The door closed behind him like a whisper, but the weight in the room doubled.
Garos didn't look up right away. He already knew the voice. He knew the damn chill that always followed it.
"…Eron."
His younger brother stepped forward slowly, hands in his coat pockets, sharp suit pristine like he hadn't done a single dirty thing in years.
But Garos knew better.
Eron looked around the room briefly, taking in the floating displays, the locked-in readings, the sealed gate data. Then his eyes fell on Garos, who was still seated, back straight, fingers clenched on the edge of the desk.
Garos finally looked at him. Calm on the surface.
But his eyes burned.
"You have something to do with it?"
Eron smiled lightly, as if it was a dumb question. "With what, dear brother?"
Garos stood. Slowly. Deliberately.
His voice stayed low. "The gate. It changed mid-operation. No one could get in or out. No signal. No mana echo. That doesn't happen unless someone forces it."
