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The palace trembled.
Not from an earthquake.
Not from war.
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From them.
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Cracks spread across the marble floor beneath Rosy's feet, thin at first—then deeper, splitting like veins under pressure.
The chandeliers above swayed violently, chains clinking in sharp metallic rhythm.
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But neither of them moved.
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Rosy stood in the center—
Her aura unstable, raw power bleeding into the air like something that refused to stay contained.
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Across from her—
Her father.
Still.
Untouched.
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Calm.
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"…You're leaking," he said quietly.
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Not mockery.
Not concern.
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Observation.
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Rosy's fingers curled slowly.
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"…Then stop me."
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A pause.
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Then—
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He moved.
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No warning.
No buildup.
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One step—
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And he was in front of her.
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His hand reached out—
Not to strike—
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But to grab.
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Rosy reacted instantly.
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She twisted sideways—
His fingers brushing past her shoulder—
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And countered—
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Her blade flashed upward.
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Steel met skin—
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And stopped.
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His hand caught the blade.
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Bare.
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The sound—
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Was wrong.
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Not metal cutting flesh—
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But something harder.
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Something unnatural.
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"…You still rely on weapons," he murmured.
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Her eyes narrowed.
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"…And you still underestimate me."
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She pulled back—
Spun—
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And struck again—
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Faster.
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Sharper.
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This time—
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He didn't block.
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He disappeared.
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Her blade cut through empty air.
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A shift behind her—
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Too late.
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A force slammed into her back—
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Not physical—
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Something deeper.
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She was thrown forward—
Sliding across the cracked floor—
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But she didn't fall.
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She stopped herself—
Boot digging into the ground—
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Her breath steady.
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"…Spatial manipulation," she whispered.
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Behind her—
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"…Good," he replied.
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"You're noticing."
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She turned slowly.
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"…You're not human either."
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A faint smile.
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"I never claimed to be."
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The words lingered.
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But she didn't have time to process them.
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Because he moved again.
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Faster this time.
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The space between them distorted—
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And suddenly—
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He was everywhere.
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Multiple afterimages—
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No—
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Multiple presences.
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Each one real.
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Each one dangerous.
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Rosy's eyes sharpened.
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"…Tricks won't work."
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"All of them are real."
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The answer came from everywhere.
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And then—
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They attacked.
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Simultaneously.
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Rosy moved.
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Her body reacted before her thoughts—
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Dodging one—
Blocking another—
Twisting—
Striking—
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Her blade clashed with multiple attacks—
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Each impact heavier than the last.
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"…You're testing me," she said.
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"Yes."
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"And if I fail?"
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A pause.
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"Then I'll seal you again."
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Her eyes darkened.
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"…Try."
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Something snapped.
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Not outside—
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Inside her.
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The pressure around her surged—
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Violent.
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Uncontrolled.
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The floor beneath her shattered completely.
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And then—
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She stopped holding back.
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Completely.
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The air exploded outward—
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A wave of pure force tearing through the hall—
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Shattering columns—
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Breaking walls—
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Destroying everything in its path—
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Except him.
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He stood untouched.
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Watching.
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"…Better."
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But Rosy—
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Was already moving.
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She vanished.
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Not fast—
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Gone.
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And reappeared—
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Right in front of him.
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Her blade—
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Already mid-swing.
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This time—
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He didn't block.
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He stepped into it.
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The blade passed through—
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But not cleanly.
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Space bent around him—
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Twisting the strike—
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Redirecting it—
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Her attack landed—
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On nothing.
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"…You're still thinking like a warrior," he said.
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"And you're still talking too much," she snapped.
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She shifted—
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Changed her stance—
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And then—
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Her hand lifted.
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Not her sword.
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Her hand.
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The air around it distorted—
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Dark—
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Heavy—
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And then—
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She pushed forward.
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The space itself cracked.
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Not physically—
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Conceptually.
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A pressure—
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Unnatural—
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Crushing—
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Even he—
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Paused.
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"…Now this…"
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His eyes sharpened.
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"…is new."
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The force slammed into him—
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Forcing him back—
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Not far—
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But enough.
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The first step he had taken—
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Backwards.
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Silence.
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Rosy stood still.
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Her hand still raised.
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Her breathing steady—
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But her eyes—
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Burning.
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"…You can't control this," she said.
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He straightened slowly.
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"…No."
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A pause.
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"But I can stop it."
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The moment the words fell—
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The world shifted again.
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Darkness spread—
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Faster than before—
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Wrapping around everything—
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Chains reappeared.
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Stronger.
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Heavier.
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Trying to close again.
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Rosy felt it instantly.
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The pressure—
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The restriction—
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"…No."
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Her voice dropped.
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Lower.
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Colder.
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"I'm not going back."
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The chains tightened—
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Trying to pull—
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To suppress—
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But this time—
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She resisted.
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Fully.
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Her power surged again—
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Clashing against the seal—
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Cracks spread through the chains—
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"…You're forcing it," he said quietly.
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"Yes."
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Another crack.
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"And if you lose control?"
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She didn't hesitate.
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"I won't."
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The chains shattered again—
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More this time—
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Louder—
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The force exploded outward—
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Breaking the hall further—
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And in that moment—
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Something else appeared.
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Between them.
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A presence—
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Familiar.
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"…You're both being dramatic."
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Silence.
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Rosy froze.
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Her father's gaze shifted.
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And standing there—
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Between them—
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Was him.
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The man who had been watching all along.
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"…You chose the worst possible time," her father said calmly.
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A faint smile.
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"I disagree."
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His eyes moved—
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From father—
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To daughter.
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"…I think it's perfect."
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Rosy's breath slowed.
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"…Who are you?"
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He smiled.
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This time—
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Not teasing.
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Not playful.
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Dangerous.
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"…You really don't remember."
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A pause.
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"…That's disappointing."
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The air shifted again—
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But this time—
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Not from her.
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Not from her father.
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From him.
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And it was—
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Different.
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Older.
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"…Then let me remind you," he said softly.
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The moment his voice dropped—
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Rosy's vision flickered.
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A flash—
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Fire—
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Darkness—
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And—
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Him.
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Standing beside her.
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Not as a stranger.
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But as something else.
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Something far more dangerous.
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Her breath hitched.
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"…You…"
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The memory almost surfaced—
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Almost.
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But not fully.
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He stepped closer.
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"…Yes."
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A faint smile.
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"Me."
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Silence.
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And suddenly—
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The fight—
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Was no longer just between two.
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It had become something else.
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Something far more dangerous.
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End of Chapter 16