That evening, someone closer vanished.
Yazan's sister.
Her room was found covered in ash.
On the wall, written with trembling fingers:
"This isn't our city."
Yazan stood in front of Lian the next day, pale and furious.
"You believe in this ash nonsense, don't you?" he said.
Lian hesitated.
"I think something is repeating."
Yazan's jaw tightened.
"If something is repeating… I'll break it."
That was the first time she saw something dangerous in his determination.
Chapter Four
The Letter With No Sender
That night, Lian found a paper beneath her pillow.
Old. Edges burned.
It read:
"When the count reaches zero, the burning begins again.
Find the heart before it finds you."
At the bottom — the same split-circle symbol.
She stepped onto her balcony.
Kenan was already there.
"How long?" she asked.
"Seven days."
"Until what?"
"Until Norval burns again