The explosion of power hadn't settled.
It was still vibrating through the walls.
Through the ground.
Through them.
Nyra stood at the center of it all—calm.
Too calm.
Kael's chest tightened.
Because that calm—
Was unfamiliar.
"Nyra," he said again.
This time—
She looked at him.
Fully.
No hesitation.
No confusion.
Just… awareness.
"I can hear you," she said.
Relief hit him—
Hard.
"You're still there."
Nyra tilted her head slightly.
"I never left."
Ronan exhaled sharply.
"Great. So can we stop trying to kill each other now?"
Nyra's lips curved faintly.
"Depends."
Ronan blinked.
"…On what?"
Nyra's gaze shifted between them.
"On whether you're going to get in my way."
Silence.
Kael stepped forward.
"We're here to take you out of this place."
Nyra didn't move.
"I know."
"Then come with us."
Another pause.
Then—
"No."
The word hit harder than expected.
Ronan frowned.
"Seriously?"
Nyra's expression didn't change.
"If I leave now," she said, "they'll just do it again."
Kael's jaw tightened.
"Then we destroy this place."
Nyra shook her head slowly.
"It's bigger than this place."
Silence.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"What are you saying?"
Nyra's voice dropped.
"This isn't just one facility."
A pause.
"It's a system."
That changed everything.
Ronan's expression hardened.
"…Of course it is."
Nyra continued.
"They've been studying this for years. Maybe longer."
Her eyes darkened slightly.
"And now—they've found me."
Kael clenched his fists.
"Then we end it."
Nyra looked at him again.
And for a moment—
There was something softer there.
But it didn't last.
"Not by rushing in blindly," she said.
Ronan crossed his arms.
"So what's your brilliant plan?"
Nyra's gaze sharpened.
"We let them think they're winning."
Silence.
Kael stared at her.
"No."
Nyra didn't look away.
"Yes."
"That's too dangerous."
Nyra's voice hardened.
"I am the danger."
That shut him up.
Before anyone could speak again—
The man stepped forward from the shadows.
Calm.
Unbothered.
"Interesting," he said.
All three of them turned instantly.
"You've adapted faster than expected."
Nyra's expression didn't change.
"You talk too much."
The man smiled faintly.
"And you're still here."
A pause.
"Which means you've realized the same thing I have."
Nyra didn't respond.
But her silence—
Said enough.
The man's eyes gleamed slightly.
"You can't leave," he said.
Kael stepped forward.
"Watch us."
The man ignored him.
His gaze stayed on Nyra.
"Because if you do…"
A pause.
"…you lose control of what you've just gained."
Nyra's eyes narrowed slightly.
Ronan muttered under his breath.
"…I don't like this guy."
Kael didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Because he understood something now.
Something dangerous.
Nyra was thinking.
Calculating.
Choosing.
And that choice—
Might not be what they wanted.
Nyra took a slow step forward.
Toward the man.
Ronan's eyes widened.
"Hey—what are you doing?"
Nyra didn't answer.
Kael's voice dropped.
"Nyra."
She stopped.
Just for a second.
Then said quietly—
"I'm ending this."
Nyra has chosen a dangerous path…
but is she walking into control—or a trap?