Kael changed the system overnight.
---
Not externally.
Internally.
---
"Pattern tracking," he said.
---
Dren frowned.
"They don't leave patterns."
---
"They do," Kael replied.
"Just not the ones we expect."
---
Elara watched him carefully.
"Explain."
---
Kael pointed at the map.
---
"They don't strike randomly."
"They remove influence points."
---
A pause.
---
"Scouts. runners. connectors."
---
Liora's eyes sharpened.
"They're targeting the system."
---
"Yes."
---
That was the key.
---
Not territory.
Not people.
---
Structure.
---
Kael marked three points.
---
"Next target will be here."
---
Dren looked.
---
"Why?"
---
"Because if I were them—"
Kael paused.
---
"This is where I'd cut."
---
Silence.
---
Elara smiled slowly.
---
"You're thinking like them now."
---
"No."
---
Kael's eyes darkened.
---
"I'm thinking past them."
---
Orders moved instantly.
---
The predicted node—
was reinforced.
---
But not visibly.
---
Hidden watchers.
Silent signals.
Layered detection.
---
Bait.
---
Night fell.
---
Nothing happened.
---
Dren started relaxing.
---
Liora didn't.
---
Kael didn't.
---
Elara smiled.
---
Then—
it happened.
---
Not at the marked point.
---
Behind it.
---
Wrong direction.
---
Dren cursed.
"They tricked us—"
---
"No."
---
Kael's voice was cold.
---
"They tested us."
---
Because now—
they knew something else:
---
Kael could predict.
---
Good.
---
That meant—
they would adapt.
---
And that—
was exactly what he wanted.