The passage space continued shrinking.
The walls did not visibly draw closer. It was the distances between the three of them that disappeared. With every pulse of the route, Kael felt Liza move closer, Seraphine grow farther away, and then all their positions reversed without anyone moving their feet. Fragments of memories crossed the void, showing faces, corridors, and cities for less than a second before being crushed by the current of blood.
Seraphine looked at the sword pointed toward her chest.
"You believe being the first makes you real."
"No." Kael tightened his grip on her wrist. "Being me does."
The woman smiled.
"Your name exists in other people's memories. I carry thousands of them. To the world, I am more Kael Scarlet than you could ever be."
Liza opened her hand. The blood scattered throughout the route stopped flowing and formed threads around her fingers.
"That is the stupidest thing I have heard today."
Seraphine looked toward the queen.
"You recognize me."
