The connection was severed.
Melly had held on as long as she could, her focus unwavering despite the strain. Her abilities had limits, though, and she had reached them. Now, it was just her and Kade, left behind at the secluded spot where they had camped to track him down.
"So, you've found him. What's next?" she inquired, her voice lacking warmth, detached, as though her part had ended and she merely sought to confirm there was no more to be done.
Kade stood still, his eyes locked on the towering tree in the distance, the same one that had drawn his attention before he created the veil that shielded them. His hands were tucked into his pockets, his posture relaxed yet attentive. His silence was contemplative, a quiet so profound that it seemed to stretch time itself. Finally, he exhaled a soft, measured breath and murmured, "Hmm... I'm not sure yet."
Melly raised an eyebrow, caught between confusion and curiosity, though it was difficult to discern which it truly was. "Wait, what? What do you mean you're not sure?"
"We'll wait," he replied simply, his voice steady and resolute. "He's safe. I don't think they'll push him too far, not yet. Rushing in recklessly could put us in trouble."
Her lips parted as if to argue, but she hesitated, considering his words. There wasn't much to contest, after all. Kade's method had always been deliberate, thoughtful. Impulsive actions weren't part of his character, and she appreciated that about him. With a small nod, she decided to let the matter rest.
After a prolonged silence, Kade turned to her, his expression unreadable, and extended his right hand. "Do you need a hand?" he asked, his tone soft yet disinterested, as though he was lending aid out of obligation rather than chivalry.
Melly eyed him, then his outstretched hand, taking in the sight of his left hand lazily tucked in his pocket, his posture so nonchalant it was almost comical. A faint smile tugged at her lips.
"You're such a gentleman," she teased, drawing out the word "man" with mock emphasis, the word dripping with sarcasm as she clasped his hand and let him pull her to her feet.
"Always," Kade replied, a hint of a smile playing on his lips as he played along. After a brief pause, his expression turned serious, and he asked, "Are you okay?" His gaze lingered on Melly, as though searching for something unspoken.
Melly brushed herself off, a nonchalant gesture. "Oh, I'm fine. Don't you worry," she said, with a light voice. But her eyes narrowed slightly as she turned to return the question. "But you? Always so... i don't know
? Stoic. You sure you're not hiding something?"
Kade's eyebrow arched slightly, but he remained silent, letting the moment pass. Melly turned her focus to the shimmering dome surrounding them, her fingers gliding over its surface gently. She adored how it reacted to her touch, its energy almost as if it were harmonizing with hers.
"What about this?" she asked, gesturing to the dome, her eyes alight with curiosity.
"What about it?" He responded without turning, his tone as indifferent as always.
She let out a frustrated sigh, rolling her eyes. "Are you serious? When are we leaving here?"
Kade seemed momentarily distracted, lost in his thoughts, it was unlike him. Then, as if struck by a sudden realization, he stepped closer to where she was. "I suppose now's a good time," he muttered, moving slowly toward the barrier.
Melly watched as he raised a single finger, aiming it toward the shimmering surface. The motion was so swift and seamless that she believed he had simply touched it. In truth, his finger hovered just shy of contact, and a faint spark of energy flared at its tip—one so brief and subtle it was no wonder she missed it. Then, with deliberate precision, the barrier began to unravel.
It was mesmerizing to watch. The point where Kade's finger hovered glowed as if flames were consuming paper, the barrier dissolving in a smooth, methodical wave until it was entirely undone.
"Wait—you can disable it with just a touch?" she asked, her eyes wide with genuine surprise.
Kade shrugged casually. "Something along those lines."
"Something along those lines?" she repeated, her voice filled with disbelief. "You're infuriatingly vague. Are you saying there's more to it?"
He shot her a sideways glance, his indifference evident. "Just one of the many methods to undo it," he said softly, almost inaudibly.
Melly narrowed her eyes, picking up on the softly spoken words. "So why the dramatic finger trick, huh? Just trying to show off?"
Kade shook his head, a faint smile reappearing. "You always manage to find something to critique."
"Only because you make it so easy," she retorted, though there was no bitterness in her tone.
As the barrier unraveled, Melly felt an almost imperceptible shift ripple through the air. It wasn't just the visual disappearance of the shimmering dome or the sudden coolness of the night that followed—it was something deeper, something visceral.
A faint hum reverberated in her chest, subtle but undeniable, as though the barrier's dissolution had released an energy that momentarily resonated with her very core. For a brief moment, she felt weightless, as if gravity had lessened, her senses heightened. The forest beyond the barrier appeared sharper—every rustling leaf, every distant chirp of a nocturnal creature felt amplified, more vibrant than before.
It wasn't entirely pleasant. The air that filled the space where the barrier had been carried an unfamiliar energy, leaving her skin tingling, almost like static electricity. She instinctively rubbed her arms, trying to dispel the sensation.
"What was that?" she asked, her voice softer than she meant. It wasn't just a question about the barrier's mechanism; it was about the way it lingered, the way it seemed to leave a part of itself behind.
Kade didn't answer immediately, his gaze fixed on the spot where the dome had stood moments ago. He seemed to be weighing his words, deciding how much to share.
"Residual energy," he said finally, his tone as nonchalant as ever. "It's normal."
"Normal?" Melly shot him a skeptical look, still rubbing her arms. "Normal doesn't feel like this."