(A/N Big thanks to everyone for the Power stones and Golden tickets, they mean a lot. As usual, please don't hesitate to comment or drop a review. ENJOY)

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A risky plan, but he didn't have many options.

He adjusted Protocol, syncing its parameters to her mana output instead of his surroundings. The data feed pulsed erratically — unreadable at first, then slowly forming a rhythm. Instability, even chaos, still had a curve if you stared long enough.

Now all he needed was to push her just enough.

He slowed his pace deliberately.

Margaret caught up beside him, clearly impatient. "Are you going to explain what's going on?"

He ignored her.

"I mean," she continued, "you've been acting weird since you've sensed this ghost. Maybe you just imagined it."

He still didn't answer.

She frowned harder. "Oh, I see. The great Orion can't admit when he's wrong?"

She'd promised she wouldn't speak with a sassy tone again, but the situation was starting to annoy her; she was getting unnecessarily tense.

Protocol flickered — a pulse in her mana output.

He hid a smile.

"That's new," she muttered, glaring at his calm face. "You ignore people when you're thinking, fine, but at least say something."

Still silence.

Her mana output started climbing — irritation spiking.

'Almost,' he thought.

"Are you even listening? Or do you think ignoring me makes you look smarter?"

Protocol pulsed violently — the wave cresting.

Now.

Orion exploded forward.

The forest blurred. He wasn't running randomly; he was following the sudden tear in the concealment field — Margaret's wave disrupting the veil for barely a fraction of a second.

Protocol synced instantly with his senses. The hidden space flickered open just as he passed through the trees.

For the first time, the distortion failed to reset.

A shimmer — faint, human-shaped — stood ten meters ahead, frozen mid-step.

He didn't stop.

He moved through the gap like a shadow cutting light. His hand extended, energy focusing in his palm, controlling space. His target wasn't escaping this time around.

The shimmer rippled once — then solidified.

A boy appeared, short silver hair messy from motion, his onyx-black eyes wide for only a moment before narrowing again. He stood straight despite being cornered, his breathing even, expression unreadable.

Orion halted two steps away.

Margaret caught up seconds later, panting. "You—found him?"

Orion didn't answer. He was still staring at the boy, a faint, analytical smile curving his lips.

He hadn't expected him to look this young.

For a brief second, the air between them was perfectly silent — both of them studying the other.

Then the boy tilted his head slightly, his voice calm.

"You don't give up, do you?"

Orion just stared at him, amused. A wide smile on his face.

"No, I don't," He replied, slightly out of breath.

He didn't realise it, but this chase had actually worked him a bit, though he didn't regret it, judging by the smile on his face.

The boy sighed before folding his arms.

"How do you want to play this now?" The boy asked.

"And before you reply, think it through. Because I personally believe conflict isn't really worth it. We'll just tire ourselves out." The boy explained.

"Says the person that sneaked up on us!!" Margaret exclaimed, still a bit out of breath.

"And what do you mean conflict isn't worth it. Hand over your points, words aren't gonna get you out of this." Margaret continued, resentment flickering in her eyes.

This boy had made her run, god knows how long, and was now spouting rubbish like this. If she had the capability, she'd hit him a thousand times over.

"I can hear you perfectly, you don't have to shout." The boy said, covering his ears with an uncomfortable expression.

A tick mark appeared on Margaret's head.

She opened her mouth, about to speak back, but Orion placed a finger on her lips, shutting her up.

As much as their banter amused him, they didn't have all day here. He stared at the boy, a sigh escaping his lips.

The thrill had been during the chase, but now that he's caught him, he found his interest waning.

No matter how calm or arrogant the boy sounded, he'd be defeated all the same, but he had to deal with him before heading to the centre. The 6th compression was close.

"You say you don't want conflict, but you clearly trailed us with ill intent and don't try to lie, I'll know," Orion said with a small smile.

"Right," The boy said, thinking of an excuse.

"Well, you're right, but I decided against it; it wasn't worth it." The boy said with a sigh.

Orion chuckled, he didn't understand how they usually saw him and recognised him as first position, it wasn't exactly written on his head.

'Maybe they knew my name prior, ' He thought.

"What's your name?" Orion asked.

"Thaddeus, yours?" Thaddeus asked.

"You don't know my name?" Orion asked, perplexed.

"No, why would I?" Thaddeus asked, equally perplexed.

"Then how'd you know I was first?" Orion asked.

"You're first!" Thaddeus exclaimed.

'Great, how unlucky am I?' Thaddeus thought with a sigh.

"You didn't know my name, you didn't know my position. Then why'd you run?" Orion asked.

"Well.. I kinda saw you in the dorm, the morning before the trial." Thaddeus said, with a sheepish expression, hand behind his head.

"You teleported straight into your room from outside after your jog. I knew I had to avoid you in the trial. Anyone who can do that at this stage is too much trouble." Thaddeus said with a wave of his hand.

Orion's eyes widened. He remembered, of course, he'd done exactly that, but what surprised him was that at that period he hadn't sensed anyone in his vicinity, yet this sneak had been there to witness it.

Throughout the chase, it hadn't occurred to him how truly overpowered this skill was; the boy could literally disappear if he wished, not a single trace.

If it weren't for protocol and Margaret, he wouldn't have even realised Thaddeus took part in the trial.

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