Deep within the pace's secure data hub, holographic dispys illuminated the otherwise darkened chamber with a blue-tinged glow. Intricate patterns of light formed three-dimensional models of vampire territories, each pulsing with data streams that represented thousands of noble evaluations.

  Three technicians monitored the central processing unit, their faces bathed in the soft light of their workstations. Unlike the centuries of manual record-keeping that had defined vampire administration before Lucius's revetions, these systems represented technology preserved and enhanced since before the Evolution—capabilities vampire society had been led to believe were permanently lost.

  "Another pattern has emerged in the southern quadrant," the lead technician reported, her fingers moving through the holographic interface with practiced precision. "Nobles demonstrating adaptability, ethical innovation, and genuine care for resources consistently retain positions or receive promotions regardless of lineage."

  The opposite pattern was equally clear—those relying on tradition, rigid hierarchies, or exploitation were removed, their credentials revoked with timing that suggested automated execution. The system had compiled these results across hundreds of evaluations, creating a behavioral prediction model with remarkable accuracy.

  "The king's judgments appeared random to nobles," the second technician observed, studying the data visualization. "But the algorithm shows clear corretional patterns. There's nothing arbitrary about these decisions."

  The third technician nodded. "That was precisely the point. If nobles could identify patterns, they would game the system—presenting whatever behaviors they believed would earn approval rather than demonstrating genuine character."

  Throughout vampire territories, governance practices were already shifting in anticipation of evaluation. The AI systems embedded in infrastructure detected subtle behavioral changes among nobles who hadn't yet faced judgment—increased resource care, reduced exploitation, greater transparency in reporting. These adaptations weren't merely performative; the monitoring systems were sophisticated enough to distinguish between genuine reform and temporary compliance.

  "The king has authorized a new security protocol," the lead technician announced, accessing a sealed communication directly from Lucius. "Pace management systems are to be reprogrammed to accommodate Nova's more... spontaneous nature."

  This directive represented a significant departure from standard pace operations, which had remained essentially unchanged for a millennium. Where vampire protocol typically required advance scheduling and formal authorization for even minor deviations from established routines, these modifications would allow Nova unprecedented freedom of movement and access.

  The technicians exchanged meaningful gnces. Such accommodation would have been unthinkable before Nova's arrival.

  In the royal residence, Lucius reviewed territorial evaluation data on a secure tablet while Nova explored the expansive library. Since his transformation, Nova had developed an insatiable appetite for knowledge—history, science, philosophy, art—consuming information with the enthusiasm of someone denied education for centuries.

  "I've been thinking," Nova said suddenly, looking up from an ancient text on pre-Evolution geography. "I'd like to see more of the territories. Not just reports and images, but actually visit them."

  Lucius gnced up, his expression revealing nothing of the complexity this simple request triggered within pace systems. Such an expedition would typically require weeks of security preparation, formal notifications to territorial leaders, and extensive protocols—particurly for someone of Nova's significance.

  Instead, Lucius set aside his tablet and responded with uncharacteristic immediacy. "When would you like to depart?"

  Nova blinked in surprise. "I just meant... eventually. Doesn't it take time to arrange?"

  "It can be ready by tomorrow morning, if that suits you," Lucius replied, already accessing the hidden transport network through a mental interface connected to pace systems. His silent commands activated preparations that would have been impossible for anyone else to authorize without extensive documentation and approval processes.

  Throughout the pace complex, sealed compartments opened automatically, retrieving specialized equipment and preparing secure transportation. Quantum-encrypted codes transferred temporary system authority to the Council of Evolved, an unprecedented technological authorization unthinkable before Nova's arrival.

  "You're serious?" Nova asked, setting aside the ancient text with growing excitement. "We could actually leave tomorrow?"

  "Of course," Lucius confirmed, his typically reserved expression softening slightly. "There are several territories I believe you would find particurly interesting. We'll begin with Valerian's domain and continue through reformed territories that were formerly under Orlov's control."

  What remained unspoken was how thoroughly pace systems were adapting to accommodate Nova's spontaneous request—centuries of rigid protocols temporarily suspended, security parameters reconfigured, and governance delegation authorized—all through Lucius's direct neural interface with the central processing unit.

  For two thousand years, Lucius had maintained unbreakable routines and methodologies, his governance defined by precision and consistency. Yet now, pace systems recorded this unprecedented deviation from established patterns with a simple expnation: Priority Override – Nova's Request.

  Throughout the data hub, technicians watched in amazement as ancient systems reconfigured themselves based on this new priority structure. The pattern was unmistakable—where Lucius's judgments of nobles followed clear, logical frameworks despite their apparent randomness, his decisions regarding Nova defied all algorithmic prediction.

  This created a new css of priority within pace systems: beyond governance, beyond security, beyond any traditional cssification. Nova's requests, interests, and wellbeing had been assigned an entirely new category of importance that superseded even centuries-old protocols that had previously been considered invioble.

  As Nova enthusiastically discussed the territories he hoped to visit, unaware of the system-wide reconfiguration his simple request had triggered, Lucius maintained his composed exterior. Yet pace monitoring systems detected subtle physiological changes that occurred whenever Nova expressed genuine excitement—a pattern that had been consistent since their first meeting.

  This corretion had been deemed significant enough that the central AI had created a separate category for it in Lucius's biometric monitoring: Nova's Happiness Response. Two millennia of consistent biological readings had established baseline patterns for Lucius that never varied by more than 0.03% regardless of circumstances—except when Nova showed genuine pleasure. Then, the variation could reach as high as 4.7%—a deviation so statistically significant that it registered as a fundamental alteration in Lucius's otherwise unchanging physiological patterns.

  The lead technician studied these readings with professional interest, noting that this expedition request had triggered a 3.2% variation—well within the established parameters for the Nova's Happiness Response category. The system automatically fgged this as a positive indicator, adding it to the growing database of interactions between the king and his transformed companion.

  "The pattern continues to strengthen," she noted to her colleagues. "The corretion between Nova's expressed satisfaction and the king's physiological response remains statistically significant."

  "Two thousand years of absolute consistency," the second technician observed, "disrupted by a single being's happiness. It's remarkable."

  "Perhaps that was the point all along," the third technician suggested, watching as pace systems continued their unprecedented reconfiguration to accommodate a spontaneous journey. "Perhaps this is exactly the pattern he was waiting for.