Descending the stairs deeper into the underground area, they soon arrived at the autopsy room. Inside, a biting cold immediately assaulted them, despite the thick trench coat. However, the ladies didn't seem to mind it.
A wall of storage units was to the right, with one of the doors open. Here a table was pulled out. And lying on it was a motionless young man; he looked around the age of someone who had just started college.
It seemed like Valerie wanted to waste no time; she quickly pulled up her loose blonde hair and tied it up into a bun, then she positioned herself at the edge of the table and placed her hands on either side of the young man's icy blue cheeks.
Standing to the side of the table, Shin could clearly see how her entire demeanor changed.
Her face became still, and her sparkling azure eyes lost their sparkle, turning into a pool of white. Her lips moved, but no words came out. Soon the cold in the room became much more piercing, like a silent blizzard that just emerged.
"Joshua Lin, heed my summons." Valerie's voice finally commanded.
The corpse on the table slightly twitched before its mouth began to move in a laborious manner, responding in a gargling voice, "I…heed…your call."
A Psychic. So that's what spirit communication looks like. Shin quickly grasped the nature of Valerie's abilities. Her path was that of a Psychic, but this time he knew better than to loudly exclaim that.
"Joshua Lin, what killed you?"
"A monster… came… out of… symbols," the corpse replied.
"Joshua Lin, what did it look like?"
"Shadows…shadows… everyone it killed."
She then turned her empty gaze to Shin, as if silently asking him to confirm the validity of the entity's appearance. Although he had not seen it clearly, he knew it bore the characteristics of shadows.
Silently nodding at her to affirm his answer, she returned her gaze to the corpse and asked her final question.
"Joshua Lin, who taught you the ritual?"
"He…he was…from…" The corpse moved its mouth to speak, but it suddenly found itself unable to. The gargling in its throat became aggressive, and suddenly its entire body convulsed in a coughing fit.
Valerie immediately relinquished control of the spirit and took a step back, her face wincing in discomfort.
However, the corpse of Joshua became even more animated, as if it had found renewed life. He returned to his feet, his gaze filled with intense hunger staring at the fresh meat before him.
"His Spirit Awakened!" She exclaimed whilst retrieving her silver pistol.
Following her warning, Tsuki immediately retrieved her pistol as well. Shin stood at the other side, taking in the situation, inwardly lampooning his predicament.
Why did no one give me a weapon? Shit.
The Awakened Joshua's body began to move under the crackling noise of rigid bones; it tried to charge at the blonde-haired lady but found itself rooted in place.
Not even a few seconds had passed, and Valerie had already immobilized the corpse. Wrapped around its body was an interlinked weave of numerous hands tightly holding it in place.
Valerie seemed unperturbed as she leisurely made her way to the bound Joshua and lifted the pistol to his head.
Bang!
And just like that, it was all over.
"It seems like a curse was placed on him. If he tries to reveal the perpetrator, then he will mutate." Valerie calmly said, unaware that her swift execution left Shin speechless.
"Do supernatural entities get that weak?" Shin inquired.
Valerie looked at him, the azure colour returned to her eyes, "That was just a Monster rank; why would I struggle?"
Remembering his encounter with the Mimic, a monster rank as well, Shin could only let out an awkward chuckle.
Moments later the Essence Pearls began to form.
…
In a dark room of an apartment, sat at a desk was a man. He wore casual clothing, with his hoody obscuring his face. His attention was fixed on the communicator in hand when he suddenly heard a quiet flame erupt.
Looking to the right was a bookshelf filled with straw dolls; there sat numerous intact dolls, but also scorched ones.
When the flame dissipated, a name tag was revealed. On it was the name Joshua Lin.
On all the dolls were name tags, and on the row of straw dolls below, there remained a few familiar names on scorched dolls.
Tokito Yun, Mein Azusa, and Meiko Shin.
Returning his attention back to the communicator, the man simply continued with what he had been doing.
…
After the brief engagement at the morgue, the three then decided to travel together. Valerie would be alighting at an earlier location, while Shin and Tsuki would be investigating the high school in the 50th District.
Seated in the passenger seat, Shin would often throw glances at the backseat by looking in the rearview mirror. Since his debut in the world of supernaturals, he had no real references to improve himself, so he had to look at how others engage different scenarios.
"If you want to ask me something, just ask." Valerie stated after having secretly caught a few of his glances.
"I was just wondering how strong you were, but I know asking such things can be taboo."
"Nah, that's mostly just about abilities. But if you want to know how strong someone in general is. Then just ask their rank."
"Oh, I see…" Feeling like he learned some new insight, he then revised his question. "In that case, what rank are you, Valerie?"
Comfortably stretching over the back seat, she then proudly declared. "I'm an A rank. In terms of spirit ranks, I'll probably be equal to a Rank 1 Legend."
Finally reaching her destination, she opened the back door but then suddenly stopped. Reaching into her pocket, she retrieved the Monster Essence Pearl and handed it to Shin, the azure blue in her eyes glowing even more brightly.
"Take it; I have a feeling it will come in very handy."
Without the chance to reject her, Valerie then swiftly departed and went her own way. Now it was just Shin and Tsuki remaining; silence returned to the vehicle.
Looking out the passenger window at the figures and objects flashing by, Shin suddenly remembered all the previous quiet interactions with Miss Tsuki. It's always so awkward whenever we're alone. She will just keep silent, waiting for someone else to speak. It's so creepy.
Hearing her voice speak, Shin felt a slight startle.
"Does my silence bother you?" She asked in a monotonous tone.
"Not particularly."
"But, uhm, quick question. Can you read minds?"
"No," she replied simply.
The awkward silence persisted until they finally arrived at the 50th District high school.