Zane blinked slowly, Kaela's words bouncing around in his head like thunder in a cave. "An anomaly. Just like you."
His fists tightened at his sides. "...What do you mean?"
Kaela didn't turn to face him. Her voice dropped just above a whisper. "We are not the only ones, Zane. There are others like us—born of something ancient, something the world fears and covets at the same time."
She finally turned, eyes sharp and tired.
"Most of them gave in... and joined forces. They've built something—an organization. I don't know its name, only whispers. But I do know they want you."
Zane's heart skipped a beat.
"They tried to get me, too. But I refused. I fled, concealed myself within this academy. A place thick with magic, where they couldn't track me easily. But you—"
She pointed a finger at him, slowly, as if accusing him of being too loud, too bright in the dark.
"You're like a flare to them. That Phoenix? That wasn't a random wild beast. I'm convinced it was sent... by them."
Zane's jaw clenched. "But I survived."
Kaela nodded. "Somehow, you got stronger. The Void responded to you. It crowned you. That's what scared them."
She stepped closer. "I've been watching you, Zane. Quietly. And I know this much—they're coming. If they can't make you one of them..."
Her voice turned colder.
"They'll kill you. That's what happened to the last two of your kind."
Silence dropped like a curtain.
Zane swallowed the lump in his throat and murmured, "...Nyx?"
With a shimmer of dark mist, Nyx appeared, curling her tiny body onto Zane's shoulder, her expression unusually serious. She didn't speak—just slowly nodded, confirming every word.
Kaela's eyes narrowed curiously at the shadowy being perched calmly by Zane's neck. She tilted her head.
"...Huh. That thing on your shoulder—she's kinda beautiful."
Zane raised a brow. "I thought I was the only one who could see her."
"You are," Kaela replied, eyes glowing faintly crimson. "Which should terrify you even more."