The glow beneath her feet had faded, but its warmth lingered, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat only she could hear.
Kael's eyes were fixed on her hands. "You don't understand," he said, voice low. "That mark… it's more than a warning. It's a claim."
"What does that mean?" Liora asked, panic creeping in. "Am I… chosen?"
"Yes," Kael said. "But that choice isn't free. Every power, every gift the city gives comes with a cost."
The street trembled again. Shadows seeped from the cracks in the buildings, crawling toward them. This time, Liora didn't hesitate. She slammed her palms onto the pavement instinctively. Light erupted in a wave, knocking the shadows back.
Kael exhaled sharply. "You can control it… barely. But the city noticed your defiance. That's dangerous."
Liora's chest heaved. "Dangerous how?"
"The vanished," he said, "aren't all gone. Some are waiting—trapped between layers. And the city has… ways of making sure they don't forget you exist."
A cold wind cut through the alley, carrying whispers she couldn't decipher. She shivered.
"Why me?" she whispered.
Kael's gaze softened for just a moment. "Because the city chooses those who can see its truth and still care. It doesn't forgive indifference. And it doesn't forget empathy."
The ground cracked beneath them again. A shadow lunged at Kael from the corner. He barely dodged.
"Liora," he barked, "we need to move! Now!"
She grabbed his hand, and together they ran down the twisting street. Every turn seemed longer than the last, the walls bending and stretching like the city itself was alive, reshaping to trap them.
They stumbled into a small courtyard—silent, still. Liora collapsed against a fountain, panting.
Kael knelt beside her. "This mark," he said quietly, "it binds you to the city. You're no longer just surviving—you're part of its balance. And soon, it will demand more than you expect."
A whisper brushed past her ear, soft, almost mocking:
"You've been chosen. You can't hide."
Liora's eyes widened. "I… I don't want this."
Kael's hand tightened over hers. "No one does. But the city doesn't care about want. Only action."
And somewhere deep beneath their feet, the city pulsed, aware of every heartbeat.