They did not dismiss him immediately.
Instead, the authority figure gestured slightly, and the controlled human stepped forward again.
"Observe," the figure said.
Kael shifted his attention back to the other human.
This time, he watched more carefully.
The man moved with the same precision as before, his actions controlled and consistent. When he engaged with the field, the response was immediate and stable, reinforcing the existing structure rather than altering it.
Kael narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…Do that again," he said.
The human repeated the motion without hesitation.
The result was identical.
No variation.
No deviation.
Kael stepped closer, studying the interaction more closely.
"You're not adjusting anything," he said.
The human did not respond.
"He cannot," the authority figure said.
Kael looked back at them.
"…Cannot," he repeated.
"Yes," the figure said. "Human units are restricted to predefined parameters. Their interaction with the contract field is limited to reinforcement and redirection."
Kael glanced back at the controlled human, then back at the authority figure.
"So, he's doing exactly what he's supposed to do," he said.
"Yes."
"And I'm not."
"No."
Kael exhaled slowly.
"That's not a skill difference," he said. "That's a restriction."
The authority figures did not deny it.
"Restrictions ensure stability," they said. "Without them, the system cannot maintain consistency."
Kael frowned slightly.
"…So humans aren't supposed to grow past a certain point."
The silence that followed was brief, but telling.
"They are not designed to exceed their parameters," the figure said.
Kael looked back at the controlled human again.
For the first time, he noticed something he had missed before.
There was no hesitation in the man's movements.
But there was also no variation.
Everything he did was correct.
And nothing he did changed.
"…That's not control," Kael said quietly.
Lyra glanced at him.
"That's limitation."