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"It's the old burning man."
Leon spotted him first.
On the outskirts of the emperor's castle, just beyond the barrier's edge, a charred figure was making his way toward them. Slow and steady, one foot after the other, like the walk had been going on for a long time and he intended to finish it regardless.
Leon watched him for a moment.
He remembered the previous experience with this place. The barrier, the resistance, the way it pushed back against anything that came at it uninvited. He stayed where he was, skeptical, not moving to close the distance.
Then Zeke's figure rose into the sky.
He flew up without a word, crossing the space between them quickly, and landed just ahead of the charred man. His eyes dropped to the canister in the burning man's hands. Took it in.
"Give us a few minutes. We'll be out."
"Ah? Okay."
