Asher forced a smile, trying to mask the fatigue that clung to him like a second skin. He had barely recovered from last night's chaos, and now he found himself thrust into yet another social interaction.
Clarissa didn't seem to notice his lack of enthusiasm. She beamed at him, her eyes sparkling with energy. "I've heard so much about you! Captain Bolard said you're the fastest to activate spirit vision in the firm's history. I'm really looking forward to working together!"
Asher raised an eyebrow, the idea that anyone would consider him the best at anything seemed laughable.
"Right. Well, I just try to keep up."
Her laughter rang out, bright and almost contagious, yet it only reminded him of how he struggled to keep pace with the world around him.
"You don't have to be modest around me! I mean, I'm just starting here as well—it's only been half a year!"
Feeling slightly flattered despite himself, Asher leaned against his desk, hoping to ease the knot of tension in his stomach. Yet, he couldn't shake the doubt that gnawed at him—how could he work alongside someone so eager?
"What exactly do you do here?"
"Oh! I'm a tracking specialist," she said, her enthusiasm spilling over. "I focus on locating people or items."
Asher nodded, his interest piqued. "So you're saying you're mostly a field operative?"
"Absolutely! I can give you a rundown of my past assignments if you like," she replied, leaning closer, her excitement palpable.
"For instance, have you ever encountered a Shadewalker? They're tricky step 9s who can manipulate shadows. You have to be quick on your feet when dealing with them."
Asher rubbed the back of his neck, recalling the tension of his last encounter with the Bloodfiends. The thought of facing another supernatural threat sent a shiver down his spine.
"Sounds like a challenge. But it's not just their supernatural powers we have to worry about; their human counterparts can be just as dangerous."
"True, true! But knowing their strengths and weaknesses can give us the upper hand," she continued, her eyes gleaming with determination. "I can help you with that. Maybe we can even put together a training session to exchange pointers!"
His heart sank slightly at the thought of training sessions. Asher hated the idea of being judged or scrutinized, especially when he felt so out of sorts. "Sure, sounds… fun," he replied, attempting to inject enthusiasm into his tone.
Asher glanced at the clock, the responsibilities pressing on him like a weight on his chest.
"Listen, I appreciate the offer, but I've got a few things to sort out. Captain Bolard is probably looking for me."
Just then, the door swung open, and Captain Bolard strode in, a grin plastered across his face.
"Ah, there you are, Asher! I need you and Clarissa for a briefing. We've got a new case coming in."
Asher's heart sank again, a mix of dread and curiosity swirling within him. The last case had pushed him to his limits, and he was still reeling from the intensity of it all.
"Another case? This early?" he asked, trying to mask the weariness in his voice.
"Yes, and it involves a descender, but not one you're likely familiar with," Bolard said, rubbing his hands together in excitement. "We're dealing with a Shadewalker. She's been spotted on the outskirts, and we need to gather intel. And keep in mind, the goal this time isn't elimination—she seems to be in control. The issue is her recent proclivity for theft. Depending on her attitude and the source of her potion, we may even try to recruit her. Clarissa will be assisting you."
Asher turned to Clarissa, who looked eager and ready to jump into action. Her enthusiasm felt like a jolt of energy, contrasting sharply with his own fatigue.
"A Shadewalker?! I was just telling Asher about them! I've read about them. They're one of the more powerful descender types," she said, her voice a mix of excitement and seriousness.
"Exactly," Bolard nodded. "This is your chance to shine, Asher. Clarissa will take the lead on this one, but you'll need to back her up. I want you both to come up with a strategy before you head out."
Asher felt a surge of anxiety at the thought of working alongside someone so… happy. The prospect of collaborating with Clarissa weighed heavily on his mind. Could he really keep up with her energy? Would he be able to contribute anything worthwhile?
"Right. Strategy," he echoed, glancing at Clarissa.
"How do you want to approach this?"
She brightened up, her enthusiasm infectious. "I think we should split up our research on their strengths and then meet back to compile our findings. I can focus on their weaknesses, and you could look into any recent sightings or incidents involving them."
"That works," he replied, trying to suppress the uncertainty swirling within him. He had always preferred working alone, where he could control the chaos around him.
"Let's just make sure we do our homework before we go out there."
As the two began discussing their plan, Asher couldn't shake the feeling that he was on the brink of something significant, both in his work and in his understanding of the descending world. The pressure was on, and he would have to navigate this new dynamic with Clarissa, all while coming to terms with the complexities of the supernatural realm they were about to confront.
By the time Asher and Clarissa had finished their initial planning and research, it was already evening.
Henry had vacated his office, no doubt complaining to the captain over the absolute nuisance Clarissa was. Asher suspected he would soon be given a place to work in the office. He couldn't exactly work out of Henry's coffee table forever.
At least I hope not!
"So? What are their weaknesses, Clarissa?"
Asher had mostly shaken off his grogginess by now and was close to being fully functional, albeit sore and a little grumpy.
"Their powers are vastly weaker during the day, obviously, but this can be supplemented by staying in areas plentiful in shadows."
Asher listened intently, intrigued by her knowledge.
"Their combat rating is quite high due to their ability to blend into shadows. It's almost impossible to see them in darkness, essentially rendering them invisible. They can administer devastating strikes, making them perfect assassins. In the higher steps, they are truly dreadful foes. However, at step 9, their abilities only allow for stealth and heightened vision in the dark, as well as the ability to perceive the vulnerabilities of their prey."
Asher almost gasped; his mouth opened and shut a couple of times. Was this bubbly puppy actually competent? Bloody hell, I already felt my PTSD from university group projects coming back. Maybe I wrote her off too early!
"I see. Very well, it shouldn't be a problem of detaining her then, but locating her. From my review of the recent sightings of the suspected Shadewalker, we can infer she enjoys visiting auction houses in the evening and liberating lesser relics from their owners. Her physical appearance is that of a teenage girl—black eyes and black hair. Apparently, she has a small nose and large eyes with a purse-like mouth."
Asher nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. This could be an opportunity to prove himself—not just to Captain Bolard, but to himself. Maybe, just maybe, working alongside Clarissa wouldn't be as bad as he feared.