Silence filled the hall after the last page was revealed.
The image of Air…
And the face that looked exactly like Yash…
Igna's mind struggled to process it. His grip on the dagger tightened slightly, the cold metal grounding him as his thoughts raced. Even Sele, who rarely showed reactions, kept her eyes on the page a moment longer.
Andre didn't speak immediately. He closed the book slowly, as if giving the moment time to settle.
Then he looked at Yash.
Andre: "You might be his reincarnation."
The words landed heavily.
Igna turned toward Yash instantly.
But Yash didn't react the way anyone expected.
He didn't look surprised.
He didn't look confused.
He just gave a small, almost tired exhale.
Yash: "So if I show you a beggar's drawing that looks a bit like you…"
He glanced at Andre.
Yash: "Will you become him?"
The room went quiet again.
Andre didn't interrupt.
Yash continued calmly.
Yash: "It's just a resemblance."
A small pause.
Yash: "There are many people who look alike."
His tone wasn't defensive.
It was simple.
Grounded.
Like he had already dismissed the idea completely.
Igna looked between the two of them, unsure what to believe.
The drawing had been too accurate.
Too exact.
But Yash's words… also made sense.
Before the tension could settle—
Emily's voice cut through it.
She had already finished eating and was leaning back in her chair, looking bored.
Then her eyes shifted toward Igna.
And a smile slowly formed.
Emily: "So…"
Igna immediately felt something was wrong.
Emily: "You think that little dagger will save you?"
Igna blinked.
Igna: "What?"
Emily stood up and walked toward him slowly, her expression playful but dangerous.
Emily: "Because it won't."
She leaned slightly closer.
Emily: "If I decide to attack you… that thing won't even matter."
Igna frowned slightly but didn't step back this time.
Igna: "I didn't say it would."
Emily smiled wider.
Emily: "Good."
She tapped the dagger lightly with her finger.
Emily: "Because you'll need more than that."
May sighed softly from the side.
Hena smiled quietly.
Sele just watched.
The tension from before faded slightly, replaced by a lighter, familiar chaos.
Andre let out a small breath, then spoke again.
Andre: "There's one more thing."
Everyone looked back at him.
His tone had changed again.
More serious.
More thoughtful.
He placed his hand on the old book.
Andre: "According to this… the dungeons…"
He paused for a moment.
Andre: "…appeared right after the defeat of Monas."
Silence.
The words felt different from everything else.
Heavier.
Igna's expression changed.
Igna: "After… the defeat?"
Andre nodded slowly.
Andre: "That's what is written."
A short pause.
Andre: "Not before."
That detail mattered.
A lot.
The room grew quiet again.
This time, not because of shock—
But because of thought.
Connections.
Questions.
Things that didn't have answers yet.
Igna looked down at the dagger in his hand.
Then at the book.
Then at Yash.
Something was there.
Something hidden.
Something none of them fully understood yet.
Yash remained calm, like always.
But this time—
Even his silence felt different.