In a darkened office, a lone figure stood by the window, gently parting the blinds with her finger as she peered outside.
One by one, the vehicles parked along the street began to move, engines humming softly as they drove away.
She let out a long breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
That was a close one.
Her eyes lingered on the now-empty road.
It's strange… for them to show up in an area like this.
With a soft click, she flicked the light switch beside her.
The room flooded with warm illumination, pushing the shadows back into the corners.
"All right," she said calmly, turning around.
"You can come out now."
For a moment, nothing moved.
Then—slowly—two small figures emerged from beneath the large office desk.
The boy was the first to speak, confusion written clearly across his face.
"Mrs. Joann… what's going on?" he asked. "Why did you suddenly pull me into your office?"
Beside him stood a little girl, her shoulders trembling as quiet sobs escaped her. She clutched the boy's sleeve, her eyes red and unfocused.
Joann's expression softened immediately.
"You need to be very careful," she said gently, her voice low and firm, "not to interact with those people."
She walked toward them and knelt down, lowering herself to the girl's eye level. Gently, she wiped away the tears clinging to Lily's cheeks.
"It's all right," Joann murmured softly.
Lily sniffed, her shoulders trembling.
Joann then rose to her feet and turned toward the boy. Mael was staring at her, confusion plain on his face.
"Listen carefully, child," Joann said, her voice dropping. "Those people out there call themselves the Saviors of Humanity."
She paused, lips curling slightly. "Quite laughable, if you ask me."
Mael frowned. "Could you explain that to me… in detail?"
Joann hesitated. For just a moment, her gaze drifted toward the window—toward the street that had only recently emptied.
"…All you need to know," she said at last, "is that if they find out any of us possess powers, they are authorized to apprehend us—"
She paused.
"—or kill us on the spot."
Mael's eyes widened in shock.
Before he could say anything—
"No! No!" Lily cried out. "Gram Gram, I'm scared!"
She rushed forward, clinging tightly to Joann's clothes as her sobs grew louder, her small hands shaking as she buried her face against her grandmother.
Joann stiffened, then wrapped her arms around Lily, holding her close.
"It's okay," she whispered, though her eyes had darkened. "I won't let them touch you."
Mael stood frozen beside them.
Kill us on the spot…
Why would humans do such things to themselves?
He closed his eyes, his thoughts drifting inward.
What could drive them to hate those who received His gift?
Fear? Ignorance? Or something far more twisted…
The irony weighed heavily on him.
Powers were meant to protect.
To guide...
And yet, in the eyes of humanity, even miracles became curses.
Mael slowly opened his eyes.
As he reached his conclusion, one thought lingered in his mind.
There must be a larger influence at play here…
"Mael… Mael…!"
The sudden call snapped him back to reality.
"Y–yes, Mrs. Joann?" he asked, turning toward her.
She was kneeling once more, gently comforting Lily in her arms.
"Could you please halt Lily's lessons for today?" Joann said softly. "I don't want her to study while she's this stressed."
"Oh—sure. I don't mind," Mael replied without hesitation.
"Thank you for understanding," she said quietly.
Mael nodded. "Then… I'll be leaving now."
He walked toward the door, placing his hand on the knob—
"Mael."
He stopped.
Joann looked up at him, her gaze uncharacteristically stern.
"And remember," she said slowly, each word heavy with meaning, "avoid them at all costs."
Their eyes met.
"…I understand," Mael replied.
He opened the door and stepped outside, closing it gently behind him.
As Mael approached the stairwell, intending to return to his room, his gaze drifted toward the road below.
The street that had once been crowded with police vehicles now lay eerily empty.
Sigh…
Sorry, Mrs. Joann. I can't keep my promise to you.
Mael turned away from the stairs and headed toward the street instead.
However, before crossing, he slowed to a stop.
On the opposite side of the road, two uniformed men were still patrolling the area, rifles resting against their shoulders as their eyes swept the surroundings.
Tch… still guarded.
Keeping his head low, Mael crossed to the other side of the street, deliberately putting distance between himself and the soldiers. He continued walking, searching for an alternate route—until something caught his attention.
Between two buildings lay a narrow, shadow-filled alleyway.
Mael slipped into it.
The moment he was out of sight, he broke into a sprint, stopping only when he reached the far end. His breath caught in his throat.
Across the alley—
The building stood in ruins.
Shattered glass littered the ground. Collapsed walls surrounded the area. Police tape fluttered weakly in the wind.
"…That's—"
Mael's eyes widened.
The burger place…
The very spot where he had eaten just the night before.
"What could have happened here…?"
He quickly ducked behind a nearby dumpster, peering out from the shadows.
If I use Concealment, he thought, I should be able to sneak inside without being noticed.
Then—
Sniff… sniff…
Mael froze.
"…Wait." His brows furrowed as he leaned closer to the alley wall, inhaling slowly. "This scent…"
His heart skipped.
"It's familiar."
He sniffed again, more carefully this time.
I've smelled this before… somewhere…
For a moment, unease crept up his spine—but he shook his head.
"…No. Focus."
Straightening, Mael took a slow breath and crouched slightly, preparing to dash.
"Concealment."
His eyes flashed briefly.
And then—
His body vanished.
In an instant, Mael sprinted toward the ruined building.
The two armed men standing guard outside remained completely oblivious as something unseen slipped past them and into the darkness beyond.
"Quite a handy ability," Mael mused silently as he took cover behind the cashier counter, controlling his breathing with care.
Slow. Quiet.
As he drew in another breath—
…That scent again.
His brow furrowed.
It's the same as in that alley.
He inhaled once more, cautiously.
So something from the alley came here?
A chill ran down his spine.
Did it attack this place…?
His gaze swept across the ruined interior—the shattered furniture, the scorched walls, the lingering stillness that felt far too heavy for an empty room.
But why here?
The question lingered, unanswered, as the air around him seemed to grow colder.