The atmosphere in the apartment was now tense like a string pulled too tight. The fog outside the window moved, swirled, and occasionally formed vague shapes like hands or faces. Kael and Lyra stood facing each other, but their eyes remained fixed on the open book on the desk.
The page wrote again, black letters emerging by themselves with a rhythm like breathing:
"The second observer approaches."
Kael swallowed.
"How close?"
Lyra looked at the window, then at the symbol on Kael's wrist.
"Closer than you imagine. And he is not merely a passive observer. He... can touch this world, though not fully real."
Suddenly, the fog outside the glass trembled violently. The cracks in the window that had been stable now extended rapidly, as if the glass was resisting pressure from something unseen.
Kael and Lyra stepped back several paces. Lyra spoke quickly:
"We can't stay here too long. That book... they know where it is."
Kael looked at the ink moving by itself on the page. New words emerged:
"Prepare yourself... or they will force their way in."
Instantly, something from outside pressed against the glass hard. The sound of small shattering was heard, small cracks spreading. The fog grew thicker, and its shape now clearly resembled a human, but its body was like dense fog, dark, and gleaming.
Lyra immediately took a circular metal artifact from her bag, its symbols glowing faintly. She pressed the artifact against the wall right beside the window. Lines of light spread slowly, forming a thin barrier. The creature outside recoiled and retreated slightly.
Kael looked at Lyra.
"Are you sure this is enough?"
Lyra shook her head.
"No, but enough to delay. We have to move—to a safer place."
Before Kael could answer, the symbol on his wrist flickered rapidly. A warm but pressing energy flowed from that mark, making his blood rush. He looked at the book. The next page opened by itself, writing new words:
"The first encounter has begun."
Lyra looked at Kael, her expression tense but focused.
"I know where we can be safe for now. But to get there... we have to pass through the shadow corridor."
Kael swallowed.
"The shadow corridor?"
Lyra nodded.
"A hidden path created for artifacts like this. But it's no ordinary road. Every step there can be seen by anyone behind the Veil."
Outside, the fog moved increasingly fast. The shadowy human-like form clung closer to the window, as if waiting for the right moment to penetrate the barrier.
Kael took a deep breath and looked at Lyra.
"Are you ready to lead?"
Lyra looked at him, her eyes sharp.
"I have no other choice."
She reached for the book, closed it slowly, and slowly turned toward the door.
Kael followed. The symbol on his wrist flickered again, indicating that the Veil was truly paying attention to him.
In the corridor, another vague shadow began to move. The sound of its footsteps could not be heard, but the air around it trembled, as if the world itself responded to its presence.
Lyra opened the apartment door slightly, turning to Kael.
"Every step now... could be your last encounter with the world you know."
Kael looked at the book that still trembled on the desk, its symbol glowing faintly, and said softly:
"If so... let's begin the journey."
And with that, both of them stepped out of the room—into the shadow corridor, while the creature outside the window watched, silent, and waited.