Daniel leaned against the console, his pale fingers tapping a slow rhythm against the cold metal. The confrontation with Tessa hours earlier still hung in the air like an unspoken accusation. The system's notification blinked ominously in his vision:
"An ally's ambition may become your undoing."
He dismissed the message with a flick of his gaze, suppressing the churn of unease it ignited. The system's cryptic warnings had saved him before, but they often felt more like riddles than guidance. His mind shifted to Tessa, her piercing questions, and the way her eyes lingered on him—not with fear, but with curiosity. Dangerous curiosity.
"Still brooding?" Claire's voice broke the silence. She stood in the doorway, her sharp gaze softening only slightly as it landed on him.
