Draven
The return check passed without an answer.
Draven asked the attendant to repeat the request. The man did, checked the station code and showed him the empty receipt mark.
"Nothing from the inner party."
The upper junction still answered. Its reset had finished before entry, and the local gate stood under staff control. The failure lay farther down, beyond the last confirmed boundary.
Draven sent one of his students to Veylan with the time and the missing acknowledgment. The rest began clearing the return lane. They had rehearsed this without an actual person waiting behind the wall. He disliked how easily the rehearsal came back.
"Both frames out," he said. "Check the straps. Keep the medical space open."
An Embercrown representative intercepted the stores attendant before the second frame reached its marked position.
"That one remains assigned to recovery."
Draven stepped between him and the handle.
"Mission custody. Read the tag."
