The morning sunlight spilled softly through the curtains, warming the wooden floorboards.
For the first time in days, the house felt… almost peaceful.
Tyra was setting the table, Zayn complained that the pancakes smelled "too sweet," and Iris hummed some off-key tune that Jace kept teasing her for.
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
Then—
Knock.
The sound froze everyone. Forks clinked. The humming died mid-note.
Three seconds passed. Another knock followed.
We all exchanged looks.
We never had visitors. Not unless it was a delivery, or—
Katara's jaw tightened. "You don't think it's—"
"—a Purge Unit?" Jace finished grimly.
Even Master Xavier paused mid-step, his face unreadable.
"Stay alert," he said calmly, though his tone carried weight. "Everyone—hide anything that shouldn't be seen. Begin the erasure method at once. I'll get an Earth Rune."
The room snapped into motion. Everyone moved quickly, clearing the table and hiding traces of runes and charms.
My heart was already pounding.
The knock came again, sharper this time.
"I'll get it," I said quickly.
I straightened my collar and forced my face into something neutral, casual. Every creak of the floorboards sounded like thunder beneath my feet.
Another knock.
I swallowed hard.
"I'm coming," I called out, making my voice sound calm — maybe even a little annoyed, like someone interrupting breakfast.
I opened the door halfway — just enough to see, but still block the view inside.
And there they were.
Three men in gray and black uniforms, hats crisp, the insignia of the Purge Unit stitched sharply across their coats.
At the center stood Commander Kyle — tall, cold-eyed, his staff gleaming faintly in the morning light.
But beside him—
My stomach dropped.
That face.
The man from the market.
The one who smiled when I bumped into him.
For a second, I forgot how to breathe.
"Good morning," Commander Kyle said evenly.
"Good morning… to you too," I managed, careful not to glance at the familiar man. "To what do I owe this unexpected visit?"
Kyle's eyes flicked past me, scanning what little of the interior he could see.
"We're conducting an investigation," he said. "Nothing personal. Routine checks in this district."
"Right. Routine," I echoed slowly.
The man from the market met my gaze — and smiled. That same calm, knowing smile.
My mind spun. He's part of them… all along? Did he follow me that day? Does he know?
Inside, faint clinks of dishes echoed — normal enough not to raise suspicion, but loud enough to make my pulse quicken.
"I see," I said finally. "Well, we're just about to have breakfast, Commander. The house might be a little messy."
Kyle didn't move.
"May we?"
A heavy silence.
Then Tyra's voice — light, casual, perfectly timed:
"Hunter, who's at the door?"
I turned slightly. She stood behind me, smiling warmly, her eyes flicking a subtle signal: We're ready.
I exhaled quietly.
"The Purge Units," I said. "They're here for an investigation."
"Ah, I see." She wiped her hands on her apron, still smiling. "Well, please do come in. Don't mind the smell — breakfast tends to linger."
Kyle gave a curt nod. "We won't take long."
I stepped aside, forcing a polite grin.
"Then please — make yourselves comfortable."
As the three men entered, taking off their hats, the room seemed to shrink. The air grew heavier.
Every Guardian inside masked their breathing, pretending to be ordinary townsfolk.
But my eyes stayed locked on him — the man from the market.
The man now wearing the Purge insignia as if it had always been his.
Who exactly are you?
They searched through the living room, dining area, and kitchen. It took everything in me to stay calm.
"Find what you're searching for?" Master Xavier asked gently, trailing behind them.
"It looks all clear, sir," one of the men replied.
"Bring out the Aetherytes," Commander Kyle ordered, his voice cutting through the air.
My stomach twisted. Aetherytes…
Master had broken an Earth Rune earlier — it should hide all traces of magic… right?
One of the men placed a glowing Aetheryte crystal on the floor.
We all held our breath.
Seconds passed.
Nothing.
"They're clear, sir," said the man from the market — his voice calm, steady.
Our eyes met again.
He knew.
And he was choosing silence.
"Good to know," Master Xavier said casually.
But Kyle's stare was cold, unyielding. "They're all your kids? You don't seem old enough."
Master chuckled lightly. "Oh no, my daughter planned to hang out with her friends, so she invited them over."
"I see." Kyle's tone was dry. "We'll have to check every room, including the bedrooms. Sorry for the intrusion, but it's protocol."
"Eric, you'll search their rooms."
Eric. So that was his name.
"Oh, well…" Master turned toward us.
"I'll accompany him," I said quickly.
Eric looked at me — that smug, calm look that somehow got under my skin.
"Alright then. Go on, Hunter," Master agreed.
"Please, this way," I said, leading Eric up the stairs.
"Nice place you've got," he said casually, eyes scanning the hallway. "Seems peaceful."
I didn't reply.
He entered my room and looked around. "Nice room. You're neat."
I folded my arms. "Why are you here? What do you want?"
He opened a drawer and pulled out my necklace — my Element.
My heart almost stopped. I stepped forward instantly, but he pulled it back with a smirk.
"It's as obvious as it looks, Hunter," he said quietly.
Was he going to expose me?
How could I have forgotten something so dangerous?
"You're with the Purge Units?" I asked. "You came here for me?"
He stared at me for a moment — blank, unreadable — then laughed softly.
"Relax. We can't talk here. You want answers? Meet me at the town square. 8 p.m. Come alone."
I froze. "Why should I trust you?"
"You shouldn't," he said simply, tossing the necklace back. I caught it midair.
"Your old man's a good liar," he added with a smirk. "All 'just friends hanging out'? Cute. But everyone's got their own room."
My stomach twisted. If it had been anyone else searching, we'd be finished.
We returned downstairs.
"All clear, sir," Eric reported.
He lied. He definitely saw more than just my necklace. But why?
Commander Kyle gave one last sweeping look.
"I'm sorry for disturbing your breakfast," he said finally. "We'll be taking our leave now."
He placed his hat back on and turned to leave. Master Xavier escorted them out.
The latch clicked. Silence filled the house.
No one moved.
Then Tyra exhaled shakily. "That was too close."
"Way too close," Jace muttered.
"They're getting smarter," Katara whispered. "They don't trust anyone anymore."
"Do you think they'll be back?" Iris asked, her voice trembling.
"It didn't look like we were completely cleared," Zayn said, brushing his hands through his hair.
Master Xavier's tone was calm but firm. "They'll be back. Maybe not soon — but they will return. We must stay vigilant."
I barely heard him. My thoughts were somewhere else.
Eric.
Why didn't he expose me? What does he want?
"Hunter?" Annabeth's voice cut through my thoughts. "You okay?"
I nodded stiffly. "Yeah. Just… need some air."
She smiled faintly. "Go on. You look like you've seen a ghost."
I tried to smile back, but my mind was still spinning.
When no one was looking, I slipped my hand into my pocket. My fingers brushed against the necklace — warm, alive, pulsing faintly.
8 p.m.
The words echoed again and again in my head.
Through the window, I saw the Purge Unit's vehicle still outside. Commander Kyle spoke to Eric briefly before stepping in.
Then Eric looked up — and met my eyes.
He smiled.
I let the curtain fall. My pulse thundered.
I didn't tell anyone about the meeting. Not yet.
I needed to know what this was — a warning, a trap, or something else entirely.
By evening, the sky burned orange and gold. The house had gone quiet again, though the silence no longer felt peaceful.
I sat by my desk, the necklace faintly glowing under the lamplight. My thoughts were a storm.
What if he's one of us? What if he knows about my Element… or about the others?
Or what if he's using me to get to Master?
I sighed, rubbing my temples. The air felt heavy, charged — like the calm before something terrible.
Finally, I stood, slipping on my jacket. I paused at the doorway, glancing downstairs where Tyra, Katara, Jace, and the rest sat together — laughing softly, pretending everything was fine.
For a moment, it almost looked normal again.
"I'll be back soon," I whispered.
No one heard me.
I stepped outside. The wind was cool, brushing against my skin like a warning.
In the distance, the town bells rang once.
8 p.m.
As I walked down the narrow path toward the square, the fog thickened, and the lights ahead flickered faintly.
Whatever waited for me there — answers or danger — I knew one thing for sure:
This night would change everything.