Shin and Malachi stood side by side, neither willing to lower their guard as they struggled to make sense of what had just happened. Their bodies remembered a battle that had never taken place. Shin could still recall the sensation of Kaiku cutting through Zepar's neck, while Malachi remembered the blood on the tip of Weeping Tom. Every detail had felt real, yet they were standing exactly where they had been before the supposed battle began.
Shin turned toward Malachi, confusion written across his face. "Didn't we kill him?"
Malachi glanced at Zepar, who remained beneath his hood, then looked back at Shin. "Was it an illusion?"
Zepar laughed.
