The silence after the chaos—
Was worse than the destruction.
Kael stood in the middle of the ruined street.
Broken glass.
Cracked ground.
Faint echoes of people running in the distance.
All of it—
Because of him.
"…I overdid it," he muttered.
"…Yes."
The answer came instantly.
Cold.
Blunt.
Kael didn't look at the man.
"…You could've said that differently."
"…Would it change anything?"
Silence.
No.
It wouldn't.
Kael clenched his fists.
But this time—
He forced the energy down.
Hard.
"…Aetherion."
"…Stabilizing."
The response was slower than before.
Like even it was struggling.
"…That's new," Kael said quietly.
"…You're destabilizing faster," the man replied.
"…I figured."
Sirens were getting closer now.
Authorities.
People asking questions.
Things Kael couldn't answer.
"…We need to move," the man said.
Kael nodded.
But before he turned—
He looked back.
At the damage.
At what he caused.
And for a moment—
He hesitated.
"…Next time…"
A pause.
"…There won't be a next time like that."
The man didn't respond.
Back at the facility—
The atmosphere felt different.
Not cold.
Not sharp.
Controlled.
Too controlled.
Like something was watching more closely now.
Kael stepped into the chamber.
The doors sealed behind him.
"…What is this?" he asked.
"…Containment."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…For what?"
The man met his gaze.
"…For you."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
"…You're joking."
"…I'm not."
Kael took a step forward.
Energy flickering instinctively.
"…You think I'm the problem?"
"…I think you're becoming one."
That hit harder than any attack.
Kael's jaw tightened.
"…I'm the one stopping them."
"…And today you almost became worse than them."
Silence.
Because that—
Wasn't entirely wrong.
Kael looked away.
"…So what, you're locking me in here now?"
"…Temporarily."
"…That's not happening."
Energy surged—
Instinctive.
Defensive.
But this time—
The room reacted.
Immediately.
A pulse.
Sharp.
Precise.
Kael froze.
"…What—"
Another pulse—
Stronger.
His energy collapsed instantly.
Forced down.
"…Suppression field," the man said calmly.
Kael staggered slightly.
"…You planned this…"
"…I prepared for this."
That wasn't better.
Kael steadied himself.
Breathing heavier now.
"…You don't trust me."
The man didn't hesitate.
"…No."
Silence.
Cold.
Clear.
Kael laughed quietly.
But there was no humor in it.
"…Good to know."
He leaned back slightly.
Forcing himself to stay calm.
"…So what now?"
"…Now you learn control."
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"…And if I don't?"
A pause.
"…Then you won't leave."
The room felt smaller.
Tighter.
Like the walls were closing in.
Kael closed his eyes briefly.
Not in defeat—
In focus.
Because deep inside—
That voice was still there.
Watching.
Waiting.
"…You see?" it whispered.
Soft.
Calm.
"…They fear you too."
Kael's fingers twitched.
"…Shut up."
"…Why?"
A pause.
"…I'm the only one being honest with you."
Kael's eyes opened slowly.
And this time—
There was something different in them.
Not just frustration.
Not just anger.
Something deeper.
Something dividing.
"…Then maybe I don't need either of you," he said quietly.
The man watched him closely.
Carefully.
Because something had changed.
Again.
And this time—
It wasn't just the power.
It was Kael himself.