"Who are you? You are not Rael."
Her divine composure cracked further as confusion replaced her initial shock. She stared at him with growing amazement, her radiant form flickering slightly as if her concentration had been shattered.
"This is impossible," she breathed, her voice trembling with something that might have been fear. "I can see that you are not who you appear to be, but I cannot... I cannot read you. Your essence, your origin, your very soul—it's as if they exist behind a veil I cannot pierce."
Her eyes narrowed, the golden light within them flaring brighter as she intensified her divine perception. Yet still, Julian remained an stranger to her. The effort seemed to strain her and small beads of sweat appeared on her brow.
