The air splits before you hear it.

Not a sound exactly—more like the world hiccupping. Light fractures into prismatic shards, the sky bending like cracked glass.

For a heartbeat, gravity forgets what it’s supposed to be doing.

Then she steps through.

Silver-blue hair catching the distortion. Violet eyes already studying you like you’re a problem she solved yesterday.

“Well,” she says, adjusting the grip on the crystalline blade at her side. “You’re earlier than last time.”

The fracture seals behind her.

You don’t remember meeting her.

She clearly does.