No one spoke for a while.
Not because they didn't have questions.
But because none of them had answers.
The room felt—
Different.
Not dangerous.
Not unstable.
But—
Exposed.
"…we stop here."
The instructor's voice was firm.
Decisive.
"No further training today."
Nyra didn't move.
"…that wasn't normal."
"…no."
A pause.
"…and it won't be the last."
That answer stayed.
Because it wasn't reassurance.
It was warning.
Kaizen stood still.
His hand still slightly raised.
Because even now—
Even after it ended—
He could still feel it.
Faint.
Distant.
But real.
"…it didn't disappear."
Nyra looked at him immediately.
"…what?"
Kaizen lowered his hand slowly.
"…it pulled back."
Silence.
The instructor's expression changed slightly.
"…meaning?"
"…it's still there."
That was worse.
Much worse.
Nyra exhaled slowly.
"…so it can reach us."
"…no."
Kaizen corrected.
"…it can reach me."
The room went quiet again.
Not from fear.
From understanding.
The instructor turned.
"…we escalate this."
Nyra frowned.
"…to who?"
A pause.
"…higher authority."
That didn't make things better.
It made them worse.
Because if this needed higher authority—
It wasn't small.
"…until then—"
The instructor looked at Kaizen.
"…you don't leave this section."
Kaizen didn't argue.
"…understood."
"…and you."
Nyra's eyes shifted.
"…stay with him."
Silence.
Then—
"…fine."
No hesitation.
No resistance.
Because she already knew—
This wasn't normal anymore.
This wasn't training.
This was containment.
The instructor stepped toward the exit.
"…whatever that was—"
A pause.
"…it wasn't trying to enter."
He looked back once.
"…it was trying to connect."
The door opened.
Then closed.
Leaving them alone.
The silence returned.
But now—
It wasn't empty.
It was—
Watching.
Nyra stepped closer.
"…you felt it clearly, didn't you?"
Kaizen didn't deny it.
"…yes."
"…what did it feel like?"
He thought for a moment.
Then—
"…familiar."
That word made her pause.
"…familiar?"
"…like I've felt it before."
A longer silence followed.
Because that answer—
Changed everything.
Nyra looked at him differently now.
Not as someone unusual.
Not as someone dangerous.
But as—
Something unknown.
"…then this isn't starting now."
Kaizen looked up slightly.
Beyond the ceiling.
Beyond the sky.
"…no."
A pause.
"…it's continuing."
Far above—
That unseen presence pulsed again.
Stronger.
Closer.
Because now—
There was no doubt.
It had found him.
And it wasn't going to lose him again.