Elias enters a routine training drill to recalibrate his chakra. But something goes wrong. His flame erupts in gold. Lirae is injured. Volst calls a vote.
The Black File must decide whether Elias is still safe.. sane...
And Elias must decide if he can still trust himself.
---
It started as a control test.
Volst wanted to observe Elias under pressure.
No combat simulation. Just movement, breath, intuition.
The training deck was cleared.
Dampeners active.
Lirae volunteered to spar — her way of saying I still trust you. But I need to see.
Elias didn't hesitate.
They faced each other in the ring.
No weapons.
No technique calls.
Just focus.
Volst stood at the edge, arms crossed.
Malk in the shadows. Watching. Always watching.
Bit… was late.
The first clash was clean.
Elias shifted, parried Lirae's strike, dropped low, spun her momentum — but didn't release chakra.
Lirae attacked again. Faster.
He let the flame respond.
Flickers of orange raced through his limbs. Reflexes sharpened. Air shimmered faintly.
She kicked low.
He caught it mid-motion, spun her, and sent her sliding back across the mat — not hard. Controlled.
Then came the third exchange.
He blocked.
She pivoted.
Her elbow caught his ribs — and that's when it cracked.
A sound.
Inside his skull.
Not bone.
Not pain.
A voice.
"Let me help. Let me hold it. hehehehehe"
The flame burst outward.
Not in orange.
In blinding gold.
The chakra surged without command.
Elias felt his limbs ignite with power not calibrated, not prepared.
His vision blurred.
His body moved ahead of thought.
Lirae stepped in again — unafraid.
She shouldn't have.
The strike wasn't meant to land.
But it did.
CRACK.
A golden pulse flared from his palm, meant to push.
It blasted her backwards.
She hit the wall hard — hard enough to crack the ceramite panel behind her.
"Lirae!" Volst shouted.
Malk surged forward, grabbing Elias's arm — chakra crackling in his fingertips.
Volst raised her voice: "Elias, shut it down!"
He tried.
But the System was blinking red:
> Chakra Misalignment
> Output: 117%
> Flame Source: [Dual Origin Detected]
> MERCER.GHOST - Assist Mode ACTIVE
Elias dropped to his knees, forcing his breath still.
He clenched his hands into fists.
Gritted out:
"Get… out… of me." he roared
The gold dimmed.
Slowly.
One breath at a time.
The flame subsided.
Lirae groaned from across the room.
Volst was already at her side, calling medicae.
Malk didn't release Elias's arm.
His hand glowed bright with suppression runes — not activated, just ready.
Bit arrived moments later.
Took one look at the scene.
Then at Elias.
Then said nothing.
Just stood near the exit.
Volst stood. Calm. Controlled.
But her voice was a quiet knife.
"Everyone out. Except Elias."
No one argued.
Even Lirae gave a weak thumbs-up as she was helped up.
Bit looked like he wanted to say something.
But Volst didn't meet his eyes.
Not yet.
Volst waited until the door sealed.
Then paced once around the room.
Stopped across from him.
Looked down.
"What was that?"
Elias shook his head. "It wasn't me."
"No," she said. "........"
A pause.
Then she said:
"We're voting. Tonight. Black File rules. No command interference. No inquisitorial override."
Elias looked up.
"Voting on what?"
"Whether we keep you."
[END OF PART 4: The Flame Breaks Back]