The forest dimmed.
Not because the sun had set—
but because Vessel Four dimmed it.
Its presence pulled the light out of the air, as if shadows bent toward it in obedience.
It stepped forward in complete silence.
One step.
Then another.
Arden lifted his sword with shaking hands.
"Lyra. Oren.
Keep behind me."
Oren whispered:
"Zerrei is the target.
Not us."
Zerrei clung to Lyra's hand—
And Lyra clung right back.
The mimic stopped a few feet away.
Its body flickered like a broken lantern—
sometimes Zerrei-shaped,
sometimes more puppet-like,
sometimes something in between.
Then—
It lifted its hand.
Not attacking.
Copying.
Mimicking Zerrei's exact stance.
Lyra felt Zerrei tremble.
"…Lyra… it… looks like… me…"
"I know."
"…why…?"
Oren's voice was hushed.
"Because it wants to become you."
Zerrei's glow dimmed in fear.
"…Lyra… hold… Zerrei…"
She squeezed his hand.
"I'm right here."
Vessel Four tilted its head, studying her hand holding Zerrei's.
It mimicked that too.
Raised its own hand—
And in Lyra's voice whispered:
"…hold me…"
Zerrei screamed:
"NO—NO—STOP—DON'T—DON'T—!!"
His panic spiked like lightning.
He curled into Lyra desperately.
"…Lyra… only you… only you hold Zerrei… not fake… not wrong…"
Lyra held his head between her hands.
"Zerrei. Look at me."
He forced himself to.
"You're real."
His eyes softened.
"…real…"
"And that thing is not you."
"…not me…"
"And it's not me."
He nodded, trembling.
"…not real Lyra…"
She kissed his forehead.
"That's right."
Behind them, Arden muttered:
"He deserves better than this nightmare…"
Oren frowned deeply.
"There's something else at play. Look."
He pointed at Vessel Four.
At the way it moved.
At how its feet didn't shift weight correctly.
At how its mimicry was precise—
but hollow.
"Emotionless imitation," Oren whispered.
"It can only copy what it sees.
Not what it feels."
Lyra realized instantly.
"Zerrei," she whispered, "you can beat it."
Zerrei blinked up at her.
"…how…? Zerrei… scared…"
"You don't have to stop being scared."
He froze.
"…don't…?"
"No."
She cupped his face gently.
"Your fear is real.
Your love is real.
Your protectiveness is real."
Her voice softened.
"And Vessel Four… can't copy that."
Zerrei's glow flickered.
"…real… Zerrei…"
"Yes."
His grip tightened on her hand.
"…Lyra… Zerrei… want… protect Lyra…"
Arden grinned fiercely.
"THAT'S the real Zerrei."
Oren nodded.
"Emotion is your weapon."
Zerrei closed his eyes.
Trembled.
Then opened them—
Glowing bright gold.
"…Zerrei… protect Lyra…"
The mimic tilted its head.
And then—
in a chilling twist—
its form changed.
Its body shifted—
subtle but horrifying—
The shape of its face softened.
Its height shrank slightly.
Its shoulders narrowed.
Lyra gasped.
"…It's trying to copy me."
Zerrei froze.
"…no… no NO—!!"
Vessel Four walked toward them in her shape—
Not perfectly.
Not human.
But enough to torment Zerrei.
It mimicked Lyra's voice—
A perfect echo.
"Zerrei… come here…"
Zerrei cried out—
Falling to his knees.
His glow pulsed dangerously.
"…Lyra… Lyra… don't let it… take Lyra…"
She dropped to her knees immediately, grabbing his shoulders.
"Zerrei—look at me. I'm the one touching you."
His breathing hitched.
"…touch… real Lyra…"
"Yes."
"…warm…"
"Yes."
His glow steadied again.
He buried his face into her chest, trembling.
"…please… don't let it be Lyra… don't let it steal Lyra… please…"
She wrapped her arms around him completely.
"It can't. I won't let it."
Arden growled.
"I swear, if that thing takes one more step—"
Oren held up a hand.
"Wait."
Arden blinked.
"Wait—?! It's about to COPY LYRA—!"
"That's exactly why we need to wait."
Oren narrowed his eyes.
"It doesn't understand what it's copying."
Lyra frowned.
"It only copies appearance and sound…"
"Not emotion," Oren finished.
Behind them—
Vessel Four flickered again.
It tilted its head—
a perfect glitchy mimic of Lyra's expression.
But it said:
"Zerrei… mine…"
Lyra stiffened.
"That's not how I speak."
Zerrei trembled.
"…wrong… wrong… it's wrong…"
Lyra cupped his face firmly.
"Zerrei. What do I call you?"
He blinked.
"…Zerrei…"
"And what do you call me?"
"…Lyra…"
"Right."
The mimic stepped closer.
"Zerrei… come…"
Zerrei hissed:
"NO."
His glow flared—
Golden sparks crackling through the air.
"…LYRA… MINE."
Lyra quickly grabbed him—
"Zerrei—focus—don't lose control—"
He pressed his forehead to hers, gasping.
"…Lyra… don't let go…"
"I won't."
His glow stabilized—
And the barrier formed again.
BOOM—
This time, the dome slammed outward—
a wave of gold light exploding in all directions.
Vessel Four was blasted back—
Crashing against a tree, cracks forming along its stolen form.
Arden whooped.
"HIT THAT THING AGAIN!"
But Zerrei slumped forward into Lyra, breathing hard.
"…Lyra…"
"I've got you."
"…Zerrei… protect… Lyra…"
"You did."
Zerrei slowly lifted his head—
Eyes glowing brighter than ever before.
And whispered:
"…I… am… real…"
Lyra smiled.
"Yes."
He tightened his grip on her hand.
"…and I… stay… with Lyra…"
Behind them—
Vessel Four rose again.
But this time—
It did not mimic Lyra.
It stared at Zerrei.
Silent.
Still.
As if confused.
Oren whispered:
"…Good."
Arden frowned.
"How is that GOOD?!"
Oren smirked faintly.
"It can't decide who Zerrei is anymore."
Arden blinked.
"Oh."
Lyra looked at Zerrei.
"Because you know yourself."
He nodded.
"…real… Zerrei…"
She squeezed his hand.
"And we leave together."
He leaned into her, whispering against her shoulder:
"…always…"
Behind them—
Vessel Four's form destabilized further.
Fractures spread.
Its glow flickered.
Its voice glitched:
"…Zer—…Ly—…re—…mine—…"
It dropped to all fours—
not attacking—
but malfunctioning.
Confused.
Broken.
Zerrei watched it—
Not proud.
Not triumphant.
But sad.
"…it… doesn't know… who it is…"
Lyra gently stroked his cheek.
"You do."
He nodded softly.
"…because… Lyra… knows me…"
Their foreheads touched.
And for a brief moment—
Everything was steady.
But Oren's voice cut sharply through the quiet.
"Don't relax yet."
Arden looked back.
"Why?"
Oren's eyes widened—
Gleaming with horror.
"Because Vessel Four isn't malfunctioning."
Lyra froze.
Zerrei tensed.
Oren lifted his staff, voice trembling.
"It's evolving."
The mimic rose slowly—
its stolen forms melting into something new.
Something that looked nothing like Zerrei.
Nothing like Lyra.
Something built for one purpose:
To kill the real Zerrei.
Zerrei clutched Lyra's hand.
"…Lyra…"
"Yes?"
He whispered—
Soft.
Afraid.
But resolute.
"…run with me."