No one spoke for a while after that.
The word repeats stayed in the air like something heavy that refused to fade.
Adrian leaned against the wall, arms crossed, staring at nothing in particular. His mind wasn't in the room anymore.
A cycle, he said quietly.
Kai stood nearby, watching him. If it's true, then this has happened more than once.
Veyr didn't move. More than we know.
Adrian let out a dry laugh. Great. So we're not just dealing with a problem we're dealing with a tradition.
No one found that funny.
He straightened slightly. He said it doesn't end. It repeats. That means whatever happened to him , wasn't the first time.
Kai's voice was calm, but firm. And it won't be the last if we don't stop it.
Adrian looked at him. Yeah. That's the part I'm working on.
Silence followed.
Then Veyr spoke. There's something else.
Adrian glanced at him. Of course there is.
Veyr continued, If the cycle repeats, then the Source isn't just reacting.
A pause.
It's following a process.
Kai frowned. Explain.
Veyr's gaze sharpened slightly. Each Core reaches a certain point. Contact. Resistance. Instability.
Adrian's expression shifted. And then?
Veyr didn't hesitate. Collapse.
That word hit harder than the rest.
Adrian looked down at his wrist. The mark pulsed faintly, almost like it was listening.
So I'm on a timer, he muttered.
Kai stepped forward. Not if we break the pattern.
Adrian looked up at him. You really believe that?
Kai didn't look away. Yes.
That was enough to make Adrian pause.
Then he exhaled. Alright.
Veyr crossed his arms. Belief isn't enough. We need to understand where the pattern breaks.
Adrian frowned. You mean where it can break.
Yes.
Kai nodded slightly. The previous Core made it far enough to leave a warning.
Adrian's eyes narrowed. Run.
Silence.
Veyr shook his head. That still doesn't make sense.
It does, Adrian said. He wasn't trying to win.
Kai looked at him. What do you mean?
Adrian pushed off the wall. What if fighting it is part of the cycle?
Neither of them spoke immediately.
Adrian continued, Think about it. Every Core resists. Fights. Tries to control it.
Veyr's gaze shifted slightly. And fails.
Adrian nodded. Exactly. So what if that's the problem?
Kai frowned. Then what's the alternative?
Adrian hesitated.
Because he didn't have a clear answer.
I don't know yet, he admitted. But 'run' doesn't sound like surrender.
Veyr studied him. Then what does it sound like?
Adrian looked at his wrist again. Escape.
Silence settled again.
Kai spoke carefully. You think there's a way out.
Adrian shrugged slightly. He wouldn't say it if there wasn't.
Veyr's expression remained serious. Or he said it because he failed to find one.
Adrian didn't argue with that.
Because it was possible.
Too possible.
Then I'll find what he couldn't, Adrian said.
Kai watched him. That won't be easy.
Adrian smirked faintly. When has it ever been?
The room grew quiet again.
But this time, it wasn't confusion.
It was focus.
A direction, even if it wasn't clear yet.
Veyr finally moved. There's one more thing we need to test.
Adrian groaned. I knew you were going to say that.
This time,Veyr continued, we don't just observe the connection.
Adrian raised an eyebrow. Then what?
Veyr met his gaze. We push it.
Kai frowned immediately. That's dangerous.
Yes,Veyr said. But we need to see how far it goes before it breaks.
Adrian tilted his head slightly. You mean find the limit.
Yes.
Kai shook his head. If we miscalculate, he won't come back.
Adrian looked at him. You said we don't let it get that far.
Kai didn't answer.
Adrian sighed. Relax. I'm not planning to disappear today.
That's not reassuring, Kai muttered.
Adrian smirked. It's honest.
They moved back into position.
The tension returned instantly.
Adrian rolled his shoulders. Alright. Let's see what happens.
Carefully, Kai said.
Always, Adrian replied, not entirely serious.
Veyr stepped closer. Start slow. Then increase the connection.
Adrian nodded.
He raised his hand.
The mark pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Then
The shadows rose.
This time, he didn't stop at stable.
He pushed.
Just slightly.
The pressure answered immediately.
Stronger than before.
Faster.
Adrian's expression tightened. Yeah, it doesn't like that.
Hold it, Veyr said.
I am.
The shadows twisted, reacting to the increased strain.
Kai stepped closer. Don't let it spike.
Adrian exhaled slowly. Trying not to.
He pushed again.
A little more.
The pressure surged.
The mark burned slightly.
Okay, Adrian muttered. That's new.
Stop there, Kai said.
Not yet.
The shadows flared.
The air shifted.
And for a second
Just a second
Adrian felt it.
That same pull.
That same space.
Closer than before.
I can reach it from here, he said quietly.
Veyr's eyes narrowed. Don't.
Adrian ignored him.
Just for a moment.
He leaned into it.
The world flickered.
Not fully.
But enough.
Darkness brushed against the edges of his vision.
The void
Just within reach.
Adrian, Kai warned.
Adrian clenched his fist.
Almost
Then
The pressure snapped.
Hard.
The shadows collapsed instantly.
Adrian staggered back, catching himself.
Okay. yeah that's the limit.
Kai grabbed his arm. I told you to stop.
Adrian exhaled, steadying himself. I did.
Veyr stepped closer. What did you feel?
Adrian looked at his hand. It's closer now.
A pause.
Too close.
Silence.
Kai released his grip slowly. That's not a good sign.
Adrian shook his head. No.
He looked at both of them.
It means next time
A small pause.
I won't need to try as hard.
Veyr's expression darkened slightly. Or it will pull you in faster.
Adrian smirked faintly. Guess we'll find out.
Kai didn't smile.
The tension didn't fade.
But something had changed.
The connection was stronger now.
Closer.
More dangerous.
And whatever waited on the other side
Was getting ready too.