The rain poured steadily that evening, creating delicate streams on the glass walls of Kael Voss's penthouse. Beyond that transparent barrier, New Avalon sparkled, its skyline a mosaic of light, reflections, and memories. Inside, the soft hum of the holo-table cast pale blue glows over Kael's hands as he sat in stillness, his gaze fixated on a message that lingered in his thoughts.
> HELLO AGAIN.
Just two words, yet they clung to him like a persistent static charge.
The air was laced with the faint aroma of cold coffee, but mingling with it was something more primal—wild and earthy. It felt out of place in this glass and steel sanctuary. It took him back to the scent of rain-drenched soil, moss, and ancient rock. It stirred a longing within him—not one for food or power, but for something that remained unnamed.
The uncertainty was unsettling.
Suddenly, Kael's comms buzzed, breaking the silence.
"Kael?" Ezra's voice came through—low and tentative, crackling with static. "I saw something. A message. 'Hello again.' My interface… it's reacting. I can feel these silver lines under my skin pulsing like they're alive."
Kael felt a jolt of adrenaline. "What do you mean, reacting?"
"I've been dreaming… seeing things,in fact from the very first time I met you but I thought they were ordinary and it stopped not until few minutes ago" Ezra said softly.
"Places that shouldn't be real. Ruins and arches—there's a throne with glowing symbols. And then… I hear your voice calling to me."
A heavy stillness followed.
Kael froze at the console, his vision blurring for just a moment. The blue light from the holo-table twisted, morphing into images of black columns, blazing runes, and ash swirling around his feet. He could hear his own voice ringing out amidst a fiery tempest.
And just like that, it vanished.
He took a steadying breath, his voice calm despite the tremor behind it. "Ezra… Stay put."
"Kael—"
"Stay put." His tone softened. "I'm on my way."
---
When Kael arrived at Ezra's apartment, the room was dim, and rain dripped from his coat. Outside, the city buzzed with restless energy. Inside, the silver glow from Ezra's holographic display flickered uneasily.
Ezra was sitting on the floor, one hand propped against his desk, his eyes faintly illuminated. Threads of light pulsed along his arms, almost as if they were forgotten veins seeking purpose.
Kael stood by the door, drenched and tense, a stark contrast to the stale air heavy with the smell of old takeout. The "HELLO AGAIN" message had compelled him to come, and he met Ezra's intense gaze as the silver lines on his fingertips continued to fade.
Kael reached for Ezra's hand, grounding him. His thumb traced over the faint glow beneath Ezra's skin. "This connection," he said quietly, his expression serious, "isn't new. Whatever's awakening knows us both."
Ezra glanced up, eyes wide with curiosity. "What are we?"
Kael hesitated, as fragmented memories tugged at his mind. Images surfaced—battles beneath violet skies, two figures linked by something deeper than love or loyalty.
Kael swallowed hard. "I don't know," he admitted. "But I believe this world remembers us even when we don't."
"These dreams," Ezra said, his voice trembling, "the ruins, the throne,the blood, your voice…" Kael's chest tightened, an earthy scent hitting him suddenly along with flashes of armored shouts and stirring instincts.
"I just don't get anything, what's really happening?" Ezra murmured to himself.
They talked late into the night, the rain serving as a soothing backdrop, until exhaustion took hold. Kael pulled Ezra close on the narrow bed, their bodies fitting together naturally, no words needed. The warmth of Ezra's breath against his neck calmed the unnamed hunger within Kael, even as his thoughts raced with glyphs and echoes of Veyra. They didn't make love—too intense, too uncertain—but the closeness was a fragile peace between them.
By 4:00 AM, Kael slipped out, leaving a note: "Rest. I'll take care of Luka. —K." As he returned to his penthouse through the still-dark city, the silence of the drive reinforced his determination.