Chapter 12: Controlled Variables

The morning after their rooftop confession passed quietly.

Rowan and Lucian walked side by side through the sleek corridors of Razak Technologies, their boots echoing softly on polished flooring. The building pulsed with energy—technicians passed with clipboards and glowing datapads, drones hovered overhead, and security guards offered curt nods of recognition. A hush of curiosity followed them wherever they went, but neither paid it any mind.

Rowan was calm. Steady.

Lucian, however, looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.

"This still feels like a trap," Lucian muttered under his breath.

"It's not," Rowan said. "You're not a prisoner here. Evelyn just wants answers."

Lucian scoffed. "That's what they always say before putting you in a chair."

Rowan shot him a look, not of annoyance, but reassurance. "You're not alone this time."

That settled him—slightly.

They arrived at the private conference room on Level 4. The door hissed open, revealing Evelyn Zarek seated at the head of the table, her dark uniform crisp and unmistakably commanding. Beside her stood her wife, Ava Halloway, a poised figure with loosely tied blonde hair and sharp eyes, dressed in the sleek layers of a high-ranking Guide.

Quinn Reyes and Ari Winters were already seated. Quinn leaned over a data tablet, while Ari sat back with her boots propped on the chair beside her, sipping a canned energy drink like they weren't minutes away from dissecting potential world-ending phenomena.

"Lucian," Evelyn greeted. "Rowan. Take a seat."

Lucian crossed his arms but complied. Rowan remained close, the silent tether between him and everyone else.

Ava offered a warmer smile. "Good morning. Thank you both for coming."

"Like we had a choice," Lucian said.

Rowan nudged him. Gently.

Evelyn wasted no time. "We've reviewed the data from the last rift closure. Lucian, your corruption levels weren't just reacting—they were mirroring the rift signature in real time."

Lucian tensed. "So I'm your new antenna?"

"No," Ava said carefully. "But something is resonating with you. We're not saying you're dangerous. We're saying you may be… significant."

Quinn tapped the display on the wall. A visual chart appeared—Lucian's corruption spikes overlayed with Rift pulses from the last four events. They lined up perfectly.

"We've never seen anything like this," Quinn said. "It's not random."

Lucian leaned back, arms crossed, a muscle in his jaw ticking.

Ava looked at Rowan. "When you guided him last, what did you feel?"

Rowan hesitated. "Something... external. Like his energy was touching something beyond the rift. It didn't feel malevolent. But it wasn't just his."

Silence fell.

Then Evelyn stood. "We're scheduling a resimulation today. Not a full rift. Just a virtual echo. We want to observe Lucian's response—and your interaction, Rowan."

Lucian groaned. "I knew there'd be wires."

Ari grinned. "We're doing training after. Want to blow off some steam together?"

Lucian glanced at her. "You sure you're up for that?"

"I healed fast. Plus, you owe me a sparring match since Dali."

Rowan arched a brow. "You fought in Dali?"

Lucian rolled his eyes. "Long story. Involved fire, flying tiles, and a very angry Esper."

Ava chuckled softly. "At least someone's keeping things entertaining."

---

Later in the Simulation Chamber

Lucian stood in the center of the chamber, shirt discarded, sensors placed along his spine, temples, and wrists. Rowan stood just beyond the perimeter, in his Guide interface suit. The chamber thrummed softly.

"Beginning Rift Echo Emulation," a voice crackled overhead.

Lights dimmed. The walls of the chamber came alive with projections—distorted visuals of rift energy, swirling aether signatures, electromagnetic pulses.

Lucian's breathing hitched as the frequency rose. The hum in his veins began to match the hum in the air.

Rowan's voice entered his mind. "Stay with me, Lucian. I've got you."

Lucian's corruption levels spiked—then steadied. The link between him and Rowan flickered, then surged with brilliant gold light.

Sensors flared.

"His resonance is stabilizing," Quinn said into the comms.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes. "That shouldn't be possible without containment fields."

Ava folded her arms. "It's Rowan. He's the field."

The simulation ended. The room dimmed. Lucian staggered.

Rowan caught him.

"You good?"

Lucian nodded. "Better than expected."

Rowan helped him off the platform. "You're syncing faster."

"Yeah," Lucian murmured. "But syncing to what?"

---

Training Arena

The training hall was a large, open space with modular obstacles and shifting floor plates. Ari was already stretching at one end, smirking when Lucian walked in.

"You sure you're not still fried from the echo?" she asked.

Lucian rotated his neck. "Please. That was like a nap."

Quinn stood nearby, arms crossed. "First blood match. Standard weapons. No lethal force."

Rowan leaned on the railing above, watching intently.

A whistle blew.

Ari charged first, her speed blistering. Lucian blocked, deflecting her knee with his forearm, then countered with a low sweep. She flipped midair, landed behind him.

Lucian pivoted, sending a shockwave through the floor.

Ari absorbed it, grinning. "Oh, it's like that?"

They clashed—energy and movement blurring as Esper against Esper traded blows. Ari's kicks were precise, brutal. Lucian's counterattacks were heavier, unpredictable. They knew each other's rhythms.

Rowan watched, heart racing—not out of fear, but awe.

Quinn called it. "Draw. Two hits each. Training concluded."

Lucian panted, sweat on his brow. Ari offered her hand.

"You've gotten faster," she said.

"You've gotten meaner," Lucian replied, shaking it.

They both grinned.

---

After cleaning up, the group met in Razeks upper-level cafeteria—a high-tech, sunlit room with synthetic skylights and booths that dimmed for privacy.

Lucian took one look at the menu board. "Why is everything named after rift levels?"

Ari grinned. "Try the C-Class Curry. It's got a bite. Literally."

Rowan sipped from a mug. "I think I'll stick with Support Tea."

Quinn raised a brow. "You mean the one laced with suppressants?"

"I like a little buzz," Rowan said dryly.

Ava and Evelyn joined them briefly, their presence softening the mood. Ari dared Evelyn to try the cafeteria's infamous F-Class Fries. Evelyn's expression after one bite became legend.

Lucian laughed. Genuinely.

It was the first time in a long time he felt like part of something not built to hurt him.

---

As the sun dipped behind the skyline, Rowan and Lucian stood on the balcony outside the quarters, silence comfortable between them.

"You know," Rowan said, "you didn't just survive today. You grew."

Lucian exhaled. "I didn't lose control."

"No," Rowan said. "You chose control."

Lucian looked at him. "You think I'm changing?"

"I think," Rowan said softly, "you're healing."

They watched the city light up, two silhouettes framed by twilight—no longer remnants.

Just two people, daring to believe they could shape something new.