LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 30: Threads of the Forgotten
Threads of the Forgotten
1. Stacy's First Taste of Power
The moment Stacy felt the Awakening Crystal's warmth seep into her fingertips, a rush of energy surged through her.
Golden threads spun around her body, shifting, twisting, weaving her into something more.
She could feel it—the vast, untapped potential of her soul finally unlocked.
The world had always been too big for her.
Too full of things she couldn't control.
But now?
She had power.
And it felt right.
The system's voice rang in her mind:
[Awakening Complete: S-Rank Ability – Void Sovereignty]
The cave trembled around her. A rift of swirling darkness expanded beneath her feet, shadows licking up the walls.
Stacy gasped. She could feel everything within the void.
The weight of existence. The fabric of reality. The limitless abyss at her command.
Her hands trembled.
"I… I can feel it," she whispered.
Tom was staring at her, his expression unreadable.
The other hunters backed away.
"That's a Sovereignty-type power," one muttered.
"An S-Rank Awakening and a Sovereignty? She's a monster."
The words thrilled Stacy.
She had never been a monster.
She had always been the little sister. The one left behind. The one who needed protecting.
But now?
Now she could protect herself.
She turned to Tom, smiling. "I finally have something, Tom. Just like you."
Tom didn't reply immediately.
For the briefest moment—just a flicker—he looked like he wanted to say something.
Like he was afraid.
But then, just as quickly, the expression was gone.
And he smiled back.
"That's awesome, Stace," he said, ruffling her hair.
Her grin widened.
She had done it.
She wasn't just Tom's sister anymore.
She was a Hunter.
And this world had finally given her what she had always wanted.
---
2. A World Without Tom (Orion's POV – The Real World)
Outside the illusion, the Astral Nexus trembled.
Orion stood at the edge of the shattered rift, his hands clenched into fists.
Tom was gone.
Not dead.
Not erased.
Just… missing.
Somewhere else.
The Wheel no longer responded to his presence. It was there, still part of reality's fabric, but its connection to Tom had been severed.
And Orion knew exactly who was responsible.
His gaze shifted to Diane, who stood motionless beside him, her golden eyes locked on the remnants of the collapsed gateway.
Her voice was flat when she spoke. "The Council moved first."
Orion exhaled sharply. "Yeah. And they didn't just take him."
Diane turned to him, frowning.
Orion's jaw tightened.
"They took Stacy too."
A ripple of power pulsed from Diane, warping the very air around them.
The golden glow in her eyes darkened.
"That was a mistake," she murmured.
Orion watched her carefully. Diane Peters was dangerous on a normal day, but when it came to her children?
She was unpredictable.
Or worse—
She was desperate.
"They didn't kill them," Orion said, voice measured. "They're hiding them. Tom and Stacy are in some kind of construct, something layered over reality."
Diane inhaled sharply. "A controlled illusion."
Orion nodded grimly.
Diane was silent for a long time.
Then she said, "We're breaking them out."
Orion chuckled, shaking his head. "You say that like it's easy."
Diane turned to face him fully.
And in her gaze—
Orion saw the determination of a mother who had already lost too much.
"We're breaking them out," she repeated.
Orion sighed.
He had a feeling that by the time this was over—
The Celestial Council was going to regret ever crossing Diane Peters.
---
3. The Illusion Deepens (Back to Stacy's POV)
Stacy stood at the edge of the dungeon, her Void Sovereignty still crackling around her.
She couldn't stop grinning.
She finally had something of her own.
Something that mattered.
A part of her knew—deep down—that something about this world felt strange.
But she didn't care.
She didn't want to question it.
Not yet.
Not when for the first time in her life—
She felt whole.
Tom placed a hand on her shoulder, his smile genuine, if a little hesitant.
"You did good, Stace."
The warmth of his approval filled her chest.
She had done good.
And now, she was going to make the most of this new world.
No more being left behind.
No more waiting for things to happen.
She was going to rise.
She was going to awaken even further.
And this time—
She wasn't going to be second place to anyone.
Not even her brother.
Not even Tom.
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4. In the Council's Shadow (A Watcher Observes – The Real World)
Far beyond the veil, in the depths of the Celestial Council's hidden chambers, a lone figure watched the illusion unfold.
The gamble had worked.
Tom was no longer a threat.
He was playing their game now.
And Stacy?
She had been drawn in even easier than expected.
The Council's construct had wrapped around her desires, giving her what she had always wanted—power, recognition, independence.
As long as she believed in it, she would never question it.
The figure smirked, watching the illusion tighten its grip.
Tom wouldn't fight it.
Not yet.
Not when it was giving him everything.
And as long as he stayed within the illusion—
He could never interfere with the Council's plans again.
The figure leaned back, folding their arms.
"Checkmate."
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