What is Left of Me

The forest air seemed to thicken with the tension between them as Sagittarius led Lee through the basics of teleportation. They stood in the clearing, the stone circle beneath them glowing faintly as they prepared to begin their practice.

"Teleportation," Sagittarius began, her voice calm but firm, "isn't just about opening a portal. It's about control—your mind, your body, your soul. Everything must align before you can truly master it."

Lee nodded, his eyes focused on her, trying to absorb everything she was saying. The words sounded simple, but he could already sense the complexity beneath them.

"First, you need to picture where you want to go," she continued, her ivory eyes watching him closely. "Then, you need to feel the energy in the air, the pull of the space around you. You're not just moving through it; you're bending it to your will."

Lee took a deep breath and concentrated. His mind raced with possibilities—where could he teleport? What could he picture that would guide his power?

Sagittarius seemed to sense his hesitation. She stepped forward, her presence grounding him. "Try focusing on me. Let your power draw towards me. Close your eyes if you need to, but don't lose focus."

Lee did as she suggested, closing his eyes and focusing on her form, sensing the energy flowing between them. Slowly, he felt a hum in the air, an unfamiliar pull, as though something inside him was reaching outward. He kept his attention trained on her, visualizing her as the destination.

"Now," Sagittarius instructed, "open your eyes and teleport to me."

Lee opened his eyes and, with a sudden surge of will, took a step forward. The air around him twisted, the ground beneath his feet seeming to distort as his body flickered like a candle flame. For a split second, he vanished from his spot, only to reappear beside Sagittarius, a few feet from where he started. His heart was pounding, adrenaline coursing through his veins.

"I did it!" Lee gasped, half surprised and half exhilarated by the sudden success. He wasn't sure exactly how he'd done it, but the thrill of the teleportation still made his heart race.

Sagittarius gave him a small smile, though there was no real joy behind it. "Good. That was a basic attempt. We'll do it again, but this time, I want you to focus harder. This is only the beginning."

Lee nodded and prepared to try again. As he refocused on her, she gave him a warning.

"Now, this time, I want us both to teleport at the same time. We'll hold hands and move together. I'll guide you, so don't be afraid."

Lee hesitated for a moment, but then extended his hand toward her. She took it without hesitation, her touch surprisingly warm despite her otherwise cold appearance.

With the connection between them solidified, both of them concentrated. Lee felt the same pull in the air, but this time it felt different—he wasn't just focused on where he was going; he was connected to Sagittarius, to the energy of her being. It was as if their fates were intertwining.

"On three," Sagittarius whispered. "One... two... three."

The moment they both activated their power, something unexpected happened.

A brilliant light flared between their hands, growing brighter by the second. Lee's heart pounded, and his thoughts scattered in the blinding glow. He could feel his energy spiraling out of control, mixing with Sagittarius' power, creating an overwhelming surge. The world around them seemed to bend and stretch, as if the very fabric of reality was being torn apart. He wanted to pull away, but the power between them was too strong.

The light grew brighter, and Lee could feel his body being pulled in every direction, as though gravity itself was twisting around him. He turned to look at Sagittarius, whose eyes widened in shock.

"What's happening?" Lee gasped, his voice strained against the strange sensation.

But before Sagittarius could respond, the light suddenly dimmed, flickering out as quickly as it had appeared. They both stumbled back, and Lee's legs gave out from under him, collapsing to the ground in a heap.

"What the hell was that?" Lee breathed, his heart still racing, confusion clouding his mind.

Sagittarius remained standing, but she seemed far less composed. Her expression had shifted from shock to something darker, something far more unsettling. She stared at her hands, her face clouded with despair. Her ivory eyes had lost their usual glimmer, replaced by an emptiness that chilled Lee to his core.

"I—I don't understand…" Sagittarius murmured, her voice trembling slightly. "This wasn't supposed to happen. It's—"

"What happened?" Lee asked, his voice sharp with concern. "What did we just do?"

Sagittarius slowly turned to face him, her expression filled with a mix of dread and sorrow. "What we just did... was my ascension."

Lee froze. He had no idea what she meant. Ascension? But before he could ask, Sagittarius continued, her voice now quiet, almost hollow.

"You see, when we—when a Zodiac ascends, we're supposed to unlock the full potential of our power, and in doing so, transcend into a new form. It's not just an evolution; it's a complete transformation."

She paused, her eyes darkening as she met Lee's gaze. "But if we fail... if we fail to ascend when we're supposed to... we become a target for the Alternates."

Lee blinked, confusion and fear creeping up on him. "Alternates? Who are they?"

"They're monsters," Sagittarius whispered, her voice filled with a hollow fear. "They feast on humanity, and those of us who fail ascension—those who are stuck in an incomplete state—are the highest reward to them. We become... prey."

Lee's stomach twisted with a mixture of horror and disbelief. "So, you're telling me that because we failed... now they're going to come after you?"

Sagittarius closed her eyes, nodding slowly. "Yes. And I won't be the only one. They're coming for me, and they won't stop until they get what they want."

A sharp chill ran through the air, and Lee realized the gravity of the situation. They were not just fighting for survival in a world full of dangers—now, they were running from something far more terrifying.

Sagittarius turned away, her shoulders slumped. The weight of the situation was sinking in, and she had no answers left to give.

"I thought I could do it," she whispered. "I thought I could ascend. But now... now it's too late."

Lee stood up slowly, his mind racing. He couldn't let her fall into despair—not now, not when they still had a chance.

"We'll figure this out," he said firmly, his voice steady despite the fear bubbling inside. "We won't let them get you."

Sagittarius didn't respond, but Lee could feel the slight shift in her energy. She was broken, but there was still a flicker of hope deep within her. They had to survive this—together.