Morning arrived without warmth.
The sun rose above the mountains, but the light felt strangely weak, as if even the sky was afraid to shine too brightly.
Rin had barely slept he sat outside the old sanctuary, staring at the horizon he hadn't told anyone about the voice.
Not Sol. Not Kaan. Not Lucien. And certainly not Kaelith. Especially not this Kaelith.
My love…
The words continued to echo inside his mind. Rin rubbed his eyes.
"I don't even know who you are."
He whispered it so quietly that no one could hear.
"You called me Ael…"
His fingers tightened around the fabric of his clothes.
"And somehow I knew your voice."
That was the part he couldn't explain. He didn't remember the man. He didn't remember loving anyone before this life.
He didn't remember being Ael. His memories began with Earth. Everything before that was simply empty.
And yet… His soul seemed to recognize something his mind couldn't.
A soft sound came from behind him.
"You're awake early."
