The air outside the temple turned heavy the moment the fragment stepped forward. No wind. No sound. Just pressure.
Darius didn't move. He stood directly in front of Lyra, his body a solid barrier, his presence sharp and unyielding. The energy around him shifted—darker, more dangerous.
"Stay behind me," he repeated, lower this time.
Lyra didn't argue. Not because she couldn't. But because she saw it too. The way the fragment looked at her. Like nothing else existed.
The fragment took another step. Closer. Its form flickered, stabilizing slightly with each movement. Shadows wrapped around its limbs like armor, its ember eyes locked past Darius—straight to Lyra. Ignoring him completely.
Darius noticed. And something in him snapped. "You think I won't touch you?" he said, voice cold. Still—no reaction.
That was enough. In a flash, Darius moved. Fast. His energy surged as he lunged forward, claws cutting through the air with lethal precision—straight for the fragment's core.
Impact. But not the way he expected. The moment his attack landed—the fragment distorted. Not dodging. Not blocking. Just… shifting. Like his attack passed through something that chose not to exist for him.
Darius landed, sliding back slightly, eyes narrowing. "What—"
"It's not reacting to you," Lyra said sharply from behind him.
The fragment tilted its head. Then it spoke. "Not… him." Its voice was clearer now. More stable.
Darius's expression darkened dangerously. "You don't get to decide that."
He attacked again. Faster. Stronger. The ground cracked beneath his force—but the result was the same. Nothing. Every strike ignored. As if he didn't exist.
The fragment didn't even look at him. Not once.
"Darius, stop." Lyra stepped forward.
He didn't.
"Darius."
That made him pause. Just for a second.
And that second—was enough.
The fragment moved. Not toward him. Toward her.
Darius reacted instantly. He grabbed Lyra's arm and pulled her back behind him, his grip tighter now. "Enough."
"It's not attacking—"
"That's not the point." His eyes burned, silver flashing with anger. "It crossed distance to get to you. It's speaking your name. It's ignoring everything else. And you still think that's safe?"
The fragment stopped a few steps away. Watching. Waiting.
Then it spoke again. "Come."
The word settled into the air. Heavy. Calling.
Lyra felt it stronger this time. Not force. Not control. But something inside her responding.
Darius felt her shift—and that was all it took. His grip tightened. "No."
"Darius—"
"No." His voice dropped, firm and final. "You don't answer it. You don't move toward it. You don't even listen to it."
A pause. His gaze turned deadly as he faced the fragment.
"And if it wants you… it goes through me first."
Silence.
For the first time, the fragment's eyes shifted. Not fully. But enough.
Toward Darius.
A flicker passed through its expression. Something new. Something uncertain.
Then—
It spoke again.
This time clearer.
Stronger.
"Obstacle."