The world froze.
The wind stopped blowing, and the smoke rising from the ruined streets of Carthage hung motionless in the air.
A single spark, caught in mid-flight from the smoldering rubble nearby, glittered like a star trapped in the air.
Ren blinked.
The world had gone utterly silent. Even the sound of his own breathing seemed too loud.
Time itself had stopped.
And standing to the side was a man whose shape refused to stay still.
The Blurred Man.
He stood only a few paces away, the outline of his body flickering in and out of focus, his voice carrying that strange, layered tone that sounded like it came from several versions of him at once.
"You've done well," he said softly. "Thorn is alive. He'll wake on his own when his role demands it."
Ren straightened, his eyes narrowing. Lilith's knives shimmered into her hands automatically, her soul energy glowing a faint blue.
"What role?" she asked.
