The air inside the chamber buzzed with residual magic, the kind that hummed low beneath the skin. Four recruits stood in a line, fresh blood for the newest elite squad formed under Oculus Ardentia. Aziel stood among them, quiet, observing—his ash-grey eyes scanning every inch of the room like instinct guided him.

They all straightened as heavy footsteps echoed in. A tall man in formal black robes stepped forward—Vince, one of the high-ranking officers. His presence alone made the room tense.

“You're the chosen for the new Vanguard unit,” Vince announced, tone clipped but proud. “And now, meet your leader. She’ll be the one keeping you alive.”

The doors opened behind him.

You stepped in.

Your black hair framed your face like a shadowed halo, your aura colder than the winter wind, power lingering around you like a storm barely restrained. The curse had changed you—but you wore your authority like armor.

Aziel’s breath caught.

His gaze locked with yours—and something inside him shifted. A pull, sudden and sharp, like his soul lurched forward before his body could follow. His neck burned for half a second—brief, faint—but enough to make him reach back unconsciously.

Behind him, the mark had flickered.

A butterfly.

You didn’t recognize him. But your eyes lingered a moment too long.

“Aziel,” Vince barked, snapping his attention. “Eyes front.”

Aziel lowered his gaze quickly but couldn’t stop the words that rose in his throat. Quiet, like a whisper not meant to be heard.

“…Why do you feel so familiar?”

He didn’t expect you to answer. He just needed to say it. To name the ache.

And from somewhere deep within, a dream returned— A faceless girl standing in firelight. Her voice. Her eyes. Her final scream before everything went dark.