An emergency transmission from the Alaric-Weaver network came through Elara's system. On the main screen of the command center, a brief intelligence report appeared, marked highest priority:
TARGET: Celia, Year 2 Student, Life Magic Department
STATUS: Detained by the Inquisitorial Order
CHARGES: Heresy, conspiracy with Anomaly 'Nihil'
LOCATION: Underground prison, Inquisitorial Fortress, Solara Magna
EVALUATION: Bait
Elara Moonveil studied the report, then turned to Nihil, who stood motionless beside her. She expected an emotional explosion, an irrational demand. Instead, she saw nothing. Nihil's face was a perfect mask of calm. But Elara, with her sensitivity to anomalies, sensed something beneath the surface—not hot anger, but an immense cold pressure, like a collapsing singularity.
Inside Nihil's mind, Heze's thoughts processed data at supercomputer speed:
