Samye remained silent for a few seconds.

  The monk’s question lingered in the air.

  “Are you the same person…?”

  Samye finally spoke.

  “…It’s me.”

  He lifted his eyes.

  “Remember? We talked a few days ago. About accepting him.”

  The monk studied his face closely.

  Then—

  His expression softened.

  Relief.

  A faint smile appeared.

  “All is well,” the monk said quietly.

  Samye blinked.

  “You have finally grown,” the monk continued. “And accepted him as part of yourself.”

  Samye froze slightly.

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  “You can see it?” he asked carefully.

  “You can really see it? The change?”

  The monk gave a small nod.

  “Of course.”

  “You are not the only one gifted with perception.”

  He stepped closer, observing Samye’s eyes again.

  “My ability allows me to look at souls.”

  “Not memories like yours.”

  “Not echoes.”

  “But essence.”

  Samye’s heartbeat slowed slightly.

  “And yours…”

  The monk’s voice grew more serious.

  “…is glowing.”

  “Far brighter than usual.”

  Samye’s fingers twitched unconsciously.

  “Bright?” he repeated.

  The monk nodded.

  “It has been many years since I have seen a soul burn like this.”

  He walked slowly around Samye as he spoke.

  “I have witnessed countless awakenings.”

  “I have seen men crushed under the burden of their own power.”

  “I have seen souls devoured by their desires.”

  “Sometimes…”

  He paused.

  “Only an empty husk remains.”

  Samye swallowed.

  “But you…” the monk said firmly.

  “You are different.”

  The temple air felt heavier.

  “You have not been consumed.”

  “You have integrated.”

  The monk looked directly into Samye’s star-patterned eyes.

  “You now possess the very thing you always desired.”

  “Power.”

  “But more importantly…”

  “Control.”

  Silence settled.

  Samye’s gaze dropped slightly.

  He didn’t smile.

  He didn’t feel triumphant.

  Instead—

  A subtle sadness lingered in his expression.

  The monk noticed.

  “Power does not remove pain,” he added gently.

  “It only gives you the choice of what to do with it.”

  Samye exhaled slowly.

  “…Choice.”

  He repeated the word quietly.

  For a long moment, he said nothing.

  Then he turned.

  Without argument.

  Without further questions.

  And walked out of the temple.

  The monk watched him leave.

  From a distance, the star pattern in Samye’s eyes shimmered faintly in the sunlight.

  The monk folded his hands behind his back.

  “You will soon know,” he murmured softly.

  Whether that brightness—

  Would guide the world.

  Or burn it