Of course, I should've seen this coming.
I stared at the man sitting opposite me. Slowly, my mind cooled down, the thoughts that had been piling up inside it growing quiet as I watched the smile on his face.
At least this was someone I could see.
"...If you guys are really curious to see how I'll handle this, how about helping me a little? This is quite troublesome, you know? You could have me released so I can get back to work."
"Hahaha."
The investigator laughed.
He leaned back, one hand resting against his stomach as though I had said something genuinely amusing.
I watched him for a moment.
Then I joined in.
"Hahaha."
"Hahaha."
We both laughed.
I didn't know why, but him laughing by himself rubbed me the wrong way.
Eventually, he stopped.
I continued for a little longer before stopping too.
I needed to make sure I got the last laugh.
"You're quite crazy."
"...I'm perfectly healthy."
"Well, you're not the craziest I've dealt with."
His hand left his stomach and returned to the table. The smile remained, although it had thinned a little.
"We've been observing you for quite some time. In all honesty, I can see why some are worried about you."
I remained seated, my good hand resting beside the sunglasses.
"The power you've shown time and time again is nothing to scoff at. However, you're reckless."
"...?"
"You don't think before you do anything. You just act on impulse."
Yes, yes.
Pretty much.
"That's not good."
"Should I start thinking now?"
"You should listen."
His voice hadn't grown louder.
I stopped moving my fingers.
"This world is far deeper than you're aware. You're a small fry with a little power. Enough to make us cautious, but..."
His eyes narrowed.
"Don't mistake our caution for fear."
My heart suddenly skipped a beat. Something about his voice...
I took a breath, only to find that it wasn't quite enough. The next one wasn't much better. Across the table, the investigator remained perfectly still.
I kept my hand where it was.
"We wanted to see the extent of your skill. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like you have much time left."
He lifted a finger and pointed at me.
"You're infected. I know that you know that much."
"....."
"This isn't a disease you can simply get rid of. We've been investigating this anomaly ourselves for quite some time."
His finger lowered.
"And do you know what we found?"
I waited.
"There's nothing you can do about it."
The room remained quiet.
"Once VILE-1048 has targeted you, it'll keep looking for you. Keep hunting you. Until it finally gets you. This is not an anomaly that you can run away from."
I watched his face.
He seemed to be waiting for something. A question, perhaps. Some sort of reaction.
I didn't give him one.
"Ha."
He smiled.
"You're running out of time. Not just with the anomaly, but with us as well."
"...?"
My brow rose.
Before I could say anything, he took out his phone, tapped the screen a few times, and slid it across the table.
My gaze lowered.
[Breaking — Malovia Aftermath: Unanswered Questions Surround the Jester Incident]
My expression changed.
Several photographs appeared beneath the headline. The streets of Malovia, damaged buildings, and the traces left behind by the Jester incident.
I read the first few lines before looking up.
The investigator was watching me.
"There it is."
His smile widened a little.
"It won't be long before the world starts finding out the truth. When that happens, I'm curious to see exactly what you'll do."
"....."
I looked at the phone again.
He let me read for another moment before reaching over and taking it back. The screen went dark beneath his thumb.
I opened my mouth.
At the same time, the door opened.
"I'm back. Sorry about that."
Hale stepped inside, closing the door behind him as the investigator picked up his pen again.
"Where were we?"
***
"How long will he be there?"
The Section Chief sat behind his desk, his phone pressed against his ear. He had only just learned of the situation a couple of minutes ago.
There was a brief pause before the answer came.
?We haven't been given an estimate. The BUA is still assessing the situation.
"And the Guild?"
?They may send agents here to check everyone who has been in contact with him. There's a possibility that others have been affected.
The Section Chief slowly rubbed his forehead.
"Just a possibility."
?Yes. Nothing has been confirmed yet.
That wasn't particularly reassuring.
"Let me know the moment you hear anything else."
He ended the call just as the door opened.
Soran stepped inside, her gaze briefly moving towards the phone in his hand.
"Something happened?"
"Seth has been placed under BUA supervision. The hospital is in lockdown."
Her brows rose.
"Wow..."
She whistled softly.
"...And here I thought he went to the doctor."
"This is no laughing matter."
"I haven't laughed."
The Section Chief looked at her.
Soran closed the door behind her.
"How bad is it?"
"I don't know yet. That's what I'm trying to find out."
He picked up his phone again.
Over the next several minutes, he made a series of calls. Soran remained near his desk, occasionally glancing at the reports while whistling to herself from time to time.
Rowan arrived first.
Kyle and Zoey came shortly afterwards, followed by Joanna and the rest of the squad. They gathered around the office, looking at one another as though someone else might know why they had been called.
"Did we do something wrong? What's going on...?"
Joanna asked as the Section Chief closed the door.
"No. It's about Seth."
Several heads turned.
"He's being held at the hospital. There's an ongoing investigation involving VILE-1048, and they suspect that he may have been affected."
The room went quiet.
Jordan, who had been about to sit, remained standing.
"The BUA may also come here to question everyone who has been around him. Until we hear from them, I need all of you available."
Rowan looked towards Joanna.
"He's in trouble again?"
"...What? Again?"
Zoey turned towards him.
Mia tilted her head.
"Isn't this normal?"
The Section Chief stopped speaking.
There were a few thoughtful expressions around the room. Nora even gave a small nod, while Kyle folded his arms without saying anything.
This wasn't quite the reaction he had expected.
He looked towards Soran.
She considered the matter for a moment before nodding.
"They do have a point."
"....."
A long sigh escaped his lips.
"This isn't about him arguing with another Guild. He may be out of commission for a very long time. We're talking months. And I'm afraid that the other Chiefs will take advantage of this situation to make sure he stays quarantined for as long as possible."
That finally changed a few expressions.
Joanna straightened.
"Have you spoken with him?"
"Not yet."
"Then we don't know how he is?"
"We know he was able to speak with the investigators. Beyond that, I haven't been told much."
The Section Chief turned towards Kyle and Zoey.
"I want you two to go there and find out what's happening."
Zoey glanced at Kyle before looking back at him.
"You just said the hospital is in lockdown."
"I'll request permission for you to speak with him. Don't enter any restricted areas unless you're cleared to do so."
"And if they refuse?"
"Call me."
He rested a hand against the desk.
"Find out how he is, what they've told him, and whether he needs anything. Don't leave with another one of his jokes instead of an answer. He's been... very strange lately."
"I know, right?"
Zoey blurted out in front of everyone.
Instantly, all heads turned to her as she cleared her throat and continued.
"He's been... saying that I am flirting with him. I mean, like, that's crazy and stuff. Me of all people, right? I like... am."
"Wow."
Soran interrupted Zoey mid-sentence as she looked at the others.
"She's head over heels, huh?"
"Ah? What?"
The others looked at Zoey before looking away.
"Huh...? What? Why is nobody saying anything?"
Kyle nodded.
"Zoey's crush aside, we will try."
"...?!"
-x-X-x-
[Main Quest Activated]
Difficulty: N/A
Reward: 1,000,000 SP
Objective: Develop your first gate!
Location: N/A
Description: You've finally met the requirements to create your own Gate. With the experience you've gained, you are now capable of completing one on your own! Use everything you have learned to create a Gate. The minimum acceptable result is a 3-star grade. Anything below that will not be accepted.
Time Limit: 1 month!
I sat on the hospital bed, staring blankly at the window in front of me.
The quest was already complete. I just hadn't collected the reward yet.
Looking at it now, the thought of how much had happened since I first received it made me feel a little tired.
Eventually, I reached forward and tapped the screen.
[Reward Collected: 1,000,000 SP]
[Current SP: 1,218,640]
I watched the number increase before lowering my hand.
A little over a million SP. That was about 10,000,000$.
Not bad.
It was a good amount, but nothing particularly impressive. At least, in comparison to the things I could buy.
Still, it was better than nothing.
My attention shifted towards another window.
[The School — ★★★]
"…I guess this isn't too bad for the first try."
Three stars.
Just enough to meet the requirements.
I looked at the grade for a little longer, thinking back to the Gate. There were quite a few things I could've done differently. At the time, I had been satisfied with simply making everything work, but looking back, that was hardly at a level that I wanted it to be.
'I will have to study it properly.'
Preferably somewhere else.
Closing the windows, I looked around the room.
There was a glass partition between the bed and the entrance, with two chairs placed on the other side. The agent who had brought me here had made sure I understood that I wasn't to open the door connecting the two sections.
He had repeated it twice.
Stuck…
"I am once again stuck."
I leaned back against the pillow.
'I doubt I'll be getting out of here anytime soon.'
Well, unless I forced my way out.
That was possible.
But with the BUA watching me and the Hand already threatening to expose what had happened in Malovia, it didn't seem like a particularly good idea.
Escaping the hospital also wouldn't solve the other problem.
'It'll keep looking for you. Keep hunting you.'
The words regarding VILE – 1048 came back to me.
I had essentially become its prey.
'Why me, though?'
Was it because I had been meddling too much?
Geneva had been investigating it for considerably longer than I had. If that was enough to get its attention, then she should've been targeted before me.
Then again, she didn't try to hypnotise her brother.
"Hmm… Well, I don't know."
My head sank a little farther into the pillow.
I was tired.
"Achoo."
I turned my head and rubbed beneath my nose, a bitter smile slowly forming on my face.
"…There's not much time, I guess."
Not that I knew how much time I had in the first place.
That was part of what made this so troublesome.
I couldn't find the anomaly. I couldn't leave the hospital without alerting the BUA, and conspiracy theories about my past were starting to surface.
Even if I managed to deal with one problem, the others would still be waiting.
My gaze moved towards the glass.
For a little while, I simply watched the empty chairs on the other side, finding it increasingly difficult to get comfortable. I adjusted my position, but the pressure against my chest remained.
Then I pushed myself upright.
"There's no use crying about it."
I brought my hands towards my face and lightly slapped my cheeks.
My injured wrist immediately throbbed.
"…Right."
I lowered that hand.
"It's not like I haven't been in worse situations."
My head was clear too. There wasn't anything stopping me from thinking properly, and sitting here feeling sorry for myself wasn't going to help.
I needed to start somewhere.
It was just as I was about to bring the System window back up that someone knocked.
To Tok!
I looked towards the entrance.
An agent stepped inside, stopping on the other side of the partition. His voice came through the small speaker beside it.
"You have visitors."
"…Visitors?"
He nodded before looking back towards the door.
A moment later, Kyle came in.
Zoey followed, and my brows rose as I watched the two of them stop beside the chairs. Both wore masks, although that did little to hide the expression on Zoey's face.
"You'll need to remain on this side."
The agent told the two of them.
"Use the intercom. Don't open the partition."
Kyle nodded.
The agent stepped back outside, leaving them near the entrance.
I opened my mouth.
But before I could say anything, Zoey spoke.
"Let me make things clear."
I straightened a little.
For some reason she sounded rather serious. It was rare for her to sound like this, and I started to worry a little.
What?
What's going on?
Did she figure something out?
"…I've never flirted with you."
"….?"
"That has never happened. I don't know what you've done, but everyone thinks that I have. I've never done that."
"….."
I looked at her.
Then I looked at Kyle.
Eventually, I sighed.
"Sorry about that."
Zoey stopped.
"She tends to be like that."
Kyle glanced towards her before looking back at me.
I nodded back at him.
"We're dating."
"Stop it!"
"She's shy."
"No!"
"Anyways, it's good that you're here."
I looked at the two of them more seriously.
Zoey seemed ready to continue, but her gaze briefly moved towards the bed before settling on my face. After a moment, she pulled out one of the chairs.
Kyle sat beside her.
Neither chair was particularly close to the glass.
"How are you?" he asked.
"Comfortable. They've given me a bed."
"Seth."
"…I've been better."
He nodded, his attention briefly moving towards the door.
"We spoke with the agents before coming in. We understand the situation more or less."
"Then you know when they're letting me out?"
"No."
"How unfortunate."
"They haven't decided anything yet, but we were told to prepare for at least a month or two."
My smile faded a little.
"A month or two?"
"Possibly longer."
I looked around the room again.
The bed suddenly seemed a lot less comfortable.
"The Section Chief is trying to find out more, but he wasn't able to get much. For now, he wants us to check on you."
"And make sure you're actually answering questions."
My girlfriend added, sounding irritated.
"I've been answering."
"Properly."
"Ah."
"I guess we're at the nagging stage, huh?"
Clank!
The chair behind Zoey fell back.
"You…! I want to break up!"
"See? We were dating."
"Akgh!!!"
Ignoring the rampaging Zoey, Kyle leaned forward, resting his arms against his knees.
"If you need anything, tell us. We'll see what we can arrange."
I looked at him.
Then I slowly scratched the back of my head.
"I might need something."
His eyes narrowed.
Before I could continue, he shook his head.
"No."
"I haven't said what it is!"
"You want money."
"…!?"
I stared at him.
How did he know?
I hadn't even looked particularly poor.
"Wait."
Zoey turned towards me.
"You still owe me money."
"….."
Kyle leaned back in his chair.
Neither of them seemed inclined to say anything else.
I looked between the two of them before slowly lowering my hand.
"Shit."
"When are you going to pay us back?"
Zoey's voice came clearly through the speaker.
Perhaps a little too clearly.
I glanced towards the small device before looking back at her.
Then I whistled.
Her brows furrowed even more.
"Seth."
"Well, isn't it as they say between couples?"
Kyle closed his eyes.
I smiled at Zoey through the glass.
"What's mine is yours, and what's yours is mine."
"Seth!"
-x-X-x-
"This is a serious matter, Seth. You could be stuck here for a very long time."
Zoey pulled her chair upright, although she didn't sit down again. Her hands remained against the back of it as she looked at me through the glass.
"Stuck…"
I sighed and lowered my gaze.
"I've been stuck before."
"Then you should know—"
Kyle raised a hand, stopping her before she could continue.
"What are your plans for now?"
I looked at him.
"Well, I guess I'll relax?"
"…Relax?"
"Yes."
I leaned back against the pillow.
I hadn't been sleeping particularly well lately. There had always been somewhere to go, someone to speak with, or something trying to make my life more difficult.
Now I had a bed and several people making sure nobody bothered me without permission.
Looking at it that way, this could be a rather good vacation.
The location could've been better.
So could the circumstances.
But I wasn't exactly in a position to complain.
"But aren't you infected?"
Zoey's question made me look towards her.
"It's only a guess. Nobody knows if it's true."
"….."
No, I was very likely infected.
There was the notification, the way the two victims had reacted, and what the investigator had said. I didn't have much reason to believe otherwise.
I just wasn't telling them that.
They were already looking at me strangely enough.
Kyle's eyes narrowed a little. He remained quiet for several seconds before lowering his hand.
"The BUA is raising the danger level assigned to VILE-1048."
My attention settled on him.
"By how much?"
"They haven't told us. But they're preparing to involve several Guilds in the investigation."
"Ours?"
"Yes. We've already been looking into it, and they'll want whatever information we've gathered."
That made sense.
It also sounded like quite a lot of work.
Fortunately, I was on vacation.
"The major Guilds are being approached as well."
He continued.
I slowly straightened.
"…The major Guilds?"
Kyle nodded.
"That's what we were told."
I looked between the two of them.
They didn't seem to be joking.
"Based on what they know so far, they're treating this as something that could go well beyond the city. Depending on what they find, it might be enlarged even more. This is a very serious case."
"Hmm."
I rubbed the side of my face.
This was starting to sound considerably bigger than I originally expected. Well, I did expect things to get this bad, but not now.
"So everyone is going to be looking into it?"
"Possibly. An anomaly nobody can detect, with no clear way of knowing who it'll affect next… This is not something that the BUA can ignore. News of the anomaly is already making waves to the public."
Zoey finally sat down.
"They don't know whether it's a disease either. That's part of the problem."
I glanced towards the partition.
Right.
Nobody knew much of anything.
That didn't stop them from putting me here, although I could hardly blame their choice. I'd do the same if I were in their position.
'Well, I would've let myself leave.'
But I was probably a little biased.
"If they find something that suggests it can spread more widely, this will become an international matter," Kyle said. "The Section Chief wants you to be prepared for that."
I whistled.
There were quite a few powerful people in the world. Surely, if enough of them looked into the situation, someone would figure something out.
Preferably before whatever was happening to me became worse.
"Then I guess I can rest more easily, huh?"
"…I wouldn't count on it."
Kyle smiled slightly before standing.
I raised my brow, watching as he turned towards the door.
What was that supposed to mean?
He didn't explain.
After a moment, I decided not to ask. I actually couldn't really be bothered.
"We'll let you know when we hear anything."
He said as he waved back.
Yeah, yeah.
Zoey stood as well, pushing her chair back into place. She followed Kyle towards the entrance, but stopped just before reaching it.
For a moment, she looked back at me.
I smiled.
Then I brought my good hand to my lips and blew her a kiss.
She immediately stepped to the side.
"….."
I stood up.
Did she just dodge it?
I stared at her, feeling as though she had insulted not just me, but several generations of my family.
"You!"
Zoey raised her middle finger.
Then she walked out.
The door closed behind her, leaving me standing beside the bed.
"Tsk."
I clicked my tongue and sat back down.
"Relationships are hard."
***
Kyle and Zoey walked down the corridor in silence.
An agent near the end checked their visitor passes before directing them towards the exit. Kyle nodded and continued walking, occasionally glancing at the other agents stationed along the corridor.
There were more than when they had arrived.
That didn't seem like a particularly good sign. It really did seem like there was no way for Seth to ever leave this place.
"We should speak with the Section Chief as soon as we get back."
Zoey didn't answer.
Kyle looked ahead.
"If the major Guilds become involved, it'll be harder for him to do anything about Seth's situation. It won't just be a matter of speaking with the investigators here. I feel like Seth will go mad if he's stuck here for longer, and knowing him, things will turn very bad if he goes mad."
No, he was already mad.
A lunatic beyond all lunatics.
But it could be even worse. Kyle understood this concept all too well, and he shuddered upon thinking of the possibility of Seth becoming even worse.
'Absolutely not.'
Their footsteps continued down the corridor.
"The investigation could move faster, but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll let him leave. Especially if Section Chief Johansberg plays a hand in the case. In fact, I'm almost certain he will do so."
Still nothing.
Kyle turned his head.
Zoey was walking beside him, her attention fixed somewhere ahead. She wasn't looking at him, nor did she seem particularly interested in what he was saying.
He tilted his head.
"Zoey."
She continued walking.
Kyle reached over and poked her shoulder.
No response.
His brows furrowed slightly before he poked her again.
Only then did she turn towards him.
"What?"
"You…"
He studied her face for a moment.
"You're not thinking about Seth, are you?"
"Ah?"
"I know you have a crush on him, but now isn't the time. We've got more important things to handle."
Zoey stopped walking.
Her expression became completely still as she stared at him.
Kyle took another step before noticing that she was no longer beside him. He stopped too, looking back at her.
"What?"
"….."
She opened her mouth.
Then she closed it.
For several seconds, she remained where she was, looking at him as though she couldn't quite decide what to say.
Eventually, she sighed and waved her hand.
"Whatever, whatever."
She started walking again.
Kyle watched her pass before following, shaking his head slightly.
"I really don't see what you see in him."
"….."
"I mean, I don't judge, but…"
Zoey's gaze remained fixed ahead.
Kyle looked at her again.
"You have weird tastes."
"….."
"Crazy."
"…He's not that b—"
"What?"
"Nothing. Nothing."
She waved her hand without looking at him and started walking faster.
-x-X-x-
The next few days were hectic.
In essence, I was subjected to quite a few examinations.
Blood tests, questions about my symptoms, and several other things that required me to sit still while someone told me not to move. A lot of doctors came to see me, and just when I thought they were finished, someone else would arrive.
I had been rather mistaken about the vacation.
'I'd rather go back to work.'
And there wasn't much I could do about it either.
The only good thing was that the BUA had signed a confidentiality agreement with me regarding their findings. The results would remain with the people handling the case. Nothing would be passed on to the Guild.
That was good.
But also bad since I trusted the BUA even less than my own Guild.
I also didn't particularly want the Section Chiefs knowing everything about my body.
Especially one particular Section Chief.
Still, an agreement didn't stop the people examining me from finding things. Considering who was involved in the investigation, I wasn't entirely comfortable with that either. But it wasn't like I had a choice.
The only choice left I had was running away, but… that was probably even worse of a choice.
I sighed.
'Well, it's not like I have much of a choice. Might as well…'
I was worried about the Hand, but they probably already had an idea. There was nothing scarier than an injured lunatic.
'At least, I hoped.'
"Please keep your head still."
"…It's still."
"You were turning it."
"Only a little."
The woman beside the scanner looked at me for a moment before adjusting the frame around my head.
Several wires ran from it towards the machine. Small pads had also been attached to my chest, and I had also been asked to remove my shirt and bracelet.
I wasn't particularly happy about the latter.
"Try to relax."
I looked up at the large opening above me.
The scanner took up most of the room. An escort brought me all the way into the room, and the corridor had been cleared before I was allowed through.
Even now, an agent remained near the door.
I wasn't going anywhere.
"Is this going to take long?"
"We'll tell you when we're finished."
How reassuring.
The bed started moving.
I watched the ceiling disappear as my head entered the machine, a low humming sound coming from somewhere beside my ears.
My heart was beating rather loudly.
Not because I thought the machine would hurt me.
I was more concerned about what they would find.
A faint light passed over my face. I closed my eyes briefly before opening them again, listening as someone outside asked for another image.
For a while, nobody said anything.
Then⎯
"…What the?"
My fingers stopped moving.
"Go back to that section."
A short silence followed.
"Here?"
"Yes. Enlarge it."
I stared at the curved surface above my face.
The machine hummed again.
"Is that all around the nodes?"
"…It seems so."
"What is this? I've never seen anything like it."
"….."
Well.
I supposed I couldn't keep it a secret any longer.
The voices continued for a little while, occasionally lowering to the point where I couldn't make out the words. I remained still throughout, waiting until the bed finally started moving again.
The ceiling came back into view.
So did the doctors.
Three of them stood beside the display. The woman who had fitted the frame approached me, but she was still looking towards the screen as she reached for the equipment around my head.
"…Is it that bad?"
Nobody answered immediately.
An older man turned towards me.
"How are you still alive?"
Oh.
That bad.
I shrugged as much as the wires allowed.
"You get used to it."
"No. This isn't something you get used to."
He moved aside, giving me a clearer view of the screen.
The pathways around my nodes looked considerably worse when someone enlarged them like that. There was material gathered throughout them, with some sections so clogged that it was difficult to see where they continued.
I already knew about that.
But it still wasn't a very good sight to see. In fact, I took my eyes away from it almost a moment later.
"How long has this been going on?"
"A while."
"And you've continued using your nodes?"
"Well, yes."
The man looked at me.
Then at the screen.
"You need to stop. Immediately."
"….."
"This isn't just a little damage. With the amount of obstruction here, continuing to put them under strain could be extremely dangerous."
I lowered my gaze towards my hands.
"Well, it is what it is."
"Team Leader Thorne."
"I heard you."
I reached towards the frame, but the woman stopped my hand.
"Let me remove that first."
I waited while she disconnected the wires and unfastened it. Once she had finished, I took off the remaining pads and reached for my shirt.
The older doctor was still speaking.
Something about further examinations. Another specialist. Comparing the images with whatever results they already had.
I pulled my shirt over my head.
"Have you been experiencing pain?"
"Yes."
"Constantly?"
"Less recently."
"What changed?"
I reached towards the tray beside the bed.
My bracelet lay next to the sunglasses.
A doctor standing near the desk glanced towards it.
"Whoever gave you that knew what they were doing."
My hand paused.
"The bracelet?"
"Yes. That was a good decision. It's helping keep your condition under control."
"…Right."
I picked it up and fastened it around my wrist.
There had been a dull pressure behind my eyes since taking it off. I only realised how much it had been bothering me when it slowly started to ease.
My thoughts became clearer.
That was better.
"Don't use your nodes until we've finished reviewing this," the older doctor said.
"I understand."
He didn't seem entirely convinced, but he eventually turned back towards the display.
The woman beside him pointed at one of the images.
I left them to it.
There wasn't much I could contribute. Besides, I had a more pressing concern.
"So…?"
I looked towards the doctors.
"Did you find anything else?"
The doctor near the desk lowered his gaze towards the results.
"No. Apart from what we've discussed, you appear healthy. Nothing else stands out at the moment."
"Nothing?"
"We'll keep a close watch on you."
"…Alright."
I nodded and picked up my sunglasses.
When I stood, I felt a little lightheaded.
My fingers remained against the edge of the bed for a moment before I straightened properly. The doctors were still going through the images, and I kept my expression unchanged as I put on the glasses.
'I guess I stood up a little too fast.'
It happened from time to time. Or at least, that was what I'd usually thinkg. But now…? I wasn't so sure.
My nose started tingling again.
I rubbed beneath it.
"Are you ready?"
The agent near the door was looking at me.
"Yes."
I lowered my hand and followed him out.
I took a sigh of relief as I walked out. To be honest, I thought they'd find more, but this was within my expectations.
As for everything else…
I looked down at the bracelet.
My head was clear.
I could think properly.
That should've made me feel better, but as we walked back through the empty corridor, I found myself counting the steps until I could sit down again.
There wasn't much time left.
I didn't know how much.
But I was becoming increasingly certain that I couldn't afford to wait for them to figure this out.
*
To Tok!
"Hm?"
I was lying on the bed when someone knocked.
For a moment, I considered pretending to be asleep.
They had already taken enough of my blood for the day. Surely, whatever else they wanted could wait a little.
To Tok!
I looked towards the entrance.
An agent stepped inside, remaining on the other side of the glass.
"You have a visitor."
"…Another one?"
He nodded before moving aside.
I pushed myself up a little, my attention settling on the open doorway.
'If it's Kyle or Zoey, I guess I can try asking for more money. That won't hurt.'
But I would have to approach it differently this time.
My mouth opened.
Then someone entered.
"….."
My brows rose.
I sat up properly, pulling my legs off the bed as I stared at the man standing beyond the partition, his presence instantly filling the entire space.
That's…
'What is he doing here?'
The Guild Master of Obsidian Bastion.
-x-X-x-
I opened my mouth, one hand pressing against the mattress as I started to get up.
"Sit."
I sat back down.
"....."
I didn't even know why I just sat down.
But I just did.
Now I wanted to stand up, but my legs refused to listen to me.
There was something about the pressure coming from him that made it difficult to refuse. Even with the glass between us, I found myself straightening a little as he approached the chair.
He wore a dark blazer, with a hat that he removed before sitting down. A walking stick rested in his other hand.
Placing its tip against the floor, he settled both hands over the knob and looked at me.
"I know you must be busy."
His voice was warm, yet it carried a certain authority to it that made it hard for me to speak.
"For that reason, I'll make this short."
Actually, there's no need.
I had quite a lot of time.
A month or two, apparently.
But I didn't say that.
"There's a sponsorship agreement between you and Obsidian Bastion. We've invested a considerable amount of money, and with you out of commission, that investment becomes rather difficult to justify."
My attention stopped on him.
Money.
Of course.
I slowly lowered my gaze.
Was he here to ask for it back?
I already owed Kyle and Zoey several million. Adding the Guild Master of Obsidian Bastion to the list wasn't something I was particularly keen on doing.
Especially since he had come all the way here himself.
That suggested he was rather serious about it.
"...So..."
"Then you should understand why I think it would be best for you to leave."
"...Ah?"
I lifted my head.
The Guild Master's expression hadn't changed.
Leave?
"I can have the arrangements completed today."
"....."
I looked towards the door before returning my attention to him.
"This old man may be getting on in years, but I still have enough influence to speak with the Bureau. Of course, there will be restrictions."
I stared at him.
For a moment, I wasn't quite sure what to say.
I had been told that there was no way for me to leave this place for at least a long time. In fact, there was no definitive time frame for that. But now he was telling me I could leave today?
Today...?
That sounded rather good.
A little too good.
My fingers slowly curled against the mattress.
'Why?'
The sponsorship?
Perhaps.
But he could've sent someone to discuss that. I doubted a man in his position needed to personally visit everyone who owed him money.
I looked at his hands resting over the walking stick.
They had not moved since the start.
"What are the restrictions?"
"For the next two months, you'll be under our Guild's supervision."
"...Under your Guild?"
"Yes. You'll stay with us and work for us. Essentially, you'll be a temporary recruit."
"....."
Ah, ha!
There it was.
I leaned back a little, studying his expression.
"I already belong to a Guild."
"I'm aware. This would be a temporary arrangement. You wouldn't be leaving Severed Stars."
"And you're saying the BUA will agree to that?"
"They would be transferring responsibility for your supervision to us. Your condition would still be monitored, and you wouldn't be free to go wherever you pleased."
I glanced towards the partition again.
"So I'm basically changing rooms? That's what you're saying."
"Among other things."
"...It's going to be a good one, right?"
His eyes remained on me.
I cleared my throat.
"What sort of work?"
"Whatever you can do within the restrictions. I'm not proposing that we send you into a Gate while your condition is still being investigated."
That was good.
The doctors had already been quite clear about what they thought of me using my nodes.
Not that I cared.
"I won't restrict you more than necessary."
He continued, the stick shifting slightly within his grasp.
"But you will need to remain under our watch. That is the only way we can make this happen."
"And after two months?"
"The temporary assignment ends. Any restrictions concerning your condition will depend on the investigation."
So he wasn't promising to make the entire problem disappear.
For some reason, that made the offer a little easier to believe.
Still...
I looked at him again.
"You're willing to take responsibility for me?"
"I wouldn't be sitting here otherwise."
"Right."
That was a rather fair point.
I rubbed the back of my head.
Leaving the hospital would be good. Very good, actually. I doubted I would miss the bed, and I was already getting tired of looking at the same two chairs.
But going to Obsidian Bastion didn't mean that I would suddenly be free.
I would simply have a different group of people watching me. Still, I felt that they were better than the Bureau.
"There is one other condition."
My hand stopped.
"Naturally, we'll have you enter under a disguise. Your identity won't be made public."
"A disguise?"
"It would be best for both of us. The people responsible for your supervision will know who you are. There's no reason for everyone else to."
I slowly nodded.
That made sense.
With the news about VILE-1048 already spreading, I doubted anyone would be particularly pleased to learn that a suspected victim had moved into their Guild.
There was also everything else being said about me.
The Guild Master seemed to notice where my thoughts had gone.
"The Bureau would be aware of the arrangement. This isn't an attempt to hide you from the investigation."
"Of course."
I already figured this much.
The room went quiet.
I looked down at my bracelet, turning my wrist slightly before looking back at him.
Two months.
I could spend them in the Guild, and also find the time to figure out what was going on with VILE - 1048.
'Well, find a cure for it.'
I was being targeted. There was no escaping for me.
My only choice was to hunt it before it hunted me.
Well, these were my thoughts...
And yet, I couldn't stop wondering why I was being offered such an offer.
The sponsorship was important, but so was taking responsibility for someone the BUA suspected might be infected.
Especially when nobody knew what that actually meant.
The Guild Master watched me for another moment before reaching for his hat.
"I'll give you some time to think about it."
He stood, adjusting the front of his dark blazer before putting the hat back on.
"We won't force you into this."
I looked up.
"You don't need an answer now?"
"No."
The walking stick tapped against the floor as he turned towards the entrance.
"Let the agent know when you've decided. They'll contact my people."
"....."
I watched him approach the door.
There were quite a few things I still wanted to ask. Unfortunately, I wasn't certain how to ask them without sounding as though I was accusing him of something.
Before I could decide, the door opened.
The agent outside stepped aside, and the Guild Master walked out.
I remained seated on the bed, staring after him.
This...
This really took an unexpected turn, huh?
***
The Guild Master stepped into the corridor, his walking stick tapping softly against the floor.
One of the agents who had accompanied him approached almost immediately. He glanced towards the room before falling into step beside the old man.
"Is everything resolved? Did he agree?"
"...Not quite yet."
The Guild Master continued walking.
"We'll see soon enough."
The agent nodded, although he didn't seem entirely satisfied with the answer.
They passed the nurses' station before he spoke again.
"May I ask something?"
"Go ahead."
"Why go this far?"
The walking stick touched the floor again.
"I understand that he's highly sought after. His accomplishments are impressive, and the sponsorship is important. But with the recent news and this incident..."
The agent hesitated.
"I'm not sure he's worth getting on the bad side of the BUA."
"Getting on the bad side of the BUA?"
"Even if the transfer is approved, there will be people who aren't pleased. We're taking on quite a lot of responsibility for a temporary recruit."
The Guild Master let out a quiet sigh.
He understood that much.
He had understood it before coming here.
For a moment, his steps slowed, his gaze moving towards the corridor they had just left.
The agent waited beside him.
"If this is about protecting the investment—"
"That isn't why I'm doing this."
The man stopped speaking.
The Guild Master adjusted his grip on the walking stick before continuing towards the exit.
Its tip tapped against the floor once more.
'...This old man has much to repay to his grandson.'
-x-X-x-
I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling in silence.
The room had grown quiet again. On the other side of the partition, the chair the Guild Master had used remained slightly pulled out from the table.
I looked at it for a moment before returning my attention to the ceiling.
'Just what is his goal?'
That was the part I couldn't quite understand.
The sponsorship was one thing, but surely, someone else could've handled this conversation. He had people working for him. Quite a few, probably.
Was he using the situation as an excuse to recruit me?
Two months.
That was enough time to show someone what their Guild could offer. Perhaps he thought I would enjoy my stay so much that I wouldn't want to return to Severed Stars.
It wasn't a bad idea.
I was talented, after all.
Probably the best.
But even then...
I turned my head towards the glass.
Was that enough for him to take responsibility for me? Especially when doing so would upset some of the people within the BUA?
He didn't even hesitated when I asked him about it.
'There's something more.'
Something that I didn't know, which made me even more apprehensive. What if he had sinister thoughts? In fact, what if he was with the Hand?
'But if he really was with them, then they wouldn't have threatened me with my past...'
Unfortunately, lying here and looking at the empty chair wasn't helping me figure out what it was.
"...Hoo."
I let out a long breath.
"Still, this is a nice offer."
A little too nice.
My heart itched again.
'...I really can get out of this place.'
There were restrictions, but they weren't abd.
I looked towards the door connecting the two sections of the room.
It had remained closed ever since the Guild Master had left.
"I..."
I stopped.
Then I sat up.
"Never mind."
Lifting my good hand, I slapped the side of my head.
"What's there to think about?"
Anything was better than remaining stuck here.
A man stuck in a room couldn't do much.
I knew that from experience.
I had already spent several days waiting for someone to find something, but it was clear that it was just a way for me to cope.
At this rate, I would spend even more than a month in here.
I rubbed the back of my neck.
'Right. This isn't going to work.'
If I wanted to do something before it was too late, I would have to accept a little risk.
Perhaps Obsidian Bastion would be troublesome.
Perhaps the Guild Master really did want something from me.
But I could worry about that once I was there. At least I would have somewhere to start, rather than spending another day wondering when I would get out.
I reached for my phone.
My mind was made up.
Whatever was waiting for me outside, it couldn't be dealt with from this bed.
Unlocking the screen, I opened my contacts and started scrolling.
Joanna.
Kyle.
Zoey.
My thumb slowed.
I scrolled a little farther before stopping completely.
"Wait..."
I stared at the screen.
"How am I supposed to contact him?"
"....."
I don't have his number.
***
Zoey walked down the corridor, trying not to pay attention to the people around her.
It wasn't working particularly well.
Someone near the reception desk looked at her before quickly turning back towards their phone. A little farther ahead, two Guild Members stopped speaking as she passed.
She was used to people looking at her.
That wasn't the problem.
The problem was how they kept looking away when she looked back.
"....."
Her steps grew a little quicker.
Several days had passed since the visit to the hospital, but the irritation had yet to go away. If anything, returning to the Guild had only made it worse.
Kyle didn't help out either. If anything, he seemed to make things worse. He was also one of the people who looked at her weirdly.
Zoey ignored him for that.
But for some reason, he seemed to take that as further confirmation.
'Damn bastard.'
Zoey entered the Containment Department Kitchen area.
She needed some coffee.
That was all.
A little coffee, followed by some work to take her mind off the matter.
Really, the more she thought about it, the more irritated she felt.
There were a few people inside, but nobody spoke to her as she approached the counter. She picked up a glass cup, added a spoonful of instant coffee, and filled it with hot water.
For a moment, she watched the powder dissolve.
Then she stirred it.
The quiet scraping of the spoon against the glass helped a little.
Until she noticed someone looking at her.
"What?"
The recruit standing a short distance away straightened.
"What are you looking at?"
"Ah, I..."
His expression immediately changed, and Zoey's hand stopped against the cup.
"....."
She took a slow breath.
"No, sorry. I'm a little thrown off."
The recruit hesitated before nodding.
"It's alright."
It wasn't his fault.
She knew that.
He had probably only come here to get something to drink. Snapping at people for looking in her direction wasn't going to make things any better.
'Damn bastard.'
Once again, Seth's face came to mind.
She pushed it away and put on a smile.
"So? What can I help you with?"
The recruit looked a little relieved.
"I was just wondering..."
"Yes?"
"Is it true that you're dating—"
CRACK!
The glass shattered in her hand.
Coffee spilled across the counter, with several small pieces falling onto the floor.
The recruit flinched.
His eyes moved towards her hand before slowly returning to her face.
"....."
Zoey remained perfectly still.
So did he.
For a few seconds, the only sound came from the coffee dripping over the edge of the counter.
Then the recruit took a small step back.
"Actually, I just remembered..."
Zoey looked at him.
"I have something to do."
He took another step.
"Sorry. I'll... I should go."
She didn't answer.
He left anyway.
Quite quickly.
Zoey watched the door close before looking down at what remained of the cup.
'I'm going to kill him.'
She took a deep breath.
'I'm going to kill him.'
Another breath followed.
'I'm going to kill him.'
There was coffee on her sleeve.
She had yet to even take a sip...
"....."
Slowly, she put the broken cup down.
The others in the kitchen became rather occupied with what they were doing. Nobody seemed particularly interested in looking at her anymore.
That was good.
She wasn't certain how much more patience she had left.
After taking another breath, Zoey found something to clean the counter with. She gathered the broken pieces, wiped up the coffee, and made sure nothing remained on the floor before leaving.
She didn't make another cup.
By the time she reached her desk, her expression had settled somewhat.
She sat down and turned on her computer.
Work.
She could do some work.
Preferably something that required enough attention that she wouldn't have time to think about anything else.
While waiting for her PC to boot, she scrolled through her phone to check out the latest news.
Several articles concerning the hospital appeared near the top. Most repeated the same information, with very little that she hadn't already heard from the Section Chief.
She scrolled past them.
Then past another article discussing Ivory Thorn.
Her fingers slowed after a certain point.
A headline near the bottom of the page caught her attention.
At first, she only glanced at it.
Then she stopped.
[Breaking — Malovia Aftermath: Unanswered Questions Surround the Jester Incident]
"....."
Zoey leaned closer to the screen.
Beneath the title was a photograph of damaged buildings, with part of a ruined street visible in the foreground.
Her gaze returned to the headline.
She read it again, the irritation on her face slowly fading.
For a moment, her thumb remained still.
Then—
Tap!
-x-X-x-
I stepped outside and took a deep breath.
The mask rubbed against my face, but I didn't bother adjusting it immediately. For a moment, I simply stood there, looking at the space in front of me.
"Stuck, I no longer am."
Air.
Oh, air.
It was the same old air, but it just felt different.
"It's... like it's kissing me."
I kissed it back.
"I don't know how you did it, but I'll be keeping a close watch on you."
My shoulders lowered a little.
Turning around, I found Investigator Hale standing a short distance behind me. He held several papers in his hand, which he extended towards me as I approached.
I took them with my good hand.
"We'll be sending a doctor for a weekly checkup. The Guild will also be required to keep us informed of your condition."
"Right."
"And if anything changes, no matter how small, you're to report it immediately."
I looked down at the papers.
There were quite a few conditions listed.
"If we decide that you need to be quarantined again, you'll return immediately. That will happen regardless of which Guild is backing you."
I lifted my head.
"I understand."
"You're being transferred... You haven't been cleared. I want you to understand this point clearly."
"Yes, I understand that too."
His gaze remained on me for another moment.
I nodded again, just to make sure.
Thankfully, he seemed satisfied with that. Or at least, he had no choice but to be satisfied with that.
A black car approached shortly afterwards, slowing until it stopped in front of us. The driver stepped out and spoke briefly with investigator Hale before opening the rear door.
I looked inside.
The inside was quite spacious, the leather finish of the chair looking really comfortable.
How pleasant.
Folding the papers, I stepped into the car and settled into the back. A partition separated me from the driver, although I didn't particularly mind this one.
At least it wasn't stopping me from leaving.
Investigator Hale remained outside as the door closed.
I gave him a small wave.
He didn't wave back.
Well, whatever. I didn't stop. I just continued to wave back at him, only feeling better when I saw him frown.
The car started moving, and I watched the hospital slowly disappear behind us.
Finding someone to contact the Guild Master turned out to be rather easy. I only needed to speak to the agent outside my room.
After that, everything moved quite quickly.
There were papers to sign, a few more people to speak with, and several reminders about what I wasn't allowed to do.
But I was finally out.
I leaned back and looked through the window.
'Now, then...'
Obsidian Bastion.
For the next two months, I would be staying with them.
There were still quite a few things I didn't understand about the arrangement, but for now, I decided to appreciate the fact that I could look at something besides a hospital wall.
That alone was worth quite a lot.
*
The building came into view before we reached the surrounding walls.
Its enormous rectangular frame caught the sunlight in sharp glints, while the obsidian exterior seemed to swallow the light rather than reflect it.
I leaned forward slightly.
Even from here, it took up a considerable part of the view.
Towering walls enclosed the entire complex, with several roads feeding towards it from different directions. They crossed and overlapped, carrying a steady stream of cars towards the Guild.
My eyes followed one of the roads before losing track of it beneath another.
"....."
Right.
I would have to make sure someone showed me the way out.
The car eventually left the main stream of traffic and turned towards a private path. A section of the wall slid open as we approached, revealing the entrance to the underground parking area.
Bright lights replaced the sunlight.
Rows of dark SUVs stretched out on either side, their surfaces reflecting the lights above. The ceiling was high enough that the vehicles looked rather small beneath it.
I watched us pass one row.
Then another.
Eventually, the car stopped.
"We're here."
The driver's voice came through the speaker.
I nodded and reached for the door.
Stepping outside, I adjusted the mask against my face before looking towards the entrance leading into the building.
There weren't many people around.
A couple of guards stood near the doors, while a man in a dark suit waited a short distance away. The moment he saw me, he put away the tablet in his hand and approached.
"Welcome."
His gaze briefly moved towards the car before returning to me.
"I'll be taking you to the Containment Department."
"Ah. Alright."
I glanced towards the guards.
Neither seemed particularly interested in me.
That was good.
"Do you know...?"
"I've been informed of your circumstances."
The man answered before I could finish.
"Please keep your mask on. The people who need to know about your arrival are already aware. I've been told that you are also carrying another disguise...?"
"Yup."
The mask was just something extra I put on.
Made me feel more mysterious.
"Alright, follow me."
Following him inside, I looked around as we passed through the doors.
The guards checked something on a display beside them, and one gave the man a small nod.
Neither asked me to stop.
For some reason, that alone made the place feel rather welcoming.
We reached the elevators shortly afterwards.
The man held his card against a panel beside one of them. A small light appeared, followed by the quiet sound of the doors opening.
"This way."
I stepped inside.
Instead of pressing one of the buttons, he selected something on the panel with his card still resting against it.
The doors closed, and we started descending.
"Most of the administrative offices are above us. The Containment Department operates across several of the lower levels."
"Several?"
Well, I guess it isn't much different from the Severed Stars Guild.
"Yes. You'll be shown the areas relevant to your assignment first."
I looked towards the floor display.
The numbers continued changing.
"Your access is limited for now. If you need to go somewhere outside the approved areas, speak with the person assigned to you."
"Another person?"
"I'm only handling your arrival."
"Ah."
That made sense.
Although I was starting to wonder how many people would be handling me before I could finally sit down somewhere.
"Your accommodation is being prepared. We'll finish your registration at the department before taking you there."
"It's a good room, right?"
The man looked at me.
"...It should have everything you need."
"How reassuring."
He seemed unsure whether to answer that.
Thankfully, the elevator stopped before he needed to.
Ding!
The doors slid open.
I took a step forward.
Then I stopped.
"....."
A wide room stretched out beyond the entrance, with rows of workstations arranged beneath a wall of displays. Each screen showed something different. Corridors, sealed rooms, people working behind glass.
There were considerably more people here than I expected.
All of them wore dark suits.
Not just suits, either.
Their jackets fit neatly across their shoulders, their collars sat straight, and even the people moving quickly between the desks looked as though someone checked them before allowing them inside.
I glanced down at my own shirt.
Hmm.
The man beside me continued walking, and I followed before the elevator doors could close.
At the nearest workstation, a woman moved an image across her screen with two fingers. The same image immediately appeared on one of the larger displays ahead, expanding to show a sealed case from several different angles.
She studied it briefly.
"Send it to the next bay."
A man at another desk touched his earpiece.
"Ready."
Beyond a glass wall to our right, a platform started moving.
A metal container rested on top of it, secured beneath several thick clamps. Nobody was pushing it. It followed a narrow strip along the floor before stopping in front of a closed door.
The woman touched her screen again.
The door opened.
I watched the container disappear through it before looking back at her.
She was already reviewing something else.
"...Oh."
Farther ahead, two men approached another set of doors. Neither slowed down until a panel beside the entrance lit up.
One placed his hand against it.
The other waited.
Only after both finished did the doors open.
A new image appeared on the wall.
Three people looked up at the same time.
One pointed towards a section of it, and the others were already moving before he lowered his hand.
My steps slowed a little.
The man leading me noticed.
"Is something wrong?"
"No."
I looked past him towards another passage. More workstations were visible beyond it, along with a separate set of doors that remained closed.
"This is the Containment Department?"
"The reception and monitoring area."
"...The reception?"
"Yes."
I looked around again.
At the screens.
The equipment.
The people walking past in their neatly fitted suits...
Then I lowered my gaze towards my sleeve and pulled it down a little.
"....."
Perhaps I should've dressed better.
-x-X-x-
The man led me past the workstations and towards a room on the other side of the floor.
Four people stood around a table inside. A map filled most of its surface, with one of them dragging a finger along a highlighted section while the others watched.
The moment we entered, the man moving his finger stopped.
Their attention settled on me.
"This is the member assigned to your team."
"...Today?"
"Yes."
The man at the table looked towards me again. His gaze stopped briefly on my shirt before returning to my face.
I looked down as well.
There wasn't anything on it.
Probably.
"He'll be with you for the next two months. The details are in the file."
The guide handed him the tablet.
I remained near the entrance while he read through it. The other three continued looking at me, although one eventually returned her attention to the map.
It seemed like a rather good map.
I could understand wanting to look at it.
"Is there a reason for the mask?"
The question came from the woman nearest to me. Her hair was tied neatly behind her head, and she held a pen between two fingers.
"I was trying to make a good first impression."
"By covering your face?"
"I'm really handsome."
"....."
She looked towards the guide.
I sighed before reaching for the mask.
"It's fine. I can take it off."
The other disguise was already in place. Removing the mask wouldn't reveal anything besides the face I was going to be using here.
Still, I liked the mask.
It made me feel protected.
I folded it and put it in my pocket while the four of them took another look.
Nobody seemed to recognise me.
Good.
"This is one of our elite containment teams."
The guide explained.
"They'll be supervising your work and helping you familiarise yourself with the department."
I nodded.
Elite.
There was a rather nice ring to it.
"Adrian Keller. He's the Team Leader."
The man holding the tablet lifted his head.
His dark hair was combed back neatly, and his jacket remained buttoned even as he leaned against the table. He gave me a small nod.
"Welcome."
"Thank you."
"This is Vera Sloan. She handles analysis and field assessments."
The woman who asked about my mask lowered her pen.
"Have you worked in containment before?"
"Yes."
"For how long?"
"A while."
Adrian passed the tablet towards her before she could ask anything else.
The guide continued.
"Marcus Dale. Retrieval and field containment."
The tallest of the four looked towards me. His shoulders stretched the jacket a little, although the fabric otherwise sat perfectly.
He offered his hand.
I lifted my uninjured one, and he paused before adjusting his grip.
"Your other hand?"
"A little injured."
Actually, I could move it now, but I still went on the cautious side.
It would probably take one more week for it to heal.
Damn mimic.
"I see."
His eyes briefly moved towards my wrist. Then he let go.
"And Tessa Reed. Equipment and operational support."
The last woman straightened from the table. Her hair stopped near her chin, and a small device rested against her ear.
She touched it once before speaking.
"Hello."
"Hello."
She gave me a brief nod before glancing towards the folded mask sticking out of my pocket.
I pushed it farther inside.
Why was I suddenly so aware of everything I was wearing?
"And you are?"
Adrian asked.
I straightened.
"Emile Crow."
The name came out quite naturally.
"A pleasure to meet all of you."
They nodded.
Not at the same time, but close enough.
The guide exchanged a few more words with Adrian about my access and temporary assignment. I listened without interrupting, occasionally pulling at the bottom of my shirt.
The more time passed, the more self-aware of my clothing I became.
It wasn't like I was dressed badly. I was wearing my usual suit, but the shirt was filled with creases and untucked, whilst my blazer was way oversized compared to their tailor-made ones.
How annoying.
"Well, I'll leave him with you."
The guide placed a temporary access card on the table before turning towards me.
"Someone will contact you once your accommodation is ready."
"Alright."
I picked up the card, and he left shortly afterwards.
The door closed.
For a moment, nobody said anything.
Then Adrian handed the tablet back to Vera.
"We'll show you around before continuing."
I nodded.
"How considerate."
His gaze lingered on me briefly before he moved towards the door.
*
The tour was rather quick.
Adrian pointed out the equipment counter, the briefing rooms, and the passage leading towards the containment bays. Marcus walked beside him, while Vera and Tessa followed a little farther behind.
I remained between them.
"Your card will only open the areas you're authorised to enter."
Adrian calmly said as he showed me around.
"If a door doesn't open, don't try another way in."
"Do people do that?"
He looked at me, then looked at my clothes.
I looked back.
After a moment, he continued walking.
That wasn't much of an answer.
But why was he looking at my clothes again?
I subconsciously tucked my shirt in.
We passed a glass wall overlooking several enclosed bays. Someone inside was checking a case with a long instrument, watching the readings on a separate screen.
I slowed down a little.
"Those are the—"
"You won't need to go in there yet."
Adrian pointed towards another passage.
"The workrooms are this way."
"Ah."
I followed him.
Vera was still reading my file. Once, she looked up at me before returning to the screen.
I wondered what it said.
Hopefully something nice.
Something about my talents would've been good.
We reached a wider corridor shortly afterwards.
Adrian suddenly stopped.
Marcus moved aside, and the two women immediately followed. I looked towards them, wondering what was happening, before noticing the group approaching from the opposite direction.
My steps slowed.
Liora.
She walked at the front, with several people following a short distance behind her. All wore dark suits, but there was something about the way the others moved around them that drew my attention.
A man approaching the crossing stopped to let them pass.
Someone near a workstation straightened.
Beside me, Adrian lowered his head.
The others did the same.
"....."
I looked between them.
A hand touched my arm.
"Head down."
Marcus spoke quietly.
"Pay your respects."
Oh.
We were doing that.
I lowered my head before he could remind me again.
The footsteps grew closer.
For a moment, all I could see was the floor and the shoes passing in front of me.
Then the pace slowed slightly.
I raised my eyes just enough to see Liora looking in my direction.
Her gaze rested on my face.
I kept still.
The moment lasted a little longer than I would've liked, but she eventually looked away and continued walking.
Nobody in her group said anything.
Only after they passed did Adrian lift his head.
I straightened too, looking back towards the group.
"That's Liora Halecrest's team."
Marcus said, his voice soft.
"I see."
"The best in the Guild. You'll be seeing them around, so remember that."
I watched them disappear around the corner.
Right.
I would make sure to remember where the floor was.
"This way."
Adrian was already moving.
I followed before Marcus could help me with that too.
Our next stop was a room with several desks and a display covering part of the wall.
The moment we entered, Tessa went towards one of the terminals. Vera placed the tablet beside her keyboard, and Marcus took off his jacket before opening a case beneath his desk.
Adrian pointed towards a seat near the end.
"You can use that one for now. Your login details should arrive shortly."
"Alright."
I approached the desk while he returned to the others.
"The second report. Has it been updated?"
Vera turned her screen towards him.
"Just came through."
They started discussing something on the display. Tessa joined in a moment later, and Marcus brought the open case over.
I remained standing beside my chair.
Nobody looked back.
"....."
Slowly, I sat down.
The screen in front of me was black. I touched the mouse, but it only brought up a page asking for information I didn't have yet.
I looked towards the others.
Still nothing.
For once, nobody was asking me to do anything.
How strange.
But at the same time, it felt nice.
Maybe I could consider this my own vacation...?