Nexora City – Sector 7 Real Estate Office – 8:12 AM
The polished floors gleamed under artificial sunlight. Auron stepped into the office, dressed in a fitted slate-grey suit, with a subtle silver pin on the lapel — the mark of Blackmarrow Holdings. Two associates walked behind him: one legal, one surveillance. He wasn't just here to buy property. He was here to plant a flag.
A woman with short white hair approached. "Mr. Riven, welcome. I'm Elira Voss, property broker."
"Ms. Voss," Auron greeted with a short nod. "I'll be brief. I want to purchase a residential compound — private access, security infrastructure, and rooftop helipad. Location within fifteen minutes of Sector 9."
"Budget?" she asked.
He smiled faintly. "None."
Her hand trembled only slightly as she led him to the VR room.
---
[System Notification – Host: Auron Riven]
> New Mission Progress: Wealth Expansion Tier II Acquired: Urban Compound Property [Name Pending] Current Monthly Passive Income: $1.12M
> Optional Add-on: Renovation Cost Optimization → Reward: Passive +$85K/mo
Auron selected the upgrade and uploaded specs from his neural console. Modular defense, drone-landing zone, AI security grid. He wasn't building a home. He was building a sanctuary.
---
Emerald Ridge Academy – Cafeteria – 10:17 AM
Riva sat with Nerisa and two new students: a shy boy named Linth and an overconfident girl called Maxie. Maxie was showing off her imported wristwatch — covered in synthetic diamonds.
"It was twenty grand," Maxie said, flipping her wrist. "Dad said I deserved it for surviving a week at this dumb school."
Linth chuckled nervously.
Riva took a sip of her juice and asked calmly, "What do you get when you survive actual hardship?"
Maxie blinked. "What?"
"Like losing a parent. Or hiding in underground shelters during city raids."
Maxie stared, the smugness gone.
Riva gave a small, kind smile. "Sometimes… you just get stronger."
---
[System Sync Update – Riva Riven]
> Sync Level: 2.3% Passive Buff Gained: Adaptive Emotional Shield
---
Sector 3 – Industrial Warehouse – 1:32 PM
Kara stood beside a steel cage. Inside sat a man with sunken eyes, bruised arms, and a crooked grin.
"Still alive," she said flatly.
The man coughed. "Barely."
"You were tracking WRAITH in Berlin, weren't you?"
"Weren't we all? But I got too close. They clipped me."
"You're Omega?"
"Was. Still have the scars to prove it."
Kara tossed a bottle of water into the cage.
"What's their angle with Riva?" she asked.
He leaned forward. "She's syncing faster than expected. Omega thought they had more time. The system doesn't just give power — it adapts to emotion. That girl? She's dangerous because she feels too much."
Kara narrowed her eyes. "That's not a threat."
"It is," he whispered, "if they think love is a flaw."
---
Emerald Ridge Estate – Rooftop – 4:07 PM
Auron watched the estate's new surveillance grid activate — drones circling wide above the estate, while motion-sensitive lampposts tracked for thermal shifts.
Patch joined him with a glass of juice. "One of the councilors wants a private meeting."
"D'Vane?" Auron asked.
"No. Lyra. She wants to see Riva."
Auron turned. "She suspects?"
"She cares."
He nodded. "Let's allow it. But no alone time."
Patch smirked. "You're not a control freak at all."
"She's eleven," Auron said, eyes still scanning the sky. "And she's carrying something the world will kill her for. Of course I'm a control freak."
---
City Center – Café Altaira – 6:30 PM
Riva sat across from Lyra, sipping a hot chocolate. Kara sat two tables away, pretending to read.
Lyra smiled gently. "Your brother says you're very smart."
Riva shrugged. "He exaggerates."
"He also says you've been through a lot."
"Everyone has. Some just don't show it."
Lyra studied her. "Do you ever get tired of pretending to be strong?"
Riva looked down at her cup. "Every day."
Lyra nodded. "That's what makes you strong."
---
[System Notification: Emotional Echo Detected – Trigger Boost]
> Riva Sync Level: 2.9% Temporary Buff Activated: Memory Shield – 12 Hours
> New Mission Path: Emotional Maturity Progress: 6%
---
Blackmarrow Holdings – Secure Room – 9:48 PM
Auron sat alone, watching a slow-motion playback of his fight with WRAITH. Every move, every hesitation, analyzed frame by frame. He noticed something.
WRAITH didn't strike to kill.
He struck to test.
He rewound the footage again and paused.
In one frame, for just half a second, WRAITH looked over Auron's shoulder — directly into the camera drone.
He knew he was being watched.
Auron leaned back.
"They wanted us to see. They're not just probing the system… they're studying us."
> System Sync: Auron – 1.1% Passive Gained: Foresight (Micro Analysis)
He closed the display and whispered:
"We'll study back."