Chapter-12:The One Without a Trace
The test ended But the tension didn't.It stayed.
Heavy.Lingering in the air.Students began to leave in groups.Whispers followed."…Did you see that spike?""…Raj isn't normal.,…And that other guy… something felt off."Fear had changed again.
Now it wasn't just about power.It was about the unknown.
Raj walked alone.Silent., Thinking.Unstable… concealment… detection…,His system wasn't just a tool.It was—Hiding things.From others.Even from him."…And that one."His eyes shifted slightly.Ahead.
The same student.Walking calmly.No rush.No fear.
No presence.Almost like—They didn't exist.
Raj followed.Not obvious, Not direct.But intentional.
The hallway turned quiet.Empty.Most students had already left.Only footsteps remained.Two sets.
Then—
The student stopped.Without turning."…You're not subtle."A calm voice.Flat.Emotionless.Raj didn't deny it."…And you're not normal."The student turned.Slowly.Their face—Plain.Unremarkable.
But their eyes—Too empty."…Normal is overrated."
A faint smile.Cold.Different.Raj stepped closer.
"…Your energy."A pause."…I can't feel it."
The student tilted their head slightly."…Good."
Not denial.Confirmation.
Raj's eyes sharpened.So he knows."…Who are you?"Silence.
Then—"…Someone like you."A simple answer.
But wrong.Completely wrong.Raj frowned slightly.
"…No."A step closer."…You're hiding something."
The student's smile widened.Just a little.
"…And you're not?"Silence.For a second—
They just stared at each other.Two predators.
Measuring, Weighing.
Then—
Raj moved.Suddenly.Fast.His hand shot forward—
—GRAB.Direct contact.
The system reacted instantly.
[Condition Met: Contact]
[Target Analysis… Failed]
Raj's eyes widened.Failed?No thread, No connection.Nothing.Like grabbing—Empty space.
The student didn't move.Didn't resist.Didn't react.
Just watched him."…See?"A quiet voice.
"…Nothing to take."
Raj pulled back slowly, His mind racing.
Impossible.Everyone had something.Energy.
Talent.Something.But this—Was blank.
"…What are you?"The question slipped out.
For the first time—Genuine curiosity.The student stepped closer.
Now—Too close.Their voice dropped.Lower.
Colder."…A hole."Raj's pupils shrank.
"…A what?""…A gap in your system."
Silence.Heavy, Unsettling.
The system flickered violently.More than ever before.
[Warning]
[Unknown Interference]
[Data… Missing]
Raj felt it.For the first time—Uncertainty.
Real uncertainty."…You're connected to that voice."
A statement.Sharp.The student didn't deny it.
Didn't confirm it either.Just smiled."…You're learning."Then—A step back.Distance again.
Safe."…But not fast enough."Raj's eyes darkened.
"…Try me."
The student chuckled softly."…Not yet."
A pause."…You're still unstable."The same word.
Again.Raj's jaw tightened slightly."…And you're hiding."The student nodded once."…Of course."
No shame, No hesitation.Just truth.Then—
They turned.Walking away."…Wait."Raj's voice stopped them.Just for a second."…Why me?"
A real question.No anger, No threat.
Just—Curiosity.
The student didn't turn back."…Because you can grow."A pause."…And because you're not the only one."Raj's eyes sharpened."…What does that mean?"Silence.Then—"…You'll find out."
And just like that—They were gone.Raj stood still.
Alone again.But this time—The silence felt different.
Heavier, Darker.More dangerous.
The system flickered slowly.As if thinking, Processing and Adapting.
[New Concept Registered]
→ Null-Type Entity
Raj exhaled slowly."…A hole…"He looked at his hand.Then—Closed it.
"…Then I'll fill it."A faint smile.Cold, Sharp.
Determined.Somewhere—Beyond the academy—
The same distorted voice echoed faintly.
"—Good…"Raj's eyes lifted."…I'm getting closer."And for the first time—
The hunt went both ways.
[Chapter-12 Ended]