Niko unfolded the academy map with hands that had stopped pretending not to shake.
Poor map.
It had entered Gate Eleven as an official document. Astral Zenith seal. Instructor markings. Provisional Silver route permissions. Emergency exits indicated in red ink. Safe chambers identified with blue circles. Monster warnings arranged by floor band.
A beautiful little lie.
Now the parchment had begun sweating.
Ink ran from corridors that no longer existed, pooling along the lower edge before crawling back upward in thin black lines. Gate Eleven did not appear anywhere. The chamber behind us did not appear anywhere. Our position marker spun slowly in the center of a blank space, as if the map had given up and chosen dizziness.
Niko stared at it like betrayal had become portable.
"This is not possible."
"Maps are optimistic by nature," I said.
"This is academy-certified."
"My condolences to the academy."
Liora peered over his shoulder. "Can you read anything useful?"
