Morning came with noise.
Not alarms.
Not panic.
People.
Lira woke to voices outside the window.
Arguing.
Laughing.
Living.
She sat up slowly.
"Kael… Grayhaven feels awake."
He was already dressed, standing near the window.
It never sleeps like the Empire, his intent replied. It breathes.
A knock came at the door.
Firm.
Once.
Kael opened it.
The scarred woman stood there again, joined by two others both bonded, like her.
"It's time," she said.
"For your test."
Lira's stomach tightened.
"What kind of test?" she asked.
The woman stepped aside.
"You walk with us.
You listen.
You don't interfere unless needed."
Kael nodded once.
Outside, they moved through crowded streets.
Not toward the walls.
Not toward danger.
Toward people.
They stopped in a wide square.
Two men stood shouting at each other.
Angry.
Close to fighting.
A small crowd watched.
"Empire coin," one man spat.
"You take it, you answer to them!"
The other shouted back.
"I take food for my family!"
Lira felt the tension hit her chest.
Kael felt it too.
The scarred woman spoke quietly.
"This is Grayhaven's test.
Not of strength.
Of restraint."
The argument escalated.
A punch was thrown.
The crowd stirred.
Lira instinctively stepped forward.
Kael's hand caught hers.
Wait.
She froze.
The bonded pair beside the woman moved instead—not fast, not violent.
They stepped between the men.
Calm.
Firm.
"Enough," one said.
The anger drained not magically, but socially.
The fight ended.
The crowd dispersed.
The scarred woman turned to Kael and Lira.
"You felt it," she said.
"The pull to act."
Lira nodded.
"Yes."
"And you didn't," the woman continued.
"That's why Grayhaven might survive."
Kael understood.
Power isn't always meant to be used.
The woman nodded, as if she felt it too.
"This city doesn't need heroes who burn it down to save it."
She met Lira's eyes.
"It needs anchors."
Lira exhaled slowly.
"I can do that," she said.
"Stay steady."
The woman smiled.
"Good. Because this was only the first test."
She looked toward the inner towers.
"The next one will cost you something."
Kael felt the bond tighten—not fear.
Preparation.
Grayhaven had accepted them.
Now
It would shape them.