The forest stayed quiet long after the creatures disappeared.
Too quiet.
Like even nature itself was trying to understand what had just happened.
In the middle of the broken ground, Alpha Kael still held Aria close.
Her breathing was steady now.
But her body felt… different.
Heavier.
Like the power inside her had changed form.
"She's stable," Ikechukwu said after a moment, crouching beside them.
"But that stability no be normal one."
Kael didn't respond immediately.
His eyes were still on Aria.
"You said those things couldn't handle her."
Ikechukwu nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Kael's voice dropped.
"Then what happens next?"
Ikechukwu exhaled.
"That kind question… no get simple answer."
A cold breeze passed through the forest.
The broken ground… the snapped trees… the scattered warriors…
Everything was a reminder.
Something had changed.
Kael stood slowly, still holding Aria.
"We're not staying here."
Ikechukwu raised a brow.
"You sure?"
Kael's expression hardened.
"This place is no longer safe."
That much was obvious.
As they began moving back through the forest, the silence followed them.
No animals.
No insects.
Nothing.
Almost like the entire territory was waiting.
After a while—
Aria stirred.
Slightly.
Kael felt it immediately.
"Aria?"
Her fingers moved weakly against his arm.
Then her eyes opened slowly.
This time—
They were normal.
Silver.
Soft.
Human.
She blinked once.
Twice.
Then frowned slightly.
"…Why does everything hurt?"
Kael exhaled quietly.
Relief hitting him before he could stop it.
"You passed out."
Aria groaned softly.
"Again?"
Ikechukwu chuckled lightly behind them.
"This one pass 'again' oh."
Aria glanced at him.
"…Ikechukwu?"
He nodded.
"My sister don wake."
She tried to sit up, but Kael stopped her.
"Easy."
She frowned.
"I'm fine."
"You weren't."
That tone made her pause.
She looked at him carefully.
"…What happened?"
Silence.
Kael hesitated.
Just for a second.
But Ikechukwu spoke first.
"You nearly scatter everything."
Aria blinked.
"…What?"
Ikechukwu scratched the back of his head slightly.
"How I go explain am…"
Kael cut in.
"You lost control."
Aria's chest tightened.
"…And?"
Kael's gaze didn't soften.
"You attacked us."
That hit harder.
Aria went still.
"…I what?"
Ikechukwu nodded slowly.
"You grab am for neck."
Aria's eyes widened slightly.
She looked at Kael.
"…Did I hurt you?"
Kael didn't answer immediately.
Then:
"I've had worse."
That wasn't what she wanted to hear.
She looked away.
Her fingers tightening slightly.
"I didn't mean to…"
Her voice was low.
Barely above a whisper.
"I know."
She looked back at Kael.
Surprised.
His expression hadn't changed.
Still serious.
Still controlled.
But his voice was steady.
Certain.
"I know."
Something in her chest eased slightly.
But only slightly.
"Those things…" she said slowly, "they came for me."
Kael nodded.
"They called it correction."
Aria let out a quiet breath.
"Yeah… that sounds about right."
Ikechukwu stepped closer.
"But dem no fit do anything."
Aria frowned.
"What do you mean?"
He looked at her carefully.
"As you burst power…"
Pause.
"…dem stop."
Kael continued.
"They said something before they left."
Aria's gaze sharpened.
"What?"
Kael's voice dropped.
"Correction… impossible."
Silence.
Aria felt that settle deep inside her.
"…Impossible?"
Ikechukwu nodded.
"Yes."
Aria looked down at her hands.
At her wrist.
At the mark.
For the first time—
She didn't feel confused.
She felt something else.
Uncertainty.
"What does that even mean…?"
No one answered.
Because none of them knew.
They continued walking.
Slowly.
Carefully.
But the deeper they went into the forest—
The more it felt like something was watching them.
Not the moon.
Something else.
Something patient.
Something interested.
Far away—
Beyond their sight—
A figure stood in the shadows.
Watching.
Magnus.
His expression wasn't amused this time.
It wasn't calm either.
It was focused.
Calculating.
"…Impossible," he repeated softly.
Then he smiled slightly.
"Now that…"
His eyes darkened.
"…is something worth seeing."
Back in the forest—
Aria suddenly stopped walking.
Kael noticed instantly.
"What is it?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Her gaze lifted slowly.
Toward the sky.
The moon was still there.
But now—
There was something wrong with it.
A faint crack.
Barely visible.
But real.
Aria's voice dropped to a whisper.
"…I think I broke something."
And this time—
No one could tell if that was a good thing…
Or the beginning of something far worse.