Jacob's thoughts spiraled.
Tell his uncle… or stay silent?
Before he could decide, the red sky above him flickered just for a second.
Then… everything froze.
The whispers stopped.
The wind died.
Even his other self… stood completely still.
Jacob's heart began to race.
"What… is happening?"
A new presence.
Different.
Heavier.
Behind him… a voice spoke.
"…So he brought you here."
Jacob turned sharply , A man stood there.
Tall. Calm. Familiar.
"Alaric…?"
Alaric didn't answer immediately. His eyes moved past Jacob… locking onto Alexander in the distance.
For the first time , Alexander stopped smiling.
Silence.
Heavy. Dangerous silence , Alaric spoke, his voice low:
"You shouldn't have interfered."
Alexander tilted his head slightly.
"And you shouldn't have hidden him."
Jacob's eyes widened.
"Hidden… me?"
Neither of them looked at him , Like he wasn't even there Alaric took a step forward.
"The deal was over."
Alexander's smile slowly returned.
"Deals don't end, Alaric… they evolve."
A pause.
Then "Or did you forget what you became… that day?"
The air changed Jacob felt it , Pressure… suffocating… like something invisible was crushing his chest Alaric's expression hardened.
"Don't."
Too late.
Alexander raised his hand slightly And suddenly Fragments , Broken images flashed in Jacob's mind:
A battlefield Fire everywhere Screams , Alaric… standing in the center But not the same His eyes… glowing His expression… empty.
And around him , Bodies.
So many bodies.
Jacob staggered back, breathing heavily.
"What… was that?!"
Alexander's voice echoed softly:
"The truth."
Alaric's voice cut through, sharper than before:
"Enough."
In an instant The ground beneath them cracked A surge of energy exploded outward , Jacob fell to his knees as the pressure vanished. When he looked up , Alaric was standing in front of him Protecting him.
"Don't listen to him," Alaric said quietly.
But Jacob… wasn't looking at Alexander anymore He was staring at Alaric At his eyes , Trying to see…If that vision was real.