The combined perception field covered the entire grounds. He could feel Crane at the control point. Could feel the slight tension in the elder's posture as the new candidate approached. Could feel the detection layer running its read on the approaching mana signature.
Reading.
Reading.
Finding nothing above the ambient baseline.
Because the Sovereign Core didn't externalize. Because Sovereign Step was integrated and passive and produced no external signature at all. Because his mana looked like background noise to any detection layer that expected to see a standard summoner's output.
He kept walking.
Ten meters.
Cipher's cycling eyes shifted to green and stayed.
Pre-identification confirmed. Counter-frequency locked. Resonance Tap ready.
Five meters.
He felt Crane's hand touch the control relay.
