Glances

The festival grounds buzzed with activity, the unexpectedly short first event leaving people both confused and excited. The tech team was scrambling for answers, trying to figure out what went wrong with the Void Drop simulation, but so far, they had no clue.

Since the felicitation ceremony was now scheduled after dinner, students were prepping performances, setting up food stalls, and making last-minute adjustments to the decorations. The air smelled like a mix of grilled skewers, buttered popcorn, and something spicy.

At a round table near the main stage, Orion, Rin, and Cas were sitting across from Neil, who still looked like he was processing a ridiculous plot twist.

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"So, you're telling me… you broke the simulation?"

Neil raised an eyebrow as he leaned back in his chair.

"Yes," Orion said, rubbing his temples. "And I don't know how."

"And no one has figured it out?"

Rin smirked. "No one except us." She gestured between herself and Cas.

Neil turned to Cas, expecting an explanation. She was more focused on finishing her dumplings but gave him a lazy nod.

Neil blinked. "And you didn't think to tell me earlier?"

"You were inhaling sushi," Cas pointed out.

"That is not the point." Neil groaned. "So what exactly happened?"

Rin leaned forward. "Our dear Orion here lost his patience and decided to test a theory."

Neil squinted. "A theory?"

Cas smirked. "That the simulation wasn't real."

Neil turned to Orion, unimpressed. "You just now figured that out?"

Orion sighed. "No, I just… I got frustrated, okay? Everyone else was collecting shelters, and we weren't going to win. So I just—" he exhaled, rubbing his face. "I snapped and shouted that it wasn't real."

Neil stared at him. "And?"

"And then everything glitched out," Cas said. "The simulation flooded us with points, the system crashed, and the game ended immediately."

Neil whistled. "So… you literally broke the code."

Orion nodded.

Neil leaned back, thinking. "Alright, that's cool as hell. Also, terrifying."

Cas nodded. "That's what I said."

"But how did you do it?" Neil pressed. "Was it a system bug? A hidden exploit? Or did you somehow…" He hesitated. "No. That'd be crazy."

Orion raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Neil shook his head. "Nothing. Just a dumb thought."

Rin smirked. "Say it."

Neil exhaled. "I was going to say… what if the simulation recognized Orion's belief? Like, the moment he believed it wasn't real, it reacted accordingly."

There was a pause.

Cas was the first to break it. "That's a theory."

"A pretty good one," Rin admitted.

Neil sighed. "Still, the tech team hasn't found a single explanation?"

Cas shook her head. "Nope. They weren't monitoring the game properly. No logs, no error reports—just a system collapse.

Neil frowned. "So, basically, Orion exploited something no one understands, and we have no proof?"

Rin grinned. "Exactly."

Neil looked at Orion. "You are going to get so much unwanted attention for this."

Orion exhaled. "Yeah, I know."

Neil leaned back. "Either the system was faulty from the start… or Orion is unknowingly messing with dream-related tech in a way we don't understand."

The table went quiet for a moment. Orion felt a strange chill at Neil's words, but he pushed it away.

"Well, whatever the case," Rin said, "the tech team is scrambling to find answers. They're probably reviewing the logs as we speak."

"Good luck to them," Neil muttered. "Because I doubt they'll find anything that makes sense."

Between Celebrations

The festival continued as if nothing had happened. A makeshift stage had been set up in an open area, where students were preparing for various performances—music, skits, even a few magic acts. The crowd had gathered again, shifting its focus from the tournament to the entertainment of the evening.

Orion stood among the audience, hands in his pockets, watching the stage.

The atmosphere was lively. Someone played an upbeat tune on a violin, and a group of dancers twirled under the lights, their movements perfectly in sync. The sky had deepened into a rich navy, and the festival lights flickered like scattered stars.

Despite the energy, Orion couldn't shake the weight in his chest.

The simulation.

It wasn't real.

That was what he had shouted, frustrated and fed up. But for it to break so easily…?

He exhaled, his breath visible in the cool night air. Was it really just a system flaw? Or was there something deeper at play?

His thoughts were interrupted when he caught someone watching him.

His gaze flickered across the crowd, his instincts sharpening.

Was someone suspecting him?

Or was he just being paranoid?

His eyes moved carefully through the sea of people, and then—

Skye.

She was looking at him.

Not in an intense or suspicious way, just… normally.

For a brief second, their eyes met, and then she turned back toward the stage, unfazed.

Orion exhaled. He wasn't sure if he had been expecting someone to be watching him with intent, but part of him had been on guard.

Still, that moment of unease didn't leave him.

And the night was far from over.

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