves skittered across the path like they were trying to spell something.

That's when he saw it.

A letter, hovering at eye level, completely still despite the autumn breeze. Its envelope was a deep purple that seemed to swallow light, marked with a seal he'd never seen before but somehow recognized: a twisted tree wrapped around a sword.

He reached for it, half expecting his hand to pass through