The corridor opened into a wide atrium where the warm morning sun poured through the stained glass. The colored light scattered across the marble floor, painting everything in soft hues of red, gold, and violet.
Normally, it would have been a welcome sight, a peaceful transition from the tense training arena, but Merlin felt his senses sharpen rather than relax.
"Something's still wrong," he murmured, almost to himself.
Elara's eyes flicked to him. "You mean aside from us seeing you fight ghosts in a simulated forest?"
Merlin allowed a faint smirk. "Yes. There's a residual distortion in the air. The Cabal didn't just touch the simulation, they left a thread. A trace. Subtle, but detectable."
Nathan frowned. "You mean like… a trap?"
"Not exactly. It's more like a marker," Merlin explained. He paused, letting the golden glow of his mana swirl faintly around his hands. "They want to track us. Or at least me."
Liliana's grip on her water orbs tightened. "Then what do we do?"
