The archive had grown louder.
Not from voices—though there were plenty now—but from presence.
Three auras. Three sins. Three conflicting gravitational pulls, all orbiting one sleeping nucleus.
Kairon lay half-curled on the scroll throne, a makeshift blanket of notes tossed across his legs. Every now and then he muttered, half-dreaming, something about tea, or bees, or "don't pet the dragons—they steal."
Across the room, Brix was pacing.
Lio stood by the west shelves, polishing his blade out of habit, watching reflections more than people.
Mav sprawled belly-down on a floating platform made of reconstructed books, legs kicking in the air, humming something obscene.
"So," Mav drawled, eyes closed, "are we going to talk about the whole 'I punched you through a pillar' thing, or are we still pretending we don't feel anything?"
Brix grunted. "We don't."
"That's not what the System said last night when our aura fields crossed."
Lio didn't look up. "Do you ever stop testing boundaries?"
Mav grinned lazily. "Only when I find one worth crossing."
Brix stopped pacing.
"You think this is a game," he said.
"No," Mav replied, flipping onto his back. "But I do think you're very good at playing one you refuse to name. 'Protect the Master.' 'Don't burn the scrolls.' 'Threaten anyone who breathes too loud.' It's all theater, darling."
Brix's jaw twitched.
"Call me that again, and I'll test the scroll rack behind your teeth."
"Ah, Wrath," Mav sighed, placing a hand over his chest. "Still the only one who thinks threats are conversation."
Lio sheathed his blade with a crisp metallic click.
"Enough."
That one word had weight—not as heavy as fire, but precise. Measured.
Even Mav paused, just long enough for Lio to approach.
Lio didn't posture. He didn't scowl.
He simply looked down at Mav and said:
"We're not the same. But we're not strangers anymore either. So if you're staying—mean it. Otherwise you're just wind in silk."
[System Log: Student Sync – PRIDE to LUST: 42% Compatibility Established]
Mav blinked. His smile dimmed, but didn't fade.
Then he sat up, brushing imaginary dust from his collar.
"I'm staying," he said. "Even if I have to flirt with silence itself to belong."
"You already are," came Kairon's voice, muffled.
They all turned.
Kairon hadn't opened his eyes.
But the teacup beside him was full again, steaming, untouched.
The System pinged softly.
[Triad Stability: Maintained. Student Sync Loop Established.][Warning: Faction Activity Outside Barrier Increasing.]
Kairon yawned.
"Let me know when any of you do something interesting. I'll nap till then."
He rolled over.
The archive fell quiet—again.
But now, for the first time, the quiet belonged to them.