Chapter 40: The System Warden’s Arrival
Alicia stood frozen at the rooftop entrance, hair tousled by sharp wind, her gaze torn between Jay and the sky that had stopped pretending to be normal.
The clouds above bent at impossible angles. Rays of sunlight flickered like old projector film. Even the wind had started to whisper... in binary.
> [Reality Layer 001–A1: Instability Detected]
[External Correction Unit En Route]
[Name: SYSTEM WARDEN – Sigil: "Null Flame"]
[ETA: 00:00:31]
Jay didn’t flinch.
He was staring at the skyline now, at the faint traces of code that curled around the academy towers like vines on a dying tree.
"I didn’t expect the janitor to show up this fast," he muttered.
Alicia stepped forward, her voice trying to remain steady.
"Jay... what did you do?"
He tilted his head.