The boat had long returned to calmer water.
But silence didn't feel empty anymore.
It felt… watched.
"…We should report that," Jude said finally.
"…To whom?" Lunivara asked.
A pause.
"…Good question."
Leontius guided the boat toward shore.
His expression unchanged.
But his grip on the oar was slightly firmer than before.
"…It was not a natural current," Lunivara said quietly.
Jude glanced at her.
"…You noticed that too?"
"…Yes."
Leontius spoke after a moment.
"…It responded."
Silence.
"…Responded?" Jude repeated.
"…To presence."
Jude frowned slightly.
"…That's not a normal answer."
Leontius didn't react.
"…It is accurate."
The boat touched the dock.
Wood creaked.
They stepped out.
One by one.
But—
before they fully left—
Lunivara paused.
Her gaze lowered briefly toward the water again.
Not fear.
Observation.
"…Something was controlling it," she said.
Jude blinked.
"…Controlling?"
Leontius answered immediately.
"…Indirectly."
A pause.
"…So someone was there?" Jude asked.
Leontius did not confirm.
But he did not deny it either.
That silence answered more than words.
Lunivara narrowed her eyes slightly.
[Not random.]
[Not instinct.]
Something used the water.
"…We should leave this area," Jude said more seriously now.
Leontius nodded once.
"…Agreed."
They began walking back toward the academy path.
But then—
Lunivara stopped.
"…Wait."
Both turned.
She looked down at the damp edge of her sleeve.
Something faint.
Dark residue.
Barely visible.
Jude noticed immediately.
"…What is that?"
Leontius stepped closer.
His gaze sharpened slightly.
He touched it briefly with two fingers.
Then withdrew.
"…It is not from water," he said.
Silence.
Jude's tone lowered slightly.
"…Then what is it from?"
Leontius looked ahead.
Not at them.
Beyond them.
"…A binding trace."
Lunivara's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Magic?"
A pause.
"…Controlled release signature," Leontius said.
"…Old method. Rarely used now."
Jude exhaled slowly.
"…So someone marked the area?"
Leontius finally nodded.
"…Yes."
Silence stretched.
Then—
Jude scratched his head.
"…Okay… that's officially not just a fishing trip anymore."
No one argued.
Lunivara looked back toward the water once more.
[Then it was not the sea.]
[It was the system beneath it.]
Leontius spoke quietly.
"…This was not meant for civilians."
A pause.
"…It was observation or testing," he added.
Jude frowned.
"…Testing what exactly?"
Leontius did not answer immediately.
Then—
"…That is unclear."
But his eyes suggested otherwise.
Lunivara turned away.
Calm again.
But different.
"…We will return to the academy," she said.
Jude nodded.
"…Yeah. Good idea."
Leontius followed without hesitation.
But as they walked—
a final line lingered behind them.
Not spoken.
But implied.
Something had already seen them.
And now—
it had proof.
End of Chapter 20