The message didn't disappear.
It stayed.
Burning into her screen.
"Next time… I won't send someone else."
Aeris stared at it.
Not angry.
Not afraid.
Done.
"…Then stop hiding."
Silence answered.
But this time—
it didn't last.
Because something moved.
Not on her phone.
Not outside.
Behind her.
👁 FACE TO FACE
"…You've grown."
The voice was calm.
Familiar.
Too familiar.
Aeris didn't turn immediately.
Because she already knew.
"…You were there that night."
A pause.
Then—
"Yes."
She turned.
Slowly.
And for the first time—
She saw him.
Not a shadow.
Not a blur.
A man.
Ordinary.
And that—
was the worst part.
"…You killed them."
Silence.
Then—
"They were never meant to survive."
Her eyes darkened.
"…Why?"
A slight tilt of his head.
"Because they chose wrong."
The same words.
Over and over.
Choice.
Always choice.
"…And me?"
A pause.
Then—
"You were a mistake."
Silence.
Cold.
Sharp.
And just like that—
the past stood in front of her.
Alive.
😈 KAEL STEPS IN
He didn't rush.
Didn't panic.
Because unlike everyone else—
he had been waiting for this.
"…So you finally showed yourself."
The man's gaze shifted.
"…Kael Virex."
Recognition.
Real.
"…You're involved deeper than expected."
A pause.
Kael stepped forward.
"You're not leaving."
Simple.
Final.
The man smiled slightly.
"You think this ends here?"
Silence.
Then—
"Thraeven kor'val…"
Literal meaning:
"This isn't the end."
Real meaning:
"You've only just stepped into something far bigger."
Aeris didn't move.
"…Then we finish it ourselves."
And for the first time—
they stood on the same side.