The forest felt normal.
Too normal.
Arin paused mid-swing.
The axe hung in the air, but didn't fall.
Not because he stopped it.
Because something felt off.
"…this again."
He frowned slightly.
That feeling.
He had felt it before.
Not in this life, but in his previous one.
As Aditya.
That same strange change in the air.
That same unnatural stillness before something went wrong.
His grip tightened.
"…so it followed me."
The wind stopped.
Completely.
The leaves froze mid-motion.
Even the faint sounds of the forest vanished.
Arin didn't panic.
He stepped back.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Because he remembered what came after this.
Not clearly.
Not completely.
But enough.
"…something's about to happen."
The space in front of him trembled.
Not visibly.
But he felt it.
Like something was trying to exist and failing.
Then it happened.
A thin crack appeared in the air.
Sharp.
Unnatural.
Like reality had been cut.
Arin's eyes narrowed.
"…yeah."
No confusion.
No denial.
"…definitely not normal."
The crack flickered.
Expanding slightly before collapsing in on itself.
Gone.
Like nothing had happened.
Silence returned.
But not completely.
Because now he was certain.
"…this is the same thing."
His mind moved quickly.
Faster than it should.
Because this wasn't his first time facing something unknown.
He had already lived through something far worse.
"…then I deal with it."
Simple.
Direct.
Just like before.
Far away, Liora stood by the river.
The water was calm.
Too calm.
Her reflection stared back at her.
Unmoving.
Unchanging.
"…not again…"
Her voice was quieter this time.
Not confused.
Uneasy.
Because this feeling was becoming familiar.
The surface of the water shifted.
Not from wind.
From something beneath.
A ripple spread outward without cause.
Her breath slowed.
"…what are you…"
The reflection changed.
Not her face.
Something behind her.
A figure.
Tall.
Still.
Watching.
Her heart pounded.
But she didn't turn.
Not immediately.
Because something inside her told her something important.
"…don't run."
The words slipped out.
Not thought.
Felt.
The figure in the water moved.
One step forward.
The ripple broke violently.
Liora turned instantly, but nothing was there.
Only empty air.
Only silence.
But her hand was trembling.
"…this isn't normal…"
And yet it didn't feel new.
It felt like something returning.
Across the land, small distortions began to appear.
Not everywhere.
But enough.
Enough to matter.
Enough to be noticed by those who could feel them.
And above it all, something watched.
Not distant.
Not separate.
Connected.
"…subject one—active."
A pause.
"…subject two—resonating."
Silence.
"…synchronization beginning."
Arin looked up suddenly.
For no visible reason.
"…someone's watching."
He didn't question it.
Didn't doubt it.
Because that instinct had saved him before.
"…fine."
A small pause.
"…watch."
Liora stepped back from the river.
Her heart still racing, but her eyes steady.
"…whatever this is…"
Her hand clenched slightly.
"…I'll figure it out."
The wind returned.
Suddenly.
Strong.
Carrying something new.
Both of them felt it at the same time.
A pull.
Faint.
But real.
Not memory.
Not recognition.
Connection.
Unclear.
Unformed.
But undeniable.
Arin stood still.
"…someone's there."
Liora looked toward the horizon.
"…I'm not alone…"
Neither of them understood it.
Not yet.
But something had begun.
And this time it wouldn't wait.