Kang Xu sat in the dimly lit meeting room, his legs curled up to his chest as he leaned against the cold metal chair. The walls were plain, stripped of any decoration, and the air was stale. The fluorescent lights overhead flickered occasionally, casting shadows that danced across the room.
He stared at the floor, his mind racing to piece together fragments of his broken memory. How had he ended up in that apartment? What did they mean by 'Arcanist?'
The officer's sharp voice from earlier still lingered in his ears, but it was Vanessa's words that haunted him most. Would it be possible for us to adopt this kid? Her voice had been gentle, yet filled with a kind of determination Kang had never heard directed toward him before.
The door creaked open, pulling Kang out of his thoughts. A woman in her mid-thirties entered, dressed in a crisp gray suit. Her hair was tied back into a tight bun, and her eyes carried the sharpness of someone who had seen far too much.
"Kang Xu?" she asked, her voice calm but firm.
Kang nodded slowly, unsure of what to expect.
"My name is Evelyn Agent Grant, But you can call me Evelyn. I'm with the Bureau of Arcane Affairs." She pulled out a chair and sat across from him, placing a thick folder on the table. "I need to ask you a few questions. Do you think you're up for it?"
Kang swallowed hard and gave another hesitant nod.
Evelyn opened the folder and slid a photograph toward him. It showed the ruins of the orphanage he had called home. The building was nothing more than charred rubble, and the image stirred an ache in his chest.
"Do you remember this place?" she asked.
"N-no, I don't know what this place is." Kang stammered.
Evelyn leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the table. "The forensic team found traces of high-level teleportation magic in the ruins, but like the officer mentioned earlier, you don't have enough mana to pull off a spell like that." She paused, letting the words sink in. "Which means someone else sent you here. The question is—why?""What do you remember about the night it happened?" Evelyn's eyes studied him carefully.After Evelyn's question, Kang took a few seconds to think, staying silent."The Bureau of Arcane Affairs? That can't be real... There's no way a government department like that actually exists," Kang thought, his mind spinning. "What the hell is going on? One moment, I was relieving myself, and the next, I'm caught up in some bizarre police investigation!""And me, an orphan? Seriously? My parents are still alive, damn it!" Kang's thoughts raced, frustration bubbling up. "What kind of messed-up joke is this?"Before he could respond, the door opened again. This time, it was Vanessa. She stepped inside hesitantly, clutching a small bag.
"Sorry to interrupt," she said, her voice soft. "I just... I thought he might be hungry."
Evelyn frowned but nodded, stepping aside as Vanessa approached Kang. She set the bag down and pulled out a sandwich, an apple, and a bottle of water.
"Here. Eat something," she urged, offering him a reassuring smile.
Kang hesitated before reaching for the sandwich. His hands trembled slightly, but the first bite eased the tension in his chest. Vanessa sat down beside him, her presence strangely comforting.
"You don't have to be scared," she said. "We'll figure this out, okay?"
'I'm not scared Miss... Ehm, what was it again—Reeves? It's just that my body feels so damn hungry' Kang's stomach grumbled as he took a bite.
Evelyn cleared her throat. "Mrs. Reeves, I need to finish this interview."
Vanessa nodded and stood. "I'll be right outside if you need me." She gave Kang one last smile before leaving the room.
Evelyn waited until the door shut before speaking again. "I don't know why she's so invested in you, but it might work in your favor."
"What do you mean?" Kang asked, his voice steadier now.
"If you can't explain what happened, the Bureau might treat you as a security risk," Evelyn explained. "We'd have to keep you under surveillance or worse—detain you indefinitely. But if Vanessa follows through with adopting you, it could give you some legal protection."
Kang's breath hitched. "So, you're saying I should let them adopt me?"
"I'm saying it might be your best shot at a normal life," Evelyn replied.
After a few more questions that Kang couldn't answer with the excuse 'Sorry... I can't remember.' Vanessa stood up from her seat and said blankly: "This is everything for today, but we still need answers. I'll arrange for you to undergo further testing tomorrow. For now, rest up and think about what you want."
Then, she closed her folder and left.
Kang was once again alone in the meeting room.
All of this felt like a dream, but a dream where he could not wake up from.