"Run!"
Arden didn't wait for anyone to argue.
He grabbed Oren by the arm and sprinted down the eastern path, sword drawn, eyes locked on every shadow.
Lyra pulled Zerrei with her—
But Zerrei didn't need to be pulled.
He held her hand with both of his, refusing even an inch of distance, his glow trembling but steady enough for movement.
"…Lyra… hold… hold… don't let go…"
"I won't. Stay with me."
"…always…"
Behind them—
The air distorted.
Like heat rising from stone.
But colder.
Wrong.
Vessel Four slipped into the street from the crack it left in the wall—
a broken, glitching silhouette that rearranged itself continuously, like a marionette in the hands of a sleepwalking puppeteer.
Its voice dragged behind them.
"…Lyra… Zerrei… don't leave…"
Zerrei flinched, nearly stumbling.
"No—NO—THAT NOT LYRA—!!"
Lyra cupped his cheek briefly as they ran.
"Focus on me. My voice."
He nodded violently.
"…real Lyra…"
"Yes."
"…real Zerrei…"
"Yes."
The mimic's voice shifted—
dropping into a perfect imitation of Lyra's tone.
"Zerrei, come to me—"
Zerrei screamed:
"SHUT UP—!!"
His glow spiked.
Cracks lit with gold.
He trembled violently—
—but Lyra grabbed his hand again.
"Zerrei! Hear me. Repeat after me."
He gasped through panic.
"…Lyra…"
"Not me. Listen."
He whined softly, but obeyed.
Lyra spoke slowly, clearly:
"I. Am. Zerrei."
Zerrei blinked.
"…I… am… Zerrei…"
"Say it again."
"I am Zerrei."
"Again."
"I am Zerrei."
His glow brightened.
The mimic's glow flickered.
Lyra continued:
"And Lyra is here."
"And… Lyra is here…"
"And Lyra isn't leaving."
"Lyra… not leaving…"
"And I'm not the one calling you from behind."
Zerrei turned slowly—
fear on his face, but clarity returning.
"…that… not Lyra…"
"Yes."
He inhaled shakily.
"…Zerrei… knows Lyra…"
He lifted their intertwined hands.
"…warm."
Lyra's chest tightened painfully.
"Good. Keep running."
And Zerrei did—
matching her steps, breathless but determined.
THE FOREST ENTERS ITS OWN SILENCE
They crossed Arnvale's gate just as Vessel Four stepped through the shadows again, flickering like a broken reflection.
Arden swung his sword.
"Stay BACK!"
The mimic didn't flinch.
Didn't move.
Just watched.
Studied.
Learning.
Waiting.
Lyra whispered urgently to Oren:
"Why isn't it chasing full speed?"
Oren gulped.
"Because it's waiting for Zerrei to collapse again."
Lyra froze.
"What?"
"It's designed to break him, not kill him."
Zerrei trembled, clutching her sleeve.
"…they… want… steal… Zerrei…"
"Yes."
"…become… Zerrei…"
"Yes."
He whimpered into her shoulder.
"…Lyra… please… please… help Zerrei…"
"I am. We all are."
Arden yelled:
"Move—MOVE!"
They plunged into the East Forest.
The trees swallowed them quickly, darkness draping like a curtain.
The moment they crossed the first row of pines—
Zerrei stumbled.
Lyra caught him instantly.
He pressed his forehead into her chest, gasping.
"…Lyra… the cold… it's following… I feel it…"
"It's the mimic. Don't look back."
"…Zerrei… scared…"
Lyra lifted his face gently between her palms.
Her voice steady, strong.
"You're Zerrei.
You're mine.
You are real.
And I am not letting anyone take you."
His glow warmed.
"…Lyra…"
"Come on. Let's go."
VESSEL FOUR CATCHES UP
Branches snapped behind them.
Not footsteps.
Not rustling.
It was the sound of something copying movement—
and glitching halfway through.
Arden growled.
"Oren—tell me you have a plan!"
Oren's fingers sparkled with runes.
"Zerrei—look at me!"
Zerrei glanced back.
"…O-Oren…?"
"Your barrier—can you do it again?"
Zerrei shook.
"…don't know… scared… scared…"
Lyra held his shoulders.
"Zerrei. Breathe.
Look at me."
He met her gaze.
"Your barrier activated when you wanted to protect me."
His voice cracked.
"…want protect Lyra… always…"
"Then use it."
He closed his eyes.
Trembling.
Trying.
And—
The mimic's voice called again:
"Zerrei… this way…"
Zerrei screamed and the barrier faltered.
Oren hissed:
"Lyra—touch his chest!"
Lyra immediately pressed a hand over his heart.
"Zerrei—
I'm here.
See me.
Feel me."
His eyes reopened.
Bright.
Shining.
Focused.
"…Lyra…"
"Yes."
"…protect… Lyra…"
"Yes."
Golden light surged outward—
BOOM—
A barrier formed behind them, catching the incoming mimic and slamming it into a tree.
Arden whooped.
"YES! THAT'S IT!"
Zerrei swayed.
Lyra caught him instantly.
"You did it."
He looked up at her—shaking, but proud.
"…Zerrei… protect Lyra…"
She hugged him tightly.
"You did."
But Oren's face darkened.
"That won't stop Vessel Four for long."
Arden gritted his teeth.
"Then what WILL?!"
Oren hesitated.
Then spoke:
"Vessel Four has one weakness."
Arden blinked.
"Well SAY IT."
Oren turned toward Zerrei.
"Zerrei."
"…yes…?"
Oren inhaled deeply.
"You."
Lyra blinked.
Arden froze.
Zerrei tilted his head in confusion.
"…Zerrei… weakness…?"
"No," Oren said.
"You're the only one who can stop it."
Zerrei stared at him.
Then at Lyra.
"…but… Zerrei… scared…"
Lyra held his cheeks softly.
"It's okay to be scared."
He trembled.
"…but… Lyra… might get hurt…"
She leaned her forehead to his.
"Then protect me. Just like you always do."
His glow warmed.
"…always…"
He took her hand.
Held it tight.
Then whispered:
"…Zerrei… fight… for Lyra…"
Behind them—
The mimic rose from the broken tree trunk, crimson cracks glowing bright.
It whispered in Zerrei's exact voice:
"…Lyra… mine…"
Zerrei's eyes hardened.
And his glow pulsed fiercely.
"No."
Lyra whispered.
"Stay beside me."
"…always."
The mimic stepped out of the shadows—
And the forest exhaled.
The confrontation had found them.