Beyond the Council’s walls, the night shifted.Not in a way ordinary people could see—but in the way power recognized power.High above the city, inside a tower hidden behind illusionary veils, a massive circular chamber pulsed with dark-blue light. Dozens of floating screens flickered to life, each showing a different location: underground vaults, forgotten temples, abandoned factories, and sealed ruins scattered across the world.On every screen, the same name appeared.BILLY HOWELLA tall man stood at the center of the chamber, his back turned to the displays. His long coat flowed like liquid shadow, and faint chains of light wrapped around his arms—seals holding something dangerous in check.“So it’s true,” he murmured. “The Ember Vessel has passed the Trial.”A woman stepped forward from the shadows. Her eyes were silver, her presence heavy. “The Council confirmed it. The second crack stabilized instead of collapsing. That should be impossible.”The man turned slowly.His eyes bu

The fire was walking among them.Billy felt it with every step he took through the dim district streets. Not heat—awareness. The Ember Stone no longer reacted only to danger; it reacted to intent. Eyes lingered too long. Footsteps echoed half a second late. Breathing that didn’t belong to passersby brushed his senses.“You’re being tracked,” Aria said quietly without turning her head.“I know,” Billy replied. “At least three groups.”She raised an eyebrow. “Only three?”He almost smiled.They reached an old convenience store at the corner of the street. The sign flickered weakly, its lights half-dead. Billy stopped.“This is it,” he said.Aria frowned. “This place?”Billy nodded. “Neutral ground. No faction claims it. The owner’s an unawakened, but the building sits on a dead zone. Makes energy detection unreliable.”She looked at him, surprised. “How do you know that?”Billy hesitated—then answered honestly. “I don’t. The system does.”DING![SYSTEM NOTICE: Safe Zone Identified — Tem