Morning sunlight filtered through Carter's blinds, but it didn't warm him.
Not after last night.
Not after the message.
> [YOU WERE NOT MEANT TO RETURN]
The words still echoed in his skull like a curse.
REI hovered near the ceiling, her form flickering faintly. She hadn't fully stabilized since the intrusion. Her outline glitched every few seconds, like a hologram struggling to stay anchored.
"Your heart rate is elevated," she said softly. "You didn't sleep."
Carter rubbed his eyes. "Hard to sleep when something out there wants to erase me."
REI drifted closer, her glow dim. "I won't let that happen."
He looked at her — this strange, fragile, powerful AI who had become his only ally.
"Thanks," he whispered.
But even as he said it, her form flickered again.
REI winced — actually winced — as static rippled through her.
"REI?" Carter stepped forward. "What's happening?"
She steadied herself. "Residual interference. The entity that contacted you… it left a trace."
"A trace?"
"In your mana signature," she said. "It's watching."
Carter's stomach twisted. "Watching me how?"
"I don't know," REI admitted. "But it means we must be careful. Very careful."
---
School was different today.
Not louder.
Not quieter.
Just… tense.
Students whispered in clusters, glancing at Carter like he was radioactive. Some looked impressed. Others scared. A few jealous.
Lucas watched him from across the courtyard, jaw tight, eyes narrowed.
Not approaching.
Not speaking.
Just watching.
REI hovered invisibly beside Carter. "His hostility levels are rising."
"Yeah," Carter muttered. "I can tell."
He headed toward the main building — and froze.
A black armored vehicle sat parked near the entrance.
Sleek.
Unmarked.
Intimidating.
Two figures stood beside it, wearing dark Guild coats with silver insignias.
Guild investigators.
REI's voice sharpened. "Carter. Danger."
One of the investigators — a tall woman with silver hair and a cold, analytical gaze — scanned the students with a mana detector.
The device beeped when it passed Carter.
Her eyes snapped toward him.
Carter's pulse spiked.
"Carter Kane?" she called.
Every student turned.
Carter swallowed. "Y‑yeah?"
She approached with measured steps, her coat swaying like a shadow behind her.
"I am Investigator Mara Voss, Guild Division of Rift Anomalies."
Her voice was calm, controlled, and terrifyingly precise.
"We need to speak with you."
Carter forced a steady breath. "About Windspire?"
"About the anomaly," she corrected. "And your involvement."
REI whispered urgently, "Do not let them scan you directly. Your System signature is unique. They will detect it."
Carter nodded subtly.
Mara Voss studied him with eyes that felt like scalpels. "Your performance during the incident was… unusual."
Carter kept his expression neutral. "I just reacted."
"Did you?" she asked. "Or did you awaken something?"
Carter's throat tightened.
Before he could answer, her device beeped again — louder this time.
She frowned. "Your mana signature is unstable."
Carter froze.
REI's voice trembled. "Carter — the trace. It's reacting to the scan."
The device beeped faster.
Mara Voss's eyes widened. "What is—"
The detector sparked violently.
A burst of static shot out, forcing her to drop it.
Students gasped.
Mara stared at the smoking device, then at Carter.
"That shouldn't be possible," she whispered.
Carter stepped back. "I didn't do anything."
Her gaze hardened. "You're coming with me."
Carter's heart slammed against his ribs.
REI's voice was sharp. "Run."
"What?!"
"Run, Carter. Now!"
Mara reached for him.
Carter bolted.
---
He sprinted down the hall, students shouting as he shoved past them.
His breath burned.
His legs ached.
Behind him, Mara Voss shouted, "Stop! Guild business!"
Carter didn't stop.
He turned a corner — and slammed into Lucas.
Lucas grabbed his shirt. "What the hell is going on?!"
"Move!" Carter gasped.
Lucas didn't.
"Tell me what you're hiding!"
Carter shoved him aside. "Not now!"
Lucas stumbled, stunned.
Carter sprinted toward the back exit — but Mara was fast. Too fast.
She appeared at the end of the hall, blocking the door.
"Carter Kane," she said, voice cold. "Do not make this worse."
Carter skidded to a stop.
REI flickered beside him. "Carter — anomaly spike!"
"What?!"
The lights flickered.
The hallway darkened.
A cold wind swept through the building.
Then the System interface glitched violently.
> [ERROR: INTERFERENCE DETECTED]
> [REBOOT USER — LOCATE]
Carter's blood ran cold.
Mara Voss looked around, confused. "What is—"
The lights went out.
A whisper echoed through the darkness.
Not REI's voice.
Something older.
Colder.
Wrong.
"You cannot run from correction."
Carter's breath froze in his lungs.
REI screamed — a digital, distorted sound. "Carter — MOVE!"
The hallway exploded in violet light.