Steam fogged the glass of the shower, water racing down the surface as Lucian slid it open. He pulled a towel off the rack beside him and began to dry his body before wrapping it around his waist. He looked into the bathroom mirror, barely able to make out the grey in his eyes as his wet hair fell and obscured them.
'Who knew showers could be so enjoyable?'
Lucian had never had a proper shower. He had spent most of his life sleeping in one abandoned building or another. As for cleaning himself, he would sometimes wash his face, and if it rained and he had some scavenged soap, he'd scrub his entire body.
He couldn't even fathom walking into a personal bathroom and using a shower. In fact, he had never bathed with hot water; he only ever felt the stinging cold of rain.
He took his hands to his head and pulled back his hair, allowing him a clear view. He then let out a sigh and exited. Coming out of the door, the room's mirror was to his right, and in front of him was a closet. He slid it open, revealing some pieces of clothing left for him.
One was cargo pants with camo-style embroidery, and the other was a tactical hood of the same design. He then turned to the grey shirt and shorts he had been wearing, then back at the clothes in the closet.
'This won't smell like goo at least.'
He took the clothes out of the closet and put them on.
Lucian then sat on the bed again. He was eager to go out and explore the research center but decided against it. Instead, he needed to find out more about the ruins. Currently, unlike his sponsors, it seemed only he knew about them.
'How do I summon the ru—'
Lucian didn't even finish his thought before the ruins materialized before him, a shimmering window of grey.
__________
Name: Lucian
Sponsors: The Almighty, Lucifer Morningstar
Holy core: Dormant
Demonic core: Infernal 1 [1/25 souls required for next tier advance]
Memory: 0.00999% recovered
__________
Lucian went through the words on the rune but still had multiple unanswered questions. First, he wanted to know why he was tracked by a demon and second how it was possible to have Lucifer as a sponsor. Although the fact that he did would explain other bizarre things.
For one, having a demonic core and being able to grow in strength by collecting souls like demons do, and also why it seemed he was unharmed by Hell's flames. Although he wasn't certain what the devil was planning, he knew he had to be careful.
Suddenly, a knock sounded on the door, drawing Lucian's attention away from his thoughts.
"Yeah?" Lucian called out, too lazy to go over and see who it was.
In response, the door slid open as the agent who had brought him to the room stepped inside.
"B7 ordered I bring you to her."
Lucian squeezed his face.
"Who the hell is B7?"
Realization struck the agent's expression, causing him to change his words.
"I mean... Miss Ash wants to see you."
"Oh," Lucian said.
'I'm getting bored here anyway.'
"Let's go," he agreed, standing from the bed.
Lucian moved through the halls of the facility. They were a constant stretch of utilitarian grey and doors that held secrets he couldn't be bothered with for now. currently, he only cared about his personal business with them and nothing else. As annoying as it was to accept; they were definitely using Lucian, however he would gain enough from them aswell to not be as pissed at the fact as he should.
They took a final turn into another hall, and at the end of it was an elevator. One that took them down a considerable number of floors. Although it wasn't indicated anywhere in the elevator, Lucian, gauging how long they were in it, knew they were taken quite deep underground.
When the doors of the elevator opened, it was like an entirely different place. Unlike the almost abandoned halls above, this area was bustling with people. From their similar attire of black tactical wear, Lucian assumed these people were agents like Ash.
As they walked past them, the agents did their best to avoid glancing at Lucian but ultimately failed. He noticed they were all had eyes on him. Finally, they reached a door. It swung open, and Lucian was gestured inside what he immediately discerned as some sort of meeting room.
At the center of the large room was a round table, and on each wall of the room were large screens that displayed satellite images and other information. Sitting on a chair around the table was a girl with long hair of bright silver; however, her face was masked. Leaning on the table was the unforgettable Agent Ash, who watched as Lucian walked in.
"How are you feeling?" Ash asked from across the room as Lucian approached the table, glancing around.
"I've been better," he responded.
"Really?" Ash asked with a head tilt of doubt; after all, his living conditions prior to now were quite terrible.
"No... why am I here?"
Lucian reached the table, pulling out one of the white chairs and sitting down. He then spun towards Ash, raising his hands in a gesture to show he was still waiting for an answer to his question.
"Like I said, I want you to meet someone important."
Lucian turned from Ash to the girl sitting not far from him, wearing the same tactical outfit as the rest of the agents, although hers was a bit distinct in design.
"Her?" Lucian questioned.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because she's the second most important asset to Shadowfall."
Lucian scrutinized the masked girl with a raised eyebrow.
"A Chosen?"
Ash chuckled, pulling out a chair to sit.
"Not just any Chosen, a Trisul. It's almost unbelievable how we ended up with you and a Chosen sponsored by three gods... but I guess we have you to thank for her."
Lucian shifted his body on the chair, his head leaning to the side on his left hand.
"Thank me? What does that mean?"
"Well, she wouldn't have gotten into our hands without your assistance," Ash gestured to the girl, prompting her to take off the mask she was wearing, and so she did.
Lucian's head tilted slightly, eyes widening in surprise as he saw the her face —it was the child he had sold to the NPF four years ago.