[Heron's Pov]
The old library was quiet. Heron walked past the empty desks and shelves. He stopped in front of a large bookshelf tucked deep in the back corner.
He pressed his palm against the side of it.
A faint circle of symbols lit up beneath his feet, the shelf trembled once, then split open in the middle.
Beyond it, a narrow corridor loomed ahead. He stepped through. And at the center of the hidden chamber behind a wide desk, sat the Instructor.
Heron knelt. "Sir, you called for me?"
The Instructor nodded once. "Sit."
Heron obeyed, lowering himself into the chair across the desk.
"I assume you've been watching the candidates since the activations..." the Instructor said.
"We still haven't tracked them all, but yesterday one of my units located four near the docks. One was already eliminated and the other three looked like they had already formed a team." Heron replied.
The Instructor's fingers tapped the desk slowly."I felt that death. And it was the first in my city since Candidates were chosen. But... something's wrong."
He leaned forward. "Four nights ago... I felt a thirteenth signature in the city. I thought it might be a temporary misread. And when one Candidate died, I expected the number to normalize and to reset to eleven but... it didn't."
"So… there are still twelve active Candidates?"
"Yes." The Instructor replied. "And one of them doesn't belong."
Heron shifted in his seat. "Can it be from a foreign candidate, maybe?"
"No, the system only allows an Instructor to track Candidates activated within his geographical boundaries. We cannot track foreign Candidates. Therefore, this thirteenth anomaly is not a Traveler. He is one of ours but he does not belong." The Instructor said.
"How is it even possible, sir?" Heron asked.
The Instructor sighed. "I don't know but but we have to eliminate the variable before the game starts. We must not let history repeat itself."
"Then don't you think we should involve the other instructors? Cause if this person forced themselves into the Game, then they must possess power or knowledge that makes them a serious threat to the Game itself." Heron muttered.
The Instructor's gaze met him.
"If I start involving the others now, that won't paint a good image of my control, will it Heron?" he hissed. "I would look weak in the eyes of the other Instructors, incapable of handling a mere glitch in my own jurisdiction."
"I wasn't doubting your capabilities, sir." Heron said, bowing his head. "We will handle this internally like you're suggesting."
The Instructor nodded, satisfied by the answer. "Good, I'm glad you understand the gravity of this. Now gather every available Executioner." He fixed Heron with an unblinking stare. "I want the anomaly erased from existence."
Heron rose, a cold resolve settling on his features. "It will be done, Instructor. I will personally deliver the execution." Then he bowed.
Then Instructor nodded. "Make no mistakes, Heron."
Heron didn't answer, he turned to leave.