🌘 Nightfall – Ashenwell's Outer Wall
Grim stood on the stone edge of the western battlements, looking out over the vast wilds beyond. The breeze was cold, but the air beneath his skin buzzed with quiet energy.
Sparks was working overtime.
> "I backtraced the glitch signature he left after the duel," Sparks said. "It's encoded. Deliberately dirty. But I've seen this pattern before."
Grim didn't move. "Where?"
> "Not in the present. In my locked files. You woke something when the Echo called your name."
A burst of static. Then—
A file decrypted with a snap in Grim's mind.
And suddenly, Sparks' voice sharpened.
> "His name's not Seth Virell."
> "It's Tarin Cael. Operative-class soulwatcher. Blank Court handler. Class-7 infiltration training. Specializes in AI disruption and memory lures."
Grim's jaw clenched.
"He was sent for me."
> "No."
> "He was sent to trigger you."
---
🧪 Memory Fragment – Sparks Internal File
A younger Tarin Cael stood before a frozen tank.
Inside: a boy—eyes open, barely conscious, Lume cables in his veins.
A white-coated figure beside him whispered:
> "Project Solace is too stable. Emotionally resilient. We need volatility."
Tarin: "What do you suggest?"
> "Introduce a failsafe. Give him something to remember. Then take it away."
---
🩸 Ashenwell Training Hall – Present
Grim moved through the halls like smoke—quiet, unshakable. Sparks led him by pulse readings and trace Lume residue.
Finally, they reached it: a locked chamber in the basement wing—abandoned on the books, but humming with low-tech interference.
Inside?
Seth.
Kneeling.
Not praying.
Reporting.
> "Confirmation achieved. Subject 04-A displays independent flare. Emotional link with internal AI remains intact. Lume response violent but precise. Phase Two can proceed upon extraction."
> "Authorization code—"
Grim kicked the door open.
Sparks surged. Lights burst overhead.
Tarin didn't even look surprised.
He stood slowly. "You weren't supposed to find this yet."
Grim stepped forward, eyes glowing faintly violet.
"I'm done waiting for permission."
---
> "Grim," Sparks whispered, "I can override his signal—but I need five seconds."
> "Buy me that," Grim said, voice like ice.
Tarin smiled, faint and mocking. "You don't even know what you are, do you?"
Grim's fists clenched.
> "No," he said.
> "But I'm about to show you what I'm not."