A candle flickered in the empty cottage. The storm outside groaned against the glass. Kairen stood by the window, unmoving, watching the waves crash into black cliffs. He did not breathe. Not anymore. Dust settled on the mantle. Books half-opened from decades ago still sat on a desk he never touched.

But then, footsteps. A creak in the floorboards. A flicker of candlelight where no wind blew. And Kairen turned. For the first time in over a century…someone had entered. And their eyes—when they met his,did not pass through.