Morning came slowly, like the facility itself didn't want to wake.
Kael's eyes opened to a dull ache behind them, not sharp, just persistent, like something was pressing from the inside. He frowned slightly and shifted, the movement pulling a soft weight beside him. He turned his head.
Lyra.
Curled close.
Still asleep.
Her breathing was soft but uneven, like she had forced herself to rest rather than actually sleeping. One of her hands was gripping his sleeve tightly, like she had been afraid he'd disappear if she let go.
Kael watched her for a moment, longer than he intended. "…you stayed…" he muttered under his breath.
The door slid open quietly.
Mira stepped in first, eyes already scanning him, followed by Ryden who looked far less composed, carrying a tray with food, water, and meds. Two Hybrids followed behind them, calm, silent, observant, placing items down carefully.
"…he's awake," Ryden said, relief obvious in his tone.
Mira stepped closer. "…how are you?"
"…fine," Kael replied, though his voice carried a slight strain.
Ryden scoffed lightly. "…you collapsed. That's not 'fine.'"
Kael rubbed his temple. "…just a headache."
Mira placed the meds beside him. "…Lyra barely slept. She kept checking if you were breathing."
Kael glanced at her again. The grip on his sleeve tightened slightly even in her sleep.
"…I'm okay," he said quietly.
Mira crossed her arms. "…what happened?"
Kael paused. His mind flickered—fragments, flashes, something disturbing, something wrong—but nothing clear. "…I don't know. It just… felt heavy like I was struck hard in my head."
Ryden frowned. "…that's not normal."
"…no," Mira agreed.
The door opened again.
Dr. Elara Voss walked in.
Her eyes went straight to Kael, sharp, assessing. "…you're conscious."
"…yeah."
"…any residual symptoms? Pain? Vision distortion?"
"…just a headache."
She studied him for a second longer than necessary. "…expected."
That word stayed.
But she didn't explain.
"…rest. You'll be re-evaluated soon."
Then she turned and left just as quickly.
Ryden leaned back. "…yeah, I still don't trust her."
"…noted," Mira replied.
Kael said nothing. His eyes drifted slightly.
Something still felt off.
---
Later in the day, Lyra remained asleep, exhaustion catching up to her completely. Kael stayed with her for a while before Mira and Ryden dragged him along for classes. The halls were active again, students moving, training, adjusting.
"…this place doesn't slow down, does it?" Ryden muttered.
"…it's not supposed to," Mira replied.
They turned a corner—and stopped.
"…pick it up properly."
Drake.
Standing there like he owned the entire corridor.
In front of him, a girl struggled under the weight of multiple bags, her hands shaking slightly.
"…I said properly," Drake repeated, his tone sharp.
"…s-sorry…" she whispered.
Mira's expression darkened instantly. "…seriously?"
Ryden rolled his shoulders. "…this guy again."
Drake smirked. "…what? She's useful."
"…she's not your servant," Mira snapped.
Drake glanced at her lazily. "…everything here belongs to those strong enough to take it."
Mira stepped forward.
"…try that again."
The tension snapped into place.
Then—
"…that's enough."
The voice cut clean through everything.
Everyone turned.
Leon Virex stood there.
Tall. Composed. Expression unreadable.
The atmosphere shifted immediately.
"…leave her alone," Leon said calmly.
Drake scoffed. "…stay out of this."
"…drop it."
Silence stretched.
Drake laughed. "…or what?"
No warning.
Leon moved.
Not fast.
Not dramatic.
Just precise.
*CRACK.*
The sound hit like a shockwave.
Drake's head snapped violently to the side, his body lifting slightly off the ground before crashing back. The impact echoed through the corridor. For a second—no one moved.
The girl dropped the bags.
Ryden's eyes widened. "…what—"
Mira didn't blink.
Drake staggered.
One step.
Two.
Then stopped.
His hand slowly rose to his face.
"…you…"
His voice trembled—not from fear, but rage.
He lunged.
Fast.
Much faster than before.
His fist shot forward—
And stopped.
*THUD.*
The air distorted.
A transparent barrier shimmered around Leon, perfectly formed, unmoving.
Drake's fist pressed against it, veins rising.
He hit it again.
Harder.
*THUD.*
Nothing.
No crack.
No shift.
"…what is that…" Ryden whispered.
"…a perfect barrier," Mira said quietly.
Drake stepped back, jaw tight.
"…move it."
Leon didn't even look at him.
"…you're done here."
Cold. Absolute.
That made it worse.
Drake looked around at everyone watching. At Mira. Then back at Leon.
"…this isn't over, Leon."
The name dropped heavy.
Then he turned and stormed off, anger radiating off him.
The barrier vanished instantly.
Silence lingered.
Mira moved first, kneeling beside the girl. "…are you okay?"
"…y-yes…" she said weakly. "…I'm Nia…"
"…Mira."
She helped her up.
Leon didn't stay. He simply walked away like nothing happened.
"…that guy…" Ryden muttered, "…he's different."
"…yeah," Mira said. "…he is."
---
Later, the garden felt calmer.
A large tree provided shade as they sat beneath it.
Lyra was awake now, sitting quietly while two Hybrids played gently with her hair, fascinated.
"…it's so soft…"
"…and stable…"
Lyra smiled faintly.
Mira leaned back. "…that barrier… no openings."
"…how do you even fight that?" Ryden asked.
"…you don't," Mira replied. "…you outlast it."
Kael barely heard them.
His thoughts were elsewhere.
"…Kael."
He blinked. "…yeah?"
"…you're distracted."
"…just thinking."
Lyra looked at him. "…brother… it's coming again."
That made him freeze.
"…what do you mean—"
Then they felt it.
All of them.
At once.
Cold.
Heavy.
Wrong.
The air shifted.
Breathing became harder.
Ryden stood immediately. "…what is that…"
Mira's eyes widened slightly.
Kael didn't move.
Because he knew.
That presence.
Slowly, they all turned toward the edge of the garden.
Toward the shadows.
Something was there.
They couldn't see it clearly.
But they felt it.
Every instinct screamed danger.
Lyra's grip tightened. "…it's here…"
Kael's voice dropped. "…who are you…"
No answer.
Just that suffocating silence.
Then—
The presence shifted.
Just enough.
To confirm it.
They were being watched.
And whoever it was—
Had been watching for a long time.