Kael didn't stop walking.
He couldn't.
If he stopped—
If he thought too much—
It would get worse.
He knew that now.
"…Kael."
Her voice was softer than usual.
Careful.
Measured.
"…What?"
He didn't look at her.
Didn't slow down.
"…Say her name."
His steps faltered.
Just slightly.
"…Why?"
"…Just do it."
Silence.
Then—
"…Lina."
The word came out easily.
Too easily.
Kael frowned.
"…See?"
"…Again."
His expression tightened.
"…Lina."
Still the same.
Still clear.
But something—
Felt wrong.
"…What are you trying to prove?" he asked.
"…Not prove."
A pause.
"…Show."
That word—
Didn't sit right.
"…Then show me already."
Silence.
Then—
"…Describe her."
Kael blinked.
"…What?"
"…Describe her."
"…Why does that matter?"
"…Because it's already happening."
Kael's chest tightened slightly.
But he still answered.
"…She has long dark hair…"
A pause.
"…Soft eyes…"
Another pause.
"…She…"
…
His voice stopped.
Not because he chose to stop.
Because—
He couldn't continue.
"…She what?" she asked quietly.
Kael frowned.
"…I…"
He tried again.
Forced it.
"…She…"
Nothing.
No image.
No detail.
Just—
A blank.
"…No…"
His breath hitched slightly.
"…That's not right."
"…Now you see it."
Kael shook his head.
"…No, I just—"
He tried again.
Harder this time.
"…She laughs when—"
The sentence broke.
Gone.
Like it had never existed.
"…When what?" she asked.
Kael's hands trembled.
"…I don't know."
Silence.
Heavy.
Real.
"…You're not losing her all at once," she said.
"…You're losing the details."
"…The small things."
"…The things that made her real to you."
Kael clenched his fists.
"…No."
"…Yes."
"…I won't let that happen."
"…You don't have a choice."
That—
Was the truth.
And he hated it.
Kael stopped walking.
For the first time.
He couldn't keep moving.
Not like this.
"…There has to be a way to stop it."
"…No."
"…Reverse it."
"…No."
"…Fix it."
Silence.
Then—
"…No."
Kael's jaw tightened.
"…Then what's the point of all this?"
"…You already know."
He did.
He just didn't want to accept it.
"…Everything has a cost…"
He muttered.
"…Yes."
"…Even this."
"…Especially this."
Kael looked at his hand again.
Steady.
Strong.
Capable.
But now—
It felt wrong.
Because that strength—
Came from something.
And now—
He knew what it was taking.
"…Then I'll just stop using it."
"…You can try."
"…I will."
"…You won't."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…Why not?"
A pause.
"…Because you'll need it."
Silence.
"…And when you do…"
Her voice dropped slightly.
"…You'll make the same choice again."
That—
Was the real trap.
Not the power.
Not the enemy.
The necessity.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…Then I'll just have to change the situation."
"…You don't control that."
"…Then I'll take control."
Her gaze lingered on him.
"…You're starting to sound like him."
Kael didn't respond.
Because he knew who she meant.
The version of himself—
That survived.
At the cost of everything else.
"…I won't become that."
"…You're already on that path."
"…Then I'll change the path."
Silence.
Then—
"…We'll see."
Kael started walking again.
Slower this time.
More aware.
Because now—
Every step mattered more than ever.
Not just for survival.
But for who he was becoming.
As they moved forward—
The forest shifted slightly.
Subtle.
But noticeable.
The air grew colder.
Heavier.
And then—
A sound.
Soft.
Faint.
But unmistakable.
"…Kael…"
He froze.
"…No way…"
That voice—
"…Kael…"
His heart pounded.
"…Lina?"
She stood ahead.
Between the trees.
Unharmed.
Unchanged.
Exactly as he remembered.
Or—
As much as he could remember.
"…You came back…"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"…I knew you would…"
Kael's breath caught.
"…This…"
He whispered.
"…This isn't real."
"…Kael?"
She stepped closer.
"…Why are you looking at me like that?"
His fists clenched.
"…Because you're not supposed to be here."
"…What are you talking about?"
Her eyes—
Confused.
Hurt.
Real.
Too real.
"…You left…"
"…You died…"
"…I watched it happen…"
"…No…"
She shook her head.
"…I'm right here."
"…You saved me."
Silence.
That—
Was the lie.
The one he wanted.
The one he almost chose before.
Kael's breathing grew uneven.
"…You're not real."
"…I am."
"…No."
She stepped closer.
"…Then touch me."
His body didn't move.
But his mind—
Pulled.
Because if he touched her—
If she felt real—
Then maybe—
Just maybe—
He didn't lose her.
"…Kael…"
Her voice softened.
"…I'm here."
"…You don't have to keep fighting."
"…We can just go."
"…Together."
Silence.
The easiest choice.
The same choice.
The one that led to everything ending.
Kael closed his eyes.
For just a moment.
Then—
He opened them again.
Cold.
Clear.
"…Yeah…"
He stepped forward.
"…That's exactly the problem."
His hand moved—
Not to touch—
But to strike.
The illusion shattered instantly.
Gone.
The forest returned.
Empty.
Silent.
Kael stood there.
Breathing steady.
"…Good choice."
"…Yeah."
His voice was quieter now.
"…Didn't feel like one."
"…It never does."
He looked ahead again.
"…She's fading…"
"…Yes."
"…And the world's using that against me."
"…Yes."
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…Then I'll just have to get stronger faster."
"…That will make it worse."
"…I know."
A pause.
"…But I don't have another option."
And that—
Was the truth.
Because now—
Every step forward—
Came at a cost.
And every step back—
Meant losing everything anyway.
So Kael kept moving.
Not because it was the right choice.
But because it was the only one left.