The library loomed before us, its windows dark except for the soft glow coming from Kadir's office. Strange how I'd left here in a panic just hours ago, and now I was returning with two Flux users who'd just saved my life. The night felt like it had stretched into a week.

Lawrence hung back as Sia led the way to the side entrance. His casual stride betrayed nothing of the lethal power I'd witnessed earlier. The memory of that vampire turning to ash still burned in my mind.

The door creaked open before we reached it. Kadir stood there, that familiar enigmatic smile on his face. "Twice in one night! What are the odds?" He chuckled, but his eyes were sharp as they moved from me to Lawrence.

"You know each other?" I asked, looking between them.

"Everyone knows Lawrence," Kadir said, stepping aside to let us in. "Though not everyone survives the experience of meeting him."

Lawrence snorted. "You're going to scare the kid, old man."

The office felt smaller with four people in it. Books were still scattered across Kadir's desk from earlier, and the lamp cast long shadows across the walls. I noticed Lawrence examining the texts with interest, his eyes flicking over them with practiced speed.

"So," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, "is anyone going to explain what's going on?"

Sia perched on the edge of Kadir's desk, her posture relaxed but tense, while Lawrence leaned against a bookshelf, arms crossed. They exchanged glances, an unspoken communication passing between them.

"You're an anomaly, Kyon," Lawrence said finally, his voice low and deliberate. "And anomalies tend to attract attention. Not all of it good."

I swallowed hard, trying to wrap my head around the idea. "The vampire," I said. "She mentioned someone named Elijah."

"Elijah Gerard," Lawrence's voice hardened. "Leader of the Sacré Coeur. He's... particular about his territory."

"And I just became part of it," I finished, feeling a sharp sense of dread settle in my chest.

"You were already part of it," Kadir interjected from behind his desk, his fingers idly shuffling through papers. "You just became interesting to him. There's a difference."

Sia leaned forward, her eyes locked onto mine. "Kyon, what Lawrence did tonight—the Flux he used—that's what you could learn to do. But you'd need training."

I raised an eyebrow, confused. "Training? From who, exactly?"

"From the Argent Sword," Lawrence added with a smirk, catching my startled glance.

Stolen novel; please report.

"We?"

"The Argent Sword isn't just a historical footnote," he explained, his voice cool and measured. "We're very much active. And very interested in someone who can wield Flux while carrying vampire blood."

My mind was spinning. "So you want to what? Train me?"

"Want is a strong word," Lawrence said, pushing himself off from the bookshelf, his boots scraping softly against the floor. He began pacing the small space, his expression darkening. "Need might be more accurate. Because right now, you're like a beacon to both sides. And trust me, you don't want to find out what happens when Elijah decides to collect you."

I blinked, trying to process. "Collect me?"

"Yes." Sia's voice was soft, yet heavy with meaning. "You're valuable, Kyon. Both to the Sacré Coeur and to us. But you're also dangerous. And dangerous people make enemies."

Kadir, who had been unusually quiet until now, cleared his throat. "The question isn't whether you'll learn to use Flux, Kyon. It's whether you'll learn to control it before someone decides you're too dangerous to exist."

His words hit me harder than I expected. I could feel the weight of them in my gut, the realization that the power inside me was far more than I’d ever thought. It wasn’t just some anomaly—it was a weapon, a ticking time bomb waiting to go off.

I looked at Lawrence, still trying to wrap my mind around the situation. "And you think you can teach me?" I asked, my voice a little shaky.

Lawrence gave a dry smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes. "I've killed fifty-six vampires. Trained dozens of Flux users. But you?" He shook his head, his gaze growing more focused, almost clinical. "You're something new. It won't be easy, but I’m curious to see what happens."

"That's not exactly reassuring," I muttered under my breath.

Sia shot me a sympathetic look. "It’s not meant to be. But he's the best chance you have."

I looked around the room—at Kadir’s knowing smile, Sia’s concerned face, Lawrence’s calculating gaze. Just hours ago, my biggest worry had been trying to understand what I am. Now, I was on the verge of becoming a pawn in a game far bigger than I could have imagined.

The silence stretched between us for a moment before I finally spoke, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. "When do we start?"

Lawrence stood up straighter, his demeanor shifting to that of someone in charge. "Tomorrow. Dawn. Meet me at the old foundry on Eighth Street." He moved toward the door, then paused, turning back to me with a smirk. "And Kyon? Don't be late. I hate waiting."

As he left, Sia stood as well, her expression soft but tense. "I should go. But..." she hesitated. "Be careful tonight. They might try again."

Her words lingered in the air as she followed Lawrence out, leaving me alone with Kadir, whose eyes were already back on his books.

I stood there for a long moment, the weight of everything sinking in. I’d thought I was done with the supernatural world—thought I could just read and research in peace. But now, it was clear: this world wasn’t done with me.

Finally, I turned to Kadir. "You knew, didn’t you? About all of this?"

He glanced up from his books, the faintest twinkle in his eyes. "I know many things, Kyon. The trick is knowing when to share them." He paused, then added with a wry smile, "Get some rest. Lawrence doesn’t believe in gentle first lessons."

I nodded, but the truth was, I couldn’t rest. Not with the looming threat of Elijah’s people hunting me, and not with the knowledge that my life was about to change in ways I couldn’t even begin to understand.

As I left the library, the cool night air did nothing to calm my racing thoughts. Tomorrow, I would begin learning to control whatever power I had inside me. But for tonight, I was just trying to survive. Because survival wasn’t just about staying alive anymore—it was about keeping control.

And that... that might be harder than anything else.