The fight had ended—at least for now.
Lengaza's hands still sparked with fading energy as he stood over the unconscious attackers. His chest heaved, his body aching from power he didn't fully understand.
Raya sat slumped against the stone wall, a shallow cut on her cheek, eyes locked on him.
Nyra watched from a distance, unsure what she was witnessing—unsure who he really was.
Lengaza turned.
And for a moment… he was just a boy again.
The one she remembered.
"You saved me," he said quietly.
"You don't remember yet," she replied, voice soft, "but I remember when we were kids. You told me the stars talked to you."
He smiled faintly. "That does sound like something I'd say."
She reached into her coat and handed him something wrapped in silk.
He unwrapped it.
A drawing.
Two children holding hands. The boy had wild eyes and a crooked smile. The girl wore a crown of paper stars.
"You gave me this before the purge. Said it was the only thing worth saving."
He blinked.
Another flash—
The paper crown.
Her crying.
Him hugging her.
The light swallowing them both.
He dropped the drawing.
"They erased it all… why?"
"Because you're more than just a name," she said, eyes burning. "Lengaza wasn't a code. He was a shield."
He sat beside her.
"And you waited?"
"I searched. I hunted down every whisper. I never believed you were gone."
He closed his eyes.
"You were right."
She touched his hand—finally.
And this time, he didn't flinch.
"We'll remember together," she whispered.
"We'll finish what they started."
In the background, Nyra turned away, biting her lip.
Because somewhere deep in her chest… she felt it too.
She wasn't just caught in this.
She was already falling into it.