Bernard sat cross-legged on his bed, eyes closed, breathing slowly and deliberately. His consciousness drifted deeper into his mind — into his inner world. The sensation was like stepping through a heavy curtain of fog, only to emerge somewhere far removed from reality.

  His inner world stretched before him, resembling a futuristic spaceship suspended in a void of endless black. The sleek and metallic walls pulsed faintly with vibrant Igeni energy streaks glowing like neon veins. These energy roots stretched across the ceiling and floor, weaving an intricate web of power that Bernard couldn’t fully comprehend. The air seemed to hum with energy, the pulse syncing with the rhythm of his breath.

  A transparent cube stood at the room's core, large enough to encase a man. Inside, Cyrus sat cross-legged, motionless yet somehow exuding presence. His gaze locked on Bernard the moment he appeared.

  Cyrus looked unmistakably like Bernard—but older, bulkier, and more intimidating. His longer and messier hair fell past his shoulders, and his muscular frame was clad in tattered clothes that clung to him like a forgotten shell. His sharp brown eyes glinted beneath his furrowed brow. The aura around him radiated barely contained chaos, yet his posture was calm, even commanding.

  The cube pulsed faintly with dark Igeni energy, strands of corruption writhing and spiraling into Cyrus’s body. He absorbed it willingly, like a storm cloud swallowing lightning.

  "You’re back, kid," Cyrus greeted, his voice low and dry yet oddly self-assured. "I was starting to think you’d forgotten about me."

  "Hard to forget when you’re locked inside my head," Bernard muttered.

  "I’m the one keeping you stable," Cyrus shot back. He spread his arms slightly, indicating the dark tendrils flowing into him. "Without me soaking this up, you’d be torching forests in your sleep."

  "I know," Bernard sighed, rubbing his temples. "But you don’t exactly make things easy."

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  Cyrus chuckled darkly. "I don’t exist to make things easy. I exist to make sure you survive. Which is why..."

  He paused, his expression darkening. "...this exam? It’s not what it seems."

  "What do you mean?" Bernard asked, narrowing his eyes.

  "Igeni isn’t just energy — it’s influence, Bernard," Cyrus said, his voice carrying more urgency now. "The Runes... they aren’t just artifacts. They’re anchors. Each one locks a sliver of Igeni’s power into place — power that should stay locked. Whatever Ulric and Oliver plan, it’s more than just a test. Something’s off."

  "How do you know that, and why should I trust you?" Bernard shot back. "You’re... chaotic. You twist things."

  Cyrus’s eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. "I know you better than you know yourself. I know you’ll throw yourself in front of Tyana if she’s in danger. I know you’d fight an army for Jill. And I know you’re too loyal to ask the hard questions." He leaned closer to the edge of the cube. "You need to ask Ulric and Oliver what they aren’t telling you. Or someone’s going to get hurt."

  "It's just a test, nothing else," Bernard imperatively said, feeling his grip on the inner world fading.

  "I’m not warning you for my sake," Cyrus added, his voice barely above a whisper. "I’m warning you about them."

  The void rippled. The metallic ship blurred. Bernard’s focus slipped away as reality reclaimed him.

  Bernard opened his eyes to find Chet seated casually on the bed across from him, legs crossed and hands folded in his lap. His black eyes, marked with those unsettling white pupils, were quietly studying him.

  "You alright?" Chet asked.

  Bernard blinked twice before answering. "Yeah... yeah, I’m fine."

  Chet didn’t look convinced. "You sure? Because you’ve been ‘fine’ a lot lately." His tone was calm but firm, a rare shift from his usually quiet nature.

  "I’m just... tired," Bernard lied.

  "You’re hiding something," Chet said bluntly. "You’ve got that look. The same one you had after the thing with Tyana three years ago."

  Bernard froze. "I’m not—"

  "You are," Chet interrupted, but his voice softened. "Look... I don’t need you to tell me what’s going on. Be careful, and tell me if it's only you in there?"

  Bernard sighed, deciding to switch the subject. "What do you think about this exam? Any doubts?"

  Chet paused momentarily, then leaned back, resting his head against the wall. "Let’s just say..." he said cryptically, "...I wouldn’t trust everything we’re being told, but it's nice to leave the Academy."

  His voice was low — a whisper only Bernard could hear. Then, just like that, Chet closed his eyes as if preparing to nap, leaving Bernard to sit quietly in thought.

  Cyrus’s words echoed in his mind: "Ask Ulric and Oliver what they aren’t telling you... Or someone’s going to get hurt."