Pippin drifted lazily above the coffee table, occasionally circling the phone as if inspecting it.
"You're staring again," the spirit said.
Sylus leaned back in his chair. "Wouldn't you?"
Pippin shrugged, spinning slowly in the air. "I guess that depends."
"On what?"
"On whether staring at it will actually solve anything."
Sylus rubbed his eyes briefly. It had been hours, and the system still hadn't sent another message. He wondered what his job was exactly.
Sylus exhaled slowly. "The system targeted Evan."
Pippin tilted its small glowing head. "Or Evan walked into it himself."
"That doesn't make it any better!"
"Yeah," Pippin agreed. "It doesn't."
Sylus leaned forward again, the phone screen dimmed slightly. "You said something earlier."
Pippin blinked. "I say a lot of things."
"When Lyra was walking with us."
Pippin floated closer. "Ah."
Sylus rested his elbows on his knees. "You said something about her being… strange."
Pippin hesitated. Sylus noticed immediately.
"That wasn't a joke, was it?"
The spirit drifted slowly around him before answering.
"No."
Sylus' eyes narrowed. "Explain."
Pippin stopped directly in front of him. "You've been seeing emotion tags for a while now."
"Yes."
"And you know most people can't see them."
"Yes."
"But there's another rule."
Sylus frowned slightly. "What rule?"
Pippin spoke carefully now. "Some people learn how to hide them."
Sylus went still. "Hide them?"
"Mask them."
Sylus's mind started moving faster. "That shouldn't be possible."
Pippin shrugged. "It's rare. Depending on one's ranking."
"But not impossible. Is it?"
Sylus leaned back slowly, his thoughts immediately shifted back to Lyra. Her emotion tag had flickered multiple times. Sometimes showing curiosity. Sometimes suspicion. But the numbers never stayed stable for long.
And there was that one moment…
He saw something he hadn't been able to read.
"An emotional mask," Sylus murmured.
Pippin nodded slowly. "Exactly."
"Is it an effect one can be awarded in the game?"
Pinpin stared at him, not saying a word. Sylus stared at the phone again. The pieces in his head began moving.
His job at Kieran Solutions had always felt strange. A small data solutions company that somehow processed millions in financial transfers. And the work Sylus was assigned…code analysis and data architecture. The exact same type of work his father used to do before he died.
Sylus' jaw tightened. "That company…"
Pippin looked at him. "You're thinking about it again."
"Kieran Solutions shouldn't be able to move that kind of money."
"Unless they're not just a data company."
Sylus nodded slowly. "Exactly."
He leaned forward again, elbows on his knees.
"What if the system isn't just software?"
Pippin didn't answer. Sylus continued thinking aloud.
"What if someone built infrastructure around it?"
Sylus's mind ran through the possibilities.
Servers, financial routing, encrypted transaction chains, debt systems.
Pippin finally spoke.
"You think the company is connected to the game."
Sylus' eyes darkened slightly. "I think the company is hiding something."
He stood up.
"Which means the people working there might be hiding something too."
Pippin floated beside him. "Like Lyra."
Sylus didn't answer. But the silence was enough.
…
His alarm glowed at 6:40 AM.
Sylus barely noticed the sunrise as he prepared breakfast for Evan and made sure his brother took his medication before leaving for school. Evan's mood had improved overnight. Sylus didn't like that, especially since the game was probably the reason.
He left the apartment with a tight feeling in his chest. The walk to school felt longer than usual. His mind was busy, too many questions, just a few answers. By the time he reached the school gates, he had already started forming a plan.
If Lyra knew something…he needed proof. Sylus entered the classroom quietly. Students were already scattered around their desks, talking, scrolling through their phones, or half asleep.
Sylus took his usual seat near the window. His notebook opened in front of him.
How do you confirm someone can see emotion tags?
You can't just ask, that would sound insane. Which meant he needed to test her. Sylus tapped his pen lightly against the desk.
Lyra was already in class, two rows ahead. Silver hair catching the morning sunlight through the window. She looked completely normal. Talking casually with another girl.
If Sylus didn't know better…he would never suspect her. But something about her behavior yesterday…had been suspicious.
Sylus leaned back slightly in his chair, staring at her. Then suddenly, an arm hooked around his neck from behind.
"Hey!"
Sylus jerked slightly before turning.
Kai grinned down at him. "Miss me?"
Sylus sighed. "Kai."
Kai dropped into the chair beside him. "You look like you haven't slept."
"I haven't."
Kai laughed. "Studying again?"
"Work."
Kai studied his face more carefully. "You sure you're okay?"
Sylus shrugged. "Just tired. I can't wait to be done with this dog shit."
Kai leaned back in his chair. "I totally get you. I mean who pays debt for ten years? That's just unfair bro."
Sylus changed the subject. "Kai."
"Yeah?"
"Have you noticed a girl named Lyra in our class?"
Kai blinked. "Lyra?"
Sylus nodded slightly. Kai thought for a moment before pointing toward the front of the classroom.
"The silver hair one?"
Sylus followed his gaze. Lyra sat two rows ahead behind Mira.
"Yeah," Sylus said.
"That one."
Kai grinned suddenly. "Oh."
Sylus frowned slightly. "What?"
Kai leaned closer. "So that's why you're distracted."
Sylus stared at him. "What?"
Kai laughed. "Are you interested in her?"
"No."
"Come on."
"I'm serious."
Kai crossed his arms dramatically. "So it's not a crush."
"No."
Kai tilted his head. "Then why are you asking about her?"
Sylus hesitated, then shrugged. "Just curious."
Kai narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Curious."
"Are you telling me or not?"
Kai leaned back again. "Well, her name is Lyra."
Sylus waited. Kai added casually,
"Lyra Orion."
Sylus went still. Orion? The name echoed in his mind.
Orion Holdings.
Sylus felt something shift inside his chest.
Lyra Orion. Coincidence? Or connection?
Kai kept talking.
"She transferred here this year."
Sylus forced his voice to remain calm. "Does she come from a rich family or?"
Kai shrugged. "No idea."
"You've never heard anything about her background?"
"Nope."
Kai smirked slightly. "But if you want, I can investigate."
Sylus shook his head. "No, don't worry."
Kai leaned closer again. "So if you're not interested in girls…" He grinned. "Is it boys you like then?"
Sylus groaned. "Oh come on."
Kai burst out laughing. "I'm kidding!"
Sylus shook his head and rested his chin lightly against his hand thinking.
Lyra Orion. The name echoes in his head.
Orion Holdings.
If that connection was real…then Lyra wasn't just another player. She might be part of the system itself.