Morning in Verlyn felt strange. The city that was devastated last night now looked normal, but the scent of dust and a bit of burnt smell from the ruins of the purple wave still hung in the air.
Lyona and I walked back to the Northern Archive. Our steps were heavy, not because of distance, but because of the tension still clinging to our skin.
"It feels… like we're about to be greeted by something we don't want to meet," whispered Lyona, her eyes staring at the pale morning sky.
I nodded. "At least… we know this isn't Makoto B. But who…?"
Lyona looked at me, then swallowed. "I don't know. But… there's something I want you to see… before you know."
---
The gate of the Northern Archive opened like the previous night—silent, yet heavy. Cold air entered and pierced the bones, making us shiver.
An old guard appeared from the dark corridor. His face was pale, his eyes sunken.
"You returned," he said softly. His voice trembled, but this time there was a more real tone of fear.
"There was interference again last night. Not from Makoto B. But… the wave came from another temporal layer."
I swallowed. "From… the time watcher?"
He nodded. "Yes. He… wants to test. Doesn't want to interfere, but… wants to see if you're stable. And… you are too close to Makoto B's record."
Lyona looked at me, her face tense. "Makoto… I feel… every step we take is being watched. Not only by Makoto B, but something older."
I looked at her. In my heart, there was the same fear. The silhouette from last night had never truly left my mind.
---
We entered temporal record room number 77. The clear crystal on the table now looked more alive, emitting a faint blue glow.
"This is Makoto B's record," said the archive guard. "But… you cannot touch it directly."
Lyona let out a long breath. "I… have to know."
I looked at her. "Be careful, Lyona. Your Flux is still unstable."
She looked at me, her eyes glinting. "I… don't care. I have to know… who saw me when I disappeared. What the fog did to me."
The crystal trembled. Blue light reflected on the walls, forming the shadow of Makoto B—tall, upright, his face calm and cold, just like I saw before at the fountain.
I felt my heartbeat quicken. "He… sees us. But why…?"
Lyona swallowed. "He… isn't just watching. It's like… judging. As if… every decision we make will affect him."
I looked at her. "And if we take a wrong step?"
Lyona bit her lip. "Then… we'll be trapped in the same layer of time as him."
---
I stared at the crystal. There was a strange feeling—connection, but also fear.
"Makoto," Lyona's voice was hoarse. "I… don't remember that time. But… every time I look at this crystal, I can feel… fragments of myself. That are missing. That the fog rewound."
I held her hand. "We'll find out together. I won't let you… be alone."
Lyona looked at me with trembling eyes, but there was determination there. "We have to know… who sent the wave last night. And what it has to do with Makoto B."
The archive guard let out a long sigh. "If you continue tracing this record… you must be prepared to face more intense temporal disturbances. Even the time watcher cannot fully predict… how Makoto B will react."
I swallowed. This mystery was getting deeper, and I felt one thing: this temporal layer wasn't only watching Lyona… but also me.
---
We left the temporal record room, hearts pounding, steps quick. The dragon wave from last night left a faint trace of energy in the air, like a warning: this is only the beginning.
Lyona whispered softly as we walked out. "Tomorrow… we have to find out everyone involved in this event."
I nodded. In my heart, I knew: this mystery wouldn't end until Makoto B truly appeared. And something older, stronger, was waiting in the temporal layer… watching every step we took.