Tymir stood at the threshold of the hidden passage and stared down into the darkness below.

  The academy had existed for generations, and entire wings had been renovated and expanded many times over the years.

  Yet this passage felt older than all of it, older even than the academy itself.

  He glanced over his shoulder toward the silent rows of books behind him before turning and beginning his descent.

  The narrow staircase curved downward into shadow. Tymir kept one hand against the wall beside him as he moved carefully along the worn stone steps.

  The surface beneath his fingers felt cool and slightly damp, as though the stone had gone years without warmth or light.

  Each step produced a quiet echo that drifted upward through the passage toward the library above.

  The glow from the opening behind him faded steadily as he continued downward.

  The air grew heavier the deeper he went, carrying the faint scent of dust and aged paper, the unmistakable smell of a place that had remained undisturbed for a very long time.

  When his foot reached the final step he paused.

  A large chamber opened before him.

  At first the room appeared swallowed by shadow, but as his eyes adjusted the shapes within it gradually came into view.

  The space resembled a private study that had once belonged to someone important.

  Shelves stretched across the stone walls from floor to ceiling, filled with thick books whose once vibrant spines had faded with age.

  Layers of cobwebs hung between them like delicate threads that had not been disturbed in years.

  A massive wooden desk stood at the center of the room, its broad surface buried beneath a thick layer of dust that had settled undisturbed across the wood.

  Papers covered the surrounding floor in scattered clusters. Some had been crumpled while others were torn, as though someone had once searched through them with frantic urgency.

  Tymir stepped fully into the room.

  As he crossed the threshold, the warmth in his left hand flared suddenly before settling again into a steady pulse beneath his skin.

  He slowed slightly.

  The room remained completely still, yet the quiet pressure at the edge of his awareness returned.

  The sensation lingered in the back of his mind, subtle but persistent, as though someone stood nearby just beyond the reach of his sight.

  Tymir continued forward, his gaze moving slowly across the abandoned study.

  The warmth in his palm pulsed again as he moved deeper into the room.

  A faint draft stirred the dust along the floor, causing several loose pages to shift. One sheet slid slowly across the stone, gliding farther than the others before coming to rest beside a thin folder buried beneath the scattered papers.

  Tymir stopped and watched the page carefully.

  The air had already gone still, yet the sheet had traveled farther than it should have.

  A faint line formed between his brows as he stepped toward the corner of the room.

  He crouched beside the pile and brushed the page aside.

  Beneath it lay a thin folder half hidden beneath the surrounding documents. He was certain it had not been visible only moments earlier.

  Tymir reached for it and brushed away the dust that clung to its surface.

  Faded lettering slowly emerged beneath his fingers.

  Agent Riven.

  The warmth in his palm pulsed again, stronger now, almost like a quiet heartbeat beneath his skin.

  He hesitated briefly before opening the file.

  The first page contained a photograph.

  The moment his eyes landed on the image his heart dropped heavily in his chest.

  It was him.

  The same man who had appeared in Marcellus's dream.

  The same man he saw behind him in the mirror after his shower.

  The same figure who had offered him guidance inside the simulation.

  Agent Riven stared out from the photograph with calm dark eyes and an expression that carried a quiet confidence.

  Tymir studied the image in silence.

  The man's gaze felt steady and certain.

  For reasons he could not explain, Tymir felt the unsettling impression that the man in the photograph was not a stranger.

  It felt as though the man had been expecting him.

  Tymir turned the page.

  More photographs followed.

  Several of them showed Riven standing beside two other agents dressed in uniforms unlike the ones worn by the academy now.

  The fabric shone with bright shades of white and silver, and the design appeared cleaner and more ceremonial than the darker uniforms used today.

  The academy building behind them looked different as well. The stone walls appeared newer and less fortified, as though the structure had not yet undergone the many expansions that now surrounded it.

  Tymir studied the two figures standing beside Riven.

  Even though they were younger, he recognized them immediately.

  Chancellor Sterling.

  Vice Chancellor Dorinda.

  They stood beside Riven with an ease that suggested long familiarity, as though they had once fought side by side.

  Tymir continued staring at the photograph, struggling to reconcile what he was seeing with everything he had been told.

  His gaze drifted downward to the report beneath the image.

  Agent Status: ROGUE.

  He continued reading.

  A written statement followed the classification. The signature beneath it belonged to Chancellor Sterling.

  Tymir read the line quietly under his breath.

  Agent Riven attempted to persuade me to assist him in executing the Chancellor in order to assume control of the academy.

  The words settled heavily in his mind.

  He lifted his gaze to the photograph again.

  Sterling and Dorinda stood beside Riven with relaxed confidence, their posture reflecting complete trust in the man between them.

  Tymir frowned slightly as he studied the image.

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  "How could you not remember someone like this?" he murmured quietly.

  "You reported him yourself."

  The study remained silent around him.

  After a moment the air in the room shifted, and a cool stillness settled through the chamber.

  A gentle weight rested suddenly against Tymir's shoulder.

  The touch felt warm and unmistakably human.

  For a brief moment it seemed as though someone stood directly behind him.

  Tymir turned sharply.

  His pulse surged as his eyes searched the room.

  The study stood empty.

  Dust drifted slowly through the faint light and the shelves remained perfectly still beneath their hanging webs.

  Yet the faint chill of something that had only just been present lingered in the air.

  Tymir slowly turned back toward the desk.

  He continued examining the file.

  Several pages had been marked with bold red ink.

  Classified.

  Large sections of the report had been removed entirely. Whole portions of the document ended abruptly where information had clearly been cut away.

  Someone had deliberately erased parts of this record.

  Tymir's eyes moved across the remaining text as he tried to piece together what had been hidden.

  Then a sound reached him.

  Footsteps.

  They echoed faintly down the narrow stairwell above.

  Someone had entered the library.

  Tymir closed the file quickly.

  He rose to his feet and crossed the study, moving toward the narrow staircase. The stone steps curved upward through the passage, and he climbed them with careful, deliberate movements.

  When he reached the top he pressed his shoulder against the hidden shelf until the mechanism shifted and slid back into place with a quiet click.

  The library stood silent around him.

  For a moment Tymir remained still, listening.

  Nothing moved among the towering shelves.

  He walked quickly back to the table where his book still rested.

  Opening it, he slid the file carefully between the pages before closing the cover again and tucking it firmly beneath his arm.

  Moments later he left the library.

  The hallway outside felt strangely bright after the darkness below.

  Tymir moved quickly toward the dormitory wing, his thoughts racing as the images from the file replayed in his mind.

  The photograph of Riven standing beside Sterling and Dorinda refused to leave him.

  He turned a corner too quickly.

  His shoulder struck someone.

  Tymir stepped back immediately.

  Chancellor Sterling stood before him.

  "I am so sorry, sir," Tymir said quickly. "I did not see you."

  Sterling regarded him with a calm, reassuring smile.

  "No harm done."

  His eyes stayed on Tymir for a moment, thoughtful and observant.

  "I heard your team completed the first simulation training in twenty minutes," Sterling continued. "I must say I am very impressed."

  Tymir forced a polite smile.

  "Thank you, sir."

  Sterling's gaze drifted slowly downward toward the book pressed against Tymir's chest.

  "What are you studying?"

  The question sent a sudden pulse through Tymir's chest.

  He could feel the hidden file inside the book as though it carried its own weight against his ribs.

  "Oh," Tymir replied carefully. "I was reading some older research on entities. I wanted to learn a little more about the academy's history."

  Sterling studied him for a long moment.

  His attention lingered on the book.

  "Yes," Sterling said slowly. "Limnara has a very long and very rich history."

  He lifted his gaze back to Tymir.

  "If you ever wish to learn more about it, my office is always open."

  Tymir nodded.

  "Thank you, sir."

  Sterling gave him one final thoughtful look before continuing down the corridor.

  Tymir remained where he stood until the Chancellor disappeared around the corner.

  Only then did he release the breath he had been holding.

  He tightened his grip on the book and continued down the hallway toward his dorm room, the weight of what he had discovered pressing heavily on his thoughts.

  The library lights flickered faintly as the corridor emptied.

  Dust settled slowly across the scattered papers that covered the floor.

  The open folder on the desk rested exactly where Tymir had found it.

  For a moment nothing moved.

  Then a faint disturbance shifted the dust along its surface.

  The top page lifted slightly before settling again.

  As though something unseen had just touched it.

  Tymir pushed open the door to his dorm room and stepped inside.

  The quiet space felt strangely small after everything he had just seen.

  He closed the door behind him and rested his back against it for a moment, listening to the faint sounds of footsteps somewhere down the hallway.

  The room looked exactly as he had left it, yet his thoughts refused to settle.

  After a moment he crossed the room and placed the book on his desk.

  The weight of the hidden file inside seemed heavier now.

  Tymir stood there for several seconds, staring at it.

  The photograph of Riven standing beside Sterling and Dorinda.

  Too many questions circled through his thoughts.

  Why would someone erase a person so completely?

  And why had Sterling pretended not to recognize the man Tymir had described during the meeting that day?

  Tymir rubbed the back of his neck and pushed his chair back with a quiet scrape against the floor.

  He could not sit here all night thinking about it.

  As he reached for the book, another thought surfaced.

  Marcellus.

  Tymir straightened slightly.

  Right.

  He had promised he would stop by tonight.

  He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.

  The hallway outside was dimmer now, the evening lights casting long shadows across the polished floor.

  Most of the students had already returned to their rooms, and the academy had begun to settle into the quiet rhythm that always came with night.

  Tymir walked slowly down the corridor, the soft echo of his footsteps trailing behind him.

  When he reached Marcellus's door he lifted his hand to knock.

  Before his knuckles touched the wood, the door swung open.

  Marcellus stood there, halfway through pulling on his jacket.

  Tymir blinked in surprise before laughing.

  "Okay," he said, shaking his head. "How did you know I was coming?"

  Marcellus shrugged, a crooked smile forming on his lips.

  "I don't know," he said. "I just had a feeling you were about to show up. I was literally about to open the door to check, and there you were."

  He chuckled.

  Tymir smiled and shook his head. "That's wild."

  "Hold on," Marcellus said, pulling the rest of his jacket on. "I want to take you somewhere."

  Tymir raised a brow. "Where?"

  Marcellus only grinned. "You'll see."

  They left the academy grounds together, the stone buildings slowly fading behind them as they followed a path that wound toward the forest.

  Soon the smooth pavement gave way to soft earth beneath their feet.

  Tall trees surrounded them, their branches whispering quietly in the evening breeze.

  The air smelled fresh, filled with pine and the cool scent of dusk.

  The forest felt peaceful.

  Strangely quiet compared to the constant energy of the academy.

  Marcellus walked ahead with easy confidence, clearly familiar with the trail.

  After several minutes he turned down a narrower path that wound deeper between the trees.

  Then Tymir saw it.

  A large treehouse stood high among the thick branches of a towering oak.

  Marcellus stopped at the base of the tree and looked up with a satisfied grin. "We're here."

  He grabbed the ladder and climbed up easily.

  Tymir followed, his curiosity growing with each step.

  When he reached the top he stepped into a small wooden space lit softly by hanging lanterns.

  Cushions and blankets were spread across the floor, and small shelves held a few scattered items.

  The space felt warm and inviting.

  Tymir looked around, clearly impressed.

  "Wow," he said with a smile. "This is not what I was expecting."

  Marcellus stepped closer and gently took Tymir's hand, guiding him farther inside. "Close your eyes."

  Tymir hesitated for a moment before doing as he asked.

  "Now turn around," Marcellus said softly.

  Tymir turned.

  Marcellus stepped behind him and placed his hands over Tymir's eyes.

  "Okay," he said quietly. "Walk forward slowly. Just a little more."

  Tymir stepped carefully.

  Marcellus lifted his hands. "Now open your eyes."

  Tymir did.

  The view stole the breath from his lungs.

  From the high branches of the tree the forest stretched endlessly below them.

  In the distance the academy rose against the horizon.

  The setting sun painted the sky with deep oranges, pinks, and golds, and the light spilled across the treetops like liquid fire.

  Tymir stared out in awe.

  "Wow," he said quietly. "This is incredible."

  "I figured you'd like it," Marcellus said.

  He stepped closer behind Tymir and wrapped his arms loosely around his waist.

  His chin brushed lightly against Tymir's shoulder before he pressed a soft kiss against the side of his neck.

  A shiver traveled down Tymir's spine, raising goosebumps along his arms.

  For a moment he leaned back into the warmth of Marcellus's embrace and allowed the quiet around them to settle.

  Then Marcellus stepped away and crouched near a small basket.

  "I brought food," he said casually while pulling out containers and a couple of drinks.

  Tymir laughed softly. "Wait. Is this a..."

  "Date?" Marcellus finished, glancing up with a playful smile. "Yeah."

  He handed Tymir a drink.

  "Partly to thank you for saving our asses earlier," he added. "But mostly because I wanted you to relax for once. At the academy you always look like you're carrying the weight of the world."

  Tymir leaned back against the wooden railing and looked out toward the glowing horizon.

  "Yeah," he admitted quietly. "It's hard for me to shut my mind off. There's always something running through it."

  Marcellus sat beside him.

  "Well," he said, nudging Tymir's shoulder gently, "up here you can let go of that for a while. Just the two of us."

  Tymir smiled. "That's really sweet."

  Marcellus smirked. "See? I'm not just some competitive academy jock."

  Tymir laughed.

  "No," he said, glancing at him. "You're a hot competitive academy jock with a surprisingly soft, intimate side."

  Marcellus chuckled. "Linking with you tends to bring that out."

  He leaned closer, lowering his voice slightly.

  "And I'm glad I got to feel what you were feeling... and give some of that pleasure back to you."

  He winked.

  Tymir shook his head with a quiet smile.

  They leaned toward each other at the same time, their movements slow and unspoken until their lips met in a soft kiss.

  Afterward they settled back against the railing, sharing the food while watching the sun slowly disappear behind the distant hills.

  For the first time in what felt like a long while, Tymir allowed himself to relax.

  Tymir and Marcellus lay side by side on a thick blanket near the edge of the treehouse platform.

  The forest had grown quiet as night settled in around them. Above their heads the sky stretched wide and clear, scattered with stars that shimmered faintly between the dark silhouettes of the branches.

  For a while neither of them spoke.

  They simply watched the sky.

  After a moment Tymir turned his head slightly.

  "So... how long have you been here at Limnara?"

  Marcellus kept his gaze fixed on the stars. "Six years now."

  Tymir blinked in surprise. "Wow. That's a long time."

  Marcellus released a quiet breath.

  "Trust me, with the way things have been, it doesn't even feel like it's been that many years."

  He grew quiet for a moment before continuing.

  "You don't really notice the time until you lose someone close to you."

  His voice lowered slightly.

  "Then suddenly you feel it. All that time you spent building something with them... and how quickly it can disappear."

  Tymir turned toward him.

  Without thinking he reached over and gently took Marcellus's hand.

  "I'm sorry," Tymir said softly. "I didn't mean to take the conversation there."

  Marcellus shook his head. "No, it's okay."

  He offered a small reassuring smile.

  Tymir studied his face for a moment before shifting closer.

  He rested his head lightly against Marcellus's chest and listened to the steady rhythm of his breathing while they both continued staring up at the night sky.

  After a moment Tymir spoke again.

  "How much of Limnara's history do you actually know?"

  Marcellus gave a small shrug.

  "Honestly? Not much more than the basics they tell all of us when we first arrive."

  He glanced down at Tymir. "Why?"

  Tymir hesitated briefly. "Well... I found something earlier today."

  Marcellus raised an eyebrow. "What kind of something?"

  "A picture," Tymir said. "It had Chancellor Sterling and Dorinda in it from when they were agents here."

  Marcellus laughed in disbelief. "No way. Where did you find something like that?"

  Tymir lifted his head slightly. "I found it under the library."

  Marcellus frowned. "Under the library?"

  "Yeah," Tymir replied. "I'm not even sure how I ended up down there, but there's an old private study hidden beneath it. There are files, books, and all kinds of documents. It looks like it's been abandoned for years."

  "That's where I found the picture."

  Marcellus looked intrigued now. "And?"

  "It showed the two of them standing with someone else," Tymir continued. "The guy I asked Sterling about during that meeting."

  Marcellus's expression shifted with curiosity. "What was his name?"

  "According to the file, it was Riven."

  The name lingered quietly in the air between them.

  "It's strange," Tymir said. "No one ever mentions him, but the file makes it look like they were close."

  Marcellus frowned thoughtfully. "So why would they erase him?"

  Tymir exhaled slowly.

  "According to the report, he tried to kill the Chancellor and take control of the academy."

  Marcellus pushed himself up slightly. "Whoa. That's... extreme."

  He looked down at Tymir again. "Do you still have the file?"

  "Yeah," Tymir replied. "It's back in my room."

  Marcellus chuckled. "I have got to see young Sterling and Dorinda."

  Tymir laughed softly.

  Then a faint rustling sound drifted up from somewhere in the trees below.

  Both of them went still.

  The peaceful quiet of the forest shifted.

  Tymir slowly pushed himself upright.

  Marcellus rose first, his posture tightening instantly as his attention focused on the darkness beyond the branches.

  The wind moved softly through the leaves.

  Then Tymir felt it.

  A strange pressure settled into the air around them.

  The hairs along the back of his neck lifted.

  Marcellus reached back and caught Tymir's hand, instinctively stepping in front of him as his eyes scanned the shadows below.

  "Did you hear that?" Marcellus murmured.

  Tymir nodded.

  From the darkness between the trees, a figure stepped slowly into the pale glow of the moonlight.

  Tymir's eyes widened.

  It was a REM agent.

  Marcellus lowered his guard slightly, though his posture remained cautious. "What are you doing out here?" he called.

  The agent did not respond.

  Something about the stillness of the agent felt wrong.

  Tymir's grip tightened around Marcellus's hand.

  The agent stepped forward slowly until the moonlight finally spilled across her face.

  The moment the light touched her, the breath left Tymir's lungs.

  Her eyes were completely white. No pupils. No color. Only a pale, empty glare reflecting the cold silver of the moon.

  A crooked smile stretched across her lips, twisted into something that did not belong on a living face.

  A chill ran down Tymir's spine.

  "Gina?" he said, the name slipping out in stunned disbelief.

  Beside him, Marcellus went completely still.

  His fingers tightened painfully around Tymir's hand as his eyes locked onto her.

  "Gina..." Marcellus whispered.

  She tilted her head slowly, the movement stiff and unnatural.

  For a moment the forest went completely silent.

  Then the smile on her face widened.

  A low, guttural growl crawled up from her throat, a sound that did not belong to Gina.

  Without warning, she lunged.

  Her body exploded forward with violent, unnatural speed as she charged toward them, the sound of her roar ripping through the quiet forest.