Silence blanketed the entire core facility.
Nothing moved.
No one spoke.
Every eye was fixed on the massive floating screen above the room.
On the woman standing inside that mysterious white space.
The woman who shared Aurelia's face.
The woman who was supposed to have died five centuries ago.
Yet there she stood before them as if time had never touched her at all.
"I don't have much time."
Her words hung in the air.
"Before Cassian does something foolish again…"
Her silver gaze shifted to the white-haired man.
"…we need to discuss how to stop the Zenith Gate before it's too late."
Cassian didn't smile.
Didn't laugh.
Didn't wear his usual mocking expression.
In fact.
Ever since she'd appeared…
He looked genuinely furious.
"You."
His voice was low.
Cold.
And full of hatred.
The woman met his stare calmly.
"Hello, Cassian."
Silence fell.
Lucien watched the screen without blinking, as if he too was still struggling to accept the reality before him.
