A few hours after the group returned to the Command Base, Kael convened a meeting in the Strategy Room.
The portal's mark had vanished, but its impact remained.
Something ancient had awakened.
And they needed to understand what it was.
—
The entire team was present.
Amina and Samantha presented the collected data:
— The energy detected predates the League's known records — Amina explained. — It could be a natural portal, formed by temporal convergences.
Samantha added:
— Or someone—or some force—is trying to recreate a lost form of access.
Patricia projected the holographic map with the analyzed energy layers.
Kael studied in silence.
—
Before they could advance in their theories, the room's console emitted a subtle alert.
Secure channel: Marco Norte.
High priority.
Patricia answered immediately.
Otrho's image appeared, tired but focused.
— Kael.
— Something has changed at the Marco.
Everyone fell silent.
Otrho continued:
— Since yesterday, the central mark—the one we use to guide newly arrived immortals—has begun emitting slight fluctuations.
— Today, before dawn, three immortals I had never seen arrived on their own. They claimed to feel the call of the North without knowing why.
He took a deep breath.
— And more... A symbol identical to the one you found at the market appeared near the Marco Norte's central mark.
— I do not believe in coincidences.
—
Kael nodded.
The portal was not an isolated event.
It was a sign of something greater.
He looked at Patricia:
— Record this event as "Northern Convergence 1."
— We will monitor all patterns and prepare for a possible exploratory mission to the Marco.
Patricia confirmed with a nod.
Kael turned to the group:
— Time is sending us messages.
— We will not ignore them.
—
Otrho, still on the transmission, added:
— I will maintain vigilance. If anything else happens, you will know.
Kael responded:
— And we will be ready.
The image from Marco Norte faded.
But the presence of the gate and the symbol remained in everyone's mind.
The lines of time were intertwining.
And the next step was approaching.