The air outside felt thicker somehow, like the very atmosphere was holding its breath. The Imp had gone eerily silent after its report, wings folded tight against its back as it slunk into the shadows of the house, clearly unwilling to step outside.
Xier was already moving, her face set in grim determination. She didn't say much, just threw on a fitted leather jacket over her light blouse and grabbed a sleek black key fob from the wall hook near the door.
"Kevin," she said sharply, her tone brooking no argument. "We're leaving. Now."
I barely managed to grab my coat before she strode into the garage with purposeful urgency. The gleaming black sedan sat waiting near one wall, its polished surface reflecting the dim lighting like an obsidian mirror.
"Where are we going?" I asked, hurrying to catch up.
"To them." Her voice was cold, controlled. "The Enforcers."
That word sent a strange chill down my spine. Whatever it meant, it clearly wasn't good.
---
Xier unlocked the car with a smooth flick of her wrist. The locks clicked with mechanical precision, and a soft, subdued glow came from the door handles. She slid into the driver's seat effortlessly, her movements precise and fluid.
I hesitated a moment before opening the passenger door and slipping inside.
Whoa.
The interior was a stunning blend of dark leather and brushed metal, sleek yet understated. The seats were soft but firm, perfectly contoured for comfort, while the dashboard gleamed with minimalist elegance. The cool blue lighting beneath the instrument panel cast an ethereal glow, giving the space an almost futuristic feel.
The center console held a touchscreen interface that seemed far too advanced for a normal car. Its custom icons glowed faintly, marked with symbols I couldn't immediately understand. I spotted strange runes etched subtly into the edge of the dashboard, blending seamlessly with the design.
"What is this car?" I couldn't help but ask, my fingers grazing the soft leather armrest. "It feels like something out of a sci-fi movie."
Xier smirked faintly as she powered up the engine. The car purred to life with a deep, thrumming hum, vibrating faintly beneath my seat.
"Custom build," she said simply, her tone matter-of-fact. "It's not human tech."
Before I could ask more, she gunned the engine, and the sedan surged forward with startling precision. The tires whined softly against the pavement as we shot out of the garage and onto the main road.
---
The world outside blurred as she drove, the car gliding effortlessly through the twisting roads that led away from the house. Tall shadowy trees loomed on either side, their branches twisting like skeletal fingers under the moon's dim light. Patches of fog drifted lazily across the road, adding an almost surreal quality to the landscape.
I stole a glance at Xier. Her eyes were locked on the road, her expression icy and focused. She drove like someone who had done this a thousand times, quick and deliberate, with a graceful confidence that bordered on predatory.
"You're driving fast," I pointed out, gripping the armrest as the car rounded a sharp curve at alarming speed.
"We don't have time to waste," she replied, her voice steady but edged with tension. "The Enforcers don't wait. If we don't reach them before they act… there won't be anyone left to question."
Her words hit me hard.
"Are they really that… dangerous?"
Her grip tightened on the steering wheel. "They're worse, sometimes"
---
The drive felt longer than it probably was. The road stretched endlessly ahead, cutting through thick forest on either side, where gnarled branches twisted together like skeletal fingers, weaving a canopy that barely allowed moonlight to seep through. Patches of early morning fog clung stubbornly to the ground, swirling as the car glided through them like a silent phantom.
Xier's hands gripped the steering wheel firmly, her expression unwavering. Her eyes stayed locked on the road, but I could tell her mind was already miles ahead, calculating possibilities, planning responses.
For a while, I said nothing, content to let her drive while I took in the surroundings. The winding forest path eventually opened up to a narrow bridge, its surface slick with dew. Beyond it lay sharp cliffs cutting into the landscape, framing a vast expanse of dark, still water. The sight felt… isolated, as if this place existed outside the world I thought I knew.
As we rounded a particularly sharp bend, a cluster of towering black structures came into view. Their angular design was both menacing and austere, blending steel, stone, and something that almost looked organic.
---
The facility loomed like a fortress of shadows, carved into the rocky hillside. Its smooth obsidian walls rose impossibly high, reflecting what little light the overcast sky allowed through. The architecture was a blend of modern minimalism and ancient mysticism, adorned with arcane runes faintly glowing along the edges, pulsing with an eerie rhythm like a beating heart.
Massive steel gates marked the entrance, flanked by two towering stone guardians shaped like humanoid sentinels. Their faces were expressionless, smooth as marble, but their watchful presence was undeniable. Above the gates, an engraved emblem in metallic black shimmered faintly—a stylized eye, surrounded by intersecting lines representing surveillance and judgment.
---
Xier pulled the car into a clearly marked parking bay near the entrance. The smooth pavement reflected the dull sky, shimmering faintly with embedded magical wards.
I couldn't help but stare as I stepped out of the car. The place felt… wrong. Not hostile, but oppressive, as though the air itself was charged with watchful awareness.
"They've… really outdone themselves," I muttered, still absorbing the sight.
Xier simply nodded, her eyes lingering on the entrance. "Stay close," she warned quietly. "They're not fond of outsiders… especially humans."
I swallowed hard but fell in step beside her as she led the way toward the entrance. The closer we got, the more I noticed subtle details: etched warnings in languages I couldn't read, faintly glowing sigils inlaid into the stone, and sensor-like devices subtly integrated into the structure's surface.
As we approached, two uniformed figures emerged from a side gate. They were dressed in sleek, dark tactical gear, marked only by the emblem of the eye on their shoulders. Their expressions were calm but alert, their postures rigid but respectful.
One of them, a tall woman with sharp features and piercing blue eyes, stepped forward, resting a hand lightly on the hilt of a curved blade strapped to her side.
"Xier." Her voice was firm but polite, offering a slight nod of acknowledgment. "We weren't expecting you."
Xier inclined her head ever so slightly. "Sergeant Liora," she greeted evenly. "We need to talk. It's… urgent."
Liora's sharp gaze flicked briefly to me but lingered only a moment before returning to Xier. "Follow me," she said curtly, turning on her heel with military precision.
I exchanged a glance with Xier, who gave a faint, reassuring nod before following. As we stepped inside, the immense steel gates groaned open, sealing shut behind us with a heavy clang, leaving the outside world far behind.
---
The steel gates clanged shut behind us with a resounding finality, leaving the darkened forest and twisting mountain road far behind. The heavy sound echoed in my chest, sending a faint chill down my spine. This place felt designed to be intimidating, cold, unyielding, and utterly impenetrable.
Xier moved with confident familiarity, her back straight, steps precise, as if she belonged here, as if she commanded respect. I followed close behind, glancing warily at the tactical sensors discreetly embedded along the walls. Everything about this place screamed efficiency and readiness, from the reinforced concrete architecture to the surveillance drones silently patrolling overhead.
We entered a spacious central hall with high, vaulted ceilings supported by thick steel beams. The polished black stone floor gleamed under harsh industrial lights, reflecting the clinical precision of the environment. A network of cables ran across the walls, connecting into centralized data hubs guarded by uniformed Enforcers—humans clad in black tactical gear, their expressions rigid and unreadable.
Two officers stationed near the entrance stiffened as we approached but made no move to block our way. One of them, a tall, sharp-featured woman with piercing blue eyes, stepped forward with military precision.
"Xier." Her voice was steady, respectful—but not deferential. "We weren't expecting you."
"Sergeant Liora." Xier's voice remained cool, even, and entirely in control. "I need to speak with your commanding officer. Now. It's urgent."
Liora didn't hesitate. She nodded sharply. "Follow me."
---
We were led through a series of secured corridors, every door reinforced with titanium plating and locked with retinal scanners. The walls bore emergency protocols and combat readiness charts, detailing tactical maneuvers and defensive strategies. This wasn't just a facility—it was a fortress built for war.
Finally, we were ushered into a command briefing room, the walls lined with interactive display screens showing real-time surveillance feeds, combat simulations, and tactical mission logs. A large steel-plated table dominated the center, surrounded by ergonomic combat chairs bolted to the floor.
---
A man stepped inside moments later—a tall, broad-shouldered figure with graying hair and the unmistakable air of command. His uniform was simple yet authoritative, adorned only with a single silver insignia marking his rank: Commander. His eyes, cold and assessing, swept over both of us before resting on Xier.
"Miss Xier," he greeted curtly. "I assume this isn't a social visit."
"It's not." Xier's tone remained sharp. "Five demons were killed near the old crossing. The Guild is falling apart, and it's only a matter of time before this spills over into your world."
The Commander didn't flinch, though his eyes narrowed slightly. "Details."
Xier explained everything, her words precise and unyielding. She spoke of the lower-tier demons, the ancient symbols carved into the ground—though she avoided using the word "runes." She emphasized the severity of the threat without revealing too much about the demon world's inner workings.
When she finished, the room fell silent for a long moment, broken only by the faint hum of the overhead lights.
Finally, the Commander nodded once. "We'll assess the situation." His tone was clipped but professional. "You'll be kept informed."
Xier inclined her head slightly, as if expecting nothing less. Then, almost casually, she added:
"There's… one more thing." Her gaze shifted ever so slightly in my direction.
The Commander followed her line of sight, his brow furrowing faintly as he sized me up with the intensity of someone trained to spot weaknesses.
"This is Kevin," Xier said smoothly, her voice softening just enough to be noticeable. "He's… important to me."
The Commander's eyes hardened, though he remained silent.
"He's strong," Xier continued. "But… untrained. If this fight comes… I want him ready."
For a long moment, no one spoke. The Commander studied me with clinical precision, assessing everything from my posture to the way my hands rested at my sides.
"You expect us to train him?" His voice was low, skeptical.
"Yes." Xier's voice was deadly serious. "He's worth it."