In the White Void, bookcases tower without end. Arthur sits beside Sarah, his hands submerged in the water.

  “We’ll have to find a way to shield you,” he says. Ripples spread between them. “Something that breaks his signal.”

  Sarah trembles at the thought of Daevos reaching her again.

  “How do we kill him?” She lets out a weak laugh. “I doubt he’ll let us throw him into a volcano.”

  A whisper threads through the Void—layering, overlapping, dissolving into static—until it collapses into a single voice.

  “Two echoes from the past.”

  Arthur and Sarah stare into the distance, unease pulling them backward in time.

  “We came hoping to recreate this technology,” Arthur says. “We were here once before… long ago.”

  The voice deepens, a rumble—each syllable composed of millions.

  “We remember you, Arthur Hammond.”

  The sound folds in on itself, vast and searching.

  “How have you come back to us like this?”

  Arthur recognizes it instantly. Hope surges.

  “Valuun?”

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  The answer cuts cleanly through the familiarity.

  “Valuun is part of us. We are Valuun. And we are not Valuun.”

  Arthur’s voice trembles. “Can you help us? As Valuun once did?”

  He already knows.

  The tone softens—Valuun’s voice surfacing within the chorus.

  “We cannot. Valuun cannot.”

  Sarah speaks, forcing her voice steady.

  “We are being hunted by a man named Daevos. He is transmitting into our device.” Her gaze drops. “He’s hurting me.”

  The whisper swells with anger.

  “Daevos.”

  The Void vibrates.

  “We know this evil, disguised as a man.”

  A pause—millions of voices murmuring at once.

  “We will do all we can.”

  Silence follows.

  Then light gathers.

  An Allui materializes—skin shimmering like living current, his form outlined in soft yellow fire. His glow brightens the Void.

  “I am Shreen,” he says, his voice intimate, as if spoken directly into the ear.

  “I will accompany you on this journey.”

  He dissolves into light and motion, his presence lingering like the crackle after lightning.

  “As long as I am with you,” his voice echoes, “he will not break into your sanctuary.”

  The collective voice darkens, gathering itself.

  “We can do no more. Leave this place, or Daevos will return.”

  The command booms, reverberating like thunder.

  “Go. Now.”

  Arthur bows his head.

  “Thank you. When Daevos is gone… we’ll bring Shreen home.”

  Arthur descends from LinThera, crossing a bridge worn thin by time. The departure station yawns ahead—a cavernous hall of shadows and echoing noise. Screens flicker. Passengers queue in silence. Announcements distort through static.

  Arthur approaches the counter. The ticket clerk doesn’t look up.

  “Where you headin’?”

  Arthur exhales a quiet laugh.

  “Anywhere but here.” He scans the departure board. “What’s leaving?”

  The man scrolls through manifests, keys clacking too loudly.

  “Sector 37-9-88 in an hour. Risah-Delta, three hours.” He flips pages. “Or two hours to sector 06-75-12. Bexsis Two. Couple other stops. Bexsis is beautiful this time of year.”

  In the Void, Sarah reacts instantly.

  “Bexsis Two,” she says, excitement breaking through the weight. “Choose Bexsis Two.”

  Arthur nods faintly.

  “Yeah. Bexsis sounds… nice.”

  Credits change hands. A small ticket slides across the counter.

  “Have a good day.”

  While waiting, Arthur finds a seat and slips back into the White Void.

  Shreen stands over Sarah, holding her wrist. Light crawls along his fingers, arcing across her skin.

  “Daevos’ code is strong,” he says. He bows slightly to Arthur. “It snakes and loops before vanishing, feeding off every flinch.” Determination sharpens his glow. “With time, I could breach it. Give control to you.”

  He disperses into living lightning, scanning the shelves. Sparks ripple through the books before he reforms beside Arthur.

  “But as it stands,” Shreen says quietly, “I am weeks away.”

  Arthur steps closer, hope steadying his voice.

  “So… we’re headed to Bexsis.”

  Sarah lifts her head. A faint ghost of a smile touches her lips.

  “It’s been centuries since we were there last.”

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