The Fenrir team moved quickly through the forest, putting distance between themselves and the aberrations they had left behind. The air was thick with tension, and their hurried footsteps echoed among the trees. Emily broke the silence with a cold, calculated tone:
"Aberrations..." she said, adjusting her grip on the girl as she walked. "They rarely appear. The last time was in Silver Ridge."
Everyone stopped for a moment, looking at her. Kai raised an eyebrow, surprised by her comment.
"Silver Ridge? You mean the incident where they found Niel?" Kai asked, glancing toward Niel, who continued walking ahead without flinching.
Emily nodded, her face expressionless as her eyes remained fixed on Niel.
"Exactly. That was the last time the appearance of aberrations was reported. Curious, isn't it?" she said, her voice flat but laced with intention. "Maybe we should ask Niel if he knows more about them."
Niel halted his march, turning his head slightly toward Emily. His silver eyes gleamed under the filtered light of the trees, but he said nothing. Marcus intervened before the situation escalated.
"We're not here to speculate," Marcus said firmly, though his tone remained calm. "What matters is that we completed the mission. We have the girl, and that's what's important."
Niel finally spoke, his voice as cold as ever.
"I needed more time fighting them," he said, his tone indifferent but tinged with frustration. "I was already adapting. I could have eliminated them all."
Lila let out a nervous laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
"Eliminate them all? Niel, those things almost killed us back there. I don't know how you can be so calm after what we just went through."
Kai, always pragmatic, added:
"Relax, Niel. I'm sure you'll get another chance in the future. Though I hope it's not soon. Those things are too dangerous even for you."
Emily crossed her arms, looking at Niel with a mix of curiosity and distrust.
"What worries me isn't just your obsession with facing them, but the fact that they appeared right when we were there. Something doesn't add up. And if they're connected to you in any way..."
Niel interrupted her coldly.
"I'm not connected to them. I just want to eliminate them. They're a threat, and I'm the best one to do it."
Marcus raised a hand, cutting off the argument before it intensified.
"Enough. Let's keep moving. We're close to the base. Once there, we can rest and analyze what happened. For now, our priority is delivering the girl."
The team resumed their march in silence, each lost in their thoughts. Despite the tension, they knew they had accomplished their primary objective: bringing the girl to Umbra Division.
When they arrived at Umbra Division, the team was greeted by a medical and technical crew waiting on an underground platform illuminated by sterile white lights. The girl, still in Emily's arms, was handed over following strict technological procedures. A biometric scanner analyzed her body while a team of scientists took blood samples and conducted rapid tests to confirm her status as a potential Resonant.
Marcus observed the process from a distance, ensuring everything proceeded without complications. Once the delivery was complete, he headed to a meeting room where Harlan and Commander Voss were already waiting.
The meeting room was austere, with a round table and several holographic screens floating in the air. Harlan, a middle-aged man with metallic-framed glasses, reviewed some reports while Commander Voss, a tall and robust man with visible scars on his face, sat with his arms crossed.
"Marcus, tell us everything," Harlan said, lifting his gaze from the documents.
Marcus took a seat across from them and began his report:
"The mission was successful in terms of achieving the main objective: we recovered the girl. However, we encountered significant resistance. The creatures were numerous, and although we managed to eliminate them, aberrations appeared."
Harlan frowned, surprised.
"Aberrations? That's not a good sign. It's been years since any sightings were reported. How is it possible that they appeared in Kango?"
Marcus nodded, sharing his concern.
"We don't know. But what I can say is that their appearance complicated the mission. They're much more dangerous than common creatures. They tear apart minds and destroy entire teams. The soldiers in the area were completely annihilated, except for two. The others didn't even have a chance to escape."
Commander Voss leaned forward, intrigued.
"Continue. Tell me about Niel. I know he's your best agent, but I've also heard rumors about his behavior."
Marcus sighed, carefully choosing his words.
"Niel is exceptional in combat. Probably the best I've seen so far. He killed seven creatures and directly faced three aberrations, killing one of them. But he has a tendency to disregard orders when he sees creatures or aberrations. He becomes obsessed with confronting them, putting the mission and the team at risk."
Harlan and Commander Voss exchanged glances, impressed.
"One aberration?" Harlan asked, incredulous. "It usually takes four well-trained agents to eliminate a single one. How did he do it alone?"
Marcus nodded.
"Exactly. He adapted quickly to their fighting style. But, as I said, his lack of control is problematic. If he had kept fighting, we might have lost agents or even the girl."
Harlan smiled, but it wasn't a friendly smile. It was more of a calculated, satisfied expression.
"I knew Niel would be a sharp weapon," Harlan said, his tone filled with admiration but also something darker. "But it seems he still needs polishing. Make sure you keep him under control, Marcus. He's valuable, but also unpredictable."
Commander Voss interjected with a more severe tone:
"Aberrations shouldn't have appeared. This suggests that something is changing in the mist. We'll investigate further. In the meantime, I want you to prepare your team for future missions. If these creatures are returning, we'll need all the strength we can muster."
Marcus nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.
"Understood. We'll prepare for whatever comes next."
---------------------------
A soft knock on the door interrupted the silence of the room. Before Niel could respond, Ariadna opened the door with a gentle smile on her face. She carried a folder under her arm.
"May I come in?" she asked in a light tone, though her dark eyes were already assessing the space and Niel.
Niel didn't respond. He was sitting on the edge of his bed, cleaning his dagger with methodical movements. The dim light from the lamp cast shadows over his impassive face. His indifference was palpable, but Ariadna didn't seem offended by it. On the contrary, her smile widened slightly as she closed the door behind her.
"You're becoming famous, you know?" she said, approaching with deliberate but relaxed steps. "I've heard rumors about what happened in Kango. You faced three aberrations and eliminated one. Many agents are talking about it. Some even want to meet you."
Niel paused his task for a moment, though he didn't seem particularly interested in what she was saying. His hands continued working on the dagger, as if Ariadna's words were irrelevant.
"A failure," he responded coldly, his voice flat but tinged with frustration. "I didn't manage to eliminate them all. I should have had more time."
Ariadna tilted her head slightly, studying his reaction. There was something about the way Niel spoke that intrigued her deeply. It wasn't just his indifference; it was how he seemed obsessed with the idea of destroying anything he considered a threat.
"A failure?" Ariadna repeated, her tone soft but with a hint of curiosity. "To many, what you did is practically impossible. Killing an aberration… that's not something any agent can achieve. Not even the best-trained teams have guaranteed success."
Niel didn't respond immediately. He kept cleaning his dagger, as if Ariadna's words were meaningless. But she knew he was listening. After a few seconds, he spoke:
"I don't care what others think. Only what I do matters. And I didn't do enough."
Ariadna smiled faintly, though her smile didn't reach her eyes. It was clear that Niel wasn't seeking recognition or validation. His obsession was pure and simple: eliminate any threat, no matter the cost.
"Interesting," Ariadna murmured, more to herself than to him. "Always so cold, so focused. But tell me, Niel… have you ever wondered why the creatures leave survivors?"
Niel finally looked up at her, his silver eyes fixed on Ariadna's. For the first time since she had entered, he seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say.
"I don't know," he replied after a moment, his tone neutral but with a slight hint of curiosity. "I never thought about it."
Ariadna nodded slowly, as if she had expected that response.
"It's strange, isn't it? The creatures and aberrations usually kill mercilessly, without any apparent purpose. But almost always… they leave one alive. A child, an adult… someone special."
Niel frowned slightly, processing her words.
"What do you mean?"
Ariadna stepped closer, lowering her voice as if she feared someone else might overhear.
"Harlan has a theory," she said, her tone more serious now. "He believes there are beings with superior intelligence in the mist. Beings that control the creatures and aberrations. These beings might be sending them deliberately, leaving survivors to see how we react. Survivors who, very likely, are Resonants."
Niel remained silent, his eyes fixed on Ariadna as he processed the information. Finally, he spoke:
"What do you mean by 'see how we react'?"
Ariadna shrugged, though her expression remained intense.
"Maybe they want to know what we'd do with people like you. Resonants. Humans who can face the creatures and survive. Maybe they're testing our limits, seeing how far we're willing to go to protect our own. Or maybe… they're just playing with us."
There was a brief silence between them. Niel lowered his gaze, his hands pausing momentarily over the dagger.
"I don't trust them," he finally said, his voice barely a whisper.
Ariadna looked at him intently, her dark eyes filled with a mixture of compassion and admiration.
"You shouldn't trust anyone, Niel," she replied softly. "But remember this: not all agents share the same purpose as you. Some aren't here just to fight the creatures."
Ariadna nodded slowly, as if her last words were enough to leave a mark on Niel. Her gentle smile returned. Without saying anything more, she turned around and walked toward the door.
"See you soon, Niel," she said before leaving, closing the door softly behind her.
The sound of the door closing echoed in the room, leaving Niel alone with his thoughts.