The path didn't feel like a corridor.
It felt like a boundary.
The moment Eryx stepped through—
The school disappeared.
Not faded.
Not shifted.
Gone.
The ground beneath him changed.
Smooth.
White.
Endless.
No walls.
No ceiling.
No doors.
Just space.
Mira stepped in right after him.
Her breath caught instantly.
"…Where are we?"
Ashar entered last.
Looked around once.
Then exhaled slowly.
"…Second layer."
Eryx frowned. "This doesn't look like a school."
Ashar shook his head.
"It's not supposed to."
Soren stepped in behind them.
For the first time—
He looked uncertain.
"…This is new," he said.
That made everything worse.
⚠️ NEW RULES (UNSPOKEN)
A sound echoed.
Soft.
Like footsteps.
But none of them were moving.
Mira turned slowly.
"…Did you hear that?"
Eryx nodded.
Ashar didn't react.
Because he already knew.
"They're here."
"Who?" Mira asked.
Ashar didn't answer.
Because the space around them…
Shifted.
Figures appeared.
Not monsters.
Not students.
Something else.
Tall.
Still.
Featureless.
Watching.
Soren stepped back instantly.
"…Observers."
Eryx's eyes narrowed.
"…They're not attacking."
Ashar nodded.
"They don't need to."
A pause.
"They decide."