The air was still trembling long after Lucarion vanished.
Nerine's heart was racing, her hands still trembling at her sides. She turned toward Kael, whose shoulders were rigid, his jaw tight enough to break stone.
"Kael," she said softly, almost afraid of her own voice. "Who was that?"
He didn't answer. He just stood there, staring at the empty space where Lucarion had been, smoke curling faintly from his fingertips.
"Kael."
Still nothing.
Finally, he turned away, walking toward the edge of the terrace. The faint sound of his exhale was sharp — controlled fury. A trail of dark smoke rose from his hand, curling upward like restless shadow.
Nerine frowned, her chest tightening. "You're scaring me. Tell me who he was."
Kael lifted a hand, and the smoke twisted, then faded into the air. He leaned against the railing, looking out into the violet horizon, his voice low. "You really want to know?"
She folded her arms. "I wouldn't ask if I didn't."
