The words settled heavily in the room.
"But even now," Maximilian continued, "Mr. Ryley still doesn't know what triggered it. None of those incidents were intentional."
The fire snapped loudly.
Clyde didn't turn around.
After a long pause, Vincent finally spoke.
"If I may," he said quietly, turning toward Maximilian. "I believe his power has been reawakened. Even if we have yet to fully accept it, it is the only explanation that makes sense."
He stepped closer to Clyde, who still hadn't moved, his gaze fixed on the dancing flames as if they held the answer he was searching for.
"We've seen it before," Vincent continued, his voice steady but heavy. "The way Mr. Ryley interacted with the chimera in the Passing Realm—it wasn't normal. For him to be taken there again, especially after being kidnapped here in the Mortal Realm…" He exhaled slowly. "It has to be the same power surfacing."
Regret flickered across his face. "I only wish we had noticed the signs sooner."
