The feeling didn't fade.
Even after they left the building…
Even after they reached the quiet street outside…
It stayed.
Subtle.
Distant.
But there.
Ethan stopped walking.
"…They're still there," he said under his breath.
Lena looked around instinctively.
"I don't see anyone."
"You won't," Ethan replied. "They're not close."
He frowned slightly.
"Or… they don't want to be seen."
The street looked normal.
Cars passed.
People walked by.
Nothing unusual.
But Ethan could feel it.
A presence.
Not as overwhelming as Adrian.
Not suffocating.
But sharp.
Focused.
"…It's different," he muttered.
Lena glanced at him.
"Different how?"
Ethan hesitated.
Then tried to explain.
"With him… everything felt suppressed. Like my power was being shut down."
He looked ahead.
"But this… feels like the opposite."
Lena frowned slightly.
"The opposite?"
"…Like someone is watching on purpose," Ethan said.
"Not to attack."
"Just… observing."
That made the air feel even more uncomfortable.
"…That's worse," Lena said quietly.
Ethan didn't disagree.
Because if someone was watching—
And not acting—
That meant they were waiting.
"Let's move," Ethan said.
They walked faster this time.
Turning corners.
Changing direction.
Not running—
But not relaxed either.
Ethan kept his senses open.
Reaching.
Feeling.
Trying to track the presence.
At first, it stayed distant.
Always just out of reach.
Then—
It shifted.
Ethan stopped suddenly.
"…Behind us."
Lena turned—
But saw nothing.
Footsteps approached.
Slow.
Unhurried.
Ethan's chest tightened.
Not from fear.
From recognition.
This feeling—
It wasn't hostile.
But it wasn't safe either.
"Relax," a voice said calmly.
Both of them turned.
A figure stood a few steps away.
Leaning casually against a streetlight.
Not Adrian.
Younger.
Calmer.
Less threatening—
But somehow…
More unsettling.
"…You're new," the figure said, looking directly at Ethan.
Ethan didn't respond immediately.
He studied him carefully.
Average height.
Dark clothing.
Calm expression.
Eyes that didn't miss anything.
"Who are you?" Ethan asked.
The figure straightened slightly.
"Someone curious," he replied.
"That's not an answer."
"It's enough of one."
Lena stepped closer to Ethan.
"…You know him?" she whispered.
"No," Ethan said.
"But he knows me."
The figure smiled faintly.
"Not personally," he said. "But your signal is… hard to ignore."
That word again.
Signal.
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"…What do you want?"
The figure tilted his head slightly.
"Nothing."
Ethan frowned.
"Then why are you following me?"
"…Because you're interesting."
That answer didn't help.
At all.
Lena crossed her arms slightly.
"That's not a normal reason to follow someone."
The figure glanced at her.
Then back at Ethan.
"…She's not wrong," he admitted.
Silence.
"…You're not like him," Ethan said suddenly.
The figure raised an eyebrow.
"Who?"
"Adrian."
That name made the air shift.
Just slightly.
"…Ah," the figure said. "So you've met him already."
Ethan didn't respond.
"But you're right," the figure continued. "I'm not like him."
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"…Then what are you?"
The figure smiled again.
Not threatening.
Not friendly.
Just… knowing.
"I'm someone who doesn't rush things," he said.
That didn't make Ethan feel better.
"Are you with him?" Lena asked.
The figure looked at her again.
Then shook his head.
"No."
Ethan studied him carefully.
Trying to feel something.
Anything.
But it was strange.
There was emotion there—
But controlled.
Balanced.
Not chaotic like his.
Not suppressed like Adrian's.
Stable.
"…You can control it," Ethan said quietly.
The figure's smile widened slightly.
"Better than you," he replied.
Ethan didn't deny it.
"Then why are you here?" Ethan asked.
The figure pushed off the streetlight.
Took a step closer.
"Because you're doing everything wrong," he said simply.
That made Ethan pause.
"…What?"
"You're forcing your ability," the figure continued. "Relying on instinct. Reacting instead of understanding."
Ethan's expression hardened.
"And you know better?"
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
"…Then explain it," Ethan said.
The figure stopped in front of him.
Close enough now.
"You don't control emotions," he said. "You resonate with them."
Ethan frowned.
"…That's not different."
"It is," the figure replied.
He pointed lightly at Ethan's chest.
"You're not pushing feelings into others," he said. "You're amplifying what's already there."
Ethan's eyes widened slightly.
"…That's why it gets unstable," the figure continued. "Because you're pulling from everything at once."
Silence.
Because that…
Made sense.
"…Then what should I do?" Ethan asked.
The figure smiled slightly.
"Focus."
"That's not helpful."
"It is," he replied. "You just don't understand it yet."
Ethan frowned.
"…Then show me."
The figure paused.
Then—
"…Maybe."
Lena stepped in.
"Maybe?"
The figure glanced at her briefly.
"Depends," he said.
"On what?" Ethan asked.
The figure's gaze sharpened slightly.
"On whether you're worth teaching."
Silence.
Ethan didn't hesitate.
"…Test me."
The figure smiled.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
The air shifted again.
But this time—
Not violently.
Sharply.
Precisely.
Ethan felt it immediately.
Not pressure.
Not suppression.
Guidance.
"…This is your first lesson," the figure said.
Ethan steadied himself.
"…What's your name?" he asked.
The figure paused.
Then answered.
"…Kai."
Ethan nodded slightly.
"Alright, Kai."
His eyes sharpened.
"Teach me."
And for the first time—
Ethan wasn't just reacting.
He was ready to learn.