A cold dread, sharper than any winter wind, seized Kael's heart. *Forbidden.* The word echoed in the silent hall, now filled only with the nervous shifting of feet and the heavy breathing of the Watchmen. The guard's eyes had lingered on him. He was sure of it.
The head watchman, Captain Vorlik, began barking orders. "You two, secure the exits. No one leaves. The rest of you, begin the sweep. Check every room, every trunk. The Temple's diviners sensed the surge here. It's faint, like a dying echo, but it's here."
The Watchmen moved with practiced efficiency, their movements amplified by the subtle enhancements of their Paths. One guard's senses seemed preternaturally sharp, his nose twitching as he scanned the room—**Hound Path**. Another's shadow seemed to stretch and warp independently—**Shade Path**, ideal for finding hidden things.
Kael's mind raced. *A surge. In the alley. When I was angry, scared… when I thought I felt that cold pulse from the katana.* Was it him? Was he the "anomaly"?
He risked a glance at Sera. Her earlier dread had been replaced by a mask of calm composure, but her knuckles were white where she gripped the edge of the table. Her eyes met his, and with a barely perceptible movement, she shook her head. A clear, urgent warning: *Do nothing. Say nothing.*
"You," Captain Vorlik's voice cut through his panic. The man was pointing at Roric. "Manticore, isn't it? Feel anything unusual lately? A strange pull? A foreign energy?"
Roric puffed out his chest, eager to be the center of attention, even under suspicion. "No, sir. My power feels strong. Pure." He shot a smug look around the room.
The Captain grunted, unimpressed, and moved on, his gaze sweeping over the other children with awakened Paths. He was systematically eliminating the known variables, searching for the unknown.
Kael felt a bead of sweat trace a path down his spine. He was the ultimate unknown variable. The blank space. The void where a Path should be. It was only a matter of time before their search led them to the one person in the room with no discernible power signature.
His hand trembled slightly, and the spoon clattered against his wooden bowl. The sound was deafening in the tense silence.
Captain Vorlik's head snapped toward him. Those hard, dragon-like eyes narrowed. "You. The quiet one in the corner. I didn't feel a Path from you. What's your name?"
All eyes in the room turned to him. Kael's mouth went dry. "K-Kael Ardyn, sir."
"And your Path?"
"I… I don't have one, sir." The admission, spoken aloud to an authority figure, felt like signing his own condemnation.
The Captain took a step closer. The air around him grew warmer, carrying the faint, smoky scent of embers. "None at all? At your age? That in itself is unusual." He gestured to the watchman with the heightened senses. "Borin. Check him."
The Hound Path bearer approached, his nose wrinkling as he circled Kael. He leaned in close, sniffing the air around him. Kael froze, his heart hammering against his ribs. He could feel the man's breath on his neck.
"He smells of sweat. Fear. The alley," Borin reported. Then his nostrils flared again, right near the hilt of the katana strapped to Kael's back. "And… old metal. Cold iron. Something else… something faint, like ozone after a lightning strike. It's… strange. I can't place it."
Captain Vorlik's interest sharpened. "Ozone? That's not a common scent. The diviners mentioned a 'crackling dissonance.'" His eyes locked onto the wrapped katana. "What is that you're carrying, boy?"
"It's… it's nothing, sir. An heirloom," Kael stammered, his mind screaming. *They can smell it. They can smell the katana.*
"Unwrap it," the Captain commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Panic surged through Kael. This was it. They would see the blade, feel its unnatural cold, and he would be dragged away to the Temple for being associated with a "forbidden" object. He was utterly powerless to stop it.
"Captain."
Sera's voice was like a clear bell cutting through the tension. She had risen from her seat, her posture straight and calm.
"This inspection seems focused on latent Paths and power surges," she said, her tone respectful yet firm. "Is it standard procedure to confiscate the personal belongings of orphans who have not been accused of any crime? I was under the impression the City Watch operated under a charter from the Crown, not solely the Temple."
The room went so quiet you could hear the fire crackle in the hearth. No one talked back to the Watch, especially not a Dragon Path captain.
Captain Vorlik turned his formidable gaze on her, a slow burn of irritation in his eyes. "And who are you to question my methods, girl?"
"I am Sera Valen. I am merely a resident here, same as Kael. I am also familiar with the law." Her violet eyes held his without a trace of fear. "If you have cause to suspect the weapon is stolen or enchanted, by all means, proceed. But if this is a fishing expedition based on a 'faint scent,' perhaps a warrant from a magistrate would be the proper course of action? To avoid… overstepping."
She was playing a dangerous game, bluffing with an authority she shouldn't possess. But her confidence was so absolute it gave even the seasoned captain pause. He was used to fear and submission, not cool, logical challenge.
He scowled, looking between Kael's terrified face and Sera's unnervingly calm one. The watchman Borin shifted uncomfortably. "The scent is fading, Captain. Very faint. Could be he was near the actual source earlier."
The Captain's pride warred with his duty. Finally, he let out a dismissive grunt. "This is a waste of time. The trail has gone cold here." He shot a final, warning look at Kael. "Keep that 'heirloom' out of sight, boy. And if you feel anything… unusual… you report it. Understood?"
Kael could only nod mutely.
With a final glare at Sera, Captain Vorlik waved his men toward the door. "Move out! The trail leads elsewhere!"
As the Watchmen filed out, the heavy door thudding shut behind them, the entire room exhaled a collective sigh of relief. The immediate danger had passed.
Kael sank onto the bench, his legs weak. He looked at Sera, who had sat back down as if nothing had happened, though the faint tremor in her hand as she picked up her spoon betrayed her calm facade.
"How did you do that?" he whispered, awe and confusion warring within him.
Sera didn't look at him, her gaze distant. "They operate on power and fear. Sometimes, the illusion of confidence is enough to make them question." She finally met his eyes, and the sadness in them was now tinged with a new urgency. "But they were not wrong, Kael. The scent they caught… it was real."
She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper meant for his ears only.
"The hunt has begun. And whether you can feel it or not, you are the one they are hunting."