Cruzer remained still for a long moment, the darkness of his room pressing in around him. The remnants of the void's pull still lingered, wrapping around him like an unseen tether. Whatever had just happened—it wasn't just a trick of the mind. Something had truly reached out to him.
Something ancient.
Something waiting.
Slowly, he exhaled, pressing a hand against his forehead. His body still buzzed with the aftershocks of his spar with Elara, but this was different. This wasn't the thrill of combat or the adrenaline of a near-victory.
This was a door—one that had been opened just for him.
And he wasn't sure if he was ready to step through.
Yet, even as the thought crossed his mind, he knew the choice had already been made. The void wasn't something he could simply ignore anymore. It was a part of him now, woven into his very existence.
With a quiet sigh, he let himself fall back against the bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Guess I'm in deeper than I thought," he muttered.
