Silence followed the creature's disappearance.
Heavy.
Unnatural.
Kael remained on one knee, his breath uneven, his heart still racing.
"…Incomplete…"
The word echoed in his mind.
Again.
And again.
The stranger stood ahead, unmoving.
Watching the empty space where the entity had stood.
"…We're leaving," they said finally.
Kael looked up.
"What? That's it?"
"That wasn't something we can handle."
Kael clenched his fists.
"…It knew me."
The stranger didn't deny it.
"That's exactly why we're leaving."
Silence.
Kael forced himself up.
His body still felt heavy—
Like something inside him had been pulled… and then let go.
"…Aetherion."
"Core status unstable."
"…What was that thing?"
A pause.
Then—
"Unknown classification."
Kael frowned.
"You don't know?"
"…But it recognized your energy."
That again.
Kael's jaw tightened.
"…Incomplete…"
The word hit harder this time.
Not as confusion—
But as truth.
They moved back through the broken city.
Faster now.
Neither of them spoke.
The silence wasn't calm.
It was thinking.
Processing.
Planning.
By the time they reached the transport—
The sky had darkened.
The mission was over.
But something had changed.
The doors sealed behind them.
The engine roared to life.
Only then did the stranger turn to him.
"…From now on, your training changes."
Kael leaned back slightly.
"…Because of that thing?"
"Yes."
A pause.
"…And because of you."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?"
The stranger stepped closer.
"Normal hosts don't get recognized."
Silence.
"They don't trigger that kind of response."
Kael didn't speak.
Because he already knew where this was going.
"…So what am I?"
The stranger held his gaze.
"…We don't know yet."
Not the answer he wanted.
But not a lie either.
The transport slowed.
The facility doors opened.
Cold air rushed in.
They stepped out.
But before they could move—
"Stop."
A new voice.
Calm.
Controlled.
Kael turned.
Someone stood at the entrance.
Older.
Presence heavier than anything he'd felt before.
Not explosive—
But absolute.
"…Report," the man said.
The stranger didn't hesitate.
"Outbreak confirmed. Multiple unstable hosts."
A pause.
"…And something else."
The man's eyes shifted to Kael.
Sharp.
Observing.
"…Him?"
Kael felt it instantly.
Pressure.
Not physical.
But deeper.
Like he was being seen through.
"Yes," the stranger said.
"He was identified."
Silence.
The man's expression didn't change.
"…By what?"
The stranger hesitated.
Just for a moment.
"…Unknown entity."
That got a reaction.
Small—
But real.
"…Bring him."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"Where?"
The man turned.
"You'll see."
The doors behind him opened.
Not like the others.
These were heavier.
Sealed.
Hidden.
Kael felt something the moment they stepped inside.
The air changed.
Denser.
Older.
"…What is this place?"
No answer.
They walked deeper.
Until they reached a final door.
Massive.
The man placed his hand against it.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
The door opened.
Slowly.
Kael stepped inside—
And froze.
Rows.
Countless rows.
Of something… suspended.
Encased.
Glowing faintly.
"…What… is this…?"
The man stepped forward.
"Fragments."
Kael's eyes widened.
"…Of what?"
A pause.
Then—
"…Of them."
Kael's chest tightened.
"The same things inside hosts."
Aetherion reacted instantly.
"Core resonance detected."
Kael staggered slightly.
"…Why do I feel—"
"Because yours came from here."
Silence.
Everything stopped.
"…What?"
Kael turned slowly.
His mind racing.
"You're lying."
The man didn't respond.
Because he didn't need to.
The energy inside Kael—
Was already reacting.
Violently.
Uncontrollably.
"…No…"
"Your power isn't random."
Each word hit harder.
"It was created."
Kael's breathing became uneven.
"…Created…?"
The room pulsed.
The fragments—
Responded.
Light flickered across them.
All at once.
As if they felt him.
Or recognized him.
"Aetherion—what is happening—?!"
No answer.
Only—
"Core resonance exceeding limits."
Kael dropped to one knee again.
The energy surged—
But this time—
It wasn't wild.
It was pulling.
Toward something.
Something deeper.
Something hidden.
The man watched him closely.
"…So it begins."
Kael looked up.
"…What begins…?"
The man's eyes didn't move.
"Your awakening."