The city was loud again.
Sirens in the distance.
Cars moving.
People talking.
Normal.
Like nothing had happened.
Kael stood on the rooftop, staring out at it.
Breathing slowly.
Trying to steady himself.
But his hands…
We're still shaking.
"…I almost died."
The words came out quietly.
Not dramatic.
Just… real.
His chest tightened slightly.
He could still feel it.
That moment—
When his body stopped responding.
When everything went dark.
When something else… took over.
Kael clenched his fist.
"…That wasn't me."
No response came.
Aetherion was silent again.
That silence felt heavier than any answer.
His gaze dropped slowly—
To his hands.
The same hands that had—
Drained a man.
I took something from him…
Without meaning to.
"…I'm not doing that again."
His voice was firmer now.
A decision.
Even if it was a weak one.
Even if it didn't make sense anymore.
"Statement… contradictory."
Kael didn't flinch this time.
"…Yeah."
He exhaled slowly.
"…I know."
His eyes lifted again—
Toward the skyline.
"But I'm not becoming a monster just to survive."
Silence followed.
Then—
"Survival probability… decreases."
Kael gave a faint, tired smile.
"…Figures."
A cold wind passed across the rooftop.
He stepped forward slightly.
The city lights reflected in his eyes.
"Then I'll just get stronger another way."
A pause.
"…I'll control it."
The core in his chest pulsed faintly.
Not resisting.
Not agreeing.
Just… watching.
Somewhere below—
A screen flickered in a store window.
Kael's attention shifted.
A news report.
"…multiple structural disturbances reported across the city tonight…"
"…authorities are investigating what appears to be unexplained damage…"
"…no official statement has been released…"
Kael watched quietly.
"…So they noticed."
"Surface awareness… minimal."
"Containment protocols are likely active."
Kael frowned slightly.
"…Containment?"
No response.
Again.
Just pieces of the truth.
Never the full picture.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…There's more out there."
Not a question.
A realization.
Hunters.
Organizations.
Something bigger than just him.
And now—
He was part of it.
Whether he wanted to be or not.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…Then I need answers."
His gaze shifted slightly—
To the edge of the rooftop.
Where the stranger had stood earlier.
The one who had erased two Hunters like they were nothing.
"…And I think I know where to start."
Silence hung in the air.
Then—
A faint sound.
Not loud.
Not aggressive.
Just… there.
Kael turned slightly.
The stranger stood behind him again.
Like they had never left.
Watching.
Calm.
"…You're slow."
Kael didn't react this time.
"…You didn't answer my question."
The stranger tilted their head slightly.
"…And you didn't ask the right one."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…Then let me fix that."
A pause.
The air felt heavier again.
Not from danger.
From something unknown.
"…What do you want from me?"
The stranger smiled faintly.
Not friendly.
Not hostile.
Just… certain.
"…Same thing everyone else does."
Kael's chest tightened slightly.
The answer came calmly.
"The core."