The room didn't get louder.
It got quieter.
Not because people stopped talking—
But because they started listening more carefully.
Riser could feel it.
Every step.
Every glance.
Every subtle shift in posture around him.
"…This is exhausting," he muttered under his breath.
Lyra didn't disagree.
"…You're only five minutes in."
"…Good."
A small exhale.
"…That means it can't get worse."
Ravel didn't even look at him.
"…It will."
Of course it would.
Riser glanced back toward where Seris had retreated.
Still watching.
Not openly—
But enough.
Then toward Ilyra.
She hadn't moved much.
But her attention hadn't left him either.
"…Yeah," he said quietly.
"…I see it."
Because this wasn't random curiosity.
This was—
Layered interest.
Different intentions.
Different approaches.
And none of them simple.
"…You're thinking too much," Elira said lightly, stepping closer again.
"…I'm thinking exactly enough."
"…No," she smiled faintly, "you're trying to map it all out."
"…Isn't that the smart move?"
"…Not here."
Riser raised an eyebrow.
"…Why not?"
Elira leaned in just slightly.
Not enough to invade space—
Just enough to shift tone.
"…Because you're not in control yet."
That—
Landed.
Riser didn't respond immediately.
Because she wasn't wrong.
"…Then what am I doing here?" he asked.
"…Being seen."
Simple.
Direct.
"…That's it?"
"…That's everything."
Before he could push further—
A new presence entered the space between conversations.
This one—
Didn't approach directly.
Didn't announce itself.
It just—
arrived.
"…You brought something interesting this time."
The voice was smooth.
Confident.
Riser turned.
A woman leaned casually against one of the pillars.
Dark hair.
Sharp eyes.
A smile that didn't quite reach them.
"…That's one way to say it," Elira replied.
The woman's gaze shifted to Riser.
Slow.
Unhurried.
Evaluating.
"…So you're the one causing all the noise."
Riser exhaled quietly.
"…Trying not to."
"…You're failing."
A faint smirk formed on her lips.
"…Nyx."
She didn't offer more.
Didn't need to.
Riser tilted his head slightly.
"…That sounds like a nickname."
"…It is."
"…Should I be concerned?"
"…Probably."
Lyra stepped slightly forward.
Subtle.
But protective.
"…Don't," Nyx said casually, not even looking at her.
"…Not your fight."
"…Didn't say it was."
Riser raised a hand slightly.
Not stopping—
Just acknowledging.
"…Relax," he said.
"…I think she's just talking."
Nyx's smile widened.
"…Smart."
She pushed off the pillar and stepped closer.
Unlike Seris—
Who controlled distance.
Unlike Ilyra—
Who observed from it.
Nyx ignored it completely.
She stepped into Riser's space like it didn't matter.
"…You're different."
Riser didn't move.
Didn't step back.
"…So I've been told."
"…Not like that."
A pause.
Her gaze sharpened.
"…You don't feel stable."
That—
Was new.
Riser's expression didn't change.
"…That sounds like your opinion."
"…It's not."
A brief silence.
Then—
She leaned back slightly.
"…Interesting."
Riser watched her carefully now.
Because that wasn't casual.
That wasn't just interest.
That was—
Recognition of something deeper.
"…You done analyzing me?" he asked.
"…Not even close."
She turned slightly.
Already losing interest—
Or pretending to.
"…Don't break too early."
"…I'll try."
She didn't respond.
Just walked away.
Like it didn't matter.
"…I don't like her either," Lyra muttered.
"…That's three," Riser said.
"…You're keeping count?"
"…Helps me stay sane."
Ravel finally stepped forward slightly.
"…Good."
"…What part of that was good?" Lyra asked.
"…She noticed."
"…That's not good."
"…It is."
Ravel's gaze stayed on Riser.
"…Because now we know who can see beyond the surface."
Riser exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
Because that was the real problem.
Not the ones who saw strength.
The ones who saw instability.
"…So," he said quietly, "who's next?"
As if on cue—
The room shifted again.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
But noticeably.
People moved.
Just slightly.
Creating space.
Not for him.
For someone else.
"…Ah," Elira smiled faintly.
"…There it is."
Riser followed her gaze.
A figure stood at the far end of the room.
Not moving.
Not approaching.
But the space around her—
Felt different.
Calmer.
Quieter.
Like everything else had stepped back.
"…That one," Ravel said quietly,"…is not part of any faction."
"…Great," Riser muttered.
"…That sounds even worse."
"…Not worse."
A pause.
"…More dangerous in a different way."
The figure stepped forward.
Slow.
Unhurried.
And unlike the others—
She didn't scan the room.
Didn't observe everyone.
Her eyes—
Locked onto Riser immediately.
"…You're the anomaly."
No greeting.
No hesitation.
Just—
Direct.
Riser blinked once.
"…That's a strong opening line."
She stopped a few steps away.
"…It's accurate."
Her voice was calm.
Not cold.
Not warm.
Clear.
"…Astra," she said.
No last name.
No title.
Just that.
Riser exhaled quietly.
"…Alright."
Because at this point—
Of course.
Another one.
Another layer.
"…Let's hear it," he said.
"…Hear what?"
"…What you think I am."
A pause.
Then—
"…Incomplete."
That—
Hit differently.
Riser didn't react outwardly.
But inside—
Something shifted.
"…That's vague."
"…It's precise."
She stepped closer.
Not invading.
Not testing.
Just—
Present.
"…You're not aligned with the system."
Lyra's eyes narrowed.
"…You don't know that."
Astra didn't look at her.
"…I do."
Her gaze stayed on Riser.
"…And you're not separate from it either."
Silence.
Ravel didn't interrupt.
Elira didn't speak.
Because this—
Was something else.
"…So what does that make me?" Riser asked.
Astra's answer came without delay.
"…Unstable."
A pause.
"…And important."
The room felt smaller.
Not physically.
But because suddenly—
The attention wasn't scattered anymore.
It focused.
On him.
"…Yeah," Riser muttered softly.
Because now—
He understood.
This wasn't just interest.
This wasn't just politics.
This was—
Recognition of something that shouldn't exist.
And that—
Was going to cause far more problems than he'd planned for.
"…Alright," he said under his breath.
A faint smirk forming.
"…Let's see how far this goes."