Anya sat in her office behind her desk, the rays from the sun coming in through the massive window bathing the room in a warm glow.
Her fingers tapped on the surface, glancing through the latest dungeon reports delivered by Xavier.
The details of their latest dungeon raid scrolled across the screen, but the words blurred in her mind as she focused on a particular segment.
“Alister.”
Her breath hitched ever so slightly at the thought of him. She paused, her eyes lingering on the report: how they encountered a very dangerous monster, possibly SSS-ranked, the dragon being pushed back, and the perilous escape of Xavier and his team.
“He stalled for time…”
Her lips pressed together as guilt gnawed at the edge of her thoughts.
According to the report, Alister had faced the monster head-on while his dragons fought to give the rest of the team enough time to escape.
And once she read the part where the dungeon collapsed, fear gripped her heart.
‘Wait… Is he trapped?’
‘Is he even still alive in there!?’
She hastened her reading.
But then, just when all seemed lost, he emerged… staggering, pale, and weak… before collapsing just outside the dungeon’s entrance.
Anya’s eyes paused over the report. And then she suddenly let out a sigh of relief.
Even now, seeing his name on the documents made her breath catch in her throat. She blushed slightly, then began using her finger to twirl her hair.
She sat back in her chair, allowing the silence of her office to calm her. The steady hum of the air conditioner was the only sound that accompanied her thoughts.
‘What do I say to him? After all he risked his life to save my guild members.’
She wondered, her mind spinning with a flurry of emotions.
‘Do I thank him for saving them?’
‘Or do I apologize for my team not being able to pull their weight?’
Acknowledging the risk he took felt like an obligation, but doing so could easily come off as weakness or misplaced gratitude.
‘If I apologise… Won’t he see me as weak? Does he like weak women? Wha-What am I even thinking!?’ She shook her head.
‘I’m the guildmaster of the Berserkers, of course I can’t show weakness, I should move forward with confidence!’
‘Since I can’t show my weak side I will offer my thanks! I won’t be much of a leader if I don’t give thanks where it’s due.’
Her hand rested on her chin as a thoughtful expression crossed her face and she wondered how exactly to show her gratitude.
‘Maybe a simple gesture…’
‘Lunch.’
Anya sat quietly for a moment, her mind still racing. Her fingers drummed softly against the desk as a faint blush crept into her cheeks.
‘Won’t my intentions be too obvious that way?’
She shook her head again.
‘Intentions? I don’t have any intentions!’
‘Ohhhh, I don’t even know what I’m really feeling when it comes to him.’
The words felt strange, even to her.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady herself. The warmth from the sunlight bathed the room, yet her thoughts were anything but calm.
‘I should just… calm down and think clearly.’
‘How am I feeling right now?’
Anya exhaled slowly, her shoulders relaxing as she leaned back into her chair, placing a hand over her chest, hearing her rapid heart beat.
“Confused.” she finally said.
The word hung in the air for a moment as she considered it. Confused. It was the truth.
Her guild had always been her focus-her mission, her responsibility. She had trained countless raiders, fought side by side with them, and never once questioned her authority or strength, never once would she second guess herself. Yet now, whenever she thought about Alister, the emotions that swirled within her were practically alien.
She sighed deeply again, her gaze fixed on the ceiling for a moment, as if seeking clarity from the vast expanse above.
‘Why does this feel so complicated… Whenever I think of him… why does my heart race?’ she wondered.
Yet as much as she tried to suppress it, a part of her… a deeper, hidden part… recognized a longing that had been buried beneath layers of duty and responsibility.
“I shouldn’t overthink it. It’s simply me paying my thanks, nothing more, nothing less.”
“But… What should I wear?” she mumbled softly to herself, a faint frown appearing on her
face.
Suddenly, she stopped mid-thought, her eyes widening as she realized.
‘No! I’m doing it again!’
She thought, frustrated with her own mind. Without warning, she let out a small yell, causing the room to momentarily echo.
Anya slammed her hands down on the desk, folding them tightly as she rested her head against them, her cheeks mildly flushed, her eyes gently narrowed, almost trembling. Her
voice was low, almost a whisper.
“This is all your fault, Alister. You did this to me.”
…
Union Lab, Sector IV
The Union lab in Sector IV was filmed with the steady rhythm of machinery and the low murmur of alchemists conversing in clusters.
The room was expansive, lined with sleek, glowing panels of blue and silver that pulsed faintly with energy.
The centerpiece of the lab was a containment unit housing a mysterious red crystal… The same Read crystal Claus and Kira had obtained from their encounter with this humanoid
monsters.
The crystal was suspended mid-air within mutiple complex energy containment fields.
Claus stood at the forefront, his arms folded.
Kira stood beside him, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders and contrasting sharply with the stark white blindfold around her head over her eyes.
Despite her composed exterior, her lips pressed together tightly as though holding
something back.
“Team,” Claus spoke up. “Focus your efforts on isolating the crystal’s properties. We’re not
here to speculate; we need measurable results.”
“Yes, Master Claus,” one of the alchemists replied.
Kira nodded, stepping forward to address the group. “Double-check the energy readings. The
last set was inconsistent, and we can’t afford mistakes.”
As the team scrambled to follow orders, Claus turned his attention to the crystal, his visible blue eye narrowing.
“Fascinating, isn’t it?” he murmured to Kira. “No matter what we do, its properties remain…
elusive.”
Kira folded her arms. “Fascinating isn’t the word I’d use. It’s dangerous, and it’s not cooperating with our abilities. That’s a problem.”
Yes, despite both of them using their combined abilities, they could not prob the crystal for
its origin or what it was supposed to actually be.
Claus tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. “Dangerous and uncooperative. Reminds me of someone.”
Kira shot him a sharp look, but her words died in her throat as she winced, a sudden sharp pain
piercing through her head.
Her hand instinctively flew to her temple.
“Kira.” Claus’s tone softened, as he called out to her with concern. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” she replied quickly, her voice strained but steady. “It’s nothing. Let’s just focus on
the crystal.”
Claus didn’t look convinced, but he let it drop for now, returning his attention to the swirling
energy fields.
…
The hours dragged on, the alchemists meticulously conducting experiments under Claus and Kira’s watchful eyes.
The room buzzed with activity, from the clatter of tools to the faint hum of containment protocols being recalibrated.
Despite her composed demeanor, Kira winced periodically, her headaches growing sharper.
“Branch officer Kira,” one of the younger alchemists, a man with messy brown hair and a nervous disposition, approached cautiously.
“We’ve stabilized the energy field, but the crystal’s emissions seem to fluctuate on their own.
It’s almost like… it’s alive.”
Kira’s eyes narrowed beneath her blindfold. “Alive? Or reactive? There’s a difference.” “I-I’m not sure,” the alchemist stammered. “But it’s not behaving like any known form
element.”
Before Kira could respond, another sharp pain shot through her head, causing her to grip the edge of a nearby console for support. Claus was beside her in an instant.
“Kira.” His voice was low, firm. “You’re not fine.” he said as he rushed over to her, trying to
help her steady herself.
“I said I’m fine,” she snapped, slapping his hand off her, straightening herself. “I just need a minute. Keep the team focused.”
Before Claus could argue, Kira turned and made her way to automatic metal door, her coat billowing behind her. The hum of the lab faded as she entered the bathroom, locking the door
behind her.
…
The bathroom was quiet, the sound of her breathing amplified in the stillness. Kira approached the mirror, gripping the edges of the sink as she stared at her reflection. Slowly,
she reached up and removed her blindfold to reveal a horrifying sight.
Her left eye was no longer its usual yellow.
The sclera had turned a vivid red, veins spidering out across the surrounding skin. The
dimming of her golden iris gave it an almost lifeless appearance, very different from the Norma normal vibrant state of the right eye. She touched the edge of her eye gently, her hand
trembling.
“What’s happening to me?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The room seemed to shift, her vision blurring slightly as if the very air around her was
reacting. Her headaches weren’t just pain-they were a warning. Something was changing, something tied to the red crystal, or perhaps due to the cut she sustained from one of those mutated creatures in her leg.
Kira clenched her fists, willing herself to stay calm. But even as she tried to collect herself, a deep unease settled in her chest. Whatever was happening to her, it was definitely not some
random illness.
…