"Nāgāntaka..."
The ancient name rolled off Wisnu's tongue with unmistakable familiarity.
"As expected of Garuda's descendant"
For a brief moment, something ancient stirred behind his eyes.
Not the gaze of a god.
But the gaze of someone remembering a companion from a distant age.
"It has been a very long time since we last met"
Taufik studied him for a moment.
His gaze was calm, but probing.
"You do realize he's not the Garuda you once knew, right?" he asked at last.
A brief silence followed before he continued.
"Even if Garuda was never truly dead because of his immortality, immortality can only preserve the body. It can't stop the flow of time"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"A mind changes. A soul accumulates new experiences. Eventually, they become someone else entirely"
Wisnu met his gaze.
Then a serene smile appeared on his face.
