Cold.
That was the first thing Kael felt.
Not pain.
Not fear.
Just… cold.
His eyes snapped open.
A dim ceiling stared back at him—smooth, metallic, lined with faint blue lights that pulsed slowly like a heartbeat.
Kael shot up.
"What—?!"
His breathing was heavy, uneven.
This wasn't the ruined building.
Everything here was clean.
Too clean.
A room.
Small.
Sealed.
"Finally awake."
Kael froze.
He turned sharply.
The stranger stood in the corner, leaning casually against the wall.
Watching.
Waiting.
"You—"
Kael clenched his fists.
Energy flickered weakly around his fingers.
"Relax," the stranger said. "You won't get far."
Kael glanced around quickly.
No windows.
One door.
No obvious exit.
"…Where am I?"
"A safe place."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"That's not an answer."
The stranger smirked slightly.
"It's the only one you're getting for now."
Kael swung his legs off the bed and stood.
His body felt lighter…
But weaker.
"What did you do to me?"
"Kept you alive."
Kael went still.
"…What?"
The stranger pushed off the wall and stepped closer.
"That thing inside you?"
A pause.
"It was about to consume you."
Kael's chest tightened.
"Aetherion…"
"Core stabilized. Suppression active."
Kael looked down at his hands.
The energy was still there—
But quieter.
Muted.
"…So you're controlling it."
"Temporarily."
Kael looked up.
"Why?"
The stranger studied him.
"Because you're not the only one."
Kael's stomach dropped.
"…You said that before."
"And now you're going to see it."
The stranger turned toward the door.
"Come on."
The door slid open with a soft hiss.
Kael hesitated.
Every instinct told him this was a bad idea.
But staying here?
Worse.
He followed.
The hallway outside was long and metallic, lined with the same soft blue lights.
Footsteps echoed as they walked.
Kael's eyes moved constantly.
Watching.
Learning.
"…What is this place?"
"A facility."
"For people like you."
Kael didn't like the sound of that.
They reached a large door.
It opened.
Kael stepped inside—
And froze.
People.
Dozens of them.
Some sitting.
Some standing.
Some training.
Energy flickered in the air—different kinds.
Fire.
Lightning.
Something darker.
Kael's breath caught.
"…No way…"
"They're all hosts."
The stranger stepped forward.
"Just like you."
Every head turned.
The room went silent.
Kael felt it instantly—
Their eyes.
Watching him.
Judging him.
A boy stepped forward.
Tall.
Calm.
Cold eyes.
"So this is the new one?"
Kael tensed.
"…Yeah."
The boy stopped a few feet away.
He looked Kael up and down.
Then—
Smiled.
"Doesn't look like much."
Kael's jaw tightened.
"Say that again."
The air shifted.
Tension.
Immediate.
The boy's smile widened.
"I said—"
A sudden burst of pressure exploded outward.
Kael's eyes widened as invisible force slammed into him.
He staggered back, barely staying on his feet.
"What the—?!"
The boy hadn't moved.
"Too weak."
Kael felt it again—
That heat.
That anger.
"Host emotional spike detected."
Energy flickered around him.
Unstable.
The room buzzed with interest.
"Looks like he's reactive," someone muttered.
"Or dangerous," another said.
Kael clenched his fists.
"I'm not weak."
The boy tilted his head.
"Prove it."
Silence.
The challenge hung in the air.
Kael stepped forward.
The energy inside him stirred.
Hungry.
Unpredictable.
Behind him—
The stranger watched.
Carefully.
"…Don't lose control," they said quietly.
Kael didn't respond.
Because right now—
He didn't care.