The capital appeared before the gates.
First came the sounds.
Metal.
People.
Life.
Then… movement.
Carriages passing too fast.
People arguing in the middle of the street.
Someone laughing loudly.
Another complaining about something no one there really cared about.
And then—
the walls.
Tall.
Ancient.
But alive.
— …it's bigger than I remember.
Mike said, almost to himself.
Kael let out a small laugh.
— You've never been here.
Mike shrugged.
— Then it's bigger than I imagined.
They passed through the gate without ceremony.
The guards looked.
Recognized them.
And said nothing.
Their names had arrived before them.
They always did.
But the mood wasn't victory.
There was no celebration.
No relief.
Just… continuation.
Lyra was the first to stop.
In the middle of the street.
Like she had forgotten how to walk.
— I have to go.
She said.
Simple.
But not light.
No one asked where.
Because everyone knew.
— Already?
Mike asked.
She looked at him.
— You think this can wait?
He opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
— Yeah…
Silence.
Kael crossed his arms.
— Makes sense.
Lyra nodded.
But didn't leave yet.
She stayed there.
Like something was stuck.
— That thing back there…
She started.
Stopped.
Breathed.
— That can't happen again.
Elion answered without thinking:
— It will.
Her look changed.
— Then we stop it.
— We try.
Silence.
They looked at each other a second longer than normal.
Like there was something there that didn't need to be said.
And maybe shouldn't be.
Lyra looked away first.
— I'll let you know when something comes up.
— You always do.
Kael said.
She gave a half smile.
— Not always.
She turned.
And left.
Without looking back.
Mike watched her go.
Until she disappeared into the crowd.
— …was she always like that?
Kael answered:
— No.
Silence.
— But she became it.
Elion started walking.
Without saying anything.
Mike looked.
— Where are you going?
— To work.
Simple answer.
— Work how?
Elion stopped.
Looked at him.
— The way it needs to be.
Didn't explain more.
Didn't need to.
Mike felt it.
— You're going back to that?
Elion didn't answer right away.
— I never left.
And he walked off.
No drama.
No goodbye.
Just… gone.
Mike stood there.
Looking at the two empty paths now.
— Nice.
He exhaled.
— One went to fix the world…
He looked the other way.
— the other's going hunting people…
Silence.
— And us?
Kael was already walking.
— We're going to see someone weirder than you.
Mike frowned.
— That's possible?
Kael gave a half smile.
— Unfortunately.
They went deeper into the city.
And the more they walked…
the more the capital showed what it was.
Hunters.
Everywhere.
Some training in the middle of the street.
Others discussing contracts.
Different weapons.
Different styles.
Strong people.
Dangerous people.
And everyone watching.
Not with fear.
But with interest.
— They know.
Mike said.
— They do.
Kael answered.
— Know what exactly?
— That something changed.
Silence.
They passed a group.
One of them whispered:
— It's them.
Another replied:
— The kid too?
Mike heard it.
— I'm "the kid" now?
Kael didn't even look.
— Get used to it.
— I don't want to.
— Then you're already doing it wrong.
Mike scoffed.
But didn't answer.
Because deep down…
he knew.
They stopped.
A quieter street.
More… silent.
Almost out of place in the city.
— This it?
Mike asked.
— Yeah.
— Looks abandoned.
— It's not.
Silence.
— Just looks like it.
Mike looked around.
Felt it.
Something there…
different.
Like the space was… deeper.
— She lives here?
— She does.
— Alone?
Kael gave a half smile.
— You'll find out.
Mike took a breath.
— Alright…
He took a step.
And stopped.
— Hey.
Kael looked.
— Hm?
Mike scratched his head.
— This person…
Short silence.
— can we trust her?
Kael thought for a second.
— More than us.
Mike blinked.
— That doesn't help.
— It will.
Silence.
— Later.
Mike exhaled.
— Fine…
He took another step.
And that's when—
the air changed.
Light.
Strange.
Like someone was… watching before they even arrived.
— She already knows.
Kael said.
Mike smirked slightly.
— Of course.
Silence.
— Let's see then. The name was still in the air.
Elion.
Mike didn't like how that sat.
It wasn't just surprise.
It was… discomfort.
— That doesn't make sense.
He said quietly.
Merlin tilted her head slightly.
— It does.
— No, it doesn't.
He started pacing.
— If he knew… then why—
He stopped.
— why fight with us?
Silence.
Kael answered this time.
— Because knowing doesn't mean choosing the same side.
Mike looked at him.
— So he's on their side?
— No.
Kael answered directly.
— And that's the worst part.
Silence.
— He's on his own side.
Merlin smiled slightly.
— Exactly.
Mike ran a hand through his hair.
— That just makes everything worse.
— Welcome.
Merlin replied.
Silence.
— Alright…
Mike took a deep breath.
— so there's a cult trying to bring back ancient gods…
— someone we already fought came back to life…
— the Monarch knows…
— Elion knows…
He looked at Merlin.
— and you know more than you're saying.
She didn't deny it.
— Always.
Silence.
— And me?
She stepped closer.
— You learn.
— When?
— Now.
Silence.
She raised her hand.
And something… shifted.
It wasn't an explosion.
It wasn't light.
It was more… subtle.
Like space had been slightly pulled.
— Pay attention.
Mike focused.
For the first time…
for real.
— Your power isn't creation.
Silence.
— That's just what it looks like.
— Then what is it?
She looked into his eyes.
— You choose what is real.
Silence.
Mike didn't answer.
Because that…
didn't sound simple.
— But—
She continued.
— you still need to believe.
— I already do that.
— No.
She shook her head.
— You try.
Silence.
— It's different.
Kael watched quietly.
— When you tried to hold that thing…
She continued.
— you doubted.
Mike frowned.
— I didn't doubt.
— You did.
— I didn't—
— You did.
Silence.
She stepped closer.
— And that's why it didn't work.
Mike looked away.
— So I just have to believe?
She smiled.
— No.
— Then explain it properly.
— It's feeling like it's already true.
Silence.
— No effort.
— No fear.
— No overthinking.
Mike let out a short laugh.
— Easy.
— It's not.
Silence.
— That's why almost no one can do it.
Kael crossed his arms.
— And him?
Merlin looked at Mike.
— He can.
— When he stops trying.
Silence.
Mike stood still.
Thinking.
— So I have to…
He stopped.
— stop trying?
— Yes.
— That's very contradictory.
— I know.
Silence.
She stepped back.
— Show me something.
Mike looked around.
— Like what?
— Anything.
Silence.
He raised his hand.
Thought.
A chair.
Nothing.
— See?
— You're trying.
Mike closed his eyes.
Breathed.
Tried not to think.
Just… imagine.
Something simple.
A ball.
Small.
Nothing.
He opened his eyes.
— This doesn't work like that.
Merlin watched.
Unhurried.
— It does.
— Just not with you trying to control it.
Silence.
Mike took a deep breath.
Again.
And this time—
he didn't think.
He just let it happen.
And for a second—
a very short one—
something appeared.
A shape.
Unstable.
Almost nonexistent.
And vanished.
Silence.
Kael noticed.
— You saw that?
Mike opened his eyes.
— …I did.
Merlin smiled.
— That's how it starts.
Silence.
— Small.
— Unstable.
— But real.
Mike looked at his hand.
— That doesn't seem very useful.
— Not yet.
Silence.
— But it will be.
She turned her back.
— When you stop doubting.
Mike stayed quiet.
But this time—
it wasn't confusion.
It was focus.
— I'll learn.
Merlin answered without looking:
— I know.
Silence.
And then—
the world returned.
Heavier.
Clearer.
— Because you'll need it.
Mike looked up.
— For what?
Merlin stopped.
And answered without turning.
— Because next time…
Silence.
— it won't be something incomplete.
The air turned cold.
— It'll be one of them.
Silence.
And this time—
no one laughed.