The glyph ring around Lucen flared brighter. Pale blue lines rippled from his boots outward, tracing curves and nodes across the floor like something ancient trying to draw itself back together.
His system twitched. Pinged. Warning after warning blinking in his periphery.
[Interface Disruption: Partial Lockout]
[Spell Designer: Offline]
[Custom Traces: Limited Access Enabled]
Lucen didn't blink.
'No full archive. But I've still got basic logic access. Good enough.'
Elaren raised a hand from the ridge above, voice steady. "Step back. Let the pattern form. You'll only suffer more if you resist it."
Lucen looked up.
Then made a face.
"Man, do you hear yourself talk?"
Elaren's brows pulled in. "Excuse me?"
"You sound like a failed audiobook narrator."
Lucen bent slightly, ran two fingers across the edge of the glowing glyphwork.
It reacted.
Not by flaring or lashing out, just flickering, like a thread caught on something.
Varik didn't move. He just watched.
