The dawn fog clung to the perimeter walls of the Silverfang Hold as Zephyr Ardent stepped onto the battlements, primer scroll tucked beneath his arm. Below, the newly christened clinics stirred to life—lamplight flickering in windows, warded seals glowing faintly. Yet Zephyr's senses prickled with unease: the rogue Node reactivation beneath Moonfall Market was no random glitch but the first whisper of a deeper conspiracy.
Beside him, Rennan checked his blade's runic edge in the grey light. "I've doubled patrols," he murmured. "But someone on the inside has our loop hole."
Zephyr nodded. "Tonight, we root out the source." He lowered his hood. "Elara, Rook, Corin—assemble the Inner Circle in the Council Chamber. We'll cross-examine all with Node access."
He sprinted down the spiral stair, steel echoing underfoot. The Council Chamber's vaulted arch was already filling with onlookers: senior lieutenants, Gray Court scholars, and three uneasy Covenant envoys. Elara stood at the dais, flanked by Azah and Hexan.
Zephyr took the center seat, glancing at each face:
High Healer Alaric (Covenant), robes pristine but eyes shrewd.
Lieutenant Sera (Pack), scars along her forearms still faint.
Archivist Voss (Gray Court), spectacles perched low, scrolls clutched.
"Elara," Zephyr said, "summarize last night's breach."
Elara's voice rang clear: "At 02:13, we detected a brief Node pulse at the Moonfall Clinic. Wards held most of the rogue energy, but a shard escaped—enough to threaten the Accord." She gestured to holographic readings: a spike in corrupted code, then a rapid purge sequence initiated by an insider hand.
Zephyr's jaw clenched. "Only those with sustain-code clearance could trigger—and purify—it. That list is small." He tapped his gauntlet: "Access audit: Moonfall Clinic." Instantly, names appeared: Alaric, Sera, Voss, and two junior practitioners: Healer Mira and Scout Reyna.
He faced the group. "One of you betrayed us. And we will find who."
Mira, barely seventeen, stepped forward trembling. "I—I was on shift," she stammered. "I noticed the flare but thought it was a routine calibration error."
Zephyr's gaze was steady. "Routine nodes don't pulse with invasion code. Who else knew? Who could've walked past your ward?"
Mira swallowed. "Only Alaric and me. He—he came after hours claiming an urgent blood-chem protocol."
Alaric's eyes narrowed. "I was finalizing the Prototype Omega distillate. The Node's power reserve needed checking."
Zephyr leaned forward. "Show us your override logs."
At his prompt, Corin projected Alaric's access record. The timestamps matched Mira's shift—but a hidden microsecond gap interrupted the log during which corruption code executed. "Someone inserted code during that gap," Corin noted.
Sera cleared her throat. "This doesn't prove guilt—only opportunity."
Zephyr nodded. "Opportunity, yes. But the inner circle will unravel any lie."
Alaric rose, voice calm. "This accusation undermines our commitment to the Accord. I request a trial by Code of Reflection."
Azah spoke: "The Reflection Rune will expose truth—if you submit willingly."
Alaric closed his eyes and stepped into the moonlit circle drawn on the chamber floor. Zephyr recited the oath:
"Blood binds truth, moon reveals lies;In light of rune, your guilt arise."
Alaric's eyes fluttered—then snapped open. He gasped, stumbling back. "I… I did not…" He looked at Zephyr, tears in his eyes. "I swear on my life…"
The circle's glow dimmed to silver calm. No crimson stain marred the rune. Alaric collapsed to his knees, trembling but exonerated.
System Notification: "Reflection Trial: Alaric innocent."
Next, Zephyr turned to Sera. "Lieutenant, you oversaw Pack protocols at the clinic. Who requested after-hours entry?"
Sera's jaw clenched. "I authorized no one. We maintain strict night watch."
Zephyr activated the primer's Moon Transmutation margin. A holographic overlay showed Sera's patrol route—and an unauthorized side detour past the Node ward. "Explain this path."
Sera's face went ashen. "I…I was checking on a skipped shift… I had no clearance…"
Zephyr pressed the rune beneath his wrist. "Why lie?"
Sera shut her eyes. "Because… because I feared reprisal. I've been skimming vials to aid my injured brother. I used the Node's energy to heal him."
Elara's eyes softened. "Your intent was benevolent—but your methods endangered us all."
Zephyr sighed. "We will help your brother—legitimately. But the Node is off-limits now." He turned to the chamber. "Lieutenant Sera remains under watch."
System Notification: "Reflection Trial: Sera's blood truthful in motive, misguided in action."
Archivist Voss stepped forward, scrolls in hand. "My duty is knowledge, not power."
Zephyr's gaze held Voss. "Yet your name appears in the purge log—the one who initiated the cleaning code after the breach."
He projected the logs—pseudonymous entry "V0SS" stamped in the console. Voss paled. "That was my account—I cleaned residual data to prevent further corruption!"
Zephyr frowned. "The purge code was too specific—it removed only the Covenant's protective seals, not corrupted code."
Voss's lips quivered. "I—I sought to protect the Codex's integrity! If the Node forced itself on your clinic, I could not risk harm to initiates."
Zephyr stepped into the Reflection Rune circle. "Speak the oath."
He recited the lines; Voss gasped, eyes glassy. "I only… wanted to contain the breach… I never intended harm."
The chamber's glow shifted to twilight blue, indicating half-truth—motive sincere but method flawed.
Zephyr's voice was gentle but firm. "You will oversee new containment wards—but no more unilateral actions. Any protocol change must go through Council."
System Notification: "Reflection Trial: Voss truth in intent, deception in method."
Only one name remained: Scout Reyna. Zephyr motioned her forward. The young woman's shoulders jerked, defiance in her eyes. "I did it," she admitted. "I was promised removal of my sire's blood curse—if I reopened the Node."
Elara's voice faltered. "Removal…?"
Reyna's jaw tightened. "I'm half-bloodwolf. My sire… was a rogue Pack hybrid. I carry his curse—unstable Hemaleth surges. The Covenant offered a cure… if I gave them Node access."
Zephyr's heart twisted. "You betrayed your Pack for false promises?"
She sank to her knees, tears tracing grime across her cheeks. "I thought… I could be normal—no beast in me."
He knelt beside her. "You are family—beast and all. We will find a real cure together."
He pressed the Binding Glyph at his wrist. "Speak the oath."
She repeated with trembling voice:
"Blood binds truth, moon reveals lies;If guilt stains my veins, in light it dies."
The rune turned pure silver. Reyna exhaled. "I'm sorry."
Zephyr placed a hand on her shoulder. "We will help you—but you must earn trust back."
System Notification: "Reflection Trial: Reyna's truth laid bare; mettle to be tested."
Zephyr rose and addressed the Circle: "Betrayal comes from fear. We heal only by confronting truth—and offering compassion." He gestured to the council. "Let the Accord's next directive be support for half-blood hybrids—no more exile or shame."
Alaric stepped forward. "The Covenant will fund research into Reyna's cure—under joint Pack-Court oversight."
Hexan offered a paw in solidarity. "The Pack welcomes Reyna back. We stand by her."
Azah added, "The Gray Court will compile a treatise on hybrid physiology—open to all healers."
Zephyr felt the tension ease, wounds of mistrust closing under the light of unity. He picked up the primer scroll. "Our Codex teaches balance. Today, we balanced judgment with mercy."
As dawn broke across the Hold, the Inner Circle dispersed—each member tasked with guiding the healing of body, blood, and spirit. Zephyr lingered with Reyna beside the dormant Node ward in the courtyard.
He pressed a silver vial of Prototype Omega into her hand. "Trust this gift—but also trust yourself."
She met his eyes, resolve flickering. "I will—not for a cure, but for my Pack."
Zephyr smiled, amber light in his eyes. "Then you are home."
Above, the rising sun shone pure and undefiled—a promise that shadows of deceit could be banished by truth and compassion. Below, the Hold thrummed with new purpose.