He felt it the moment Alisha accepted the shadow.
Not as corruption.
As intention.
The man who walked between worlds stood at the edge of a ruined observatory, gazing up at the moon half-veiled in cloud. His expression was unreadable, but his fingers tightened slowly at his side.
"She chose faster than I expected," he murmured.
A ripple passed through the air behind him.
"The heir destabilizes the balance," a voice hissed. "This was not the design."
He turned slightly, eyes cold. "The design failed long ago."
"You will lead her to ruin."
A faint smile touched his lips. "Or away from it."
He remembered another heir once—another choice that had come too late.
"This time," he said quietly, "I won't remain silent."
As if summoned by his resolve, the moon slipped free of the clouds for a brief moment—its light touching him, then recoiling.
He laughed softly.
"So even now… you fear me."
Far across the kingdom, Alisha shivered without knowing why.
Two paths stretched before her.
And the world was beginning to lean.