Rafe woke up choking.
Air burned as it filled his lungs, sharp and painful, like his body was relearning how to live. His vision swam, colors smearing together before snapping back into focus.
The first thing he felt—
Weight.
Not physical.Existential.
Like something heavy had settled behind his heart and decided to stay.
He tried to sit up.
Failed.
"Easy—don't move!"
Lyn's voice broke as she pushed him gently back down. Her eyes were red, swollen from crying, but bright with relief.
"You scared us," she whispered.
Rafe swallowed hard.
"…I'm here?"
Mara snorted weakly from nearby.
"Unfortunately. Thought I'd finally get some peace."
Her voice was sarcastic, but her hands were shaking as she leaned against a tree, bandages wrapped around her arms.
Selene sat a few steps away, pale and exhausted, her staff embedded in the ground as if it was the only thing keeping her upright.
"You came back," she said quietly.
Rafe stared at the sky above the trees.
Something was wrong.
Not pain.Not weakness.
Something was missing.
And something else had taken its place.
He lifted his hand.
The faint glow of Light responded instantly.
Shadow followed a half-second later.
But beneath them—
Nothing stirred.
The third layer was silent.
Too silent.
"…It's gone," Rafe whispered.
Selene stiffened.
"No," she said carefully. "It's not gone."
The Seer stepped forward.
"It's sealed."
Rafe turned his head toward her.
"For how long?"
She hesitated.
"…That depends on you."
A chill crawled up his spine.
"What do you mean?"
Selene finally spoke the truth.
"The soul anchor didn't just pull you back," she said. "It bound you. Part of you is now tethered to Lyn's resonance. If you push too far again—"
Lyn grabbed his hand instinctively.
"You'll hurt her," Selene finished.
Rafe's chest tightened painfully.
"…I'd never—"
"I know," Selene said softly. "That's why it worked."
The Seer looked away.
"You chose attachment over ascension," she said. "That choice has consequences."
Rafe sat in silence.
He felt it now.
A faint pull toward Lyn whenever he focused inward.Not control.Not dominance.
Connection.
Mara scowled.
"So what? He's on a leash now?"
"No," the Seer said sharply. "He's anchored. There's a difference."
Rafe clenched his fists.
"What about what answered the signal?" he asked.
The forest seemed to tense.
Even Selene didn't want to answer.
The Seer took a slow breath.
"It wasn't a Primordial," she said. "Not the kind recorded by the Commission."
Selene's fingers tightened around her staff.
"Then what was it?"
The Seer met Rafe's eyes directly.
"A Vestige."
Rafe frowned.
"…What?"
"A remnant," she explained. "Not alive. Not dead. Not sealed. Not reborn. A leftover will given shape."
Mara blinked.
"That doesn't help at all."
The Seer ignored her.
"There are entities older than Primordials," she continued. "They don't rule worlds. They precede them. When they fracture, fragments remain."
Rafe felt cold.
"And I almost woke one of those."
The Seer nodded.
"Yes."
Selene whispered:
"Which one?"
The Seer hesitated.
Her next words came slower.
"He doesn't have a true name anymore," she said. "Names bind, and this one broke his."
Rafe's pulse quickened.
"But he is remembered as—"
She stopped.
The forest darkened slightly, as if listening.
Selene snapped:
"Say it."
The Seer swallowed.
"…The Quiet Devourer."
The words sank into the ground like a curse.
Rafe felt something shift deep inside him—Not awakening.
Recognition.
The Seer backed away instinctively.
"You didn't awaken him," she said quickly. "You touched a fragment. A sleeping echo. But even that was enough to alert things that should never notice you."
Selene stood up despite her exhaustion.
"Can it be tracked?"
The Seer nodded grimly.
"Not like the Commission tracks anomalies. Worse."
Mara cursed.
"Of course it's worse."
Rafe looked at his hands again.
"…Am I dangerous now?"
The Seer didn't answer immediately.
Then:
"You always were."
Lyn squeezed his hand.
"But you chose to stay."
The Seer looked at her.
"That choice matters."
Rafe exhaled slowly.
"Then tell me the rules," he said. "What happens if I break the seal?"
Silence.
Selene finally answered.
"If the anchor snaps," she said, "the Vestige won't wait next time."
Rafe closed his eyes.
And somewhere far beyond the forest—
Something shifted.
Not awake.
Not sleeping.
But aware that the one who almost called it—
was still alive.