Lira found him at dusk.
Or what passed for dusk.
The sky still couldn't decide what it wanted to be.
She stepped carefully across the fractured stone.
"…Kael."
He didn't turn.
But she knew he heard her.
"You disappeared."
No response.
Her grip tightened.
"That thing we felt—"
"It found me."
Kael's voice cut through quietly.
Flat.
Controlled.
Lira stopped a few steps behind him.
"…What was it?"
A pause.
Then—
"I don't know."
Not entirely true.
But not a lie either.
"It knew me."
That part mattered more.
Lira's expression shifted slightly.
"…That's not good."
Kael almost laughed.
But didn't.
"No."
Silence settled between them.
Not uncomfortable.
Just heavy.
Lira stepped closer.
And then—
She froze.
"…Kael."
Something was wrong.
Subtle.
But impossible to ignore.
His shadow—
Didn't match him.
It moved a fraction too late.
And sometimes—
Not at all.
Her voice lowered.
"…What did you do?"
Kael finally turned.
His eyes met hers.
For a moment—
Everything felt normal.
Then—
The air flickered.
And for a split second—
She saw it.
Not Kael.
Something layered over him.
Something deeper.
Older.
Watching.
Lira stepped back instinctively.
Kael noticed.
"…You saw it."
Not a question.
Lira steadied herself.
"…Yeah."
She didn't run.
Didn't panic.
But the tension in her stance didn't fade.
"That's new."
Kael exhaled slowly.
"It's getting worse."
"Or stronger."
Kael didn't respond.
Because he wasn't sure which one was true.
High above—
Or nowhere at all—
The observers remained.
"He is stabilizing."
"Incorrect."
A pause.
Then—
"He is adapting."
Silence stretched.
Then—
"Send the second fragment."
"No."
A shift.
Subtle.
"But necessary."
Another pause.
Longer this time.
Then—
"…Agreed."
Back below—
Kael's head lifted suddenly.
Lira noticed instantly.
"…What is it?"
His voice dropped.
"…It's coming back."
But this time—
There was no hesitation.
No confusion.
Only certainty.
And something new beneath it—
Understanding.