Nikko's gaze lingered on the crystal in her palm, its surface glimmering faintly like frozen starlight. A false crystal, so rare that in the entire history of the Federation, only three had ever been found. And now, one of them rested in her hand.
Her father, the Governor himself, was giving it to her.
She knew their value; anyone with sense did. A false crystal could fabricate a lower-zone presence for a trial taker, letting them enter a weaker trial zone without losing any of their actual power. In the right hands, it meant something dangerous, powerful trial takers slipping into low-ranked zones, able to protect someone without being bound by the zone's restrictions. For the great houses, it was the ultimate safeguard for their heirs after the first trial.
That's why her breath had caught when she'd realized the truth, her father wasn't giving it to her for her own use. He was giving it to Leon.
Her eyes flicked toward Akira, the thought creeping in uninvited.
