The silence of the cosmos felt different. Kael sensed it — the way prey knows when the predator's eyes are upon it.

  And then it was there.

  Not a body, not a form — only presence. A gaze from beyond the veil, burning into him, measuring his worth.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  > [System Error: Unauthorized Observation Detected.]

  The System glitched, lines of code bleeding into his vision. And a voice, older than eternity, drifted into his skull:

  "Your steps resound louder than you think, little devourer. Continue… and the veil will tear."

  The presence withdrew. The silence returned. But Kael's heart had already understood the truth: he was being hunted.

  ---