The Uninvited Observer

[Location: Nova Academy – East Wing, Unused Classroom | Early Morning]

The morning began beneath gray skies.Clouds hung low above Nova Academy, heavy and silent—as if they carried secrets the world wasn't ready to hear.The air was still. Thick.

Inside a forgotten classroom tucked into the East Wing, Ryn sat alone.His gaze fixed on the glowing screen of his personal terminal.Frame by frame, the footage from last night played back—slowly, meticulously.

"If he's just a normal cadet… why does the footage show an administrator-level bypass?"

The screen dimmed.Footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Click.

He locked the terminal as the door creaked open.

"You're awfully serious for this early in the morning, Ryn."

Tessan entered—calm, sharp-eyed.He scanned the room before fixing his gaze on Ryn like he was measuring not just curiosity... but intent.

Ryn looked up, composed but tense.There was a quiet standoff in that moment—where nothing was said, but everything was understood.Tessan was evaluating more than just Deren now.

He closed the door gently and sat across from Ryn.

"You're aware of Deren's little field trip last night?"

"Somewhat," Ryn answered carefully. "No proof yet."

Tessan gave a knowing half-smile.

"Nova has many eyes. But we're more interested in the ones watching quietly."

He slid a small data chip across the table.

"Valdheim and Selvas requested additional testing. Unofficial methods.Care to guess who's first on their list?"

[Location: Nova Academy – Abandoned Lab, Sector 5 | Late Morning]

Deren woke up with a groggy groan.

Still curled in the corner of an old lab, half-covered in a coat, an empty tea thermos by his side.

His wrist alarm buzzed quietly.

"Sudden tactical sim...? Again?"

Dragging his feet, he headed toward Sector 6-E—an old simulation hall barely anyone remembered.The hallway leading to it was rusted and dim, lined with cracked metal and overgrown with synthetic moss.The overhead lights flickered as if the walls themselves were exhaling a tired breath.

The scent of ozone and metal filled the air.The silence felt unnatural. Too deliberate.

Sector 6-E was a custom arena—meant for infiltration training.Today, it felt like a forgotten bunker waiting to be reawakened.

Inside, three cadets from Class A and B were already waiting.They stood tall, their posture too rigid for a normal sim.

One stepped forward—a girl with the Selvas insignia on her collar.

"We're here to assess you, Deren Arkwright.No formalities. Just... observation."

Deren blinked.

"Observation? With active weapons?"

"There's a simulation creature inside.We're here to determine whether you really earned your Rank C."

[Location: Sector 6-E – Simulated Underground Facility]

The sim began.They entered what looked like a decrepit underground facility, full of rusted doors and flickering lights.

The Valdheim cadet immediately took command.

"Deren, stay at the back. Don't interfere."

"Exactly what I expected," Deren muttered, leaning casually against the wall.

But then—the creature appeared.

It wasn't a harmless simulation.It was a Beta-class Metavore—an old model, long removed for being too dangerous.

Two of the cadets panicked.The facility's defense system didn't activate.

"Is the sim broken?!"

Deren sighed.

He pulled a small device from his pocket.A quiet beep.Purple light shimmered through the air—revealing a hidden panel behind the wall.

"This place... was still linked to my old network.And apparently, they never cut the backup node."

A soft grin tugged at his lips.

The panel glowed to life—displaying an old interface with a long-forgotten logo: a symbol Deren had personally designed, years ago.

This was his safe zone.One of many "just-in-case" systems he had buried throughout Nova.He hated fighting.But he never hated preparing an escape plan.

Turrets deployed from the floor.

Lasers flared.The Metavore recoiled.A burst of automatic fire came from hidden corners, forcing it back.

One cadet turned to Deren in disbelief.

"You... knew all this?"

Deren shrugged.

"Nah. I just like napping here.So I installed an alarm system."

[Cutaway – Location: Nova Academy Surveillance Room]

Far above, Nayra stared at the monitor—expression unreadable.

"He didn't fight. He didn't lead.And yet... he still saved everyone."

Tessan stood beside her, arms folded.

"And the device he used... isn't registered in any Nova or faction inventory."

A pause.

"Reports to Valdheim and Selvas?" Nayra asked.

"Already sent," Tessan replied."But I think... this'll only make them more interested."