The quest didn't vanish.
It folded.
Like a page being dog-eared. Not ignored. Just… marked.
Merlin didn't relax.
He'd read enough of the fine print by now to know what it meant when a system respected your disobedience.
It meant it was curious.
Which was worse.
He stared at the glass again.
Nathan had stopped pacing.
Elara leaned against the far wall, arms crossed tight.
Seraphina had her back to both of them. Still. Listening.
They couldn't see him.
But he saw them.
[Optional Override Detected.]
[Initiating Dynamic Trial Shift.]
[Parameters adjusting…]
Mae glanced his way. Quick. Sharp.
"You feel that?"
He nodded once. "Room's changing."
Dion stepped beside her, scanning the walls.
"I knew it," he muttered. "This was way too… symmetrical."
Flint was already moving. Quiet. Controlled. One step toward the corner. Testing angles.
Merlin's screen flickered again.
[New Option: Override the Host Chamber]
[Success Rate: 13%]
