> The air… was different here.
Heavier.
Colder.
Kael stopped in front of the cell.
Not iron.
Not wood.
Something darker.
Something… meant to hold monsters.
Inside—
A man sat quietly.
Head lowered.
Chains wrapped around his body… thicker than anything Kael had seen before.
Yet—
He didn't look restrained.
He looked… calm.
---
Kael stepped closer.
Slow.
Careful.
His instincts screamed—
Danger.
---
The man spoke.
Without lifting his head.
> "Took you long enough."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
> "You were waiting for me?"
A soft chuckle echoed.
Low.
Amused.
> "Of course."
Silence.
Then—
The man slowly lifted his head.
---
Eyes met.
---
For a split second—
Kael felt it.
Not fear.
Not killing intent.
Something worse.
Presence.
---
> "You don't belong here."
The words fell casually.
Like a fact.
---
Kael didn't react immediately.
But inside—
Everything tightened.
---
> "And you do?"
His voice was calm.
Flat.
---
The man smiled faintly.
> "More than you ever will."
---
Silence again.
Heavy.
---
Kael observed him carefully.
No wasted movement.
No panic.
Even chained—
He held control.
---
> "Who are you?"
---
The man leaned back slightly.
Chains shifted—
CLANG.
> "A man you shouldn't free."
---
Kael's eyes sharpened.
> "Then why are you still talking?"
---
A pause.
Then—
A wider smile.
---
> "Because you're going to do it anyway."
---
The temperature dropped.
---
Kael stepped closer.
Now… right in front of the bars.
> "You talk too much."
---
The man's gaze locked onto his.
Unblinking.
> "And you think too little."
---
A beat.
---
Then—
He tilted his head slightly.
Studying Kael.
Like prey.
---
> "Tell me…"
His voice lowered.
> "When did it start?"
---
Kael didn't answer.
---
> "The moment your eyes changed?"
> "Or…"
A small pause.
---
> "When you died?"
---
Silence.
---
For the first time—
Kael moved.
A slight shift.
---
That was enough.
---
The man laughed.
Soft.
Certain.
---
> "I see…"
> "So I'm right."
---
Kael's voice dropped.
Cold.
> "Careful."
---
The man leaned forward slightly.
Chains tightening around him.
But he didn't care.
---
> "You're not the first."
---
That sentence—
Hit differently.
---
Kael's eyes sharpened.
> "Explain."
---
The man smiled.
---
> "Free me."
---
Silence.
---
> "And I'll tell you everything."
---
Kael stared at him.
Long.
Deep.
Calculating.
---
No desperation.
No lies visible.
---
Just danger.
Pure… controlled danger.
---
Kael turned away.
Without a word.
---
> "Leaving already?"
The voice followed him.
Amused.
---
Kael stopped.
Without turning back.
---
> "If you're lying…"
His voice was low.
Deadly.
---
> "I'll kill you myself."
---
A pause.
Then—
---
The man laughed.
For real this time.
---
> "Good."
> "I'd be disappointed if you didn't try."
---
Kael walked away.
Steps steady.
Mind racing.
---
Behind him—
Those eyes…
Still watching.
---
Waiting.
---
> "Tick tock…"
The voice whispered softly.
---
> "You don't have much time."
---
Kael didn't stop.
But something inside him…
Shifted.
---
> The next chapter… a dangerous decision will be made.
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