Albert left the chamber with his thoughts in turmoil.
His father had revealed too much, yet not enough. The Eclipse Core, the Quantum Shroud's relentless pursuit, the prisoners held beneath EvoTech Tower—it was all spiraling into something far bigger than he had ever imagined.
But one truth rang clear.
His mother's death had never been an accident.
As he stepped into the elevator, his fingers curled into a fist. He stared at his reflection in the polished metal walls, his eyes burning with frustration.
For years, he had chased whispers, longing for answers about her death. But now, the truth was clawing its way to the surface.
And it was far darker than he had ever expected.
---
By the time Albert arrived back at Evotower's upper levels, the exhaustion set in. His Binding had long since faded, but the ache of battle and his father's brutal test still lingered.
The grand halls of EvoTech Tower felt cold, distant—more like a fortress than a home. The moment he entered his suite, he slumped onto the couch, his body finally giving in.
He barely registered the door opening before a familiar presence filled the room.
"Albert."
Liana.
Her voice carried a mix of relief and quiet reprimand. Albert didn't even look up as she approached. He felt her presence beside him, a warmth against the suffocating storm in his chest.
"You pushed yourself too hard again," she said softly. "Did you even let the med-bots treat you?"
He exhaled, forcing his body to relax. "I've had worse."
"That's not the point."
A small silence stretched between them.
Then, gently, Liana placed a hand on his shoulder. It wasn't just concern—it was something deeper.
Albert closed his eyes for a moment. The weight of the day, the revelations, the impossible burden on his shoulders—it all pressed down on him.
"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked.
Albert hesitated.
Liana had always been there. Since childhood, through every stage of his growth. And yet, telling her the full truth—about the Quantum Shroud, the Eclipse Core, his mother's death—felt like exposing a wound that hadn't yet healed.
Instead, he shook his head. "Not now."
Liana didn't push. She simply sat beside him, her presence a silent anchor in the storm.
After a while, she spoke again, her voice quieter. "I know you, Albert. You think you have to carry everything alone. But you don't."
Albert's eyes flickered toward her. For a fleeting second, something unspoken passed between them.
Then she pulled away, standing. "Get some rest. I'll bring you something to eat."
Albert almost stopped her. But instead, he simply nodded.
As the door closed behind her, he leaned back and exhaled.
The war, his father's cryptic warnings, the Quantum Shroud's next move—none of it could wait.
But for now, just for a moment, he let himself breathe.
---
Far above EvoTech Tower, in the depths of the planetary grid, a pair of unseen eyes watched the building's energy readings fluctuate.
A shadowed figure sat before an array of shifting holograms. Data streamed in, pulsing with the rhythm of the tower's internal systems.
Then, with a whisper of static, another voice crackled through the encrypted channel.
"He's beginning to see."
A pause.
Then a reply. "Good. Then it's time."
The transmission ended.
And the unseen eyes remained, watching. Waiting