The whisper echoed through Arnvale's empty streets:
"…Lyra…"
Not her voice.
Not Zerrei's voice.
Something impossibly close to it.
Something wrong.
Zerrei's entire body convulsed.
His glow spiked in fear.
"NO—NO—NOT LYRA—!"
Lyra grabbed his face.
"Zerrei! Look at me—!"
He was shaking too hard to respond.
"…they… copy Lyra… copy voices… copy—"
"No—listen to me!"
She pressed her forehead to his.
And he finally froze.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"You know me.
You know my heartbeat.
You know my mana.
You know my touch."
Zerrei trembled, but nodded slowly.
"…Lyra… real Lyra…"
"Yes."
Arden looked around sharply, sword drawn.
"Oren—can it mimic ANYONE?"
Oren's jaw tightened.
"Yes.
But only those it has observed long enough."
Arden swore.
"So it's stalking us. Perfect."
Zerrei clutched Lyra's cloak as if it were the only solid thing in the world.
"…Lyra… don't leave… don't leave Zerrei… please…"
"I won't," she whispered fiercely. "Never."
His breathing steadied.
Barely.
But then—
A scream tore through the far end of the street.
"IT'S HERE! THE VESSEL—RUN!!"
Lyra flinched.
Arden sprinted toward the sound.
Oren followed.
Lyra turned to Zerrei—
But he pulled her into a desperate embrace.
"LYRA—DON'T—DON'T GO—DON'T—"
His voice cracked painfully.
Lyra pressed both hands to his cheeks.
"Zerrei. You're safe with me. But we have to move."
"…no… no… stay here… hide… hide with Lyra…"
"We can't. Vessel Four isn't stopping. We have to go before it reaches us."
"…Lyra…"
"Look at me."
His trembling slowed.
His eyes locked onto hers.
And she said it firmly:
"I will not leave you behind.
Not now.
Not ever."
His body sagged with relief, glow softening.
"…Lyra… stay with Zerrei…"
"Then come with me."
After a long, terrified pause—
He nodded.
"…together…"
Lyra grabbed his hand.
He held hers with both of his.
And didn't let go.
THE CHASE BEGINS
They ran.
Arden leading.
Oren covering the rear.
Lyra guiding Zerrei through the quiet streets.
Zerrei stumbled every few steps—still unsteady from his evolution, both physically and emotionally—but Lyra never let his hand slip.
Every time he faltered, she tightened her grip.
Every time he gasped, she murmured:
"I'm here."
And every time—
Zerrei whispered, breathless:
"…Lyra…"
But then—
A shadow flickered across the rooftops.
Oren hissed:
"Left. It's moving left!"
Arden swore loudly.
"Vessel Four!"
Zerrei froze mid-step, panic flaring.
"…no… no… no…"
Lyra grasped his face again.
"Stay with me!"
He clung to her hands like they were the only thing tethering him to reality.
"…Lyra…"
"Focus. What do you feel?"
He squeezed his eyes shut.
Then whispered—
"…cold…
and…
and… me…"
Arden nearly dropped his sword.
"It feels like YOU?!"
Zerrei nodded violently.
"Yes.
Same breath. Same steps. Same glow…
but wrong…"
His voice shook.
"…wrong… wrong…"
Lyra hugged him once, quick but grounding.
"We'll find it.
We'll stop it."
Zerrei leaned his forehead to hers.
"…Lyra… help Zerrei… not lose self…"
Her eyes softened.
"You won't. Not while I'm here."
THE FIRST SIGHTING
As they reached Arnvale's eastern gate—
A figure stepped into view.
Just standing there.
Unmoving.
Silent.
It looked like Zerrei.
Not exactly—
but close enough to be horrifying.
Same height.
Same build.
Same carved hair.
Same glowing patterns—
except red instead of gold.
Its head tilted.
Exactly like Zerrei often did.
Lyra gasped softly.
Arden raised his sword.
Oren whispered:
"…Vessel Four…"
Zerrei's knees buckled.
Lyra caught him.
Zerrei whispered, voice tiny:
"…it's me…
but not me…"
The vessel spoke.
In a perfect imitation of Zerrei's voice.
"Lyra…"
Zerrei jerked, crying out.
"NO—NO—LYRA—DON'T—DON'T LISTEN—DON'T—"
Lyra grabbed his cheeks, forcing him to face her.
"Zerrei. I know which one is you."
He stared at her, shaking uncontrollably.
"…really…?"
"Yes."
"…how…?"
She pressed her hand over his heart.
"This glow. This warmth.
Only you have this."
His glow brightened—
But the mimic stepped closer.
And it whispered again:
"…Lyra… mine…"
Zerrei gasped like he'd been stabbed.
Lyra snapped her head toward the fake.
Her voice cut like a blade.
"That's not your line."
The mimic froze.
And Zerrei—
still trembling—
whispered:
"…Lyra… knows me…"
She squeezed his hand.
"I always will."
The mimic tilted its head the other way.
As if studying the exchange.
Then—
Slowly—
Its smile widened.
And in Zerrei's stolen voice, it whispered:
"…Found weakness."
Zerrei screamed.