Rin followed Elyn out of the evaluation room, the heavy silence trailing behind them soon replaced by a rising murmur. The hallway of the Hunter Association seemed to stretch endlessly, filled with a buzz that grew louder as more hunters gathered.
The moment the door swung shut behind them, the whispers started:
"Did you see her results?"
"An S-Class Guide. Unbelievable."
"I thought the last one was a myth."
Rin walked stiffly, her steps measured and deliberate, as though careful not to draw more attention. But it was impossible to avoid the weight of their gazes—curiosity, admiration, and something deeper that made her stomach churn.
Elyn stayed close by, her posture rigid, a protective edge to her movements. When one particularly bold hunter stepped forward, his mouth already opening to speak, Elyn shot him a glare sharp enough to cut steel. The man hesitated, then retreated, muttering under his breath.
"Keep walking," Elyn murmured to Rin.
Rin obeyed, keeping her eyes forward, though her face burned. The whispers were relentless, like a swarm of invisible gnats.
"S-Class Guides used to lead whole guilds..."
"They could save Espers on the brink of death."
"Bet she'll be recruited before nightfall."
The lobby doors slid open, and the two finally stepped into the cool evening air. Rin let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. The din of voices faded behind them, but the tension lingered like a shadow.
Back at the Apartment
Rin sank into the couch, letting her head fall back as she stared at the ceiling. The exhaustion hit her all at once, like a physical weight. Across from her, Elyn perched on the edge of an armchair, scrolling through her phone with a look of fascination.
"Do you realize what just happened?" Elyn said, her voice a mix of awe and excitement. "An S-Class Guide, Rin. You're the first one in—what, twenty years?"
"Fantastic," Rin said dryly, closing her eyes. "That'll make the next twenty years a living nightmare."
Elyn snorted. "You're being dramatic. Do you know how many people would kill for your position right now?" She waved her phone. "Look—Phoenix Vanguard already sent an offer. They want you as their exclusive Guide for Leon Draycott, one of their S-Class Espers."
"That's nice," Rin mumbled.
"And that's not all," Elyn continued, her voice growing brighter. "Azure Coalition is offering a signing bonus if you agree to mentor their A-Class Espers. And—oh, this one's insane—Silverfront says they'll double whatever offer you accept just to keep you on retainer!"
Rin groaned, pressing her palms against her eyes. "Can we slow down for five seconds? I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I'm an S-Class Guide."
Elyn hesitated, the enthusiasm in her expression dimming slightly. She set her phone down. "Okay, I get it. It's a lot. But this is good news, Rin. You'll have opportunities—protection, even. You won't have to face this alone."
Rin dropped her hands, meeting Elyn's gaze. "You think this is just about me? Do you know what being an S-Class Guide actually means? It's not a blessing, Elyn—it's a burden. S-Class Espers are the strongest, sure, but they're also the most unstable. And it's my job to stop them from unraveling."
Elyn opened her mouth, then closed it, her brow furrowing.
Rin shook her head, the frustration in her voice giving way to exhaustion. "One mistake, and I'm not just failing myself—I'm dooming someone else. That's a lot to live with."
A long silence stretched between them, broken only by the hum of the city outside.
Finally, Elyn nodded. "Alright. I won't push you. But just remember—you don't have to make any decisions tonight."
Rin gave a small smile. "Thanks, Elyn. I think I need some time alone to think."
Rin retreated to her room, grateful for the quiet. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, her mind racing. The moonlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow across the room. Onyx stirred within her shadow, his presence warm and reassuring.
She crossed to her bed, flopping down and staring at the ceiling.
"An S-Class Guide," she said aloud, the words tasting strange on her tongue. "The first in years. Of course, everyone wants me. But does anyone care what I want?"
Onyx materialized beside her, his black fur gleaming in the moonlight. He nudged her shoulder gently, his glowing eyes fixed on her.
"Yeah, yeah," Rin muttered, sitting up to scratch behind his ears. "I know. This isn't exactly new. Being hunted for what I am is kind of a theme now." She let out a bitter laugh. "But it's different this time. The stakes are higher. One mistake, and I'm not just letting myself down—I'm dooming whoever's depending on me."
Onyx huffed, settling beside her. She leaned back against him, the familiar weight of his presence grounding her.
After a moment, Rin sat up, her resolve hardening. "Alright, enough self-pity. I need answers, and I know just where to get them."
She focused inward, calling up the System interface that had been conspicuously silent since. The familiar translucent screen appeared before her eyes, lines of text scrolling across its surface.
Status Update: S-Class Guide detected. Abilities and related functions unlocked. Proceeding to display current status.
Rin raised an eyebrow. "About time you showed up. Let's see what we're dealing with."
The screen shifted, displaying a detailed breakdown of her abilities.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Status:
Name: Aria Felstone
Class: Guide (S-Class)
Specialization: Corruption Purification, Emotional Resonance, Enhanced Aura Stabilization
Abilities:
Purification Surge:
Temporarily cleanses high levels of corruption from Espers. (Unlocked)
Empathic Link:
Establishes a mental and emotional connection with the Esper, stabilizing their mental state. (Unlocked)
Advanced Regeneration:
Restores physical and mental stamina to targets. (Locked)
Aura Amplification:
Enhances the abilities of Espers within the Guide's influence. (Locked)
Continue...
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Unique Status:
Beast Tamer:
Beast Companion: Onyx (Shadow Wolf)
Abilities
Shared Sense (Active)
Description: Allows the tamer to share Onyx's senses, such as sight, hearing, or smell, enhancing awareness of surroundings.
Status: (Unlocked)
Enhanced Senses (Passive)
Description: All five senses of the Shadow Wolf are significantly stronger than those of average humans or monsters, providing heightened perception.
Status: (Unlocked)
Shadow Step (Passive)
Description: Enables Onyx to merge seamlessly into the tamer's shadow, hiding without expending mana. Can be summoned silently and effortlessly at will.
Status: (Unlocked)
Shadow Fusion (Active)
Description: Temporarily merges Onyx with the tamer, amplifying physical and magical abilities while granting shared combat instincts.
Status: (Locked)
Continue...
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Rin studied the list, her mind whirring. "So, not everything's unlocked yet. Typical. But at least I have some idea of what I can do now."
She glanced at Onyx, who tilted his head as if waiting for her reaction. "Well, buddy, looks like we've got a lot of training ahead of us. If I'm going to survive this, I need to figure out how to use these abilities to their fullest."
The System pinged softly, drawing her attention back to the screen. A message blinked at the bottom.
Note: The Shadow Beast Tamer status is considered an anomaly. Integration with Guide abilities is ongoing. Caution is advised during use.
Rin frowned. "An anomaly, huh? Great. Just add that to the list of things that make me a walking mystery."
She let out a long breath, her mind settling into a strange mix of determination and resignation. The world might see her as a rarity, a solution to their problems, but Rin knew better. Being an S-Class Guide wasn't a blessing—it was a trial by fire.
"Well," she muttered, lying back down. "If they want me to be their savior, they'd better be ready to deal with me on my terms."
Onyx rumbled in agreement, his warm presence beside her a silent vow of support. With the moonlight bathing her room, Rin closed her eyes, her thoughts finally quieting as she prepared for the battles ahead.
Elyn's Room
Elyn pushed open the door to her room, letting it close softly behind her. The light-hearted cheer she had maintained for Rin's sake evaporated the moment she was alone. Her shoulders sagged, and the corners of her lips, once lifted in a reassuring smile, now pressed into a hard line. She crossed the room in a daze, stopping in front of her desk. The reflection in the mirror above it caught her attention.
Her expression was as dark as the thoughts swirling inside her.
"Why?" she muttered, gripping the edge of the desk until her knuckles turned white. "Why did it have to be her?"
She turned away from the mirror, pacing the length of her room like a caged animal. Every step seemed to echo her frustration.
"She's in the spotlight now. Everyone knows what she is—what she can do. An S-Class Guide hasn't appeared in years, and now the entire world will be watching her." Elyn's voice cracked slightly as she continued, "But this isn't some fairy tale. They'll use her. They'll push her until there's nothing left."
Her mind replayed the events of the last few weeks: Rin collapsing after the dungeon, her body poisoned and broken; the look of fragile determination in her eyes as she fought to survive. The memory sent a cold shiver down Elyn's spine.
"She barely made it out alive," Elyn whispered, her voice trembling. "And now she's going to throw herself into this? Into guiding those Espers who are on the verge of losing control?"
Her steps faltered, and she sank onto the edge of her bed. Her hands trembled as she buried her face in them. "I know her too well. She won't run. She won't hide. She'll take on every burden, every responsibility, until it destroys her."
Elyn sat in silence for a long moment, the weight of her thoughts pressing heavily on her chest. Finally, she looked up, her gaze sharp with resolve.
"No," she said firmly. "I won't let that happen."
Long after Rin had retreated to her room, Elyn found herself standing outside her door. The apartment was silent, save for the occasional creak of the walls or the distant hum of the city beyond. She hesitated, her hand hovering over the doorknob.
With a quiet breath, she turned it and stepped inside.
The moonlight spilling through the window illuminated Rin's sleeping form. Her features were peaceful, her breathing steady. Onyx lay curled at the foot of the bed, his dark shape blending into the shadows.
Elyn stood at the doorway, her expression unreadable. She took a tentative step closer, her arms wrapping around herself as if to ward off an invisible chill.
"Why is it so hard to keep you safe?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I wish I could lock you away, keep you by my side where no one could hurt you. But I know that's not what you want."
Her throat tightened as she continued, "You'd hate me for it. You'd fight me every step of the way because you're so… you. You want to help people, even if it costs you everything."
Elyn's gaze softened, her eyes lingering on Rin's face. She took a step back, her hands curling into fists at her sides.
"What do I do?" she asked the sleeping girl, her voice breaking slightly. "How do I protect you from this world without losing you?"
As she spoke, a faint light flickered in her eyes. It started subtly—a brief, almost imperceptible glow—but quickly intensified. The vibrant blue of her irises bled into a deep crimson, and her breathing grew unsteady. She staggered back, clutching the side of her head.
"No," she hissed through gritted teeth. "Not now. Not here."
She stumbled out of the room, the door clicking softly shut behind her. She leaned against the wall in the hallway, pressing a trembling hand to her chest. Her breaths came in shallow gasps as she fought to regain control.
Elyn's Status
A soft chime echoed in her mind, the System interface activating without warning. The translucent screen materialized before her, displaying her status. She stared at it, her eyes narrowing as she read the familiar lines.
_________________________________
Player Status
Name: Evelyn Ardane
Class: S-Class Esper
Corruption Rate: 84%
_________________________________
Elyn let out a bitter laugh, her voice laced with self-loathing. "Eighty-four percent," she muttered. "No wonder I'm slipping."
Her fingers twitched as she dismissed the screen. The red glow in her eyes dimmed, fading back to their usual blue, but her expression remained haunted.
She slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor, her knees drawn to her chest. For a moment, she stared at her hands as if they belonged to someone else. Then she buried her face in them, her voice muffled as she whispered, "How can I protect her when I can barely protect myself?"
The silence of the apartment stretched around her, heavy and oppressive. In the back of her mind, the corruption pulsed like a second heartbeat—a constant reminder of the darkness she carried within.