Ronan couldn't sleep.
The encounter with The Circle replayed over and over in his mind—the candles, the surge of energy, the laughter that wasn't human. He knew now that this wasn't just about having power. It was about *how* that power was used, and by *whom*.
He checked the system again.
*[Active Quests: Observe The Circle – Progress: 30%]*
*[Energy: 115/200]*
He needed more information.
And yet, through all the tension, one name kept echoing in his thoughts: *Lyra*.
Their conversations had been brief, but something about her stood out. She saw things others missed. She read between words. She didn't look at him like he was invisible—she looked like she *expected* more from him.
---
The next morning, he saw her again—this time in the art building's open courtyard. She sat cross-legged on the tiled floor, sketchpad on her knees, headphones in, completely absorbed in her drawing.
He stood nearby for a moment, hesitant.
"Are you going to stand there all day?" she asked without looking up.
He smirked and walked over. "How did you know?"
"You're not as invisible as you think, Ronan."
He sat beside her. "What are you working on?"
She turned the sketchpad around. It was an abstract piece—black strokes like waves colliding against red circles. Chaos within a system.
"Looks... intense."
"That's what it feels like. Something's shifting around here, don't you think?"
He tensed slightly. "What do you mean?"
She paused. "People. The energy. This campus... something feels wrong."
He studied her face. "You ever feel like you're in the middle of something big, but you're the only one who knows?"
She looked directly at him. "All the time."
---
That night, the system chimed again.
*[Passive Skill Upgraded: Intuition – External energy shifts now 15% easier to detect.]*
That explained it. *Lyra was right.* The Circle's influence was growing. Students were acting strange. Ronan even noticed a senior lecturer muttering strange incantations under his breath during a seminar.
He had to move carefully.
The next time he returned to the maintenance hall to observe The Circle, Lyra was already there. Hidden. Watching. Just like him.
Their eyes met across the shadows.
She didn't speak. She didn't look surprised.
Ronan stepped back, startled. *She knows.*
Before he could react, she vanished into the darkness.
---