The road changed.
The moment they left the forest behind, the world felt less wild — and far more dangerous.
Stone replaced dirt.Milestones carved with ancient runes lined the path.Invisible pressure settled in the air like a watchful gaze.
Rafe felt it immediately.
Not an attack.A filter.
Something scanned him as they stepped onto the stone road, brushed against his aura, then passed over him without stopping.
Selene exhaled quietly.
"We're at the outer perimeter," she said. "Checkpoint Zero."
Mara frowned.
"Zero? That doesn't sound comforting."
"It isn't," Selene replied. "This road is monitored by multiple factions. Guilds. Cities. Even the Academy."
The Seer slowed her steps, eyes half-lidded.
"And the Commission," she added.
Rafe clenched his jaw.
Of course.
The road stretched forward, straight and unforgiving, disappearing into rolling hills. A single structure stood ahead — a stone archway etched with sigils, flanked by two armored figures.
Human.
Not Hunters.
That alone made Rafe tense.
Humans were unpredictable.
As they approached, one of the guards raised a hand.
"Stop."
Selene stepped forward calmly, cloak shifting.
"Travelers heading north. Academy prospects."
The guard's eyes flicked to Rafe.
Lingering.
Too long.
Rafe felt the anchor tighten slightly, warning him.
The second guard spoke, voice smooth and polite.
"Names and origin."
Selene handed over the forged documents without hesitation.
The man took them.
Read them.
Smiled.
And that smile made Rafe's stomach twist.
"Rafe," the man said casually. "Bright-light affinity. Rural origin."
Rafe met his gaze.
"Yes."
The man nodded, then looked at Mara's papers.
"Mara. Physical reinforcement subtype. Aggressive growth curve."
Mara snorted.
"Is that bad?"
"Depends who you ask," the man replied lightly.
Then Lyn.
The man paused.
Just for a second too long.
Lyn shrank back instinctively.
Selene's hand tightened on her staff.
"And you?" Selene asked calmly. "You haven't introduced yourself."
The man smiled wider.
"Apologies."
He handed the documents back.
"My name is Elias."
The Seer's eyes snapped open.
Rafe felt it — a sudden spike of pressure.
Elias wasn't a guard.
He was something else.
"I represent a civil oversight organization," Elias continued pleasantly. "We monitor unusual mana fluctuations along major routes."
Mara muttered under her breath.
"Sounds fake."
Elias chuckled.
"It's meant to."
Rafe's pulse picked up.
Selene held his shoulder lightly — a silent warning.
"Is there a problem?" Selene asked.
Elias tilted his head.
"Not yet."
He stepped closer to Rafe.
Not invading his space.Not threatening.
Observing.
"You're an interesting child," Elias said softly. "Your file says Light affinity, but the road didn't react to you the way it should."
Rafe forced himself to stay calm.
"I don't know what that means."
Elias smiled.
"Of course you don't."
The Seer moved.
She placed herself slightly between Elias and Rafe.
"That's enough," she said coldly. "You've checked our documents."
Elias looked at her.
Recognition flickered.
"…Falcon Guild," he murmured. "A Seer. How unexpected."
Her jaw tightened.
"You should let us pass."
Elias considered them all.
Then he stepped back.
"For now," he said. "Checkpoint Zero isn't authorized to detain minors."
He raised a finger.
"But consider this a courtesy."
The air shifted.
Rafe felt it — a thin thread attach itself to him, light as dust.
A marker.
Elias waved casually.
"Safe travels."
They passed under the arch.
The moment they were beyond it, Selene grabbed Rafe's arm.
"Don't speak. Don't look back."
They walked.
Ten steps.Twenty.
Only when the checkpoint was out of sight did Selene stop.
"That man," Mara said immediately, "was creepy."
"He's Commission," the Seer confirmed. "Human branch. Liaison-class."
Rafe swallowed.
"He marked me."
"Yes," the Seer said grimly. "But lightly. A tracking thread, not a lock."
Selene closed her eyes briefly.
"He's testing us."
Rafe looked down at his hand.
"So now they're watching up close."
The Seer nodded.
"And next time," she said, "they won't smile."
Far behind them, Elias stood beneath the archway, watching their retreat.
His smile faded.
He touched a crystal embedded in his ring.
"Director," he said softly."The anomaly passed Checkpoint Zero."
A pause.
Then his expression sharpened.
"…Yes. I saw it."
He turned his gaze north.
"…It's adapting."