Sara Sudis detects renewed Krenn activity near the university district. The creature’s thermal inversion signature confirms her worst fear: he’s adapting.

Meanwhile, Castor Ames pieces together centuries of encounters with the “Book of Fire” — from medieval Italy to ancient Anatolia to WWII battlefields. Each account bears the same fingerprint, suggesting the artifact’s presence across time.

The resonance between Sara and Castor reaches critical levels. A kiss. A surge of energy. Proof that emotion may amplify the artifact’s dimensional field.

But field recordings end abruptly with civilian casualties in an alley downtown. The Krenn has begun hunting again.