That afternoon, Lucas found him.
Not directly.
Not with a confrontation.
With proximity.
Lucas sat two seats away from him in magical theory, pretending it was normal.
It wasn't.
The whole room felt it.
Lucas rarely positioned himself near anyone unless there was intent behind it.
Dreyden didn't look at him.
Lucas spoke quietly while the instructor scribbled equations on the board.
"I saw the observer in the cafeteria."
Dreyden's pen didn't stop moving.
"I know."
Lucas hesitated. "That simulation yesterday…"
"Wasn't a simulation," Dreyden said.
Lucas's jaw tightened.
He stared at the front, like he was trying to act normal for the room.
Then: "You had something happen after."
Dreyden's pen paused.
Just for a second.
Lucas's luck perception was sharp enough to catch micro-shifts.
"Your color changed," Lucas said quietly. "Not fully. But it… flickered."
Dreyden finally glanced at him.
Lucas didn't look away.
"How do you know that?" Dreyden asked.
