MTL NOVEL Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Into the Mist, A New Name, and a Sister's Trust
Chapter 2: Into the Mist, A New Name, and a Sister's Trust
The void unraveled like threads of shadow melting into light, and Elias Kane—or whatever he was about to become—felt a jolt as his feet hit solid ground. The air was cool and damp, heavy with the scent of pine and earth. He blinked, taking in the misty expanse of towering trees around him, their branches swaying faintly in the breeze. Forks, Washington. The Twilight universe. He was here.
Before he could fully process it, a familiar chime rang in his ears, and the holographic interface of his system flared to life beside him, glowing faintly in the dim forest light. Lines of text scrolled across the screen, crisp and clear, as if welcoming him to his new reality. *"Initializing: User Integration Complete. Welcome to the Twilight Universe, Designation: Elias Kane (Reincarnated Identity Pending)."* He smirked, crossing his arms. *"Pending, huh? Let's see what you've got for me."*
The system hummed, and a new block of text appeared: *"Background Story Generated. Processing Identity Alignment…"* Elias watched as the words unfurled, painting a picture of his new life. He was no longer Elias Kane, at least not in name. The system had chosen something else, something that fit this strange, gothic world of vampires and secrets. *"New Identity: Caspian Swan. Age: 19. Role: Older Brother to Isabella 'Bella' Swan. Background: Born to Renee and Charlie Swan, Caspian left Forks at 15 to live with an aunt in Seattle after his parents' divorce, seeking independence and distance from small-town life. Now, following a sudden urge to reconnect with his family, he returns to Forks just before Bella's arrival from Phoenix."*
"Caspian Swan," he murmured, testing the name on his tongue. It had a ring to it—mysterious, strong, a little ethereal. Perfect for a half-angel, half-phoenix hybrid. He nodded approvingly. *"Not bad, system. Not bad at all."* The name suited him, and he didn't mind shedding Elias Kane for this. It felt like a fresh start, a new skin to wear in this wild, supernatural game.
The system continued, its voice now a calm, synthetic hum in his mind. *"Timeline Status: Pre-Canon. Bella Swan's arrival in Forks is imminent—two days from now. Current Location: Outskirts of Forks, near Swan Residence."* Caspian grinned wider. *"Pre-canon? Perfect. I've got time to settle in, figure this out, and keep Bella from tripping into every disaster Edward Cullen's about to drag her into."* He liked Bella—always had, even when fanfics turned her into a punching bag. She wasn't perfect, but she didn't deserve the hate. And now, as her big brother, he'd make damn sure she didn't have to face it alone.
The system pinged again, displaying his stats: *"Species: Half Angel, Half Phoenix. Powers: Telekinesis (Level 1), Energy Manipulation (Level 1), Celestial Aura (Level 1), Phoenix Regeneration (Passive)."* A rundown followed—how his telekinesis could lift a car with practice, how his energy could burn hotter than vampire venom, how his aura could intimidate or soothe depending on his mood. The regeneration meant he'd heal from anything, rising from wounds in a burst of flame if pushed too far. *"Oh, I'm gonna have fun with this,"* he thought, already imagining the look on a werewolf's face when he shrugged off a bite like it was nothing.
With a flicker, the system vanished, leaving him alone in the woods. Caspian took a deep breath, feeling the hum of his new body—stronger, lighter, alive with a warmth that flickered beneath his skin. His reflection in a nearby puddle caught his eye, and he paused. The face staring back was still his, but refined: sharp cheekbones, golden eyes with flecks of ember, dark hair that shimmered faintly like it was kissed by starlight. *"Half angel, half phoenix,"* he mused. *"Guess I'm stuck being stupidly good-looking now. Poor me."*
He started walking, the system guiding him toward the Swan house with a subtle nudge in his mind. By the time he reached the familiar, weathered two-story home, the memories of Caspian Swan slotted into place alongside his own. He remembered Charlie's quiet gruffness, Renee's chaotic energy, and Bella—little Bella, always trailing after him as a kid, asking questions he pretended not to enjoy answering. It felt real, natural, like he'd always been her brother.
Two days later, Bella arrived. Caspian was leaning against the porch railing when Charlie's cruiser pulled up, Bella stepping out with that same awkward shuffle he knew from the books. She looked up, her brown eyes widening as she spotted him. "Cas?" she said, voice tentative but warm. "You're… here?"
"Surprise," he said, flashing a grin as he pushed off the railing and pulled her into a quick, one-armed hug. "Thought I'd crash the Forks party. Someone's gotta keep you out of trouble." She huffed, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks, but she didn't pull away. That was Bella—shy, clumsy, but with a quiet strength he'd always admired.
Inside, as Charlie fumbled with dinner and Bella unpacked, she kept stealing glances at him. "You're different," she said finally, sitting cross-legged on the couch. "I mean, not bad different. Just… I don't know. You seem more… you."
Caspian chuckled, leaning back in the armchair. "Four years in Seattle will do that. But I'm still your big brother, Bells. Always will be." He meant it, too. The memories of protecting her as kids—of bandaging her scraped knees, of scaring off the neighbor's yappy dog—mingled with his own resolve. She was his sister now, for real, and he'd be damned if he let anything hurt her.
Bella smiled, small but genuine. "I like that you're here," she admitted. "You're so protective over me. It's… nice." She fidgeted with her sleeve, her voice dropping. "I didn't think you'd come back."
"Couldn't leave you to face Forks alone," he said lightly, but his golden eyes sharpened. *"Not with what's coming."* He didn't say it aloud—not yet. The Cullens weren't here yet, Edward wasn't sniffing around, and the wolves were still just kids. But he knew the timeline, and with his powers, his system, and his new hybrid nature, he was ready.
As Bella rambled about Phoenix and her dislike of the rain, Caspian's mind drifted to Alice and Rosalie—the soulmate bond he hadn't asked for. He clenched his jaw, shoving the thought aside. *"Not happening,"* he told himself. *"System or no system, I'm not some pawn for fate."* For now, he focused on Bella, on the quiet normalcy of this moment. The storm was coming, but he'd be her shield when it did—and maybe, just maybe, he'd burn the whole script to ashes if it didn't suit him.