The first time he saw her again, it lasted less than a second.
A reflection.
Nothing more.
Liebe was washing his hands after training when he glanced at the basin’s surface.
For an instant— someone stood behind him.
A tall female silhouette.
Still.
Watching.
He turned so fast the water spilled across the floor.
No one.
The room was empty.
His breath came unevenly.
The image had been clear.
Too clear.
And yet— nothing.
He said nothing to Aurelion.
Nothing to Sia.
Nothing to anyone.
He told himself it was exhaustion.
Stress.
The weight of everything pressing down at once.
But then it happened again.
And again.
A window in the eastern corridor.
The polished silver edge of a ceremonial shield.
The dark surface of tea in the dining hall.
Always there for only a moment.
Always gone when he looked directly.
Always watching.
By the fourth time, sleep became impossible.
By the sixth, he started avoiding reflections entirely.
And by the eighth— he knew it was real.
Because this time— she spoke.
It happened during evening study hours.
The library was nearly empty.
Liebe sat alone in the back corner, pretending to read while his mind drifted elsewhere.
Then he noticed it.
The glass pane beside him.
At first, only his own reflection.
Then— hers.
Standing directly behind his chair.
Her shape was clearer now.
Long dark hair.
A pale face.
Eyes that seemed almost hollow.
And lips that slowly parted.
“You’re learning.”
Liebe froze.
The voice wasn’t loud.
It didn’t echo.
It felt like it had spoken from inside his skull.
His fingers tightened around the edge of the table.
The other students didn’t react.
Didn’t hear.
Didn’t notice.
His breathing quickened.
“What do you want?” he whispered.
The reflection smiled.
Not kindly.
Not cruelly.
Knowingly.
“What was always mine.”
Cold spread through his chest.
The lights in the library flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then steadied.
And she was gone.
Liebe shot to his feet so suddenly his chair crashed backward.
Several students turned.
One frowned.
“Are you okay?”
He couldn’t answer.
Out of the library.
Through the corridors.
Down the stone steps.
Straight toward Training Ground Six.
He found Aurelion where he always was— alone.
Practicing in silence.
The moment Aurelion saw his face, he stopped.
“What happened?”
Liebe struggled to breathe evenly.
“She spoke to me.”
The words came out broken.
Aurelion’s expression hardened instantly.
“Where?”
“The library.”
A pause.
“And what did she say?”
Liebe swallowed.
Then answered.
Aurelion went still.
Completely still.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then—
“We’re out of time.”
The words struck harder than fear itself.
Liebe stared.
“What does that mean?”
Aurelion turned toward the Academy’s central tower.
His golden eyes narrowed.
“It means she’s no longer observing.”
His voice dropped.
“She’s begun the selection.”
The wind shifted.
Cold.
Sharp.
And for the first time since arriving at the Academy—
Liebe understood.
This was no longer a warning.
It had begun.