"You don't know," Malakai repeated, unimpressed.
Valentine shook his head.
"No. I don't know where it came from, and I had to figure everything out myself. But somehow, when it entered me, I just knew. I could feel it… like it was alive. Sentient. But it never said a word to me. Not once."
Malakai gave a small nod. "Is that what fused with me?"
Valentine nodded. "Yes."
Malakai let out a slow breath. "Alright. Another question. Why you?"
Valentine blinked. "Pardon?"
"I mean," Malakai said, gesturing vaguely at the memory, "why did it pick you? No offense, but you seem like the last person anything would ever choose as a successor. So why you? And why hold a trial now?"
Valentine cleared his throat again, forcing himself not to take the jab personally.
"…That might be because I was the only one around for miles."
Malakai raised a brow. "So it had no choice?"
Valentine nodded sheepishly. "Pretty much."
