The shadows gathered first.

They slid inward across the sand and broken stone, stretching toward Noel as if drawn by gravity rather than will. The air cooled, the shoreline dimming as the light bent around him. It wasn't sudden or violent. It felt more like the tide pulling back before a wave.

"We need to stay connected," Noel said calmly. "That's how this works."

He extended one hand toward Elyra and the other toward Elena. Elyra took his hand without hesitation, her grip steady and grounded. Elena followed a heartbeat later, fingers curling tightly around his as if she were anchoring herself to something solid.

Laziel looked at the three of them, then frowned. "And me?"

"Grab my shoulder," Noel replied.

Laziel did exactly that, his hand resting awkwardly against Noel's coat. He hesitated, then leaned closer. "Be honest. Have you ever tried something like this before?"

"No," Noel answered. "And I'm hoping nothing goes wrong."

The pause that followed was heavy.

"…That's not very comforting," Laziel muttered. "What do you think is the worst thing that could happen?"

Noel tilted his head slightly, actually considering it. "Worst case? We stop halfway. But that shouldn't happen. I need a shadow to anchor to, and the sea doesn't really have shadows. Unless…" He paused. "Fish cast shadows, right? If it latches onto one of those, we might end up underwater."

Laziel stiffened. "Underwater?" he echoed. "Depending on the depth, we wouldn't survive. So yes, I sincerely hope that doesn't happen."

Elena glanced back at him. "You should have more faith in Noel."

"I do," Laziel replied quickly. "That doesn't stop me from being terrified of disappearing and reappearing somewhere else. You know that feeling when you step wrong on a stair and your heart just drops? This is that, but worse."

He kept talking, words spilling out faster as the shadows thickened around their feet.

Noel sighed.

"Shadow Step."

The world folded in on itself.

The shoreline vanished, swallowed by darkness that moved without direction or weight. For a single heartbeat, there was only motion, like being pulled through the thought of a place rather than the place itself. Noir was already there, hidden within Noel's shadow as she always was, moving with him as naturally as breath.

Then the dark released them.

The beach was gone.

Solid ground returned without warning.

They emerged beneath the broad shadow of a tree, its trunk rough beneath their hands and its leaves whispering softly overhead. The air felt different here, cooler, carrying the scent of salt and unfamiliar earth. The jump hadn't been short. Three kilometers wasn't nothing, even if it was less than the distance to the lighthouse island. And this time, Noel hadn't been alone.

He released a slow breath, the strain settling into his limbs a heartbeat later. Carrying others through the shadows had pulled far more mana than moving alone. Strong cores resisted being dragged across space, even when they trusted the hand guiding them.

For a moment, none of them spoke.

They stood there beneath the tree, checking their balance, their surroundings, each other.

Then Elena's eyes widened.

"It worked," she said, a smile breaking across her face before she could stop it. "It actually worked."

Elyra exhaled softly, fingers flexing at her side as if grounding herself. "Impressive," she said, honesty clear in her voice. "I didn't expect it to feel like that. I still have chills."

Laziel made a small, strangled sound.

He dropped to his knees.

"Please," he groaned, one hand braced against the ground. "Give me a minute."

Elyra turned away immediately, her expression tightening. "That's unpleasant."

Noel crouched beside Laziel and gave his back a few firm pats. "See? Not that bad."

Laziel wiped his mouth with his sleeve and shot him a glare. "I don't know how you do that. I've seen you blinking in and out of existence like it's nothing."

Noel straightened and shrugged lightly. "You get used to it. It's strange at first." He paused, glancing around the unfamiliar island. "Then it becomes kind of incredible. Think of it like Nicolas's teleportation spells"

Noel let the moment settle just long enough for everyone to steady themselves.

Then he straightened, the lightness fading from his expression as his focus snapped back into place. The relief of success was already behind him. They hadn't come here to test limits or celebrate small victories.

"Alright," he said. "That's enough."

Elyra turned toward him immediately, reading the shift without needing it spelled out. Elena followed a second later, her earlier excitement tempered by the change in tone. Even Laziel pushed himself back to his feet, wiping his sleeve again and forcing his breathing to slow.

"It's time to move," Noel continued. "Our next priority is Selene. Clara should be with her."

He reached into his pouch and pulled out the device, activating it with a practiced motion. "Theo," he said, voice clear. "Can you see them? Can you guide us?"

There was a brief pause. Static whispered faintly through the connection as if Theo were adjusting his focus, scanning across distances they couldn't even see.

"Yes," Theo answered at last. "I can see them."

Noel didn't relax. "And?"

Another pause. Shorter this time.

"They're not alone," Theo said. "There are others with them. People from the island."

Elena's expression tightened. "Locals?"

"Yes," Theo confirmed. "They're close. Close enough that things could change quickly."

The words settled over the group, draining the last of the calm from the air.

This wasn't just about regrouping anymore.

Noel lowered the device slowly. "Alright," he said, already turning his gaze toward the interior of the island. "Then we don't waste time."

The shadows at his feet stretched subtly, reacting to his intent even before he moved. Elyra fell in beside him without a word, posture composed, eyes sharp. Elena followed close behind, her earlier unease replaced by quiet focus, mana already stirring beneath her skin. Laziel adjusted his grip on his staff and sighed. "Of course it can't ever be simple."

Ahead of them, the island rose in uneven terrain and broken paths, unfamiliar and watchful.

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