Elian. 

Didn’t need to see him. I felt it first.

Someone powerful just entered. A shift. The kind that made air feel heavier. Even Veyra, who’d been still like stone, moved. A single step back.

Boots tapped against the floor. Loud. Slow. Then the man spoke.

“Good work. I’ll take over”

His voice wasn’t loud. But it carried authority. Power. 

Veyra’s head turned, sharp. “High Command assigned this task to me.”

“And now I’ve reassigned it.” He replied. 

“But-” 

“I’ll take over. Any questions?” He didn’t even glance at her. Just walked further in, hands clasped behind his back. 

Veyra didn’t argue again. She exhaled through her nose and turned. “Come.” she said to the other Gifted. He followed without a word.

The door shut behind them.

Silence.

Just me. The Bound. And him.

He didn’t sit. Just watched me. 

I expected questions. Pressure. Something.

Instead, he turned to the bound, Aren. “Is he…?”

The Bound didn’t hesitate. “Yes. Marked.”

The man nodded. like he’d been waiting for that. “Then we wait.”

That was it. No interrogation. No threats. 

He moved to the far wall. Folded his hands behind his back. Every breath I took sounded loud. Heartbeat felt like a warning. Loud. Sharp. Wrong.

Marked.

I turned that word over in my head, but it made no sense. No memory of any mark. No explanation. Nothing.

Maybe they found out I was the one from the restricted room. Maybe this was their way to confirm it. But I don’t know. I really don’t. 

Minutes passed. My legs began to ache from standing still. My back stiffened. Still, no words.

Then he moved again.

Soft steps. He leaned to Aren, whispered something. The Bound nodded. No emotion. Just the same calm, unreadable expression.

The man approached me.

Closer now. His eyes met mine. I couldn’t tell what he saw. But it made my throat tighten.

“Elian Rook” he said.

I swallowed. “Yes?”

“You are dismissed.”

I blinked. “That’s it?”

No answer.

He turned and opened the door.

I started walking. Slow. Every part of me on edge. Expecting a trap. No one stopped me. Not the Bound. Not the Commander.

I didn’t know what that he saw in me. Whatever he saw, it wasn’t new to him. No shock. No interest. He looked like he’d found what he came for.

That was worse.

I stepped through. The hallway outside was empty. Clean floor. Bright lights.

I took a few steps, then stopped. The door behind me stayed shut. Maybe they might call me back. I have no reason to get dismissed. Why?

I was sure, veyra knew it was me. Then how? 

“Marked.”

By who? For what?

The hallway felt longer than it should’ve. They let me go. But. I didn’t feel free.

Like something had been watching. Waiting. 

I reached the elevator. Swiped my ID. The panel blinked green, and the doors opened.

Inside, I stood alone. No music. Just the low mechanical hum as the car began its descent. 

I stared at my reflection in the polished paneling. Same cleaner uniform. Same dull eyes. Same scar on my knuckle. Nothing new. Nothing special.

So why did it feel like something had changed?

Unexplainable.

The elevator stopped. The doors slid open. Familiar hallway. Lower sector. Dorms. Not quite home. But safer than where I’d been.

I stepped out.

But my thoughts didn’t leave that room.