"Brother, can't we hurry, at this rate, even residual signature will—"
"It's already gone."
Azrael's words hung in the air like the last toll of a funeral bell. The faint shimmer above the park faded, swallowed by a sudden stillness that pressed against the chest. Gabriel turned her gaze skyward — the ring of clouds had already sealed shut, leaving nothing but a gray, innocent sky, as if Heaven itself had pretended it never intervened.
"…Gone?" she whispered, voice trembling like glass.
Azrael lowered his hand, the faint glow on his palm dissipating. "Completely. Whoever or whatever caused that resonance cloaked themselves perfectly."
Selene let out a shaky laugh. "Y-yeah, that checks out. I've been chasing that kind of energy since yesterday. Every time I think I've pinned it down, it slips through like I'm trying to grab smoke with chopsticks."
Gabriel blinked at her. "Chopsticks?"
Selene fumbled. "Uh—! Mortal utensil! Very efficient for noodles!"
