The silence didn't last long.
Kael's breathing slowly steadied.
Each inhale burned less than before…
But the weight in his chest remained.
He pushed himself upright.
His body still felt heavy.
Not from exhaustion—
But from what had just happened.
"…That wasn't just power."
His voice was low.
The stranger didn't respond immediately.
Instead—
They turned slightly.
Looking out across the endless, fractured horizon.
"…No."
A pause.
"…It wasn't."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…Then what is it?"
Silence.
For a moment—
Even the hum in the air felt distant.
Then—
"…Something that should have died a long time ago."
Kael didn't like that answer.
Not at all.
"…You keep saying things like that."
"…Without actually explaining anything."
The stranger glanced back at him.
"…Because you're not ready to hear all of it."
Kael let out a quiet breath.
"…Try me."
A pause.
Then—
"…This place."
The stranger gestured outward.
"…Isn't a world."
"…It's a boundary."
Kael followed their gaze.
The cracked sky.
The endless ground.
The things moving in the distance…
Barely visible.
"…Between what?"
"…Reality."
"…And everything that wants to break into it."
The words settled heavily.
Kael's expression shifted slightly.
"…You mean those things…"
"…They're not supposed to exist here?"
"…Correct."
The stranger turned fully now.
"…And neither are you."
Silence.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"…Right."
"…That's becoming a theme."
The stranger ignored the comment.
"…There are others."
Kael blinked.
"…Others?"
"…People like you."
"…And people are hunting them."
That got his attention.
"…The Hunters."
"…One of many factions."
The stranger's voice remained calm—
But there was weight behind it now.
"…Some protect the boundary."
"…Some exploit it."
"…Some…"
"…Worship what lies beyond it."
Kael felt a chill run through him.
"…And me?"
A pause.
"…You don't belong to any of them."
"…Yet."
That word lingered.
Kael frowned slightly.
"…So what—there's some kind of ranking system too?"
The stranger's eyes flickered.
"…Of course there is."
They took a step closer.
"…Every awakened individual is measured."
"…Classified."
"…Assigned a threat level."
Kael crossed his arms slightly.
"…And what am I?"
Silence.
For a brief moment—
The stranger studied him.
Not casually this time.
Carefully.
"…Unstable."
Kael blinked.
"…That's it?"
"…And dangerous."
"…Not because of your current strength."
"…But because of what you could become."
The words hit harder than expected.
Not strong.
Not powerful.
Just… potential.
Kael let out a quiet breath.
"…So I'm not special."
The stranger shook their head slightly.
"…You are."
"…Just not in the way you think."
Another pause.
Then—
"…There are people stronger than you."
"…Faster."
"…More experienced."
"…And far more dangerous."
Kael's gaze hardened slightly.
"…Figures."
But something inside him—
Didn't shrink from that.
It responded.
Not fear.
Hunger.
The stranger noticed.
And for the first time—
They smiled slightly.
"…Good."
A pause.
"…You'll need that."
Kael frowned.
"…For what?"
The stranger turned away again.
Looking into the distance.
Where the faint shapes moved—
Slowly getting closer.
"…Because next time…"
The air grew heavier.
The hum deepened.
"…You won't be fighting just one."