The next evaluation was not presented as a test.
That alone made it more concerning.
"You will participate in a controlled stress scenario," the authority figure said.
Kael frowned. "That sounds worse than the last one."
"It is," they replied.
Lyra stepped forward slightly. "Define the parameters."
"Multiple field disruptions will be introduced simultaneously," the figure said. "You will attempt to stabilize them under restriction."
Kael blinked. "That's not stabilization. That's failure by design."
"It is assessment," the figure corrected.
Kael let out a quiet breath.
"…Same thing."
They moved to a different location this time.
The structure was larger, more reinforced, and marked with deeper contract lines that extended beyond the central area. The air inside felt heavier, more regulated, as though the environment itself had been engineered to amplify system response.
Kael stepped into position, his focus sharpening despite the tension.
"This is not going to go well," he said.
"No," Lyra replied. "It is not."
The activation began.
The field shifted immediately.
Not in one place—
In several.
Kael felt the misalignment form in multiple directions at once, each one slightly different from the others.
"…That's not manageable," he said.
"Proceed," the authority figure replied.
Kael exhaled slowly and focused.
He reached for the first alignment.
Adjusted it—
It held.
For a moment.
Then the second instability surged.
He shifted toward it—
Adjusted—
The first one faltered.
Kael's expression tightened.
"…I can't hold all of them at once," he said.
"That is the limitation," the figure replied.
Kael frowned.
"No," he said. "That's not the limitation. That's the method."
He paused.
Reconsidered.
Then the approach changed.
Instead of trying to stabilize everything—
He focused on one.
Adjusted it precisely,
And then let the others destabilize.
Then moved one at a time.
The field shifted unpredictably at first, but as he continued, a pattern began to form.
Not perfect. Not stable. But controlled.
The instabilities reduced.
Not because they were all fixed—
But because they were no longer interfering with each other.
The system adjusted. The scenario ended, and silence followed.
Kael lowered his hand slowly.
"…That's not how you expected that to go," he said.
The authority figure did not respond immediately.