Alina told herself she would stop. She had to. Because at this point, it was starting to feel less like searching… and more like losing herself. But even that thought wasn't strong enough to pull her back. Not yet. The next morning, she didn't go to work. Instead, she returned to the city centre again. Not the glass building this time. Somewhere else. Anywhere else. Because her mind had started asking a new question: If Lucien is real… then where does he belong? And that question wouldn't leave her alone. She walked into a small printing and document hub tucked between busy shops. The kind of place people ignore unless they need something urgent. Alina didn't even fully know what she was looking for. Just… something. Anything that connected the fragments. She stood at the counter. "Good morning," she said quietly. The man behind it nodded. "Morning. How can I help you?" Alina hesitated. Then she said the first thing that came to her mind. "Do you handle company records… or business listings?" The man raised a brow slightly. "Yes, depending on what you need." Her heart beat a little faster. "I'm looking for someone," she admitted. A pause. The man studied her face briefly, then leaned forward slightly. "Name?" Alina hesitated. "…Lucien." The moment she said it, something changed. Not obvious. But subtle. The man's expression tightened just a fraction. Like recognition… or caution. "Lucien?" he repeated slowly. "Yes," she said quickly. "Just Lucien." The man paused. Then shook his head. "That's not enough." Alina exhaled sharply. Of course. Always not enough. Always just out of reach. But then The man added something under his breath. Almost like he didn't mean to say it. "Lucien… that's not a common name around here." Alina froze slightly. Her eyes lifted immediately. "Wait so you've heard it before?" The man hesitated. Too long. Then nodded once. "Once or twice." Her breath caught. Once or twice was enough. Enough to confirm she wasn't insane. Enough to confirm he was real. Her voice dropped. "Where?" The man shifted uncomfortably. "I can't say much," he replied. But Alina didn't miss it. The hesitation. The caution. The way his eyes flickered like he was choosing his next words carefully. Then he finally added: "There are people… who ask about him." Alina's stomach tightened. "People?" she repeated softly. He nodded. "But it's not a name people casually associate with information." That sentence didn't make sense. And yet it did. Not casual. Not simple. Not open. Hidden. Alina stepped forward slightly. "Please," she said quietly. "I just need to know if he's real." The man looked at her for a long moment. Then sighed. And reached under the counter. He pulled out a small printed sheet. Old. Folded. Slightly worn. He placed it on the counter. "Don't tell anyone I showed you this," he said. Alina's fingers trembled slightly as she reached for it. She unfolded it slowly. And stopped. Her breath caught completely. Because there it was. A list of names. Companies. Contacts. And somewhere in it A partial reference.
"…L. V…"
Her eyes widened slightly. She didn't know what it meant. She didn't understand it fully. But it was enough. Enough to anchor him to reality. Enough to prove she hadn't imagined everything. Her voice came out barely above a whisper. "So he's real…" The man didn't answer. He simply watched her. Careful. Measured. Like he already regretted showing her. Alina folded the paper slowly. Her hands were shaking now but not from doubt anymore. From something else. Relief. And something more dangerous. Determination. Because now she wasn't chasing a ghost. She was chasing a man who existed. As she turned to leave, the man called softly: "Be careful with that name." Alina paused. Looked back slightly. "Why?" she asked. The man hesitated again. Then simply said: "Because people don't look for him unless they're ready for what comes after." Alina stood still. For a moment. Then nodded once. And walked out. Outside, the air felt different. Heavier. But clearer. Because now she knew one thing for sure: Lucien was not a mistake. Not imagination. Not fantasy. He was real. And somewhere in this city… He was still there. Elsewhere… Lucien sat in silence. The room dim. The world quiet. A message notification appeared on his phone. He didn't look at it immediately. He already knew. Slowly, he picked it up. Read it. Then exhaled once. Not surprised. Just… expected. "She's closer than she should be," he murmured. A pause. Then he set the phone down again. And for the first time He didn't try to stop it