Morning came quietly.
Sunlight slipped through the tall windows of Aurora Covenant's headquarters, casting long golden reflections across the polished floors of the common area. For the first time since the gate opened—there were no alarms. No sirens. No fractures in the sky. Just quiet.
Most of the guild had collapsed wherever they landed the night before. Garrick had fallen asleep halfway through eating, his head resting against the back of the couch. Mira had claimed the opposite side of the room, sprawled across two chairs with absolutely no concern for gravity or posture.
Orion sat by the window, a book resting open in his lap. He still hadn't turned the page.
Seris moved quietly through the room, placing a blanket over Mira before checking Garrick's pulse out of habit. "Still alive," she murmured.
Orion nodded without looking up. "Barely."
Seris allowed herself a small smile. Across the room, Kairos stood near the kitchen counter. He had been awake long before everyone else. His gaze moved across the room slowly: Lucien, Nox, Seris, Garrick, Mira, Orion, Kaida. Everyone was here.
Kairos exhaled softly. "...Thank God." He hadn't realized how tightly he'd been holding his breath.
The elevator chimed. A moment later, Kaida stepped into the common area holding a tablet, looking far too awake for someone who had spent the night researching her reward behavior. She glanced around the room. "...Wow." Her eyes moved across the scattered bodies. "We look like we survived a natural disaster."
Garrick didn't open his eyes. "...Felt like one."
Mira raised a hand weakly from the couch. "I vote we never fight another mountain."
Orion turned a page in his book. "It's not up to us."
Lucien entered a moment later, stretching slightly as he walked in. He looked tired—but steady. The moment he stepped into the room, Kairos straightened.
"You're back," Kairos said quietly.
Lucien blinked. "...We never left."
Kairos shook his head quickly. "I mean—" He stopped, then nodded once. "...Yes, that's great."
Lucien studied him for a moment. "You watched the whole thing, didn't you?"
Kairos hesitated. "...Maybe."
Mira suddenly shot upright. "He did!" She pointed dramatically. "Kid stayed up all night watching the broadcast like a worried mom!"
Kairos looked horrified. "I did not—"
"You did," Seris said gently. "You were pacing."
Kairos stared at the floor. "...Maybe a little."
Lucien stepped forward. Without a word, he reached out and ruffled Kairos' hair. "You'll be with us next time."
Kairos blinked. For a moment he looked completely frozen. "...Okay."
Mira gasped. "Oh my god, he's blushing."
"I am not—"
Garrick reached over from the couch and gave Kairos a heavy but careful pat on the shoulder. "You held the fort."
Kairos looked like he might combust. Orion glanced up from his book. "...You're never going to live this down."
Kairos buried his face in his hands. "This guild is a nightmare."
Kaida smirked. "You love us."
"...I didn't say that."
__
Upstairs—on the third floor—Nox stood alone in the strategy room again. The silver shard rotated slowly between his fingers. Fragment of Unwritten Fate. Even now, it still felt strange—like holding a piece of something unfinished.
The door opened quietly behind him. Lucien stepped inside. "You disappeared again."
Nox didn't look up. "I was thinking."
Lucien leaned against the edge of the strategy table. "You do that a lot."
Silence settled comfortably between them. After a moment, Lucien glanced at the shard in Nox's hand. "Does it bother you?"
"No."
Lucien raised an eyebrow. "Liar."
Nox didn't argue. Lucien crossed his arms. "You saved me in that gate."
"That's what teammates do."
Lucien shook his head slightly. "No." His voice softened. "That wasn't normal."
Nox finally looked up. Lucien held his gaze. But instead of pressing further, Lucien simply exhaled. "...Whatever it was," he said quietly, "I trust you."
The words settled heavily in the room. Simple. Honest. Nox didn't answer, but he didn't look away either.
The intercom chimed. Kaida's voice echoed through the building. "Well, that didn't take long."
Lucien frowned. "What?"
Kaida's voice came again. "We have visitors."
__
A few minutes later—Aurora Covenant gathered in the reception area on the first floor. The glass doors opened. Three figures stepped inside. Two were government officers; the third was familiar. Dark hair. Still eyes. Hands in his coat pockets.
Cassian Verity. The Appraiser.
His gaze moved slowly across the room: Lucien, Kaida, Garrick, Seris, Orion, Mira, Kairos. And finally—Nox. He observed them the way a scientist studies an experiment. Quietly. Carefully.
Finally, he spoke. "Good morning."
Lucien crossed his arms slightly. "...Appraiser."
Cassian inclined his head. "Cassian Verity."
Mira whispered loudly to Garrick. "He definitely looks like a Cassian."
Garrick whispered back. "...What does that mean?"
"I don't know, but it feels correct."
The government officer cleared his throat. "I'm here on behalf of the Central Authority Bureau." He placed a digital tablet on the desk. "As of this morning, the Korean government has officially established a new regulatory division."
Kaida sighed. "Here it comes."
"The Korean Awakened Management Bureau," the officer continued.
Orion closed his book. "KAMB."
"Yes."
Lucien's expression remained calm. "And what exactly does KAMB want with us?"
"All awakened individuals operating within Korean territory must now register their authorities and guild affiliations under KAMB oversight."
Silence filled the room. Mira blinked. "...Oh, that's going to go badly."
Cassian stepped slightly forward. "My role," he said calmly, "is to verify authority classifications and maintain the bureau's evaluation records." His eyes briefly settled on Nox again—only for a moment. Then he looked back at Lucien.
Lucien considered the officer. "...And if we decline?"
The officer hesitated. Cassian answered instead. "Then the bureau will attempt to regulate you anyway." His tone remained perfectly neutral. "Governments tend to do that."
For the first time after the raid—Kaida smiled. "Oh," she said. "This is going to be fun."