He wasn't the only one moving toward it.
---
Elsewhere—
the morning hadn't fully settled.
---
The road stretched quietly.
---
Not empty.
Not busy.
---
Just… slow.
---
A bicycle passed.
The sound of its chain lingered longer than it should have.
---
Then—
nothing.
---
Sky stood near the edge of the road.
---
The hoodie didn't move.
---
Not because there was no wind—
but because the air itself felt… still.
---
His gaze rested forward.
---
Not searching.
---
Not waiting.
---
Just aware.
---
A faint shift.
---
So small—
it could have been ignored.
---
But it wasn't.
---
Sky's eyes narrowed slightly.
---
The silence deepened.
---
Not louder.
---
Just heavier.
---
A distant voice tried to rise—
then faded before reaching him.
---
The world didn't stop.
---
But something within it—
hesitated.
---
Sky's fingers moved slightly.
---
Not consciously.
---
Just—
responding.
---
"…So."
---
The word didn't complete.
---
Because—
something appeared.
---
A flicker.
---
Blue.
---
Not bright.
---
Not weak.
---
Just—
wrong.
---
It didn't spread.
---
It didn't burn.
---
It stayed.
---
Suspended—
just above his hand.
---
The color didn't behave like fire.
---
It didn't move with air.
---
It didn't react to anything.
---
It simply—
existed.
---
Sky didn't step back.
---
His posture remained steady.
---
Only his eyes shifted.
---
"…You're early."
---
The words were quiet.
---
Not surprised.
---
Not confused.
---
Recognizing.
---
The flame trembled—
once.
---
Then—
collapsed.
---
Not extinguished.
---
Not fading.
---
Gone.
---
The air moved again.
---
A vehicle passed.
---
Sound returned.
---
Everything continued.
---
Unchanged.
---
But Sky didn't move.
---
His gaze remained where it had been.
---
As if something was still there.
---
"…So it started."
---
Elsewhere—
---
Dev stopped.
---
Mid-step.
---
No reason.
---
No signal.
---
Just—
pause.
---
His eyes shifted slightly.
---
The world around him continued normally.
---
People moved.
Vehicles passed.
---
But something felt—
out of place.
---
Not visible.
---
Not clear.
---
Just—
off.
---
Dev exhaled slowly.
---
"…Again."
---
The word stayed low.
---
Not confusion.
---
Confirmation.
---
He didn't look around.
---
He didn't search.
---
Because he already knew—
this wasn't something you could see directly.
---
He resumed walking.
---
Not faster.
---
Not slower.
---
But this time—
more certain.
---
Something had appeared.
---
Something had vanished.
---
And whatever it was—
it wasn't done.