From her spot behind the stone pillar, Ember watched with a mix of shock and frustration as Liam suddenly halted mid-step, stood still for a moment, then turned and calmly walked back the way he came.
"What the hell is this kid?" she thought, narrowing her eyes as he diverted to the longer path leading to the cafeteria. "Why did he stop? There's no way his Myst perception or danger sense is that sharp—especially not from this far away."
She leaned further against the pillar, her mind racing.
"No matter how well-trained he is at this point, detecting danger you're not even aware of isn't something most students can just pull off. Then again..." Her brow furrowed. "I've seen his performance during last semester's exams. The things he pulled off... no kid his age should even think the way he does."
