The beam of light did not stop.
It descended with silent certainty, aimed at Sebastian's heart.
But Vivian stepped forward.
The light struck her instead.
For one impossible moment, everything froze.
No sound.
No movement.
No time.
The beam did not burn her.
It paused — as if reality itself did not know what to do.
The ancient presence spoke again.
"Interference detected."
Vivian's body trembled, but she did not step aside. Her hands remained locked with Sebastian's. The pressure around them thickened, heavy like stone pressing on air.
Behind her, Sebastian's voice was low but urgent.
"Vivian… move."
She shook her head.
"No."
The beam adjusted. It did not push her away. It did not destroy her.
It began to scan her.
Light moved across her slowly, layer by layer, searching deeper than skin, deeper than bone — searching truth.
Dorian's weakened voice echoed through the collapsing system.
"Unknown interaction… subject classification unstable…"
