The academy was moving forward. It was not peaceful. It was not smooth.. It was not blind. Underneath all the training and studying and competing something was happening. Something that made people stop and think before they did anything. It was not just people being nervous. It was people being aware.
Kael felt this more than anyone.
Not because it was easy to see.
Because it was happening to him.
There were things that were not right. Little things that were not accidents. They were on purpose. Whoever was doing them was not in a hurry. They were waiting. They were watching.
Kael thought to himself "He is getting closer."
Lyra was walking beside him. She was quiet. Her face was calm.. She was paying attention. She did not need to ask Kael what he was thinking. She could tell by the way he was moving.
"You feel it too " she said quietly.
Kael did not look at her.. He did not say no. "...Yes."
Lyra breathed out slowly. "Then it is not just us being paranoid."
Kael said, "No. It is not."
What they said was simple.. It meant a lot. It meant they both knew something was wrong. It meant they trusted each other.
Riven was walking ahead of them. He turned around. Smiled.. He was not happy. "If you two keep talking like that I will think something is very wrong."
Mira did not even look at him. "You always think the worst."
Riven said, "Because the worst always happens."
Tarin said, "Be careful. We are being watched."
Riven stopped moving. "You did not have to say that."
Kael looked around a little. "...He already did " he said.
That was enough to make everyone quiet.
---
The academy had a task. It seemed normal.. It was not. There were problems with the Aether in an area. The academy wanted people to go and fix it. It seemed like an idea.. Kael did not think so.
"Too organized " he thought.
The task was not random. The groups were not random. The time they had to do it was not random.
Lyra saw that Kael was not happy. "You do not like this " she said.
Kael said, "It is a trap."
Lyras eyes got a little smaller. "...A trap " she said.
Kael said, "Yes."
He was sure.
Lyras face got a little harder.. She was not scared. She was ready. "Then we do not fall into it " she said.
Kael breathed out slowly. "...We already have " he said.
That was a problem.
Because he was right.
They were already in the trap.
---
When they got to the area it was quiet. The air felt strange. The Aether felt thick. Like something was holding it down.
Mira said, "This does not feel right."
Tarin said, "Stay "
Riven looked around nervously. "I do not like it when everything is quiet. Something always happens."
Tarin said, "Focus."
Then the problem started.
Not one problem.
Not two.
Many.
The Aether started to break. Entities came out. They were not normal. They were controlled.
Lyra said, "They are not attacking randomly. They are closing in."
Kael saw what was happening.
"They are forcing us to move " he said.
Forcing them where Riven asked.
Kael looked around a little. "...To the center " he said.
That was the trap.
The entities moved forward. Not wildly.. On purpose. They were pushing the group together. Making it hard for them to get away.
Tarin fought one of the entities.. Another one came and stopped him.
Mira tried to get.. Another entity came and stopped her.
Lyra looked at the pattern. "They are being guided " she said.
Kael did not need to say anything.
He already knew.
The entities were being controlled.
Kael thought, "He is watching."
He was waiting.
Waiting for them to make a mistake.
Kael thought fast. He looked at what might happen. He thought about the risks.
If he did something he would be in danger.
If he did not do something they would be in trouble.
There was no answer.
Only a choice.
Lyra came closer to him. Her voice was low. "Do not hesitate " she said.
Kael looked at her.
She was not scared.
"...I trust you " she said.
That meant a lot.
Because she was not asking.
She was choosing.
Kael breathed out slowly. "...Then stay close " he said.
Lyra nodded.
That was enough.
Kael moved.
Not fast.
Not obvious.
But with purpose.
He used his Aether. He made the entities weaker. He changed the balance.
"Now " he said quietly.
Tarin reacted fast. Mira followed. Lyra moved with Kael.
The entities stopped.
Not all of them, but enough.
The pressure went away.
The entities disappeared.
It was quiet.
Riven got down on his knees. "I am done with today " he said.
Mira breathed out slowly. "That was not normal."
Tarins face was hard. "No. It was not."
Lyra looked at Kael.
Her face was calm.
Her eyes knew.
"...You did more than you showed " she said softly.
Kael looked at her.
He did not say anything.
This time it was enough.
---
Away Veyron Kade was watching. He was paying attention. He saw what happened.
" Intervention " he said to himself.
He thought for a moment.
"Minimal exposure. Maximum effect."
He smiled a little.
"...There is no doubt anymore " he said.
He was sure.
He looked at where Kael was.
"But not invisible " he said.
His fingers tapped on the railing.
He thought again.
" Time I will not just watch " he said.
Back with Kael he was standing still. He was in control.. He knew something was different.
The pressure was not away.
It was close.
It was real.
Lyra was still, with him.
She was not asking questions.
She was not leaving.
She was choosing.
Again, Kael knew that choice would have a cost soon.