"Was that voice Officer Silas at the end?" Loreen asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and concern as the room fell into a reflective silence.
Malvin paused, letting them process everything he'd shared before replying, "Yeah. And how he found me, well… you'll learn that later, so don't ask." His tone carried a note of finality, making it clear he wouldn't entertain questions on the matter just yet.
"Holy shit, Captain, what a story!" Jos burst out, his lion-like mane of hair seeming to bristle with excitement. His enthusiasm was infectious, and the others nodded in agreement, murmuring their astonishment.
"The fact you survived all that without any long-term injuries is unbelievable," Clare added, her wide eyes betraying her awe.
"I'm tough," Malvin said simply, leaning back in his chair with one eye lazily closed. His casual demeanor contrasted sharply with the brutal tale he'd just recounted. "Didn't I tell you? It's gonna take more than what that piece of shit threw at me to put me down."
Tores, still processing, leaned forward with furrowed brows. "But what was that, Captain?" he asked, his tone careful. "This… 'chi.' I don't think any of us have heard of it before."
The others nodded in agreement, and Aeron rubbed his metal fingers against his chin thoughtfully. "Joshua Ambrose seemed adamant it wasn't magic," he said, his mechanical arm letting out a faint whir as he shifted. "But from the way you described it… it sure sounded like magic, right?"
Malvin let out a heavy sigh, his chair creaking as he adjusted his posture. "I don't know why you'd expect me to have all the answers," he said, a faint edge of frustration in his voice. "Yeah, I fought against it—multiple times, as you'll find out soon enough—but that doesn't mean I ever understood it."
He shrugged, his tone becoming almost dismissive. "From the way it works, it might as well be magic. Just with a different name slapped on it."
"So, what happened after that, Captain? Where did Officer Silas take you?" Jos asked, his curiosity barely contained.
Malvin leaned back, a painful look playing on his face. "To the hospital, obviously. Honestly? What happened after I woke up was worse than fighting Joshua Ambrose."
The statement sent a wave of concern through the group. The sheer brutality of Malvin's earlier story left them wondering what could possibly be harsher. They leaned in, anticipation thick in the air.
"I woke up after being out for what they told me was four hours. And, well…"
---
Everything hurt—his bones, his muscles, even his thoughts felt heavy and sluggish. A low groan escaped his lips. "Ah, shit…" he muttered, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the dim, filtered light of the room.
Above him, a ceiling fan creaked slowly with each rotation. The walls were dull gray, faintly scuffed from years of wear, while brass piping ran along the corners, hissing softly as steam vented through small valves. A single electric bulb hung from the ceiling, casting a steady, unflinching light over the space. The room felt cramped, with a utilitarian air to it—simple, efficient, and just barely comforting.
He shifted slightly, only to feel a pressure on his hand. Slowly, his gaze trailed down to see another hand resting on his. Slim, pale fingers wrapped tightly around his own, trembling slightly.
Malvin's heart sank. His stomach churned with a mixture of guilt and dread. "Oh no…" he muttered under his breath, already knowing what—or rather, who—he would see.
The girl beside him stirred at his voice, her gray hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders as she lifted her head. Her eyes fluttered open, revealing crimson irises that immediately locked onto him.
"Big brother?" she whispered, her voice laced with a tentative hope. Her fingers gripped his hand even tighter as her expression shifted to one of relief and then...
Outside the room, Silas was pacing the hall, muttering to himself as he adjusted his coat. "How long's that guy gonna stay asleep? Lucky bastard, having a cute little sister waiting for him while he's out cold, dose he not get how many guys would kill to have that!?" he grumbled, the tone more teasing than genuinely annoyed.
Stopping in front of Malvin's door, Silas reached for the handle, sliding the heavy wooden panel just enough to peek inside. His gaze landed on the tender scene unfolding before him.
"Aww," Silas murmured to himself, grinning as he watched. "This must be one of those sweet family reunions you read about—big brother wakes up, little sister hugs him, tears everywhere. Can't interrupt this."
What he got instead was far from his expectations.
"How fucking dare you!" the girl shouted suddenly, her voice echoing off the walls. Before Malvin could even sit up or defend himself, her fist slammed into his stomach with surprising force.
Malvin let out a strangled cough, curling slightly as the blow knocked the wind out of him.
"She hit him!" Silas exclaimed, his grin replaced with wide-eyed shock as he slid the door open fully, stepping into the room.