Night came.
And with it—
silence.
Aeris stood by the window of her room.
City lights flickered below.
But her mind—
was somewhere else.
That video.
That voice.
That night.
It wasn't over.
It had never been over.
Her phone lit up again.
Another message.
"You still remember, don't you?"
Her grip tightened.
Another line appeared.
"Good."
Then—
"Because this time…"
A pause.
And then—
"I won't stop halfway."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
Aeris closed her eyes.
Not in fear.
Not in weakness.
But in realization.
This wasn't revenge anymore.
This was a game.
And someone—
had just made the first move.
Behind her—
a voice broke the silence.
"Then we finish it."
She didn't turn.
Because she already knew.
Kael.
Standing there.
Like he had always been.
Watching.
Waiting.
And now—
involved.
"Nocthra ven'al…"
Literal meaning:
"You stand in my shadow now."
Real meaning:
"You're under my protection… whether you accept it or not."
Aeris opened her eyes.
And this time—
she didn't look away.
Because something had changed.
Not outside.
But inside her.
She wasn't alone anymore.
And that—
might be the most dangerous thing of all.