All of a sudden, Carlos leapt off his bed in one swift movement, his body propelled as though a hidden urgency had taken over him. The sudden motion startled Kairos, who instinctively mirrored the action—springing to his feet, his senses sharpening.
"Why are you so startled?" Carlos asked, narrowing his eyes at Kairos. "Do you think I'm actually going to attack you? If I wanted to do that, I'd tell you straight to your face. I'm no coward."
His words were edged with irritation but carried a strange sense of reassurance. With that said, Kairos felt a subtle weight lift from his chest. Still, his caution had not been misplaced. There was no harm in being prepared—especially when he still had no concrete idea of the power gap between himself and Carlos.
"I actually received a message from my Faction," Carlos added, stepping toward the side of the room where he had placed his sneakers. "I have to act on it immediately. This discussion can wait."
