The East Garden lay hidden behind ivy-covered arches and a thick gate most students ignored. At night, it looked like a forgotten world—moonlight filtered through glass leaves, and the air shimmered with static, like the system itself was holding its breath.
Luna stepped inside.
Her footsteps were the only sound. The path curved through glowing white roses—system-modified to pulse faintly in the dark.
Then, she saw him.
A boy leaned against the base of the old marble fountain. Loose jacket, hands in his pockets, dark hair ruffled like he hadn't bothered to fix it. He looked up as she approached.
"You came," he said.
Luna crossed her arms. "Who are you?"
He didn't answer right away. Just studied her like he was trying to solve a puzzle he wasn't sure belonged in the box.
"Name's Riven," he said finally. "I used to be ranked. Really high. Until I got erased."
Her stomach dropped. "Erased?"
"Zeroed out. Like you. Only difference is, I fought the system. You…" He tilted his head. "You're breaking it."
Luna narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"
He walked toward her, pulling something from his coat—an old, cracked datachip.
"This," he said, holding it out, "has records the academy deleted. Things about the first version of the LP system. And about people like you."
She took the chip. It felt warm in her hand.
"You're not just a student, Luna," Riven said quietly. "You're the first one the system recognized without input. That shouldn't be possible."
"But I didn't do anything," she whispered.
"That's exactly the problem. The system isn't reacting to what you do. It's reacting to who you are."
A sudden chill raced down her spine.
Then—
Ping.
Both their tablets lit up.
> SYSTEM OVERRIDE DETECTED
WARNING: UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS
Chae Luna – 15 LP
Status: Ranked #8,672
Source: Unknown Emotional Surge Nearby
They looked at each other.
Riven's expression changed. "That didn't come from me," he said slowly.
Above them, the garden lights flickered.
And in the shadows beyond the fountain—
Someone else was watching.
---
Meanwhile, Elsewhere in the Academy
Leejun stared at the same override alert, his knuckles white on his tablet.
"She just gained again. While off-grid."
He turned to the system analyst beside him.
"Trace her signal. And find out who the hell is with her."