The woman's projection faded slowly, like smoke being drawn into the air.
Moments later, the pedestal at the center of the plaza began to shift.
A compartment opened, revealing a circular object — similar to a LIGA disc,
but made of translucent crystal, pulsing with golden light.
Kael stepped closer.
As soon as he touched the disc, the city reacted.
---
The sky darkened.
The moons began to spin faster.
And the entire city seemed to breathe all at once.
Kael was enveloped by a sphere of light.
He felt no pain — only displacement.
When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in the plaza.
He was inside the same city... but in a different era.
---
People moved through the streets.
Humans — or nearly so.
Their skin reflected metallic hues.
They could not see him.
But he could hear them.
— The Walker is near...
— He will not know at first.
— But he must choose...
Kael understood:
the city was showing him its past.
Testing his response.
Waiting for something.
But what?