The trail the Unnamed left wasn't a trail at all.
No footprints.
No broken branches.
Just a feeling — the seal guiding Miko forward, pulling her like a compass.
Kael followed — shadows scouting ahead, silent.
They moved through dense forest — trees older than the academy, roots thick as arms, air heavy with moss and earth.
By midday — the seal led them to a small clearing.
No one there.
Just a single object on the ground — a cracked obsidian shard, half-buried in dirt.
Crimson veins faint.
Miko knelt.
The seal flared — hot.
Look.
She touched it.
Vision — brief, sharp.
The Unnamed — hood down for once.
Face scarred, eyes silver-gray.
He stood in a cavern — similar to the one they'd found.
Shadows poured from him — black, pure.
No crimson.
He fought — pushed back.
The shadows turned — attacked him.
He screamed — silent.
Then — he stopped fighting.
The shadows calmed.
Merged.
He stood — changed.
The vision ended.
Miko gasped — pulling her hand back.
Kael crouched beside her.
"What did you see?"
Miko's voice shook.
"Him.
Before.
He had a seal too.
Not crimson.
He surrendered.
It… changed him."
Kael looked at the shard.
"He's not human anymore."
Miko nodded.
"But he's still fighting.
In his way."
Kael stood.
"Then we find him.
And we ask why."
They kept moving.
The seal guided — steady.
Night fell.
They made camp — small fire, no words.
Miko stared at the flames.
Kael sat beside her.
"You're thinking about surrendering."
Miko nodded.
"Not to lose.
To win."
Kael looked at her.
"You're not alone in this."
Miko leaned against him.
"I know."
The seal pulsed — once, gentle.
Together.
Miko smiled — small.
"Yeah."
They slept — close.
The seal stayed quiet.
For now.
To be continued…