Call From Maya

Elian shut the front door behind him, letting out a small sigh as he ran a hand through his damp hair. The evening air still clung to his skin after walking Aria out, but the moment of peace didn't last long.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. He frowned, pulling it out. Maya?

He hesitated. Maya wasn't the type to call unless it was something serious. He swiped to answer.

"Elian." Her voice was steady, but there was an urgency beneath it.

"What's up?" he asked, moving toward the kitchen to grab a drink.

"We need to talk," Maya said. "It's about the system."

Elian paused, his fingers tightening around the water bottle he had just picked up. "What about it?"

There was a short silence before Maya sighed. "It's been acting strangely ever since the Euros. We detected some serious anomalies—way beyond what we expected."

Elian leaned against the counter, his jaw clenching. "You mean the part where I collapsed?"