The city returned as if nothing had ever happened.
Sound came first.
Distant at the edge of perception, then gradually clearer, layering itself back into reality until the steady rhythm of footsteps, voices, and passing traffic filled the space once more.
The ordinary world resumed without hesitation, indifferent to what had just taken place within the fractured boundary.
Aiden stood still for a moment.
The pressure was gone.
The distortion had disappeared completely, leaving behind only the familiar structure of the building and the quiet illusion of normalcy that surrounded it.
If not for the lingering awareness within him—
It would have been easy to believe nothing had happened.
“Synchronization: 38%”
The system remained stable.
But not silent.
Aiden lowered his gaze slightly, the faint echo of earlier distortion still present at the edge of his awareness.
The error had not disappeared.
It had only receded, waiting.
“…Not resolved.”
Just delayed.
Behind him, Arthur let out a slow breath, the tension in his shoulders easing now that the immediate threat had vanished.
“…I hate situations like that.”
His tone carried a quiet frustration, though not directed at anyone in particular.
Edward stepped forward, his attention shifting briefly to the surrounding area, confirming what they already knew.
“The boundary is gone,” he said.
“No residual instability.”
Arthur glanced at the building once more before looking away.
“Yeah,” he muttered.
“Which makes it worse.”
Because it meant—
There would be no official trace.
No report that fully explained what had occurred.
And no clear answer.
Aiden turned slightly, his gaze moving past them, already prepared to leave.
The mission was complete.
There was no reason to remain.
“…You’re leaving.”
Arthur’s voice stopped him.
Not sharp.
But deliberate.
Aiden paused.
Not turning immediately.
“…Yes.”
Arthur frowned slightly, stepping closer, though not enough to close the distance completely.
“That’s it?” he asked.
“You just show up, do… whatever that was, and walk away?”
Aiden didn’t respond right away.
Because there was nothing simple about the answer.
“…It’s finished.”
The words were quiet.
But certain.
Arthur exhaled softly, running a hand through his hair again.
“You’re seriously not going to explain anything, are you?” Get faster updates on g.com.
“No.”
There was no hesitation.
No attempt to soften it.
Just a direct answer.
Arthur stared at him for a moment, clearly dissatisfied, but he didn’t push further.
Something in Aiden’s tone made it clear that forcing the issue now would lead nowhere.
Edward, however, remained silent.
His gaze rested on Aiden, steady and thoughtful, as if observing something beyond what was visible.
“…You’re not affiliated with any guild,” he said at last.
Aiden turned slightly.
“…No.”
“Not registered.”
“No.”
Edward’s eyes narrowed just slightly.
“…And yet you can interfere with a stabilized breach.”
It wasn’t a question.
Aiden met his gaze.
“…It wasn’t stable.”
Edward held his gaze for a second longer.
“…That’s not what I meant.”
A brief silence settled between them.
Arthur looked between the two, his expression shifting slightly.
“…Okay, now you’re both being cryptic.”
Aiden didn’t react.
But Edward’s gaze lingered.
Not pressing.
Not demanding.
Just… noting.
“…Then we’ll leave it for now,” Edward said quietly.
Arthur blinked.
“…That’s it?”
“For now,” Edward repeated.
There was meaning behind it.
Unspoken.
But understood.
Aiden turned fully this time, preparing to leave.
Because staying longer would not change anything.
But before he could take a step—
“…Aiden.”
The name stopped him.
It was the first time either of them had said it.
Aiden paused.
Slowly—
He turned back.
Arthur was watching him, one brow slightly raised.
“…You didn’t think we wouldn’t find out, did you?”
Aiden didn’t respond.
Arthur let out a quiet breath.
“…You’re interesting.”
The word was simple.
But deliberate.
Edward didn’t disagree.
In fact, his gaze softened just slightly, though his expression remained composed.
“…More than that,” he said.
Aiden held their gaze for a brief moment.
Then—
“…That’s inconvenient.”
Arthur blinked.
“…For who?”
Aiden didn’t answer.
Instead, he turned and walked away.
This time—
He didn’t stop.
The distance between them grew.
Slowly at first.
Then steadily.
Until Aiden disappeared into the flow of the city, his presence blending back into something unremarkable, something that no longer stood out to the people around him.
But not to them.
Arthur watched until he was completely gone before letting out a quiet breath.
“…Well.”
He crossed his arms slightly, his expression thoughtful.
“…That just got complicated.”
Edward remained silent for a moment longer.
Then—
“…No.”
His voice was quieter.
“…It just began.”
Arthur glanced at him.
“…You’re already planning something, aren’t you?”
Edward didn’t deny it.
“…We need to know what he is.”
Arthur smirked faintly.
“…And here I thought you were just curious.”
Edward’s gaze shifted slightly, returning to where Aiden had disappeared.
“…I am.”
But it wasn’t simple curiosity.
Not anymore.
Elsewhere, Aiden continued walking without looking back.
The city moved around him as it always had, unaware of the shift that had just occurred beneath its surface.
But within him—
The system remained.
Watching.
Waiting.
And changing.