Kael.
I noticed it three days before it happened.
Rai stopped breaking things.
No chasing shadows. No knocking over chairs. No jumping at nothing.
It sat by the window.
Still.
Watching the horizon.
For long stretches.
Then it would move. Circle once. Come back. Sit again.
I didn't say anything.
On the fourth morning—
It was gone.
The room felt different before I opened my eyes.
No weight on my chest.
No movement.
I sat up.
Nothing.
"Rai?"
Silence.
I stood.
The back door was open.
I didn't remember leaving it like that.
I walked out.
The yard was empty.
The wall wasn't.
A scorch mark stretched across it.
White. Sharp.
I stepped closer.
Looked at it.
Wings.
Spread wide.
I raised my hand.
Touched it.
Warm.
"…of course you did that," I said quietly.
No answer.
I went back inside.
Sat down.
Did nothing.
Rael came down.
Stopped halfway.
Looked at the empty space.
Then at me.
I tilted my head toward the back.
She went out.
The door closed behind her.
I stayed where I was.
She came back later.
Sat down.
Didn't say anything.
I didn't either.
Time passed.
"Senna and Mira should be back soon," I said.
Rael nodded.
"They left early."
We sat there.
Waiting.
"…we should've gotten food," I said.
Rael looked at me.
"You were awake."
"You were also awake."
"I don't cook."
I stared at her.
"…you don't cook?"
"No."
"You're telling me your entire skill set is axe and burn things?"
"That is enough."
"You're a woman," I said. "You should at least pretend."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Say that again."
"You heard me."
"There are men our age cooking for kings," she said flatly, "and you are here starving and complaining."
"AH— I am not starving," I snapped. "I am suffering."
"You're dramatic."
"I'm hungry!"
"That's your problem."
"You're the problem!"
"You can't even read properly," she shot back.
"—OI! That is unrelated!"
"You looked at a quest upside down yesterday."
"It was perspective!"
"You almost accepted the wrong reward."
"I was testing the system!"
"You almost took a broom instead of gold."
"…it was a nice broom."
She stared at me.
"…unbelievable."
"At least I don't explode everything I touch," I said.
Her hand twitched.
"That happened once."
"Three times."
"Two."
"Three."
Silence.
"…two and a half."
"Thank you."
She looked away.
"…I hate you."
"Mutual."
KRRRT—
We both looked at the corner.
Empty.
Silence.
The door didn't open.
We both looked at it again.
Nothing.
"They're late," I said.
Rael stood.
"Yes."
Mira.
The market moved.
Voices. Steps. Trade.
Steady.
Senna checked her list.
"…we still need one more thing—"
"You already bought it."
She paused.
Looked down.
"…I did."
"Yes."
"…good."
We walked.
Then—
Shift.
Six.
Spread.
Watching.
I didn't turn.
"Senna."
She kept walking.
"Yes?"
"Go back to the inn."
Pause.
"…why."
"Walk."
Her grip tightened.
"…and you?"
"I'll follow."
She nodded.
Turned.
Walked.
One glance back.
Then forward.
Good.
I stopped.
Turned.
They stepped out.
Cloaks. Masks. Positions set.
"The healer," one said.
"You took too long," I said.
Silence.
I moved.
KSHH—
First—shoulder.
He dropped.
Second—side.
Down.
Third—
KRACK—!
Impact.
My arm went numb.
"…tch."
I stepped forward anyway.
Close.
Fourth—cut.
Down.
Fifth—
SHHK—!
He screamed.
Collapsed.
The sixth hit me from behind.
THMP—!
Something shifted in my side.
I stayed upright.
Turned.
Finished it.
They were all down.
Trying to move.
Not succeeding.
Breathing. Shaking.
I breathed.
Slow.
"The other one is taken," one said.
My head lifted.
"…what."
"The girl."
Senna.
I stepped forward.
K—
My leg gave out.
I dropped.
THUD.
I pushed up again.
One step.
Two—
My body stopped.
I hit the ground.
Senna.
I walked.
Counted steps.
One.
Two.
Three.
I looked back once.
Nothing clear.
I kept moving.
Faster.
Then—
She stood ahead. A cloaked woman
Still.
Waiting.
I stopped.
She tilted her head.
I ran.
The street narrowed.
Empty.
Wrong.
Didn't stop.
Door.
Open.
I went in.
Dark.
Crates.
I hid.
Breathed.
Steps.
Slow.
Inside.
"Little kittycat."
I froze.
Barrier—
The crates lifted.
RUMMM—!
Moved aside.
Set down.
She looked at me.
"There you are."
My thoughts cleared.
One remained.
Kael.
The light vanished.
FWOOOM—!
Kael.
We stepped into the street.
Everything looked normal.
Too normal.
I scanned the crowd.
Nothing.
"…they're probably just at the last stall," I said.
No answer.
"Or Senna stopped to overanalyze something again."
Still nothing.
I turned.
Looked again.
Same street.
Same people.
Nothing wrong.
"…they're fine," I muttered. "They're just slow."
Rael didn't respond.
I tightened my grip on the sword.
"…they're fine," I repeated.
Silence.
My chest tightened.
"…they're not fine."
I started moving.
Fast.
No direction.
Just movement.
I scanned everything.
Faces. Shadows. Alleys.
Nothing.
"…where are you," I said.
No answer.
For once—
I had nothing.
And they were gone.