The man sat high above the city.
Fireplace wood crackled.
His attention focused on the synchronized city below him.
A hand reached to the glass.
Ticking began.
Blue roots grew in front of him.
He studied each path.
The ticking persisted.
A knock on his door.
"Enter."
The door creaked open.
Marco had entered the room.
He knelt down, feeling the air distorted before him.
The man continued examining.
Another tick.
"Report."
Marco exhaled.
"Mirage was eliminated."
The ticking faltered for a moment.
A root shook slightly.
The man replied.
"And?"
Marco's gaze stayed on the carpet.
His face tightened.
"Insurgent activity increased in the western district."
The man turned to face Marco.
"Find them..."
His hand reached.
Ticking began.
Roots formed from Marco.
He followed the paths.
"...And 04."
...
Art and Jean met each other in the courtyard.
The sunlight warmed their skin.
The fountain flowed.
Plates of food sat in front of them.
Jean placed a notepad and pen on the table.
"I need your mission overview for the report."
Art took a bite.
"The investigation went well. Traces of void cell fluid were found all around the city."
Jean clicked her pen.
"Anything else noteworthy?"
Art placed her water down.
"Large amounts of fluid were being sent to the north."
The pen scratched across the paper.
"Is that so?"
Jean continued writing.
"I'm going to talk to Grimm as well, want to come with me?"
Art looked up.
"Sure."
Loud noises could be heard from the training hall.
Art put her fork down, her eyebrows slightly twitched.
"What's that guy doing so early?"
Jean took a sip of her drink.
"You know him, it's how he copes."
Their eating paused.
Each looked at their plates.
They remembered what happened.
To her.
Art slowly exhaled.
"Yes, you're right."
Jean picked up her plate.
"Let's go."
Art nodded and followed Jean.
They walked to the training ground.
A door opened ahead of them.
Kane stepped out.
Stopping in the hall.
His attention was towards the training hall.
Art and Jean paused.
Art walked behind Kane, lightly tapping his shoulder.
"Good morning."
Kane's body turned.
His eyes focused elsewhere.
Distant.
Art studied him.
Grimm must've woken him.
Jean moved next to them.
Her thumb pointed at the training hall.
"Want to join us, Kane?"
Kane's head moved to face Jean.
His face was still.
Emotionless.
"...Ok."
Jean started walking.
"As quiet as ever."
Art caught up with her.
Kane stood for a moment.
Then followed.
Art and Jean entered the training hall.
Kane entered briefly after.
Grimm was in the center.
His hands were shaking.
Targets were blown apart in front of him.
His breathing elevated.
Jean called out to him.
"Hey, Grimm."
Grimm looked.
"Oh, what brings you guys here?"
Art's eyes twitched.
"You're too loud."
Grimm straightened his posture and wiped his sweat from his face.
"My bad."
He sat down, grabbing a bottle next to him.
Kane watched.
Then sat down next to him.
Grimm looked at him.
"It's rare to see you here Kane."
He put his fist near Kane.
Kane stayed still.
No movement.
"...Yeah."
Grimm lowered his fist, placing his hand on his knee.
He'll get there.
The bench was silent.
Jean noticed the awkward air.
She sat next to Grimm.
"Your ear is missing its piercings."
Grimm lightly laughed.
"Want to know why?"
Her pen clicked.
"Tell me later."
A page was turned.
"Grimm, I need your mission overview."
Grimm leaned forward.
His fingers twitched.
"I killed a watchman."
The training hall froze.
Art's eyes widened.
Jean stopped writing.
After a brief moment, Jean continued.
"Did you get anything from him?"
Grimm sat back.
"He was number V and named Mirage."
The pen scribbled.
Art looked down, her finger resting on her chin.
"I can't believe you eliminated one."
Grimm smiled.
"Yeah, me too."
Jean flipped the page.
"Do you know anything about Elaina?"
The air stalled.
A broken target fell to the ground.
Grimm's jaw tightened.
"I lost sight of her, because of Mirage."
His fingers tightened.
Face darkened.
"Then I saw her next on the way back."
Jean placed her hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry."
Footsteps grew close to Grimm.
Art stood in front of him.
"It's not your fault," she continued, "the best thing we can do is focus on our mission."
Grimm looked up at her.
"Yeah, you're right."
Art looked at Jean.
"You rescued Elaina, what did you see?"
Grimm's attention turned to her.
Jean put her pen and notebook in her lap.
"When I arrived, something was standing over her.
It was hard to understand but he let me leave with her."
Grimm's head twitched back.
Art covered her chin with her hand.
"Did you catch anything distinct about him?"
Jean exhaled.
"I couldn't tell. It was like his presence was disconnected."
The conversation stopped.
Light breathing was heard.
A crack softly stirred within Kane.
Art turned, pointing at the center floor.
"Let's go for a few rounds."
Grimm stood, stretching his arms.
Jean placed her things beside her.
The three of them headed to the floor.
Kane sat motionless.
His mind drifted inward.
Calm.
Cold.
His head lifted.
Chains stirred.
Softly.