High above, Ethan watched the scene unfold with his hands pressed flat against the interface's surface.
He saw you, he thought, his mind racing. He saw the shadow behind Lucien. He's starting to put the pieces together.
The interface flickered, and a new notification appeared:
[Divine Translation: Partial Effect Detected.]
[Subject Kael has received passive transmission from the Night-Fang artifact.]
[Source: Residual connection to Blood-Crowned ritual network.]
[Action: Monitor. Do not interfere.]
Ethan's lips pressed into a thin line.
I can't interfere, he reminded himself. I have two points. Two points, and a war coming. I can't spend them on anything less than critical.
But watching Kael process the vision—watching Lira hold him steady through the aftermath—Ethan felt something he hadn't expected.
Pride.
