The city carried on as though nothing had happened.
The distortion had already faded, leaving no visible trace behind.
People passed through the street without hesitation, their conversations blending into the usual rhythm of daily life.
To them, it was just another ordinary day.
Aiden walked through the crowd without slowing.
Even so, he remained aware of the subtle difference that lingered in the air.
It was no longer the presence of the zone, but something quieter, something that stayed with him after the encounter.
“Synchronization: 44%”
The system remained steady.
It no longer felt distant or unstable.
Instead, it existed alongside his awareness, as though it had always belonged there.
“…It’s stabilizing.”
The thought came naturally.
Footsteps followed behind him.
They were unhurried, deliberate, and close enough that ignoring them would have been pointless.
Aiden slowed slightly before coming to a stop.
“You’re still here.”
Arthur stepped forward, stopping just beside him.
“Yeah,” he replied casually.
“Thought you might’ve noticed.”
Aiden turned his head slightly.
“I did.”
Arthur studied him for a moment, his gaze more focused than before.
“You always leave like that?” he asked.
“No explanation, no warning.”
“When there’s nothing left to do.”
Arthur let out a quiet breath, something between amusement and frustration.
“…You’re difficult.”
Aiden didn’t argue.
There was no reason to.
A brief silence settled between them.
It wasn’t tense, but it wasn’t entirely comfortable either.
There was something unspoken lingering beneath the surface, something neither of them addressed directly.
Arthur shifted his weight slightly, his attention still fixed on Aiden.
“You’re not going to explain anything, are you?”
“No.”
The answer came without hesitation.
Arthur gave a small nod, as if he had already expected it.
“Figured.”
He didn’t leave.
Aiden noticed that.
But he didn’t comment.
Edward approached at a slower pace, his gaze already fixed on Aiden.
“You’re more stable now,” he said once he was close enough.
Aiden glanced at him.
“You can tell?”
“The fluctuations from earlier are gone,” Edward replied.
“Whatever changed… it settled.”
Aiden didn’t deny it.
Arthur frowned slightly, looking between them.
“You two are talking like I missed something.”
Edward didn’t respond immediately.
“You felt it,” he said at last.
Arthur paused, then exhaled.
“…Yeah.
I did.”
He just hadn’t put it into words.
His attention returned to Aiden.
“You’re getting stronger.”
It wasn’t said lightly.
Aiden met his gaze.
“Not in the way you think.”
Arthur’s brow lifted slightly.
“Then explain it.”
Aiden didn’t answer.
Arthur watched him for a moment longer before shaking his head lightly.
“Yeah.
Didn’t think so.”
The conversation slowed after that, but neither of them stepped away.
Arthur remained where he was, his presence steady, his attention no longer casual.
There was a quiet intensity in the way he looked at Aiden now, something more deliberate than before.
“You don’t trust us,” he said.
Aiden didn’t respond right away.
“No.”
Arthur accepted that without resistance.
“Fair enough.”
The answer came easier than expected.
Aiden held his gaze.
“Then give me a reason to.”
Arthur blinked, clearly not expecting that response.
For a moment, he didn’t say anything.
Then a faint smile appeared.
“…You’re straightforward.”
“Just honest.”
Arthur let out a short breath, a hint of amusement slipping through.
“…I don’t mind that.”
He seemed to realize what he had said only after the words had already left him, but he didn’t take them back.
Edward noticed the shift.
So did Aiden.
Neither of them pointed it out.
Arthur stepped back slightly, as if putting a bit of distance between them again.
“You’re trouble,” he muttered.
Aiden’s expression didn’t change.
“So are you.”
Arthur let out a quiet laugh.
“…Guess that works out.”
Edward’s gaze moved between them, thoughtful, measured, taking in more than either of them said aloud.
“You’re planning to continue alone,” he said.
Aiden turned to him.
“Yes.”
Edward nodded once, as if confirming something he had already expected.
“Then we’ll meet again.”
Aiden didn’t question that.
“…Probably.”
Arthur frowned slightly.
“‘Probably’?”
“You’ll find me anyway.”
Arthur paused, then smirked.
“…Yeah.
I will.”
The moment ended naturally after that.
Aiden turned and continued walking, his presence blending back into the movement of the city.
This time, neither Arthur nor Edward followed him.
But they didn’t leave immediately either.
Arthur watched until Aiden disappeared from view, his expression quieter than before.
“…He’s different.”
Edward kept his gaze on the same spot.
“I know.”
Arthur crossed his arms.
“And we’re just letting him walk away?”
“For now,” Edward replied.
Arthur glanced at him.
“You’ve already decided something.”
Edward didn’t deny it.
“He isn’t someone we can approach carelessly.”
Arthur exhaled slowly.
“…Yeah.”
Because pushing too hard would only drive him away.
And neither of them wanted that.
When Aiden returned home, the lights were already on.
The door opened before he could reach for it.
“You’re late.”
Aiden stepped inside.
“Not by much.”
His younger brother stood there, watching him closely.
“You said you’d be back early.”
Aiden paused briefly.
“…Something came up.”
The boy frowned, though his concern was more obvious than his annoyance.
“You always say that.”
Aiden moved further inside, setting his things down.
“And it’s always true.”
This time, his voice was quieter.
His brother hesitated before stepping closer.
“You’re changing.”
Aiden didn’t look away.
“…Maybe.”
“I don’t like ‘maybe.'”
Aiden met his gaze.
“It won’t affect you.”
The certainty in his voice was clear.
His brother held his gaze for a moment longer before sighing softly.
“…It better not.”
Aiden didn’t respond.
But he understood.
That night, the system remained silent.
No messages appeared.
No missions followed.
But the stillness carried weight, as though something was waiting just beyond reach.