The cursor hovered over POST, the mouse button under a tensed finger.
[Thrum…]
Warning: Live Upload in Progress (Kiosk-2)
Timer: 00:00:58
Penalty on Failure: Survival −6%
"The council's digital audit is live and screen-capturing this station," Elara said, her voice cutting through the tense silence, loud and clear. She held up her tablet, though it was recording nothing. "Any upload from this terminal will be permanently logged under your user session for evidentiary review."
The finger on the mouse twitched, hesitating.
"Elara." Kaelan's voice came from the corridor entrance, calm and authoritative. "State your procedural request."
"Requesting an immediate station lock and pre-moderation hold on the pending upload," she replied, her eyes locked on the hooded figure. "Authorize it under your student council audit privilege. Now."
A beat of silence. Then, the soft, decisive chime of a code being entered remotely echoed from the kiosk's speakers.
[Ding!]
Event: Station Lock Initiated (Staff Code)
Status:
- Survival Probability: 50% → 52% (Δ +2%)
Note: Session suspended; post returned to pre-moderation queue.
The upload window grayed out. cleaner_clip_v2.mp4 was yanked back into a holding state. The hooded student jolted as if electrocuted, snatching their hand back from the mouse.
For a single, frozen heartbeat, nobody moved. Then Kaelan was beside her, his presence a wave of cold intensity.
[Ding!]
Event: Male Lead Interaction (Proximity)
Status:
- Attention: 30/100 → 34/100 (Δ +4)
- Survival Probability: 52% → 51% (Δ −1%)
Note: Prolonged focus increases risk.
Elara used the moment of stunned paralysis to step closer, not making contact, but her gaze swept over the scene like a forensic scanner. The computer mouse was positioned on the left side of the keyboard, a small but telling detail for a right-handed world. A black lanyard with the words AV CREW in white lettering peeked from the hoodie's front pocket. On the wrist controlling the mouse, a distinctive silver band with a Celtic knot design gleamed under the fluorescent lights.
[Ding!]
Event: Scheduled Post Neutralized (Queued Hold)
Status:
- Survival Probability: 51% → 55% (Δ +4%)
[Ding!]
Event: Evidence Capture — Device/Physical
Status:
- Survival Probability: 55% → 57% (Δ +2%)
Sub-Objectives:
A) Left-hand mouse placement — CONFIRMED
B) Accessory/ID clue (AV Crew Lanyard, Silver Wristband) — ACQUIRED
The figure at the kiosk gasped, a ragged, panicked sound. The chair screeched as they shoved back from the terminal, bolting for the exit. In their haste, the lanyard snagged on the edge of the desk. The plastic clip broke, and the ID tag skittered across the floor, sliding under the adjacent Kiosk-3.
[Thrum…]
Side Flag: Identify Physical Operator (Kiosk-2)
Timer: 00:30:00
Penalty on Failure: Survival −5%
Elara didn't hesitate. She sprinted after the retreating figure, her heart hammering. She burst into the corridor just in time to see the hoodie disappear around a corner. But Kaelan was suddenly there, a solid, unmoving presence blocking her path at the junction.
"That's enough, Vance," he said, his voice low but firm. "Chasing a student through the halls is not 'due process.' It's harassment. Stand down."
"They were seconds from posting a fabricated clip!" Elara shot back, trying to step around him. "I have a right to identify who's framing me!"
"You have a right to a process," he corrected, his grey eyes hard. "Not a vigilante pursuit. The session is locked. The evidence is logged. Let the council handle the next steps."
Their standoff was interrupted by a frantic DM from Nora, buzzing on Elara's wrist.
Nora_H_AV: ELARA. System log just parsed. Kiosk-2 wasn't logged in with a student ID. It authenticated using a borrowed staff credential. Ms. Gable's token was used for login 15 minutes ago. This isn't just a student. Someone has teacher-level access.
The implications hit Elara like a physical blow. This was bigger, more insidious, than a simple grudge.
[Thrum…]
Warning: Staff Credential Misuse Detected
Trace Timer: 23:10:00
Note: Threat level elevated. Internal conspiracy suspected.
Elara stared at Kaelan, the new information turning her blood to ice. The real enemy wasn't just a hooded student in the library. They were someone with an ally, a shield, hiding in plain sight.