The fog moved again.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Something was definitely there.
Watching.
Waiting.
Feroz tightened his grip on the knife Haroon had given him.
Haya stepped closer.
"You can feel it too?"
The old man nodded.
"Yes."
The strange figure beside Feroz turned completely toward the fog.
For the first time—
it looked ready.
Not calm.
Ready.
That alone made Feroz nervous.
The old man took a slow step back.
"Stay alert."
The fog shifted again.
Then—
a person emerged.
A young man.
Maybe a few years older than Feroz.
He wore a dark jacket covered in dust and dirt.
His face looked tired.
Like someone who had been traveling for a very long time.
The moment he stepped out—
everyone froze.
Because he wasn't a Hunter.
He wasn't a Follower.
And he wasn't afraid.
The young man stopped several feet away.
Then looked directly at Feroz.
"...so it's really you."
Feroz frowned.
"Do I know you?"
The young man shook his head.
"No."
A pause.
"But I've been looking for you."
Haya immediately stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
The stranger looked at her.
Then surprisingly—
he smiled.
"I know you."
Haya's expression changed instantly.
"You do?"
The young man nodded.
"I knew your brother."
Silence.
Everything became quiet.
Haya's face lost color.
"What?"
The stranger looked away for a moment.
Like he was remembering something painful.
Then back at her.
"He saved my life."
Feroz noticed her hands shaking slightly.
For the first time since meeting her—
she looked emotional.
"Where is he?"
The stranger stayed silent.
Too silent.
The answer was obvious.
"I don't know," he finally said.
"But he was alive the last time I saw him."
A small amount of hope appeared in Haya's eyes.
The old man watched carefully.
Then spoke.
"Who are you?"
The stranger looked toward him respectfully.
"My name is Salman."
The old man narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You've crossed before."
It wasn't a question.
Salman nodded.
"Twice."
Feroz blinked.
"You crossed the threshold twice?"
Salman laughed softly.
"I survived it twice."
That sounded even worse.
The strange figure beside Feroz suddenly moved slightly.
Watching Salman closely.
Salman noticed immediately.
His smile disappeared.
"...it's already that close?"
Nobody answered.
Because everyone already knew.
Salman looked directly at Feroz.
Then asked a simple question.
"Do you hear the noise all the time now?"
Feroz hesitated.
Then nodded.
Salman's expression darkened.
"Then we don't have much time."
The old man immediately looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
Salman took a slow breath.
"The crossroads are opening."
The old man's face became serious.
"You've seen them?"
"Yes."
Silence.
Even Haya looked worried now.
Feroz frowned.
"What crossroads?"
Nobody answered immediately.
Finally Salman pointed deeper into the fog.
"Three paths."
"One makes you stronger."
"One makes you disappear."
"And one..."
He stopped.
Feroz looked at him.
"And one what?"
Salman stared at the strange figure beside him.
"...one belongs to it."
The fog around them suddenly became colder.
The strange figure remained silent.
Watching.
Waiting.
And for the first time—
Feroz realized that sooner or later—
he would have to choose a path.