The artificial light in the surveillance room did nothing to soften the face of the agent who had failed.
On the high-definition screen before him, the same footage played on a loop: Kael taking down soldiers, disarming trained men like ragdolls, vanishing and reappearing through shadows, as if the physical world held no limits for him.
"This isn't military training," said a young woman in dark glasses, seated at the monitors. "This is something else."
"Enhanced strength. Speed. Genetic mutation, maybe?"
"There's no record of his existence in any database. No selection trials. No abnormal medical history. He's a civilian."
The man in the gray suit—same one who gave the order—leaned back against the wall. A fresh cut marked his cheek, courtesy of Kael's sword.
"We have to capture him. Before someone else finds out. Before the world sees him."
"And what if he doesn't want to be caught?"
"Then... we break him."
⋆⭒✧༺༻✧⭒⋆
The night at Sara's house was quiet—on the outside.
Inside, Kael lay on the carpet, unmoving, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
Sara slept on the couch, still trembling from everything they'd been through.
Kael couldn't close his eyes.
Every time he tried, the image returned: her, tied up, bleeding, terrified.
At 3 a.m., Sara stirred.
"You're not sleeping."
"Neither are you."
She sat beside him, hugging a pillow.
"You okay?"
"No. But at least now I know what I have to do."
Sara gently reached for his hand.
"And what's that?"
Kael looked at her.
"Protect you. No matter what it takes."
"Don't push me away, Kael."
"I don't want to," he said, voice low. "But I can't see you like that again. Not ever."
Sara rested her head on his shoulder.
"Then let's find a way. Together."
"Tomorrow," he said, finally letting sleep take him. "We'll talk tomorrow."
⋆⭒✧༺༻✧⭒⋆
At dawn, the news was everywhere. But, as always, the official version distorted the truth.
"Terrorist attack in the ruins of the shopping center. Four men injured. Local insurgent cell suspected. No civilian involvement reported."
Kael turned off the screen.
"They erased us from the report."
Sara, still in her pajamas, sat beside him.
"They don't want the world to know you exist. Not yet."
"Which means they'll keep hunting me. Quietly."
"What are you going to do?"
Kael didn't answer right away. He poured himself a cup of coffee, walked to the window, and stared out at the street.
"I have an idea. But you won't like it."
Sara crossed her arms, bracing herself.
"Say it."
"You need to leave. Move far away. To another district. Somewhere they won't connect you to me."
She stood up, instantly.
"You're serious?"
"Yes."
"After everything… now you want to leave me alone?"
"That's not it," Kael said, turning to face her. "It's because I can't let this happen to you again. I don't want every enemy that comes for me to end up pointing a gun at you."
Sara clenched her jaw.
"And what about you? You're just going to stay here and wait to be captured?"
"I'll move too. Change homes. Erase my trail. And if you start fresh in another zone, they won't find you."
"I don't care about starting over if it's not with you, Kael."
"It's not forever!" he raised his voice for the first time. "Just until it's safe. Just until I find a way to stop them."
She looked at him—anger in her eyes, but fear behind it.
"Don't do this to me. Please."
"It's not what I want. It's what I have to do."
Sara lowered her gaze.
"And what am I supposed to do while you... do what you have to do?"
"Live. Survive. Be free."
She let out a bitter laugh.
"There's no freedom if I wake up every day not knowing if you're alive."
Kael stepped closer. Held her shoulders.
"Sara… I love you. That's why I'm asking this. I won't let you end up like Luisa. I won't carry another body because of this fucked-up world."
She closed her eyes, breathing deep.
"Then tell me where I have to go."
"There's a place off the radar, near the industrial belt. I know someone who can get you a small house. No paperwork. No questions."
"When?"
"Today."
Sara opened her eyes.
"Just promise me one thing."
"Anything."
"If things go wrong… tell me. Don't leave me waiting for news that never comes."
Kael nodded.
"I swear."
They hugged.
Tight.
As if air wasn't enough to breathe each other in.
⋆⭒✧༺༻✧⭒⋆
At the Internal Security Center, the man in the gray suit handed the governor the incident report.
"He's more dangerous than we thought. No tech. No heat signature. Moves faster than our sensors can track."
The governor read without expression.
"Your recommendation?"
"A surveillance network. Bio-trace focused. Real-time urban scanners. All we need is a clearer sample."
"And if he keeps killing soldiers?"
"Then stop sending soldiers. Use civilians. Infiltrators. Triggers."
"You're willing to break every protocol just to catch one man?"
"If we don't, there'll be a hundred like him by tomorrow."
The governor closed the report.
"Authorized. But I want him alive. And no cameras."
"As you command."
⋆⭒✧༺༻✧⭒⋆
That same morning, Kael and Sara had breakfast without saying much.
Only shared glances.
Long silences.
The kind of goodbye you don't shout—you just accept.
Kael handed her a backpack: money, clothes, a new contact number, and a map.
Sara hugged him at the door.
"You'll stay safe, right?"
"I will. You too."
"What if I can't sleep?"
"Think of me. I'll be thinking of you too."
She kissed his cheek—one last time.
"Don't take too long."
"I'll do what I have to."
Then she left.
Without looking back.
Kael remained in the house, sword on the floor, book on the table.
He opened it by reflex.
8 of 100.
He smiled, without joy.
"I've made my choice."
Then he closed the book.
And turned off the light.
His personal war had just begun.