Runar woke at three in the morning, station time.
The room was dark. Outside the window, the station's endless activity continued—ships moving, lights glowing, the frontier that never slept.
Celestia was already awake, sitting on her bed with her eyes closed. Meditating, or just preparing mentally.
"Ready?" Runar asked.
"Yes."
They left the hotel quietly. The corridors were less crowded at this hour, but not empty. Cultivators who operated on different schedules, night shift workers, people who preferred darkness for their business.
Nobody paid attention to two students walking through the station.
The industrial sector was quieter. Fewer people, dimmer lighting. The hum of machinery provided constant background noise.
Storage Bay Three's hallway was empty except for the two criminals still hidden in their corner. The rune arrays concealing them flickered faintly—good quality work, but nothing that could hide from Runar's senses.
