Anthony sat in his room, his thoughts drifting back to his father's words.
It was a rare sight, his father, usually composed and unwavering, had shown a moment of vulnerability.
The memory played over in Anthony's mind, not as a source of reassurance, but simply because it was unprecedented.
Like an old melody caught in a loop, the scene refused to fade.
A faint smile tugged at his lips as another memory surfaced, Michael vanishing in an instant.
"He must have been escaping from that embrace"
Anthony murmured to himself, amusement flickering in his eyes.
Then, suddenly, he felt it.
Or rather, everyone on the Null Estate did.
A presence.
Looming.
Above.
A ship.
Its engines rumbled like a distant storm, a low, resonant hum that filled the sky.
Below, the wind stirred in response, whispering against the estate's grounds.
Anthony didn't need to turn.
He didn't need to acknowledge it.
