The door sealed with a heavy thud.
The silence that followed felt heavier than the Overseers' threat.
Aiden stared at the ceiling, chest rising slowly, carefully, like even breathing was something that might break him.
[STATUS: ERROR — UNDER SURVEILLANCE]
[RESTRICTIONS: ACTIVE]
The System text burned behind his eyes.
"…What kind of restrictions?" Aiden muttered.
As if answering—
A cold pulse ran through his body.
[PRIMAL MARK: SEALED]
[LIMIT BREACH: LOCKED]
[PRIMAL RESPONSE: TEMPORARILY DISABLED]
[UNAUTHORIZED AUTHORITY: BLOCKED]
Aiden sucked in a sharp breath.
"Oh, come on—"
Pain spiked through his chest, forcing a grunt out of him.
Elara leaned forward instantly. "Don't push it!"
Ronan scowled. "Looks like they slapped a limiter on everything you used."
Aiden clenched his jaw.
"So I'm back to being weak."
The System corrected him immediately:
[CURRENT POWER LEVEL: BELOW AVERAGE]
"…Wow," Aiden said flatly. "Didn't have to rub it in."
Elara tried to smile. It didn't stick.
"They didn't expel you," she said. "That matters."
"They didn't kill him," Ronan added. "That's huge."
Aiden closed his eyes for a second.
"…Yet."
A knock sounded.
The door slid open again.
This time, it wasn't Overseers.
An academy official entered—older, tired eyes, data tablet in hand.
"Candidate Aiden Vale," he said.
"You are being reassigned."
Aiden's eyes opened.
"Reassigned to what?"
The official tapped his tablet.
"To the Irregular Track."
Elara stiffened.
"Wait—that track is—"
"For candidates that don't fit the standard growth model," the official finished.
"Low priority. High risk."
Ronan frowned. "That's where they dump failures."
The official didn't deny it.
"You'll receive fewer resources.
Harder trials.
No protection."
Aiden swallowed.
"Basically," the man said, "you'll either adapt… or disappear."
The System chimed softly:
[NEW PATH ASSIGNED: IRREGULAR TRACK]
[REWARDS: REDUCED]
[FAILURE PENALTY: ELIMINATION]
Elara grabbed the official's sleeve.
"This isn't fair!"
He gently pulled away.
"Fairness is not a system variable."
The door opened wider.
Beyond it lay a long corridor—dark, worn, almost abandoned compared to the rest of the academy.
Aiden exhaled slowly.
"…When do I start?"
The official paused, studying him.
"Immediately."
Aiden pushed himself upright.
His legs shook violently.
He nearly fell—until Ronan steadied him.
"You don't have to walk alone," Ronan said quietly.
Elara nodded fiercely.
"I'm coming too."
The official raised an eyebrow.
"Only Irregulars may enter that wing."
Elara froze.
Aiden looked at her.
"…It's okay," he said softly. "I'll survive."
She clenched her fists.
"You better."
Aiden managed a weak grin.
The System flickered faintly as he crossed the threshold:
[ERROR ENTITY ENTERING RESTRICTED ZONE]
[OBSERVATION LEVEL: INCREASED]
The corridor lights flickered on one by one.
At the far end—
Several figures turned to look at him.
Eyes sharp.
Postures hostile.
Other Irregulars.
One of them smirked.
"So," the stranger said, cracking his knuckles,
"this is the Error everyone's whispering about."
Aiden's heart thudded.
His power was sealed.
His body was broken.
The System was watching.
And every single person here looked like they wanted him gone.
Aiden stepped forward anyway.
"…Guess I'm popular."