The basketball bounced under Elian's palm as he weaved through his teammates, the polished court reflecting the glow of the flickering holo-scoreboard above.
Sneakers squeaked, and the thump of the ball echoed in time with the rhythmic cheers from a few students gathered along the sidelines.
"Nice pass, Elian!" one teammate called, lunging for a rebound. The ball floated just a little longer than it should have, as if nudged by unseen hands, before landing squarely in his teammate's grip.
Elian grinned, tossing a quick side glance at the court.
Tiny sigils along the floor shimmered faintly with every pivot, invisible to most but guiding him in subtle ways. Magic or tech—it hardly mattered; the result was the same.
As the final buzzer rang, the team collapsed in a mix of laughter and heavy breathing.
Towels were passed around, and holo-notepads flickered with stats and play corrections.
One of the players waved his in front of Elian. "Hey, can you fix this? Five minutes before it crashes completely."
Elian shook his head, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "You know I can't resist."
A few deft adjustments and a subtle recalibration later, the screen steadied. The guy who'd passed it laughed. "Man, you're a lifesaver.
How do you always know what to do?"
"Lucky guesses," Elian said lightly, tossing the pad back. "Mostly luck. Some skill. Tiny bit of magic."
He waved, laughing with them for a moment before slipping away down the hall, the echoes of sneakers and chatter fading behind him.
Today, basketball and casual fixes would have to wait—he had work that demanded his full attention.
****
The door hissed shut behind him as he stepped into the dim room. Panels glowed softly in blue and violet, casting long shadows across the walls.
He slid into the seat, fingers already poised over the keyboard.
A file awaited — encrypted, scrambled, and stubborn, demanding full attention.
Lines of code scrolled up the screen as he typed with precise speed.
He split data streams, adjusted permissions, and nudged through layers of encryption with practiced ease.
A digital barrier blinked, flickered, then shifted, allowing the secure file to pass through.
"Good work," a calm voice said from somewhere behind the barrier.
Elian didn't turn. Routine. He finished the final commands, leaned back, and felt the tightness in his temples. His body buzzed with fatigue — mental exhaustion heavier than any physical tiredness.
He exhaled, shutting down the system, and stepped out, letting the door hiss closed behind him.
***
Elian wandered to the library, a place of calm and soft light, where privacy partitions gave him a little room to think. The quiet was like a balm, letting him untangle thoughts and soothe the tension in his mind.
He opened a small file — a minor assignment, just leftover work — and began cracking it quietly. His fingers moved with smooth efficiency, almost like second nature.
The partition slid open with a soft sigh.
Through the glass, he caught sight of a familiar face before it finished moving.
Isadora.
"Oh—Isadora."
"Elian."
A small smile found its way onto his face as he stepped out from the archive aisle and walked over to where she stood.
"It's been a while."
"It has."
It had only been a few days since orientation, but the academy had a way of scattering everyone into different routines.
"Everyone disappeared into their schedules after orientation," he said. "How're you settling in?"
She let out a small breath. "Still learning my way around. This place is... huge."
He nodded in agreement. "Tell me about it."
Her gaze drifted back to the endless shelves. "I'm supposed to find one of my professor's books, but I don't even know where to start."
Elian glanced toward one of the library's navigation terminals. "There's an interface over there." He pointed toward the softly glowing pillar between the aisles. "If you sync your virtual assistant with it, it'll show you exactly where the book is."
"Thanks."
"No problem."
Isadora gave a small nod before making her way towards the navigation terminal.
Elian waited until he couldn't see her, then turned back toward his hub.
Settling into his seat, he placed the tablet beside the keyboard and resumed his work. The familiar rhythm of tapping keys and shifting windows soon filled the silence around him.
Students drifted through the library in quiet streams. Some glanced his way before looking elsewhere, while others remained absorbed in their own work.
He paid them little mind.
The cursor blinked patiently on the screen, waiting for his next command. His fingers moved across the keyboard almost on instinct,the quiet rhythm of his typing resumed as he settled back into his work.
It didn't last long.
Even with the privacy partitions raised, faint sounds carried through the library. A subtle movement outside his booth drew his attention.
He lowered the partition just enough to peek through.
Isadora stood on the other side, the book she'd been looking for tucked under one arm.
"Back already?"
She held up the book. "Yeah,see this. What's it for?" She pointed to the scan code printed neatly on the inside cover.
Elian leaned forward slightly. "Ah, that's important. Every book here has a scan code. You can use it to access the digital version, but it costs a fair number of points to download.
"It also verifies the book's authenticity and tracks lending. Every volume in Creisleigh is scanned this way. It's how the library keeps everything validated and secure."
"That's... thorough. Thanks"
"It is. Any time"
He watched as she headed off with her book, then let the partition slide back into place and returned to his work.
****
The steady rhythm of the keys filled the silence once more.
It struck him, almost absently, that he'd done it again.
She'd only asked what the code was for, yet he'd found himself explaining why it existed.
His brother used to do the same thing.
Years ago....
"Hand me the Phillips screwdriver."
Young Elian reached for the tool without hesitation, placing it carefully into his brother's waiting hand.
"Like this?"
"Perfect."
His older brother loosened the final screw and lifted the casing away, exposing a maze of wires and circuits.
Elian leaned closer, fascinated. "So... we just replace the broken part?"
His brother smiled and shook his head.
"That's what most people think."
He set the screwdriver aside and tapped one of the damaged components.
"You don't fix things by forcing them."
Elian frowned, studying the circuitry.
"Then how?"
"You fix them by understanding why they broke in the first place."
Young Elian stared at the dismantled device, committing every wire, every screw, every careful movement to memory.
Elian had believed it then.
He still did.
Every corrupted file he repaired, every damaged system he restored, every problem he patiently unraveled traced back to that lesson.
He had always tried to fix things.
Some because he knew how.
Others,because he never learned how to stop.
****
The library had settled into its usual hush.
Elian blinked, the memory slipping quietly back into the corners of his mind. The cursor still blinked patiently on his screen, waiting for him to finish what he'd started.
A sharp pulse vibrated against his wrist.
⟡: Report. Now.
His fingers stilled over the keys.
He stared at the message for a heartbeat before locking the screen.
He quietly packed away the last of his things.
Before leaving, he glanced toward the opposite booth.
The top of Isadora's head was just visible above the lowered partition as she read.
He lifted his own privacy partition just enough to catch her attention.
She looked up.
"I've got a class starting now. See you later."
She smiled and gave a small wave. "Okay, see you!"
He returned the gesture before lowering the partition once more.
Class.
The excuse came easily.
No one needed to know where he was really going.
He stepped out of the hub and made his way through the library. His pace remained unhurried, careful not to draw attention.
The moment the doors closed behind him, his wristband pulsed again.
⟡ Report. Now.
This time, he didn't ignore it.
He turned down a corridor most students passed without noticing. The lights dimmed as he approached a reinforced door hidden at the far end.
Fingerprint.
Passcode.
Silent authorization.
The lock released with a muted click.
A rush of cool air met him as the door eased open.
Elian stepped inside.