They stood a moment longer by the thin folder.
Saffi's breath fogged the panel by a whisper and cleared again. The scribbled word sat there like a dare she could read but not accept yet.
"What even is this?" she asked.
Alteea tilted her head, thinking the way she did when she was trying to remember a page without opening the book. "Funny guy. He lived before Neoshima was built. Back when the city was more prayer than plan. You only get fragments from that far back."
"What kind of fragments?"
"Information. Twisted information. A warrior who appeared only when it mattered" Alteea continued. "No house. No banner. I mean, not that we knew of. He would arrive, end a fight, and vanish."
Saffi leaned on the rail. "So? What happened?"
Alteea nodded. "Eventually, someone convinced him to come inside long enough to take a reading. His Eon output was ridiculous. Double anyone on record then. Would still be near the top now, if the Phalanx never came."
