Lucien did not lower his guard.
His gaze settled on the Mirrorhorn Duants.
"You have been truthful," Lucien said. "So answer one more thing. Why did you surrender and tell everything? If it is only fear of dying, you must realize the Void-Walkers will not spare you either once they learn you spoke."
The twins looked at each other.
Their Synchrony tightened. Then they nodded once, together.
Their voices rang out in unison.
""Because you are not dead yet.""
Lucien's eyes narrowed slightly.
For a heartbeat, he looked genuinely confused.
""We can identify who marked you.""
The first twin swallowed and forced the words out.
"No one survives after encountering the Extinction."
The second continued.
"And yet you are alive. Marked and still standing."
They hesitated again, then the truth came in clipped, frightened certainty.
"That means he failed to kill you."
"And someone who survives an Extinction is not ordinary."
