Xara, of course, noticed his sudden disappearance. The moment she realized he was gone, her frown deepened into something sharper, more troubled.
She knew this man—knew how stubborn he could be... Still, it unsettled her. Without wasting time, she returned to her hidden base, her footsteps heavier than usual. But the second she stepped inside, a strange sensation crept over her.
Something felt... off.
This place was sacred. Only she ever entered. Every inch of it—every corner, every shadow, every drawer—was burned into her memory. So when she stepped into the room and saw the drawer just slightly ajar, the documents not quite in their proper place, the difference so minor most would've overlooked it... she knew immediately.
Someone had been here.
Her heart sank.
There was only one person who could possibly know this place even existed—Aether.
But how? How the hell had he gotten inside?
