Edrin had a growing list of things he didn't like.
At the top of that list, currently, was mysterious strangers who knew his name without asking.
"This is how problems start," he whispered as they followed Seris through the narrow streets.
"This is how answers start," Lyra corrected.
"I don't trust answers," Edrin said. "They usually come with more problems."
Ronan chuckled. "That's because you are a problem."
"That's not helpful."
Seris didn't look back as she led them through winding alleys, away from the noise of the main streets. The city grew quieter here—less crowded, more watchful.
Edrin noticed.
"…This part of the city feels like it's judging me too," he muttered.
"It probably is," Ronan said.
"Why does everything judge me?"
"Because you make it easy."
Edrin sighed.
Seris finally stopped in front of a plain wooden door.
No markings.
No guards.
Nothing to suggest it was important.
Which, Edrin had learned, usually meant it was very important.
She opened it without hesitation and stepped inside.
Lyra followed.
Ronan followed.
Edrin paused.
"…If I disappear, tell the village I tried," he said.
"No one will be surprised," Ronan replied.
"That's not comforting."
Edrin stepped in.
The room inside was simple but well-kept. A table. A few chairs. Shelves lined with scrolls and maps. The windows were covered, blocking out the outside world.
Seris closed the door behind them.
The quiet that followed felt… heavier than before.
Edrin immediately noticed.
"…I don't like rooms like this," he said.
"No one does," Seris replied.
She moved to the table and gestured for them to sit.
Lyra did.
Ronan leaned against the wall instead.
Edrin hesitated—
Then sat, slowly.
"…Alright," he said. "Mysterious warning. Quiet room. Covered windows. This is definitely serious."
Seris finally met his gaze fully.
"Yes," she said. "It is."
Edrin nodded. "I was afraid of that."
She studied him for a moment longer, as if confirming something.
"…You've already encountered multiple Invaders," she said.
"Yes," Edrin replied. "I would prefer fewer."
"They're evolving," she continued.
"I've noticed."
"They're not acting alone anymore."
Edrin blinked. "…That sounds worse."
"It is," Seris said.
Ronan straightened slightly. "Explain."
Seris placed a map on the table.
Not of the city.
Of something larger.
Marked points spread across it—some faint, some dark.
"These," she said, pointing to the markings, "are breach points. Places where the Invaders have entered our world."
Edrin leaned forward slightly. "…There are a lot of those."
"Yes."
"I don't like that."
"You shouldn't."
Lyra studied the map. "They're spreading."
Seris nodded. "And coordinating."
Edrin froze.
"…Coordinating?"
"Yes."
Edrin leaned back slowly. "…They weren't supposed to be smart."
"They're becoming smarter," Seris said.
"I don't like that word."
"I know."
Ronan crossed his arms. "What does that have to do with him?"
Seris didn't look away from Edrin.
"Because," she said, "they're not just adapting to the world."
A pause.
"They're adapting to you."
Silence filled the room.
Edrin blinked.
"…I would like to return to being irrelevant," he said quietly.
"That's no longer possible," Seris replied.
Edrin sighed. "Everyone keeps saying that."
Lyra's voice was calm—but firm. "What aren't you telling us?"
Seris hesitated.
Just for a moment.
Then she spoke.
"There's a pattern," she said. "Every time one of them encounters you—survives you—it changes."
Edrin frowned. "Survives me?"
"Yes."
Ronan's expression darkened slightly. "So the ones that escape…"
"They learn," Seris said.
Edrin swallowed.
"…That's bad."
"It's worse than that," she continued.
Edrin blinked. "…There's more?"
Seris met his gaze.
"They're sending information back."
The room went completely still.
Edrin stared at her.
"…Back where?" he asked.
Seris didn't hesitate this time.
"To wherever they're coming from."
Edrin leaned back in his chair.
"…So there's something out there," he said slowly, "learning about me."
"Yes."
"And getting better at fighting me."
"Yes."
"And sending stronger things."
"Yes."
Edrin nodded.
"…I don't like this story anymore."
Ronan smirked slightly. "You're in it."
"I noticed."
Lyra's gaze sharpened. "Then we stop them before they learn more."
Seris shook her head.
"It's already too late for that," she said.
Edrin groaned softly.
"…Of course it is."
Seris stepped closer to the table.
"There's only one option now," she said.
Edrin looked up at her.
"…I'm not going to like it, am I?"
"No."
He sighed.
"…Go ahead."
Seris pointed to the largest mark on the map.
Dark.
Unstable.
Different from the others.
"We find where they're coming from," she said.
"And we end it there."
Silence.
Edrin stared at the map.
Then at her.
Then at Lyra.
Then at Ronan.
"…That sounds extremely dangerous," he said.
"Yes," all three of them replied.
Edrin nodded slowly.
"…Alright."
A pause.
"…I'm definitely going to regret this."
Ronan grinned.
Lyra didn't argue.
And Seris simply watched him—
As if she already knew that he would say yes.