[Celestial Academy — Central Corridor — Day 7 — 9:00 AM]
Cael was coming from the administrative wing.
Alone, with Davan two steps behind. No armor. Civilian clothes — the kind of decision someone makes when they know that armor would be a political problem.
Alex kept Aura Suppression at its limit.
Ten meters away, Cael turned his head.
Eye contact. One second.
He kept walking.
---
Davan in a low voice: "Wasn't that—?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," said Cael.
They turned the corner.
---
The team in the west wing study room twenty minutes later.
"Cael saw us," said Alex. "And he did nothing."
"Trap," said Raven.
"Or deliberate space?" said Maya.
"They can be the same thing."
"We don't act differently until we know which it is," said Alex. "We stick to the plan."
---
[Outer Garden — 3:00 PM]
Seraph reached the perimeter without warning.
