The following morning at Helix Academy felt strangely normal.
Which was exactly why Lyra noticed something was wrong.
She was halfway through breakfast in the academy commons when she froze mid-bite.
Valentina looked up.
"What."
Lyra squinted across the room.
"Okay… weird question."
"That's every question you ask."
Lyra pointed her spoon toward the far wall.
"Why is that student staring at Ronan like he's calculating wind speed?"
Valentina followed her gaze.
A third-year student sat near the back of the commons.
Plain uniform.
Neutral posture.
But his eyes were locked on Ronan.
Unblinking.
Valentina's voice lowered.
"That's not normal."
Lyra slid out of her chair.
"I'm investigating."
"Lyra—"
Too late.
Lyra walked straight toward the student.
And tripped.
Spectacularly.
Her tray went flying.
Milk.
Fruit.
Bread.
Everything.
It landed directly on the student.
The commons erupted in laughter.
The student shot to his feet.
Lyra blinked up at him from the floor.
"Oh wow," she said cheerfully.
"That was extremely accidental."
The student's expression didn't change.
Which was the moment Kael arrived behind her.
His voice quiet.
"Lyra."
She looked up.
"Yes?"
Kael nodded toward the student's wrist.
A thin metallic band.
Null frequency device.
Lyra blinked.
Then looked back at the student.
"…Oh."
The student bolted.
Kael moved first.
Aurelio was right behind him.
Vesper stood seconds later.
The chase was on.
And Lyra sat in the middle of the floor surrounded by spilled milk.
Valentina helped her up.
"You realize you just exposed a Null operative."
Lyra looked thoughtful.
"…I meant to do that."
Valentina sighed.
"Yes."
"Of course you did."