What did he say to you

Nana barely had a second to react before the air shifted. A powerful gust blew past her, sending a chill down her spine.

Then—Keir was there.

He moved so fast it was almost inhuman. One second, the man was standing in front of her, hand extended. The next, Keir struck him with a force so strong it sent him crashing into the wall. The sound of the impact was deafening.

Nana flinched, her body stiff with fear.

She had never seen anything like this before.

Keir wasn't just angry—he was something else entirely. His body glowed faintly, a deep, burning red that pulsed like an ember about to catch fire. His eyes weren't their usual dark color anymore. One blazed red, furious and unrelenting, while the other gleamed silver, sharp and unnatural.

For the first time since she had been taken, Nana felt truly terrified.

The man groaned, pushing himself up from the floor. But instead of fear, he looked... amused. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and smirked.

"Still as dramatic as ever," he muttered, shaking his head.

Keir didn't hesitate. He lunged again, aiming to finish him off, but the man's body flickered—like a flame snuffed out by the wind.

Then he was gone.

Vanished into thin air.

Everywhere fell silent.

Nana stood frozen, her breath uneven, hands trembling at her sides. Her mind raced, trying to process what had just happened.

Keir remained where he was, shoulders tense, fists still clenched at his sides. The glow around him slowly faded, the eerie red light disappearing, leaving him standing in the dim moon light like nothing had happened.

For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, his voice came low and controlled, but she could hear the sharp edge beneath it.

"What did he say to you?"

Nana's throat felt dry, her whole body stiff with fear. She wanted to speak, but nothing came out.

Keir took a step closer. His presence was overwhelming, his energy still crackling in the air like a storm that hadn't fully passed.

"I said, what did he tell you?" His voice was sharp, impatient.

Nana flinched. Her lips parted, but the words refused to form.

Keir's eyes darkened. In a flash, he grabbed her wrist, his grip firm but not painful. "Speak."

"I—" Her voice broke, shaking as badly as her hands. "I don't know…"

"Don't lie to me." His voice was louder now, almost a growl.

Nana squeezed her eyes shut, her heart pounding against her ribs. "He—he said you spared me because you want to do something worse."

Keir's grip tightened for a brief second before he let go. His jaw clenched, his entire body radiating tension. He ran a hand through his dark hair, exhaling sharply.

"And you believed him?"

Nana hesitated. Did she? She wasn't sure. But she had seen Keir kill Callan with her own eyes. She had seen him lift that sword without hesitation.

"I—I don't know," she admitted honestly.

Keir let out a humorless chuckle. "Of course you don't."

He turned away, running a hand down his face like he was trying to contain something—anger, frustration, or maybe something else entirely.

"Listen to me, girl," he finally said, his voice lower but still sharp. "Next time someone whispers in your ear, think before you believe them."

Nana nodded slightly.

Keir looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable.

He grabbed Nana's wrist with full force, his grip like iron. Before she could react, the world around her blurred into streaks of color. A rush of air pressed against her skin, and in the blink of an eye, she found herself back in her room.

Her legs wobbled, and she nearly collapsed, but Keir didn't let go just yet. His grip tightened for a split second before he released her.

Without a word, he raised a hand, and an invisible force rippled through the air. Nana didn't see anything, but she could feel it—the weight of something pressing against the walls, locking her inside.

"What—" she started, her voice small.

Keir didn't look at her. His jaw was clenched, his shoulders tense. "Stay here."

Then he was gone.

Nana stared at the empty space where he had just stood, her heart hammering against her ribs. The room felt different now, heavier, as if the very air was holding her in place.

She took a slow step toward the door and reached out, pressing her hand against it. A strange warmth pulsed against her palm, like an unseen barrier.

Trapped.

She swallowed hard, stepping back. Her mind raced. Who was that man? Why did he look like Keir? And why had Keir reacted like that?

Her fingers curled into fists as she backed away from the door, her eyes darting around the dimly lit room.

For the first time since being taken, Nana felt something worse than fear.

She felt completely powerless.