Chapter-11:Cracks Within
The hall was quiet again, But not calm.Not safe.
Just… controlled.Too controlled.The broken walls were sealed.The bodies were gone.Even the damage—Erased.As if nothing had happened.
But everyone knew.Something had.
Raj stood still, Watching.Thinking.Three breaches.
Coordinated.Targeted.Not random.Never random.
"…You're thinking too much."The smiling boy's voice.
Light.But off.Raj didn't look at him."…Or maybe not enough."A faint reply.The boy chuckled, "Yeah… you're definitely one of us now."Raj ignored that.
His eyes shifted.Across the room.Students grouped together.Whispers.Fear.Doubt.And—Glances.
At him."…They're scared of you."The girl walked up beside him.Arms crossed.As usual.Raj finally looked at her."…Good."A simple answer.She didn't react.
"…Fear makes people predictable."
Raj smirked faintly."…Exactly."A pause.Then—"…But it also makes them dangerous."That—He didn't reply to.Before the silence could grow—CLICK.
The main doors opened.Multiple footsteps entered.
Heavy.Coordinated.Not students.Not regular staff.
The Academy Administration had sent more people.
But these—Were different.Black uniforms.Sharp eyes.No wasted movement."Special Inspection Unit…"Someone whispered.The atmosphere tightened instantly.One of them stepped forward.
A woman.Calm.Cold.In control."…No one leaves this hall."Her voice—Didn't need to be loud.
Everyone listened."We are conducting an internal investigation."Silence.Absolute.Raj's eyes narrowed slightly.Internal…,So they suspected—Something inside."…Three simultaneous breaches."
She continued."…Barrier integrity compromised from within."Murmurs spread."…From inside?!""That means—""…There's a traitor."The word hit hard.
Fear changed.Shifted.From monsters—To people.
Raj watched carefully.Reactions.Eyes.Breathing.
Fear… confusion…Then—He noticed something.
One student.Still.Too still.No reaction.No fear.
Just…Quiet.Raj's gaze lingered.Interesting.
"…All of you will be tested."
The woman said."…Individually."A pause.
"…Any resistance will be treated as hostility."
Clear, Direct.Final.The tall boy stepped forward.
"…What kind of test?"She looked at him.Measured.
"…Energy resonance."
Raj's system flickered slightly.As if reacting.
"…Corrupted energy leaves traces."Her gaze slowly swept the room."…We will find it."Silence.
Heavy.Unavoidable.The smiling boy leaned closer to Raj."…That includes you."
Raj didn't react.But inside—He understood.Of course.He had taken it.Twice.The girl spoke quietly.
"…If they detect instability…"A pause."…You won't just be monitored anymore."Raj finished it."…I'll be restrained."She didn't deny it.Silence settled between them.
Then—Raj smiled."…Let them try."Not arrogance.
Not confidence.Just—Curiosity.
The tests began.One by one.Students were called.
Scanned.Observed.Released.
Or—
Held longer.Tension built with every second.
Closer.Closer.
Then—
"Raj."His turn.All eyes shifted.Again.
He stepped forward.Calm.Steady.No hesitation.The testing device stood in the center.A circular frame.Similar to before—But denser.
More precise."…Step in."Raj did.
The moment he entered—HUM.Energy activated.
Stronger than before.Scanning.Probing.
Searching.His system reacted instantly.
[External Scan Detected]
[Concealment… Partial]
Raj's eyes flickered.Concealment?So even the system—Was hiding something.The energy intensified.The woman watched closely.
"…Interesting."A pause.
"…Your readings are unstable."Of course they were.
Raj stayed silent.The pressure increased.Trying to dig deeper.To expose.To reveal.Then—Something pushed back.From inside him.Dark.Cold.Alive.
The corrupted energy—Responded.The machine flickered.—GLITCH.For a split second—
The readings spiked.Abnormally.The observers stiffened."…What was that?""…Did you see that fluctuation?"The woman's eyes narrowed.
Sharp.Focused."…Explain."
Raj looked at her.Calm.Unbothered."…Side effect of awakening."A lie.Smooth.Clean.
She didn't respond immediately.Just watched him.
Long.Carefully.Searching for cracks.But Raj—
Was steady.Controlled.After a moment—
"…Continue monitoring him."Not cleared.
Not caught.But—Not trusted.Raj stepped out.
Slowly.The tension eased slightly.But not fully.
Behind him—Another name was called.The still student.The one who didn't react earlier.
Raj turned slightly.Watched Carefully.The student stepped into the device.Calm.Too calm.The scan began.Normal.Stable.
Then—Nothing.No fluctuation.No reaction.
Too perfect.The woman frowned slightly.
"…Strange."Raj's eyes narrowed.No reaction at all…?Not even normal energy shifts.Like—There was nothing there.
Or—
Something was hiding better than him.The student stepped out.Expression unchanged.Then—
For a brief moment—Their eyes met.
Raj felt it.A chill.Different from corrupted energy.
Colder, Deeper.And the student—
Smiled.
Just slightly.
[Chapter-11 Ended]