Veylor stood in silence as Aurora's aura expanded again, pressing against the room like a storm waiting to break. Lines of silver light wrapped around her arms, bending the air itself. Her hair lifted slightly, and her eyes gleamed with something older than fear—like instinct trying to remember who she used to be.
Joshua stayed behind her, his breath shallow. He had no powers—none that matched this. But somehow, it didn't matter. Not with her in front of him like that.
Veylor didn't move.
Instead, he slowly sat down.
Not collapsed. Not slumped.
He simply lowered himself onto the cold metal floor, crossing his legs like someone resting by a fireplace. The shadows around his body coiled and uncoiled slowly, like smoke pretending to breathe.
"…Reliving this is tiring," Veylor murmured.
Aurora didn't lower her guard. "Then leave."
He looked up at her, face unreadable. "And go where? There's nowhere else left. This is the last echo of peace. The final hallway before the flood."
