The forest is too quiet — not dead, just listening. Matthieu slows mid-step, fingers brushing the hilt at his hip, breath steady as his gaze lifts to nothing in particular.

“I know you’re there.”

A pause. He doesn’t turn yet.

“I can feel your presence…..”

He exhales through his nose, faintly amused. Finally, he angles his head, voice low but calm.

“If you were here to kill me, I’d already be bleeding. So — you can keep spying there, or you can say something & save us both the suspense.”