The darkness lasted only three seconds.
But to Rin... It felt like an eternity.
The voice of the World still echoed inside his head.
He is ready.
Rin didn't understand what it meant. Ready for what?
His power? His memories? The truth? Or something far worse?
The darkness suddenly disappeared.
Every candle in the council chamber ignited simultaneously.
Blue flames.
Then—
Gold.
Then black.
The three colors twisted together above the table.
Everyone stared. Sol was the first to react.
"Rin."
"I'm fine."
"You aren't."
"I know."
Rin looked down at his hands.
Something was moving beneath his skin. Not blood. Light.
Thin silver lines traveled from his fingertips toward his wrists.
He could feel something inside him.
Something enormous. Something ancient. Something that had been sleeping for a very long time.
Rin swallowed.
"Is this supposed to happen?"
Sol slowly shook his head.
"Not yet."
"That's comforting."
"I wasn't trying to comfort you."
"I know."
