The body hadn't even cooled.
Yet the atmosphere had already changed.
Aren Voss stood over the lifeless remains of the corrupted, his gaze steady, unreadable. The faint glow of the mark on his wrist slowly dimmed, returning to its usual dark, shifting state.
But something was different now.
It felt…
Satisfied.
"…we need to move."
The man's voice cut through the silence, sharper than before.
Aren didn't look at him.
"…why?"
A brief pause.
Then—
"…because you just made noise."
That got his attention.
Aren turned slightly.
"…noise?"
The man exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
"Power leaves traces," he said. "Especially power like yours."
His eyes flicked toward the fallen body.
"…and what you just did?"
A short pause.
"…that was basically a signal flare."
Silence.
Heavy.
Immediate.
Aren processed it quickly.
"…so they know."
"Not exactly," the man replied. "But they know something happened."
His gaze sharpened.
"And people like us?"
A faint smirk.
"…we follow disturbances."
As if on cue—
A faint vibration passed through the air.
Subtle.
Almost unnoticeable.
But Aren felt it instantly.
Not with his ears.
Not with his skin.
But with the mark.
It pulsed.
Once.
Then again.
Faster.
"…someone's coming," Aren said quietly.
The man glanced at him—
Then smiled faintly.
"…good."
Aren's eyes narrowed.
"…good?"
The man stepped forward, his posture shifting slightly—less relaxed, more focused.
"Because now," he said—
"…you get to see the difference."
The hallway lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
The air grew heavier.
Footsteps echoed from the corridor.
Slow.
Calm.
Confident.
Not like the corrupted.
Not wild.
Not broken.
Controlled.
A figure appeared at the end of the hallway.
A girl.
Around their age.
School uniform.
Neatly composed.
But her presence—
Was overwhelming.
Each step she took felt deliberate, her eyes scanning the surroundings before settling on them.
On Aren.
"…so it's true," she said softly.
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
The man beside Aren clicked his tongue lightly.
"…great. Of all people, it had to be her."
Aren didn't take his eyes off the girl.
"…you know her."
"Yeah," the man replied quietly.
A pause.
Then—
"…and if she's here, that means we're already late."
The girl stopped a few meters away.
Her gaze remained fixed on Aren.
Studying.
Measuring.
"…you're the source," she said.
Not a question.
A conclusion.
Aren didn't respond.
Didn't deny it.
Didn't confirm it.
He simply stood there.
The girl's eyes shifted briefly to the body on the floor.
Then back to him.
"…you consumed it."
A slight pause.
"…interesting."
The man beside Aren stepped forward slightly.
"…he's not your business."
The girl's gaze flickered toward him.
Unimpressed.
"…move."
Silence.
For a brief moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
Pressure.
It exploded outward from her.
Invisible.
But crushing.
Aren felt it instantly.
His body tensed slightly as the force pressed against him, testing him, weighing him.
Judging.
The man beside him smirked faintly.
"…this is what I meant."
Aren didn't step back.
Didn't flinch.
Instead—
He stepped forward.
The pressure shifted.
Reacted.
The girl's expression changed.
Slightly.
Just enough to notice.
"…you're resisting," she said.
For the first time—
There was interest in her voice.
Aren tilted his head slightly.
"…is that supposed to be impressive?"
A pause.
Then—
She moved.
Faster than the corrupted.
Faster than anything he had faced.
In an instant—
She was in front of him.
Her hand striking forward with precise, controlled force.
Aren reacted.
Barely.
He raised his arm—
Blocked.
The impact echoed.
A sharp, heavy sound that cracked the air between them.
The ground beneath Aren's feet shifted slightly—
But he didn't move.
The girl's eyes widened.
Just a fraction.
"…you blocked it."
Aren's gaze remained steady.
"…was I not supposed to?"
Silence.
Then—
She smiled.
Not kindly.
Not warmly.
But like someone who had just found something worth breaking.
"…good," she said softly.
Her other hand moved—
Faster.
Stronger.
Aren twisted his body, barely dodging as the strike passed his face, the air slicing sharply from the force.
He stepped in—
Closing the distance.
His hand shot forward—
Aiming for her shoulder.
But—
She disappeared.
Aren's eyes narrowed.
Then—
Impact.
A strike landed against his side, sending him sliding back a few steps.
For the first time—
He felt it.
Pain.
Not overwhelming.
But real.
"…this is an awakener," the man's voice came from behind.
Calm.
Observing.
"…not broken like that thing earlier."
Aren straightened slowly.
His expression didn't change.
But something inside him—
Shifted.
The mark pulsed.
Stronger.
The girl stepped forward again.
Slow.
Confident.
"…you're unstable," she said.
"…unrefined."
A pause.
"…but dangerous."
Aren looked at her.
And for the first time—
A faint smile appeared.
Not warm.
Not friendly.
But cold.
"…then come closer," he said.
Silence.
The air tightened.
Then—
Both of them moved.
At the same time.