The training block was held in Spire Six, a tiered arena carved into the side of the Lyceum’s east wing.

The walk there was quiet.

Not because no one spoke.

But because Zephryn’s hum hadn’t stopped.

It was low now. Internal.

Only Selka seemed to hear it.

Only Yolti looked at him sideways like she was trying to match her pulse to his and couldn’t.

Kaelen walked up front.

Focused. Calculating.

Always listening for silence that didn’t belong.

They passed the scanner gate just before entering the arena.

One by one, the glyphplate flared blue.

Kaelen Voss – Confirmed. Sync: 94.1%

Yolti Seravelle – Confirmed. Sync: 91.6%

Selka Veyel – Confirmed. Sync: 97.3%

Then—

Zephryn stepped forward.

The glyphplate flickered.

Once.

Twice.

Then went dark.

Subject… unidentified.

A beat.

Then static.

A second glyph ignited beside the first, scanning deeper. Faster. Harsher.

Pulse ID locked.

Veilmark detected…

Sync error.

Recalibrating…

Recalibrating…

Re—

The scanner shut down.

No alert.

No voice.

Just silence.

And then—

…Confirmed. Sync: 48.0%

Kaelen turned.

Yolti took a step back.

Selka didn’t move.

Zephryn said nothing.

The instructor standing at the gate—one of Doctrine’s newer additions—narrowed his eyes.

“That’s an old glyph,” he said.

Kaelen spoke before anyone else could.

“He’s had mark trauma. Multiple resonance fractures. That sync isn’t surprising.”

The instructor didn’t blink.

“It is when it doesn’t match his recorded frequency.”

Zephryn met his eyes.

“Maybe the record’s wrong.”

They entered the arena.

No one else said a word.

But as they stepped onto the stone platform, a third glyph—buried in the floor’s center—flared once.

Just enough for Selka to catch it.

And just long enough for Doctrine’s internal surveillance to log it.

“Anomaly confirmed. Monitor closely.”