Kael instantly noticed the change in the man's expression. What had first appeared cold and distant was now replaced by a wave of writhing anger. The man slowly placed the paper and pen on the table, clenched his fingers into a tight fist. That fist seemed to echo through the room, leaving a shiver inside Kael. It was clear now Kael had pushed him too far with his relentless questions, and the man's patience was being tested.
Kael tried to avert his gaze from the man's furious eyes, but the energy radiating from him was suffocating. The weight of the situation settled heavily on his shoulders, making him realize once more how vast the chaos was. Because this man this stranger seemed to know everything, to see everything. Yet Kael himself remained lost in the midst of it, unaware of even the most basic truths.
His throat was dry; words tangled in it, but he had to speak. His eyes welled up, his voice trembled, but in that moment, it was the only thing he could do. He took a deep breath and began, slowly:
"Look… I… really don't know anything," he said, choosing his words with care. "Couldn't you be mistaking me for someone else? My name is Kael… Honestly, the one bearing that name me I'm just an ordinary guy. I was on my way home from work, that's all."
A spark flickered in the man's eyes, but Kael went on:
"The night… in the park… I just wanted to smoke a cigarette. That's all. Then… then something happened… but I don't know what. I can't explain it. Everything happened so fast. They brought me here, tied my hands, before I could even understand what was going on…"
Kael lowered his head slightly, eyes fixed on the floor, his words circling in his mind again and again.
"These… these things I experienced… I don't know how to explain them. Honestly, things like this have never happened in my life. I just… I'm trying to be normal. I want a roof over my head, a bit of peace. I go to work, smoke in the park. That's it…"
His voice trembled, and his eyes held sorrow and helplessness. As he tried to read the man's reaction, the fear and uncertainty within him grew. The weight of all the strangeness he had experienced bore down on him, forcing him to question the meaning of his life.
"Please… don't misunderstand me. I… really don't know anything. If I have anything to do with this person named Artemus… it must be without my knowledge. But don't expect anything from me… I'm just Kael," he said, eyes brimming.
Silence spread through the room like a heavy fog. Kael waited for the man's response, hopes and fears colliding within him. There was no turning back now; he had to face the truth. Yet he still had no idea how bitter and complex that truth might be.
The man had been silently writing for some time, occasionally glancing at Kael. But as Kael spoke more, the man's behavior began to shift. First, his pen stopped. Then, with a harsh, uncontrolled motion, he dropped the notebook to the ground not with care. The thick cover struck the stone with a loud thud that sharpened the tension in the room.
Kael flinched.
The man no longer seemed to be listening to what Kael was saying. His head was bowed, eyes hidden, but the muscles in his jaw were clenched. His lips were pressed tightly together, and there was a faint grinding of teeth. Kael held his breath. Driven by instinctive fear, he felt that the man had reached his limit. He looked away but continued to speak, voice trembling hoping a few words might ease the situation.
But it was too late.
The man suddenly leapt from his chair. He stomped the ground with a sharp movement and marched toward Kael with clenched fists. His eyes burned with rage.
"Enough!" he roared. His voice echoed off the stone walls. "You expect me to believe all of this?! You've been in and out of the wheel of time countless times, and now you sit here and tell me you were just smoking in the park?!"
Kael tried to recoil, but he was tied to the chair. As the fist approached, he shut his eyes. His body trembled. He braced for the pain. But…
"Arthur!"
A deep, authoritative voice filled the room. Kael, eyes tightly shut, realized nothing had happened. The punch had never landed. Cautiously, he opened his eyes. The man still stood in front of him, but his expression had completely changed. The fury had been replaced with restrained sorrow. His lips trembled, eyes momentarily cast downward. His fist was still raised, but unmoving.
Kael inhaled in surprise. He watched as the fist redirected and struck the air instead.
The voice had come from behind. Its owner was a middle-aged, imposing man. Broad-shouldered, tall, and noble in bearing, he stood in the doorway. His face was tired but resolute. He raised his hand slightly, pausing before stepping forward. Then, quietly, he walked to Arthur's side, placing a hand on his shoulder. The touch was gentle, yet carried undeniable authority.
"Not now," he said simply.
Arthur clenched his teeth, the lines between his brows deepening. But he said nothing. He averted his gaze from Kael and lowered his head. The fury of moments ago had left behind a sense of suppressed shame. Without a word, he dragged his feet and exited the room. The thud of the door behind him made the silence that followed feel even heavier.
The man who replaced him looked at Kael in silence. His eyes didn't carry the rage of before but a deeper, more ancient weariness. He was thinking but not yet speaking. As he sat down, his movements were calm. His expression was that of someone who had watched silently for years and had finally decided to speak.
Kael, however, was still trying to process what had just happened. The sudden restraint of Arthur, the arrival of this new man… Everything was unfolding without explanation. But one thing was clear: this new man held far greater authority.
Kael's mind churned with questions about the situation. The tension with Arthur, his departure, and now this new figure… Perhaps someone would finally explain things, help him make sense of this nightmare. He hoped so, deep down.
But the man didn't say a word.
The room was so quiet that Kael could hear his own heartbeat. Despite the silence, the man showed no intention of speaking. Slowly, without haste, he picked up the notebook from the floor. Then, he pulled a pen from his pocket. Kael opened his mouth to speak.
"Please, look… Could you just tell me what's going on? I"
The man gave no reply. He didn't even lift his head. From the moment his pen touched the notebook, it was as if the rest of the world ceased to exist. He wrote… continuously. Kael, still tied to the chair, watched him with anxious eyes, unsure if his voice was even being heard.
It was as if he were talking to himself in an empty room.
And then…
The man put down his pen.
He closed the notebook and slowly rose to his feet. Even that motion carried a certain weight, as if every move he made was the product of long reflection. As he began to walk away, Kael instinctively reached out. In a final plea, he grabbed the man's arm.
"Wait!" Kael cried, his voice shaking with desperation. "Please say something! I beg you!"
But that was a mistake.
For the first time, the man looked directly at Kael. His gaze held no anger, hatred, or panic only… distance. A cold, impenetrable distance. Then, with unexpected speed almost supernatural he pulled his arm free and shoved Kael hard toward the ground. Kael, caught off guard, lost his balance and crashed onto his side. His shoulder throbbed in pain, his breath caught in his chest.
Kael's eyes widened in shock. Struggling to steady himself on the stone floor, the man leaned in slowly. His voice was calm, quiet but every word pierced like a dagger:
"Enjoy your last peaceful sleep… You're making a great sacrifice."
Then, with a faint, unreadable smile at the corner of his lips, he picked up his notebook and pen once more. Turning his back, he walked away. He exited the room as if nothing had happened. Kael called out one last time before the door closed, but his voice barely rose above a whisper.
No answer came.
Kael remained sprawled on the ground. He tried to grip the cold stone with his hands, but his head was spinning. His eyelids grew heavy. He knew this feeling. Just like that strange thing the man named Luther had done… but this time it was stronger. Even though he wanted to resist, his body wouldn't obey. Panic flared within him; he wanted to stay awake, to understand… but his eyes were closing.
"No…" he whispered. "What's… happening to me…?"
He managed to resist for a little over a minute. With every breath, he fought to remain conscious. But words blurred, sounds drowned, and the world went dark.
And at last, Kael fell back into the void.