They did not remove him from the field.
That surprised him.
Instead, they reassigned him.
"You will participate in a monitored operation," the authority figure said.
Kael raised an eyebrow. "That sounds like a test."
"It is."
Lyra stepped forward slightly. "Explain the objective."
"Outer zone instability persists," the figure replied. "Your interaction with the field will be observed under controlled conditions."
Kael exhaled slowly.
"So you want to see what happens when I don't follow the rules," he said.
"We want to confirm whether the deviation can be contained."
Kael nodded once.
"…That sounds worse when you say it like that."
"It is not intended to be reassuring."
Kael glanced at Lyra.
"This is a bad idea," he said quietly.
"Yes," she replied.
"…We're doing it anyway."
"Yes."
The team was smaller this time.
Lyra.
The wolf-type.
One additional Beastkin.
And two humans.
Kael noticed the difference immediately.
The other humans avoided looking at him directly.
Not out of disrespect.
But caution.
"…That's new," Kael said.
"They are aware of the deviation," Lyra replied.
"That's not better."
"No."
They moved out shortly after.
The air shifted as they crossed into the outer zone, but this time, Kael was paying closer attention.
Not just to the environment—
But to the structure beneath it.
He could feel it now.
Faint.
Consistent.
The field wasn't chaotic.
It was layered.
And something within it was misaligned.
"…It's still broken," he said quietly.
"Yes," Lyra replied.
"And you're going to let me fix it."
Lyra didn't answer.
She didn't need to.