Sylvia slowly opened her eyes, her vision settling on the ceiling above her while her mind struggled to catch up. For a few monts, she didn't move, letting the haze clear as fragnts of mory surfaced one after another.
The fall.
The rush of air.
The monstrous figure towering over the street.
Her breath hitched slightly as the images sharpened, her fingers tightening against the bedsheet.
"I seriously need so counseling…" she murmured, pushing herself upright. "That was way too vivid to be a normal dream."
She sat at the edge of the bed, pressing her hand lightly against her temple as she tried to steady herself.
Then she looked around.
The room didn't match.
The layout, the furniture, even the lighting felt unfamiliar. Nothing here belonged to her, and that realization cut through whatever denial she still had.
Her expression shifted, the last bit of doubt fading.
"Don't tell …" she said slowly, her voice lowering as the pieces ca together.
"All of that… was real."
She stepped out of the room slowly, pushing the door open just enough to slip through. For a mont, she kept her body half-hidden behind it, leaning her head out first as her eyes scanned the unfamiliar space.
Then she heard a voice.
"Uncle, if you're going to throw your problems at , at least bother to tell so that I can be prepared."
Sylvia paused, listening.
Curiosity took over.
She stepped out fully and followed the sound, moving carefully until she reached the hall.
What she saw made her stop.
Daniel was sitting on the sofa, completely at ease, while in front of him hovered a projection—clear, stable, not sothing simple or low-grade. The figure inside it looked real enough to be standing there in person.
Luke.
He stood with one hand against his chin, as if casually thinking through the conversation.
"Didn't I explain this the last ti we t?" Luke said, his tone calm, almost conversational. "That you might run into so of my enemies, and that they wouldn't be easy to kill."
Daniel didn't react.
His face remained flat.
"No, you didn't," he said.
Luke paused for a mont, then gave a small nod as if reconsidering.
"Hmmm… is that so," he replied. "Then I've said it now. Problem solved."
Daniel stared at him.
There was a short silence before his expression shifted, not dramatically, but enough to show what he thought of that answer.
"Uncle," he said, his tone lowering, "where are you right now?"
Luke raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Why?" he asked.
Daniel leaned forward a little, his gaze fixed on him.
"I really want to express so family love," Daniel said, his voice calm but carrying weight. "What do you an 'problem solved'? You throw that ss at and just walk away?"
Luke didn't look bothered.
"But haven't you always liked problems?" he replied, as if the answer was obvious. "And you already have the Mark of Nexus. That thing is not ordinary—it can control both ti and space. It should be more than enough to handle anything you run into."
Daniel leaned back slightly, exhaling.
"Yeah, I figured that part out after ssing with it," he said. "It's not exactly the easiest thing to understand."
Luke nodded, as if that was expected.
"There's more to it," he added. "The mark has a hidden function. Not that I think you're weak enough to die—you are my nephew, after all, and that system was designed by —but in case sothing does go wrong…"
"The ti aspect will activate on its own. It will roll you back two days. You won't die."
Daniel's expression shifted, this ti with clear interest.
"So it does that too," he said. "Looks like I underestimated you again."
For all his complaints, he knew what that ant.
A safety net.
Luke gave a faint smile, about to continue.
Then sothing small dropped into fra.
A little girl appeared out of nowhere and landed on his shoulders, grabbing his hair without hesitation.
"Daddy, take to play," she said, tugging at him insistently.
Luke sighed, clearly used to it.
"Nora, can't you see I'm busy right now?" he said, trying to maintain composure.
"I don't care," she replied imdiately, her cheeks puffing slightly. "Mommy said it's your ti to play with , and if you don't co, I won't talk to you."
Daniel watched the entire exchange, his expression shifting into sothing closer to amusent.
"…Wow," he said, shaking his head slightly. "Uncle, you actually have a kid."
Luke didn't deny it.
Daniel leaned forward a little, a grin forming.
"Now I really want to et you."
Luke let out a small laugh.
"You will," he said. "Soon enough. Until then… take care."
The projection flickered, its light breaking apart into faint fragnts before disappearing completely, leaving the room quiet again.
Daniel let out a slow sigh, leaning back into the sofa.
"So he shows up only after I deal with the problem," he muttered. "Figures."
It wasn't the first ti. His uncle had a habit of appearing after things were already finished, as if just to confirm everything had gone according to plan before leaving again.
Daniel's gaze shifted slightly.
"Sylvia… doesn't your neck hurt from sneaking around like that?" he said casually. "You can co out. It's not like I'm going to eat you."
Near the hallway, Sylvia froze.
She had been standing just out of sight, trying to stay quiet while listening, but his voice landed directly on her position.
Her balance slipped for a second, her foot nearly sliding against the floor before she caught herself.
How did he—
Her eyes widened slightly as she steadied herself.
She hadn't made a sound.
For a mont, she just stood there, staring toward the hall, the question repeating in her mind.
Does this guy have eyes on his back?
*****
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