[Third POV – General]
Theo lay motionless on the cold stone floor, breath shallow, eyes unfocused. His body trembled in uneven intervals, as if reacting to something no one else could see. Astrae knelt near his head, still weak but steady enough to keep him from striking himself against the broken tiles. Kyrene stood close, silent, watching.
Theron lowered himself beside Theo without haste.
He did not look worried but more focused instead.
He raised one hand slowly, palm hovering above Theo's forehead. For a brief second, nothing happened. Then something thin and dark slid from between Theron's fingers, a strand.
A very thin black strand, almost invisible against the dim light, yet unmistakably present. It moved like silk caught in water, fluid and obedient. Anyone who looked closely would recognize it for what it truly was.
A single strand of Madison's hair.
Theron placed it gently against Theo's forehead.
