EARTH
The doctor finished running several tests on Atheris's body. His expression remained unreadable—professional, composed, yet strained, as though the results in front of him defied everything he understood.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Ma'am."
He turned slightly and gestured toward the hallway.
"Please… meet me in my office."
Thrynn glanced back at Atheris. He lay quietly on the hospital bed, his breathing shallow but steady. The faint blue tint in his hair hadn't faded—in fact, it seemed more pronounced now, almost glowing under the hospital lights.
Unnatural.
Viktor stepped forward.
"Can I come too?" he asked.
The doctor paused and looked at him.
"And you are?"
"I'm Michael's brother," Viktor replied firmly.
The doctor studied him for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright. You may come."
Inside the doctor's office
The door closed softly behind them.
The doctor sat down, folded his hands together, and exhaled slowly—as if preparing himself.
"I'll be honest with you," he began. "Medically speaking… your husband should not be alive."
Thrynn's heart skipped.
"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"The injuries he sustained were fatal," the doctor continued carefully.
"Cardiac failure. Severe internal trauma. Brain activity stopped for several minutes."
Viktor frowned deeply.
"Then how is he breathing right now?"
The doctor looked up at both of them.
"That," he said quietly, "is the part I cannot explain."
Thrynn clenched her fists.
"Is he going to die?" she asked softly.
The doctor hesitated.
"His condition is… unstable. His body is functioning, but it's as if something else is sustaining him. Something that doesn't belong."
Back in the hospital room
Atheris's eyes slowly opened.
The ceiling lights burned into his vision. Every breath felt heavy—painful. His body refused to respond the way it should.
This vessel… is fragile.
[SYSTEM LOG: HOST BODY STATUS — CRITICAL BUT STABLE.]
How long can I survive like this? Atheris asked silently.
[SYSTEM LOG: UNKNOWN. THIS BODY IS NOT DESIGNED TO CONTAIN AN ARCHITECT SOUL.]
Atheris clenched his hand.
It trembled.
Once, a single thought from him could rewrite worlds.
Now, lifting a finger felt like a war.
[SYSTEM LOG: MASTER, YOUR PRESENCE IS ATTRACTING ATTENTION.]
A threat? Atheris asked.
[SYSTEM LOG: NOT YET. BUT SOMETHING… IS WATCHING.]
Atheris's expression darkened.
"It must be the First Architect," he whispered.
"I broke the Architect Rule… but she should understand, shouldn't she?"
[SYSTEM LOG: I CANNOT CONFIRM THAT, MASTER.]
Weakness washed over him. He forced himself upright just as the door opened.
Thrynn, Viktor, and the doctor stepped inside.
Thrynn rushed forward.
"Do you remember anything?" she asked carefully.
Atheris met her eyes.
"I'm sorry," he said softly. "I don't."
The doctor cleared his throat.
"We've completed the tests," he said.
"Physically, you're… fine for now. I've given your medication to your wife. You're cleared for discharge."
Atheris stood, steadying himself, then turned to Thrynn.
"Don't worry," he said gently. "I'm sure I'll remember… eventually."
Suddenly—
Memories flooded in.
"I'm going to kill you."
"Hey—come back!"
"I promise you, Thrynn, I'll be back soon."
"VIKTOR!!!"
CRASH
Atheris grabbed his head as dizziness overwhelmed him.
What was that? he asked his system.
[SYSTEM LOG: HOST MEMORY DATA IS MERGING WITH YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS.]
Thrynn caught him instantly.
"What's wrong?" she asked in panic.
"Nothing," Atheris replied quickly, forcing a smile.
"Come on. Let's go."
Behind them, Viktor stared at Atheris—his gaze sharp, suspicious.
[SYSTEM LOG: ALERT — THE HUMAN KNOWN AS VIKTOR IS OBSERVING YOU CLOSELY.]
Atheris dismissed it.
So these are humans…
Three hours later
The hospital doors slid open.
Fresh air greeted them as Atheris, Thrynn, and Viktor stepped outside.
[SYSTEM LOG: WARNING — STRONG OBSERVATION DETECTED. INTENSE PRESSURE.]
Atheris turned sharply to his left.
A woman stood across the street, unmoving.
Her eyes were locked onto him.
Watching.
Judging.
To be continued…