No one spoke at first.
Break the link.
Those words didn't sit right.
They stayed in the room like something dangerous.
Adrian leaned back against the wall, staring at his wrist. The mark pulsed slowly, like it was listening.
So that's the answer, he said quietly.
Kai shook his head. No. That's a risk.
Adrian glanced at him. Same thing at this point.
Veyr crossed his arms. Breaking the link isn't just stopping the connection.
A pause.
It's severing it.
Adrian frowned. Isn't that what we want?
Veyr didn't respond immediately.
Not without consequences.
Silence followed.
Adrian pushed off the wall. Alright. Let's say I do it.
Kai's expression hardened. You're not doing anything yet.
Adrian ignored that. What happens?
Veyr answered. Best case?
A short pause.
You disconnect from the Source completely.
Adrian nodded. That sounds good.
Veyr continued, And lose access to everything tied to it.
Adrian's expression shifted slightly. Meaning?
The power, Kai said.
The connection, Veyr added.
Everything that makes you a Core.
That landed.
Harder than expected.
Adrian looked down at his hand. So I go back to normal.
Kai didn't answer.
Because none of them knew what normal would even mean anymore.
And worst case? Adrian asked.
Veyr didn't hesitate.
You don't survive it.
Silence.
Adrian let out a breath. Yeah. That tracks.
Kai stepped forward. Which is why we're not rushing into this.
Adrian looked at him. You heard him too.
I did, Kai said.
And?
Kai's voice lowered. That doesn't mean he's right.
Adrian ran a hand through his hair. He's been in there longer than any of us.
Veyr nodded slightly. That doesn't mean he understands it fully.
Adrian frowned. You don't believe him.
Veyr's gaze stayed steady. I believe he's trying to help.
A pause.
But that doesn't mean his solution won't destroy you.
That was fair.
Too fair.
Adrian exhaled slowly. So what do we do?
Kai answered first. We test it.
Adrian blinked. Test breaking the link?
No, Kai said. We test how far it goes before it breaks on its own.
Veyr nodded. Find the limit first.
Adrian crossed his arms. You mean push it again.
Yes.
Adrian sighed. Of course we do.
They moved back into position.
No long preparation this time.
No hesitation.
Adrian raised his hand again.
The mark pulsed immediately.
Faster.
Stronger.
It's reacting already, he muttered.
Kai stepped closer. Keep it controlled.
I am.
The shadows formed.
But this time
They didn't wait.
The pull came instantly.
Sharp.
Aggressive.
Adrian's expression tightened. Yeah, it's not giving me time anymore.
Hold it, Veyr said.
Adrian clenched his fist. Trying.
The pressure surged.
Harder than before.
Like something on the other side was already reaching.
You approach the end
The voice echoed faintly.
Adrian's eyes narrowed. You really don't like this plan.
You cannot escape
Adrian smirked faintly. We'll see.
The shadows twisted violently.
Not unstable
But strained.
Like something pulling from both sides.
Kai stepped closer. It's resisting.
Veyr's gaze sharpened. No.
A pause.
It's holding him.
That changed everything.
Adrian felt it.
Not just a pull anymore.
A grip.
Something locking around the connection.
Okay, he muttered. That's new.
Pull back, Kai said immediately.
Adrian shook his head. Not yet.
He pushed.
Just slightly.
The connection stretched.
The pressure spiked.
Pain shot through his arm.
Tch
Adrian! Kai snapped.
I've got it, Adrian said through clenched teeth.
But it wasn't stable.
Not like before.
This time
It pushed back.
You belong to me
The voice was closer now.
Clearer.
Adrian's eyes darkened. Not happening.
He pulled.
Against it.
For a second
The connection shifted.
Like something almost snapped.
The mark flared.
Bright.
Painful.
Adrian gasped. There
Then
It slammed back.
Hard.
The shadows exploded outward.
Uncontrolled.
Kai grabbed him instantly. Enough!
Veyr moved at the same time.
The connection broke.
Adrian dropped to one knee, breathing hard.
Okay yeah that's definitely the limit
Kai didn't let go. You went too far.
Adrian shook his head. No.
He looked up.
I almost broke it.
Silence.
Veyr stepped closer. You felt it?
Adrian nodded slowly. It stretched.
A pause.
Like it could snap.
Kai's expression tightened. And then it pushed back harder.
Adrian nodded. Yeah.
Veyr's gaze darkened. That means it's reinforcing the connection.
Adrian frowned. So the more I try to break it
It resists, Kai finished.
And adapts,Veyr added.
Adrian exhaled slowly.
So we can't brute force it.
Silence.
Because that was the obvious conclusion.
Kai stepped back slightly. Then we change approach.
Adrian looked at him. To what?
Kai's voice lowered. If breaking it directly doesn't work
A pause.
We find a way around it.
Veyr nodded. Another path.
Adrian frowned. Like what?
Neither of them answered immediately.
Because they didn't have it yet.
Adrian leaned back slightly, staring at his wrist again.
The mark pulsed.
Calm.
Unbothered.
Like nothing had happened.
Yeah, he muttered.
This isn't going to be simple.
Kai didn't disagree.
Veyr didn't either.
Because now they knew one thing for sure
Breaking the link wasn't impossible.
But it wasn't easy either.
And whatever was on the other side
Wasn't going to let go without a fight.