(I've got a special POV for you all!)

Gerre stood at the edge of the courtyard, his piercing gray eyes fixated on the shimmering portal that had materialized in front of the Schuyler Manor. He had sensed the disturbance long before it appeared—a rippling in the very fabric of reality. For someone like him, attuned to the subtle shifts of power across realms, this kind of phenomenon was both exhilarating and deeply troubling.

Hidden in the shadows of the overgrown hedges, he observed the portal with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. He had arrived at the manor days earlier under the guise of a traveling scholar, a cover that had allowed him to embed himself in the household unnoticed. His true purpose, however, was far more complex: to ensure that no one tampered with the delicate balance between realms.

And now this. He cursed quietly under his breath as he watched as a figure stepped through the rift—a man clad in regal attire, a golden crown perched upon his head. His stride was purposeful, commanding, yet there was a familiarity to him that Gerre couldn’t ignore. When a blonde woman followed, clutching what appeared to be an Amarok, his suspicion turned into certainty.

“Luke Schuyler,” he whispered, his voice barely audible over the hum of the portal nearby.

But this was not the Luke of this realm. No, this was a version of the boy who had grown into something far greater—or perhaps far more dangerous. He had grown to be someone who could pose an actual threat to his plans.

Gerre’s mind raced as he pieced together the implications. A King Luke and his Queen stepping into this reality, wielding not one but two Amaroks. The very notion defied everything he knew about the Gems of Fortune. Each Amarok was unique, a singular artifact bound to its respective reality. For there to be duplicates meant someone had either broken the rules of creation or discovered a way to circumvent them.

Neither option boded well for him, nor for his plans.

He shifted his weight, careful to remain hidden. The golden ring on Luke’s finger caught the faint sunlight, and his sharp eyes recognized the emblem engraved upon it.

“The Schuyler crest,” he murmured. “But altered… refined. This Luke has claimed far more than a title. He’s shaped an empire and ruled it."

His thoughts were interrupted as the couple conversed briefly before hailing a carriage. Gerre strained to catch their words but could only make out fragments: “Capital… Al-Tarouq Hassar.”

The carriage arrived moments later, and as it drove away with the King and Queen, he exhaled slowly. He had two choices now: remain in the shadows and continue to observe, or follow them to the Capital and uncover their true intentions.

Gerre made his decision swiftly. Once they were out of his line of sight, he took out a small device with the insignia of the riftkeepers emblazoned on the back. He deactivated it, and the rift vanished without a trace. He slipped from his hiding place and returned to the small guest quarters he had secretly claimed within the manor. He needed supplies - and a plan.

Later, in the Capital. The city buzzed with life, its streets crowded with merchants, nobles, and commoners alike. Gerre blended seamlessly into the crowded throng, his simple attire allowing him to move unnoticed.

He kept his hood low, masking his distinct features as well as the scar across his cheek as he navigated the labyrinthine alleys towards the headquarters of Hassar Enterprises.

The lumber company was a fortress of commerce, its towering wooden gates adorned with intricate carvings of trees and vines.

Guards flanked the entrance, their eyes scanning the crowd for potential threats and miscreants. Gerre lingered at a distance, moving around the building, studying the layout.

He didn’t have to wait long before the royal carriage arrived. The Schuyler emblem gleamed on its doors, and as King Luke and Queen Lexi stepped out, the crowd parted instinctively, bowing in reverence despite not knowing who the two were.

Gerre's gaze narrowed. He watched as the couple was escorted inside, their Amaroks carefully concealed beneath their cloaks. Whatever they planned to do here, it was likely tied to the company’s vast influence and resources.

Gerre had a talent for slipping through cracks unnoticed, and tonight was no exception. Disguised as a servant, he followed the couple from a distance, his ears straining to catch their conversation.

“…essential we secure this trade route.” Lexi was saying, her voice calm but firm. “The resources here will ensure the stability of our realm.”

King Luke nodded. “Agreed. But we must tread carefully. My younger self is here, and I will not risk a paradox. Which is why, when we return, we will not pass through the route of my former manor.”

His heart quickened at the mention of the paradox. So they were aware of the dangers. Yet they had come anyway, their actions calculated and deliberate.

As they entered a private chamber, Gerre slipped closer, pressing his ear to the door.

“…the Amaroks are unstable,” Lexi continued. “If we do not act quickly, this reality could collapse under its own weight. The rift we used to arrive here was far weaker than anticipated, and my younger self lives near this fortress. If I'm spotted-”

“We’ll stabilize it,” Luke replied, cutting her off. “But first, we need leverage. The resources of this realm will buy us time.”

A sinking feeling settled in Gerre's chest. They weren’t here to help this reality—they were here to exploit it.
But then again, he was trying to exploit it too. He didn't like the fact that they were getting in the way of his plans.

Gerre had heard enough. He waited until the couple exited the chamber before stepping into their path. His sudden appearance startled them, but only for a moment.

“Who are you?” King Luke demanded, his hand instinctively moving toward the hilt of his sword, ready to fight if necessary.

“A riftkeeper, albeit a rogue one.” Gerre replied evenly, concealing his own malicious intentions. “One who ensures that travelers like you don’t disrupt the balance of the realms.”

Lexi’s eyes narrowed. “You shouldn’t exist in this reality.”

“Neither should you.” He countered, his tone cold. “I’ve seen what happens when the laws of realm traversal are broken. You’re risking everything—this realm, your own, and countless others.”

Luke stepped forward, his presence imposing and his voice authoritative.

“You don’t understand. We’re trying to prevent a greater catastrophe. If this realm falls, so does ours.”

“And what gives you the right to decide the fate of this reality?” Gerre shot back. “Your actions are selfish, no matter how you justify them.”

The tension between them was palpable, the air heavy with unspoken threats. Gerre's hand hovered near his dagger, while Luke’s grip tightened on his sword.

But before either could make a move, a faint tremor shook the building. The three of them froze, their gazes snapping to the windows as a ripple of energy passed through the air.

Another rift was forming.

And this time, it wasn’t alone.

The three quickly dived out of sight as an abnormally large rift formed right in the middle of the hallway, spanning the entire hallway from floor to ceiling.

It was another Luke, and he was also a king. However, the one at his side as not Lexi, but Kiarha. This Kiarha had dyed her hair a ferocious red.

Following behind was Hara and Yanna, both dressed in stunning gowns.

But Gerre knew the risk this would pose to the entire realm.

Two Kiarhas, two Haras, two Yannas, two Lexis, and three Lukes.

This realm could collapse at any moment. And so, he took out his rift opening device and created another portal.

He gestured to the first King Luke and Queen Lexi, and they managed to hop into the portal before the four new arrivals spotted them.

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LUKE'S POV (THE ORIGINAL, YOUNG LUKE)

They had just arrived at the capital. The three of them were staying at the same property Luke had stayed in during the Youth Ball a few years prior.

G took out a scanner, and her eyes widened in shock. She immediately called the two over.

"What is it, G?"

G pointed to something on her scanner.

"The Lexi and Luke left, but neither of them used their Amarok. I suspect a third party must have used their own portal opening device."

G shook her head.

"But that's not what I'm worried about. What I'm worried about is that a new rift opened in the first floor of Hassar Enterprises, and four people came out of it."

Luke felt his heart drop to his stomach.

"Who are these people?"

G took a deep breath, steeling herself for the words she was about to say.

"A King Luke, a Queen Kiarha, and Princesses Hara and Yanna."

Hara and Luke's eyes widened.