The timer above Prince's name drops fast.
Lyrelle's fingers tremble slightly around his sleeve. "Prince… what is it?"
Prince doesn't answer.
Kyra can't look up.
Aurora watches like she already knows.
The phone screen flashes:
"DISPLAYING PREVIEW."
A short clip loads.
Dark room.
Music faint.
Laughter.
Prince's hand.
Kyra's voice.
The clip cuts before anything clear is shown.
Just enough.
Lyrelle's breath stops.
Jake stiffens beside Kyra. "What was that?"
Kyra whispers, "It's not—"
"PREVIEW ENDS."
"FULL FILE AVAILABLE."
The timer resets.
10 seconds.
Prince finally speaks. "Lyrelle, it's not what you think."
That's the worst sentence he could've chosen.
Lyrelle steps back.
Kaida moves.
Before the timer hits 6, she steps in front of Prince.
"Stop."
Her voice shakes — but she doesn't move.
"Select me."
Everyone turns.
Her phone lights up instantly.
"VOLUNTEER DETECTED."
"ARE YOU SURE?"
Kaida doesn't look at Lyrelle. Doesn't look at Kyra.
"Yes."
Thorian grabs her wrist. "Kaida."
She gently pulls away.
"I delayed long enough."
The screen shifts.
Prince's reveal disappears.
New text replaces it.
"PLAYER KAIDA."
"TRADE ACCEPTED."
The lights flicker violently.
Then—
A new clip loads.
It's Kaida.
Weeks ago.
On her phone.
Reading a message from an unknown sender.
"IF YOU TELL HER, SHE BREAKS."
"IF YOU STAY QUIET, SHE TRUSTS YOU."
Kaida typing back.
"Give me time."
The room goes still.
Lyrelle whispers, "You knew."
Kaida's eyes fill but she doesn't look away.
"Yes."
The clip ends.
Phones buzz one final time.
"TRUTH POSTPONED."
"DAMAGE APPLIED."
Prince exhales shakily.
Kyra looks like she might collapse.
Jake slowly pulls his hand away from hers.
Aurora smiles softly.
"Oh," she murmurs. "Now this is interesting."
And the worst part?
The full Prince & Kyra reveal is still sitting in the Game's system.
Waiting.