A soft light filtered through heavy velvet curtains, painting faint golden streaks across the dark stone walls. The air smelled faintly of lavender and smoke, old books, and candle wax. Somewhere distant, a clock ticked — slow, patient, eternal.
Adrian's eyes fluttered open. For a long moment, he couldn't move — his body felt like it had been dragged through fire and back. His head pounded. His throat was dry. And beneath all of it, he felt a dull ache that spread from his chest to his fingertips.
He tried to sit up, and a sharp pain shot through his ribs. That's when he realized — he wasn't wearing a shirt, only a pair of jeans. His body was bandaged in several places, faint marks of dark bruises visible beneath the gauze.
> Adrian: "Where… am I?"
His voice came out rough, barely a whisper.
From the far side of the room, a soft voice answered.
> Selene: "You're safe. You're in my home."
He turned his head slowly. Selene sat by the window, her silver hair gleaming in the dim light, a bowl of something steaming faintly in her hands. The glow of the candles around her cast long shadows against the gothic walls — walls carved with intricate runes, like ancient poetry.
> Adrian: "Your home?"
> Selene: "Yes." She rose gracefully, crossing the room with that same quiet poise that always made him uneasy — like she moved through air differently than everyone else. "You've been unconscious for a week."
> Adrian: "A week?" He stared at her, wide-eyed. "My brother—Ethan—he must be going insane looking for me."
> Selene: "He's fine," she assured softly. "You'll see him soon. But right now, you need to rest. You weren't just wounded, Adrian — you were broken."
Adrian leaned back, trying to steady his breathing. Then the memories came — flashes like shards of broken glass. The dark forest. The cold. The laughter. The shadows wrapping around his limbs like snakes. Her voice — cruel and melodic.
> Reya's voice, echoing in his head: "So you're the famous Infinite everyone's been whispering about…"
He winced, pressing a hand to his forehead.
> Adrian: "I… I remember her. The woman who did this to me. She called me 'Infinite.' What does that even mean?"
Selene paused. For a moment, she said nothing — her eyes flickered with something unreadable. Then she exhaled and handed him the bowl she'd been carrying.
> Selene: "Drink this first."
> Adrian: "What is it?"
> Selene: "A healing mixture. Old magic. It'll ease the pain — and clear your head."
He took it hesitantly, but the warmth that spread through his body after a few sips was immediate. His limbs stopped trembling. The ache in his ribs dulled.
> Adrian: "Better… yeah." He set the bowl down and looked up at her. "Now can you tell me? What does 'Infinite' mean?"
Selene didn't answer immediately. She turned away, looking toward the flickering candlelight as if searching for the right words.
> Adrian: "And that woman—she called you 'little sis.' Who was she?"
At that, Selene froze.
> Selene: "Reya."
Her tone was flat, but her eyes gave her away — a glint of pain, and something like fear.
> Adrian: "Reya…" He repeated the name softly. "Your sister?"
> Selene: "My elder sister," she admitted quietly. "She's… not like me."
> Adrian: "That's an understatement," he muttered.
Selene's lips tightened, and for a second her calm demeanor broke.
> Selene: "You think it's easy for me? You think I wanted you to go through that?"
> Adrian: "I didn't say that—"
> Selene: "Then stop asking questions like I'm the villain here!"
Her voice cracked — sharp, trembling with something between anger and guilt. Adrian blinked, taken aback.
> Adrian: "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to sound ungrateful." He exhaled softly. "You saved my life, Selene. Thank you."
She closed her eyes, her breathing slowing as she steadied herself.
> Selene: "Just… rest, Adrian. We'll talk about everything later. I promise."
> Adrian: "How long was I out again?"
> Selene: "A week," she repeated gently. "You were barely breathing when I brought you here. I didn't think you'd make it through the night."
Adrian looked down at his hands. The faint scars on his wrists glowed in the candlelight — thin white lines from where Reya's shadow rods had pierced him.
> Adrian: "You said I'll see my brother soon?"
> Selene: "Yes. But not yet. You need to walk again before you go anywhere." A faint smile touched her lips. "And besides, I doubt you want him to see you shirtless and half-dead."
Adrian managed a small laugh.
> Adrian: "Yeah… maybe not."
Selene turned to the window, her silhouette framed by moonlight.
> Selene: "Get some sleep, Adrian. When you wake, I'll tell you everything. About Reya. About the word she used. About… you."
Her voice softened on that last word, and for the first time since he'd met her, Adrian heard something in her tone that wasn't command or mystery — it was concern. Genuine, fragile concern.
He watched her for a long moment before lying back against the pillows. The herbal concoction began to pull him toward sleep. His vision blurred, his heartbeat slowed. The last thing he saw was Selene standing at the window, her hand resting against the cold glass, looking out into the night.
And for just a moment, before the darkness claimed him, he thought he saw something move beyond the window — a flicker of shadow, tall and thin, watching from the forest below.
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