The rain had stopped.
Mist clung to the streets of Velkaris Prime, softening the glow of the gas lamps into hazy halos.
Morning arrived reluctantly.
As though even the sun wished to remain hidden.
Eryndor stepped out of the bookstore.
Behind him, the old bookseller quietly returned to reading, as if conversations capable of changing history were an ordinary part of his day.
The bell above the door chimed once.
Then the street swallowed the sound.
Kael walked beside him.
Hands buried in the pockets of his long dark coat.
His dark skin caught the pale morning light, while his amber eyes scanned rooftops, windows and alleyways with practiced caution.
"You've got that look again."
Eryndor glanced sideways.
"What look?"
"The one that usually ends with reality apologizing."
"...Reality apologizes?"
"No."
Kael sighed.
"It usually doubles down."
Eryndor couldn't argue with that.
Behind them, Orvayn emerged carrying three books stacked almost to his chin.
A young scholar hurried after him carrying another seven.
"Professor..."
The scholar struggled.
"...must we bring all of these?"
"Certainly."
"There are over four thousand pages."
"I've already read them."
"...Then why bring them?"
Orvayn looked genuinely confused.
"What if I forgot something?"
Kael leaned toward Eryndor.
"I've seen him memorize an entire library."
"And?"
"He went back because he thought page three hundred and twelve had 'an interesting comma.'"
"..."
"...It did."
Orvayn replied without turning around.
Kael looked skyward.
"See what I deal with?"
The scholar whispered to Eryndor.
"...He's terrifying."
"Because of his Concept?"
"No."
The scholar shivered.
"...Because he enjoys paperwork."
Even Orvayn paused.
"...That's a little unfair."
"It isn't."
Kael answered immediately.
They continued walking.
The city was awake now.
Merchants shouted.
Children ran through narrow streets.
Blacksmiths hammered glowing steel.
For a fleeting moment...
Velkaris Prime felt normal.
Then every bell in the city rang.
Once.
Only once.
The streets froze.
People stopped talking.
Kael's expression hardened.
"Containment bell."
"What does one ring mean?"
"It means..."
His voice became unusually quiet.
"...someone important just entered the city."
Not royalty.
Something worse.
Far above—
inside the Imperial Observation Tower—
dozens of officers stared at an enormous Thread map suspended in midair.
Hundreds of golden lines flowed through the city.
One line...
had appeared from nowhere.
Straight beyond the western gate.
Moving steadily toward the city center.
An officer swallowed.
"Identity?"
Another shook his head.
"Unknown."
"Threat level?"
Silence.
Finally—
the oldest observer answered.
"...Unmeasurable."
The room became deathly still.
Outside the western gate—
a lone traveler walked along the ancient stone road.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
A weathered gray cloak concealed most of his frame.
Only his worn boots remained visible beneath the hem, crunching softly over gravel.
A longsword rested across his back.
Plain.
Old.
Without ornament.
Farmers passed him without concern.
Birds sang overhead.
The morning breeze stirred the grass.
Then...
every bird fell silent.
The traveler stopped.
He looked toward the sky.
"...You're early."
No answer came.
He smiled faintly.
"I suppose I am too."
Then he continued walking.
Miles away—
deep beneath the city—
the ancient presence sensed him.
For the first time since awakening...
it stopped moving.
Elsewhere—
Nysera stood atop a bell tower, her long black hair swaying in the morning wind.
Gray-violet eyes remained fixed on the western horizon.
Her shadow stretched unnaturally behind her despite the rising sun.
"...So."
She spoke softly.
"Even you decided to come."
She disappeared before the breeze could carry away her words.
Kael looked toward the same horizon.
A strange feeling settled in his chest.
Not fear.
Recognition.
As though history had just taken a breath.
Eryndor noticed it too.
He couldn't explain why...
But he suddenly felt that someone extraordinary was approaching.
Not an enemy.
Not an ally.
Simply...
Someone whose arrival would change the course of the Infinite Weave.
Far beyond the sight of the city walls—
the traveler reached the gates.
The guards instinctively straightened.
Neither knew why.
One opened his mouth to ask for identification.
The words never came.
Instead...
He stepped aside.
So did the second guard.
The massive gates opened.
Without a command.
Without hesitation.
The traveler inclined his head politely.
"Thank you."
Then he entered Velkaris Prime.
And somewhere, in places both seen and unseen, eyes turned toward the city.
The game had gained another player.