Chapter 11 · The Rival's Name

Twenty-third morning—except it wasn't morning.

Kael woke at 3 a.m. to the bell ringing once, soft, wrong.

Dorian sat upright. "You hear that?"

Liora pushed their door open without knocking. "Time slip. Serath said eight days left. He meant eight days continuous."

Continuous time within the loop—a new cage rule.

Kael dressed in darkness. "We use it."

They met Vesper and Tamsin in the observatory—Miren gone, but equipment remained. Tamsin had drawn a chart of iteration scars on his own skin, mapping what persisted.

"The rival left another note," Vesper said, handing Kael parchment.

*ASHFORD BOYS PLAY HERO. GHOST GIRL PLAYS SONG. WHO DIES FIRST?*

Kael's hands chilled. "They know our roles."

"Because we repeat them," Liora said.

Dorian pointed at the chart. "Continuous days mean no reset safety. If I die now, do I wake at term start or stay dead?"

No one answered.

At dawn—real dawn—they searched for the third looper using Miren's method: discrepancies. Events that shifted between iterations.

The library map's red circle had become a red stain across half the city.

Renn found Kael near the intake hall.

"You look terrible," Renn said.

"Thanks."

"Halven's gone. Dean called emergency council. Students are scared." Renn hesitated.