[Main Story 13-01]
Clear skies, a fine wind.
I hold a kite string and spring through
endless field of rye.
I fell down. I watch the kite fly far away.
Like it’s going to a world never to be seen again.
I look down, at my palm sliced by the string,
slowly trickling blood.
How it stings!
It was just another normal evening, not much different from any other time.
Only this day, it was quite cold.
There had long been no sign of pedestrians on the midnight streets. Under the starless sky, there were only faint lights in the distance.
The last light on in the lofty twin towers flickered and then went out.
On the rooftop, a young woman clad in white suddenly appeared out of nowhere. She fell to the ground, staring around in total terror.
Behind her, a shadow stirred. A man in black, hands in his pockets, strolled up to the girl.
Girl: A– Ares! It’s you…
The man’s eyes didn’t even move as he stared expressionlessly at the girl.
Girl: You made me disappear from there? I… I was about to succeed…
Lucien: Why did you decide to act on your own?
His tone was as flat as a motionless pond. He clearly wasn’t interrogating her, but it filled the girl with so much terror she forgot to explain herself.
The girl’s body slowly became transparent. She seemed to know what was in store for her.
She wanted to struggle, but her body wouldn’t move, as if locked in place.
Girl: I don’t wanna go there! Ares, please, please, please! I don’t wanna go…
The last strand of her hair disappeared in the air, and so all of her imploring, anger, and despair ended in this moment.
The man slowly walked out from the shadow. His indifferent eyes looked like they were regarding a ruined test specimen.
Lucien: DCPS2486. Brainwaves stable. No extreme language present.
The cold, mechanical words blew into the pitch black night like a fog and dissipated.
A crack opened up in the thick night clouds, and icy moonlight spilled onto the silent, empty rooftop.
The gears of the city ground on, no one noticing a feeble light blinking in the night.
This day I went to sleep early, both because of the surprise cold weather and also because of a sudden drowsiness.
A muffled sound of electricity rattled nearby, and I awoke with a start from a dream. A remnant of that dazzling, golden light seemed to appear before me.
I opened my hand. It was covered with sweat.
It had been a long time since I’d had such a hazy dream. Since my awakening, my dreams were all quite clear and coherent.
I got up from bed, sat by the table, and recorded the dream as usual.
The notebook was filling up fast. Ever since I’d had the vision of Gavin in the fire, I had recorded my dreams daily.
Many days had passed, and still no news from Gavin.
I kept calling him every day, sending messages, and asking the Evol Agents at the STF, but always to my disappointment.
Remembering his faraway, lonely silhouette as he left, and that longing look back, my heart seized up.
{{MC}}: Gavin… What’s become of you now…?
I lay on the desk, watching the sky lighten outside the window, the sound of electricity in my ear never stopping.
I had been hearing the sound ever since the day Gavin and I separated.
At first I thought it was a symptom of over-anxiety, but nothing I tried could get rid of it.
The next time I get in touch with Gavin, I’ll have to bring this up with him.
When the clock struck seven, the phone still hadn’t rung.
Today was the day Victor was supposed to call. The weekly call had slowly become a habit.
Victor was never late one second for anything. What could be holding him up today?
Thinking this, I picked up the phone and called him myself.
“Sorry, the number you have dialed is unavailable…” I tried several more times, but no answer.
Victor should’ve already gotten up, and even if his phone wasn’t with him, the call should at least go through.
My heart suddenly started racing. After a moment’s hesitation, I went to LFG.
When I got to the CEO’s office, Goldman was already there working.
{{MC}}: Is Victor in?
Goldman shook his head and gave a questioning look.
Goldman: He’s not. It’s strange, he’s actually pretty late today.
{{MC}}: How about you give him a call and ask?
Goldman: I wouldn’t dare. I like my job too much.
{{MC}}: Just say it was me who called! Please, I really need to see Victor about something!
Goldman hesitated, but probably remembering the dispute Victor and I had last time at the office, he took out his phone.
Goldman: When he picks up, you start talking, okay? Just say you took my phone…
I nodded, looking on with anticipation as Goldman put on a smile and dialed Victor’s number.
A moment later, Goldman’s smile froze on his face.
Goldman: Can’t get through.
{{MC}}: Do you have his home phone number?
Goldman: How would I? But this really is strange. In all these years, he’s never been late, and he’s never gone this long not picking up his phone.
Seeing Goldman turn up empty too, I stomped my foot anxiously. What’s happened to Victor?
Wait! Maybe he’s there!
I hastily told Goldman to definitely tell me if Victor came back and then rushed off to Souvenir.
Mr. Mills: Sorry, Ms. {{mc}}, but I haven’t seen the boss in a long time.
{{MC}}: How long?
Mr. Mills: Well, it’s been about two weeks since he’s come in.
I stood at the door of Souvenir, looking at the menu on the blackboard from half a month ago. I felt deflated.
For a person that I would often see and always be able to contact to suddenly go missing, I felt not only anxiety, but quite a bit of fear.
I raised my head, watching the crowds come and go on the street, secretly hoping that Victor just had some sudden business today and so hadn’t checked his phone.
I’ll wait till later and contact him again.
I gave Mr. Mills the same instructions I gave Goldman and decided to go back home.
[Main Story 13-03]
On the way, I still had this nagging feeling that I couldn’t shake.
Especially after not being able to contact Victor today.
While walking past Verdant Plaza, a gathering crowd drew my attention.
On a large screen in the center of the plaza, the latest report from City News played. A strange incident had occurred in the west of the city.
The report said that a woman had woken up in the night and found her own rib had been shattered, but cameras did not detect anyone coming or leaving.
Passerby A: So weird, this is already the third time this month…
Passerby B: I also heard that the elevator at the sightseeing tower suddenly went out of order. People almost died!
Passerby C: Yeah, yeah! What’s been going on lately. I’m gonna tell my son to try to stay indoors…
Passersby were discussing the recent spate of events occurring in Loveland City. They seemed to be having quite an effect on daily life.
I suddenly thought of that scene back at the STF, that out-of-control Evol Agent.
And the news that the Commander told us about Evolvers all over the city losing control.
Could this be connected with these recent incidents? The question weighed on my mind, and I pulled out my phone to try to look up more information to verify my hypothesis.
I slowly realized that all of these incidents had abnormal causes that defied logical, scientific explanation.
If these are the results of superpowers gone haywire… I didn’t want to imagine what would happen to this city.
But now with both Gavin and Victor gone, I had no one to turn to about this. What could I do?
As I pondered the question, a wave of sharp cries arose near me, one after another.
I looked up at the screen and saw a breaking story was airing– news from Kiro.
News: Just now at a press conference held by B.S. Entertainment, Kiro has personally announced that he will be retiring from public life.
News: This news has the entertainment industry, and even all of society, at attention.
News: According to a source, the reason for Kiro’s retirement is possibly related to a recent series of crazed fan incidents.
News: But no one imagined that this huge move would also incite a fan riot on a larger scale.
News: On the roof of the B.S. Agency, there are already fans holding banners, and even threatening to jump off the building.
I watched the screen in a daze as a fully-armored Kiro was escorted hastily away under the protection of security guards.
I couldn’t help but think of a conversation we’d had recently.
On that phone call, he sounded a little exhausted, and also powerless. He told me he’d made a big decision.
I guess it was this decision to step back from public life.
Cutting ties with the entertainment industry he so loved, thinking about what’s best for his fans… this was definitely the result of lots of soul-searching on his part.
But it was also really strange for fans to suddenly riot like that. Could this have something to do with out-of-control Evol too?
I wanted to call Kiro, but then I thought that he’d just finished a press conference and definitely wouldn’t want to be bothered.
I’ll tell him next time we get in touch. No matter what decision he makes, I’ll always support him!
Putting away my phone, I decided to head to the office. There’s been too much chaos lately. The staff needs to take a break.
When I got to the metro station, I was suddenly pushed forward by the crowd behind me.
{{MC}}: What’s going on?
I quickly pulled aside a passerby to ask what was happening.
Passerby: Something over there! You better run, Miss!
He pointed at the twin towers behind me, a worried look on his face.
I looked toward the towers. Several police cars had already gathered there, and the police were evacuating the crowds.
{{MC}}: Do you know what it is?
Passerby: How should I know? I just heard a huge black wind appeared, and the building’s going to fall over!
Huh? I was wide-eyed and speechless.
Passerby: It sounds unbelievable, but it’s true! We’d better run!
With that, he turned away and ran on ahead.
Before, I never would’ve believed such a weird tale, but now that Evol has starting going out of control, I had to believe it.
And he said it was a wind. Could Gavin be involved?!
My heart jumped immediately into my throat, and I ran toward the towers in a panic.
On the way, I stumbled on a stone step and skinned my knee a bit. I brushed off the dirt and kept going.
The twin towers were wrapped in a black storm, like a swarm of thunderclouds, sweeping up torn billboards and scraps of metal.
Under the gusts of wind, a huge crack appeared in the skywalk connecting the two towers. Stones fell from the crack as the crowd screamed.
Passerby: There’s still someone up there! Lots of people! Oh no, how could this be!?
The crack was visibly expanding, and one end of the skywalk started sagging. It started accelerating, and there was nothing rescuers could do.
Is Gavin up there? What to do? If this keeps up, everyone in both buildings will be in danger!
A woman was crying and praying. It seemed to be the only thing you could do now.
Everyone could only stand by and watch as the crack grew rapidly. The skywalk seemed like it would come crashing down at any second.
At this tense moment, everything suddenly paused.
The crack stopped growing, and the skywalk stopped sagging, as if some invisible hand was supporting it in mid-air.
Quite a few people who had escaped from the building snapped out of their shock and started hugging each other and crying for joy.
The police sped up their efforts to rescue the people trapped in the skywalk.
I rubbed my eyes and could vaguely make out a transparent force field propping up the skywalk, holding rock-steady and giving off a faint glow.
What’s that?!
When I tried to look again, the faint light was gone. Other people on the street said they didn’t see anything. Could it have been Evol?
Soon, the trapped people streamed out of the building, saying that the skywalk had stopped splitting right before their eyes.
They said with alarm and joy that it was a miracle. The police came to maintain order and dispersed the remaining crowd.
I watched carefully as each wave of people came out of the building until the last ambulance left, but I didn’t see any sign of Gavin.
That inexplicable black wind had scattered, and the things swept up in it fell freely to the earth.
Thankfully everyone around the building had already dispersed, or it would’ve caused a big disturbance.
{{MC}}: I guess I was thinking too much…
I took my uneasy feelings and turned to go.
Passerby: Look out!
A cry came from behind me. Before I had time to turn around, I could feel my whole self wrapped up by a warm force.
The force separated me from the crowd, making the screams sound far-off.
I turned my head, eyes wide with shock.
[Main Story 13-04]
A billboard ripped by the wind suddenly deviated in its fall and was heading straight for me.
Time seemed to slow. I saw the distorted image of a person on the billboard. The panicking crowd ran in all directions. My mind seemed to freeze up…
When it was less than a meter from me, it stopped completely still.
It was that same bright glow, this time appearing clearly right before my eyes.
Then I saw two hands, two slender and nimble hands, pull me away.
They were so familiar, my heart immediately settled back down into its normal place.
Behind me, the billboard fell to the floor with a loud crash.
I forgot to scream, forgot to react. In a daze, I followed that pair of hands up to a pair of jet-black eyes, a tightly-pursed mouth, and a face that flashed with a moment of worry.
He was always so sure of himself. I rarely saw a look like that on his face.
{{MC}}: Lucien!
I gawked at him, and his name just blurted out of my mouth.
Lucien seemed to let out a breath, and his mouth curved up a bit.
Lucien: Don’t be scared. It’s okay.
His words came from the other side of the force field. We may have been inches apart, but it felt like worlds.
Seeing that I was a little beside myself, Lucien reached out and gently stroked my hair.
Lucien: I’ve heard that stroking hair when scared helps to keep from being scared next time.
The moment he came closer, the force field disappeared. I finally came to my senses, and my face turned red.
{{MC}}: Thanks… but what are you doing here?
Lucien lowered his hand and put it in his pocket.
Lucien: Just happened to be passing by. Were you… hurt just now?
Not waiting for my reply, he looked me up and down. When he got to my knee, his lovely eyebrows pressed together.
{{MC}}: Oh, it’s just a little scrape…
Lucien: Does it hurt?
{{MC}}: It’s fine! It doesn’t really hurt…
Lucien let out a sigh and took me to sit down on a roadside bench.
He took out a single-use disinfectant swab from his pocket and cleaned the wound. The chilly sensation made me breathe in sharply.
Lucien: This will hurt a little.
I watched as he attentively washed my knee. His bangs hung down over the bridge of his nose, and his long eyelashes fluttered.
Finally, he lightly applied a bandage.
Lucien: There. Does it still hurt?
I looked at the bandage on my knee and shook my head.
{{MC}}: All better.
Lucien: Very well.
Lucien looked over at the billboard that had fallen to the ground, his brow slowly twisting.
I suddenly thought of that transparent force field that enveloped me just now. Could it have been Lucien’s doing?
We’ve known each other for so long, but he’s never told me anything about having Evol of his own.
But if he told me he was a normal person, I don’t think I would believe it.
That time Gavin fired a gun at me and blocked that bullet, there was a white barrier in the sky then too.
Could that be Lucien’s Evol?
{{MC}}: Lucien… Um, could I ask you something?
Lucien: Sure, ask away.
{{MC}}: Are you an Evolver?
Lucien: I am.
{{MC}}: When that skywalk was falling, that was you…
Lucien nodded without hesitation.
{{MC}}: Then, what is your Evol?
Lucien thought for a moment, then smiled at me, but didn’t answer.
Lucien: Sorry, right now I can’t tell you.
I shook my head. I didn’t mind that much. After all, this was a private matter.
Lucien: And you? What were you doing here?
{{MC}}: Actually, I was also just walking by…
{{MC}}: I just heard people saying a wind was blowing down the twin towers. It sounded strange, so I came…
Lucien: You knew it was dangerous? Why didn’t you run away?
Lucien: The next time there’s danger, you might not be so lucky again.
He said this softly, like a floating mist in the morning sunshine.
Is he mad? I looked cautiously at his expression. It didn’t seem any different from usual.
Seeing me look puzzled, Lucien gave me a wink.
Lucien: What are you thinking? I’m only saying, I might not just happen to walk by next time.
He was back to his former self. I was probably just reading too much into it.
{{MC}}: I can’t see danger and just run, and I think this incident this time was really serious…
Lucien gave me a look and slowly opened his mouth.
Lucien: Because Evol is going out of control.
{{MC}}: Huh? You know?
Lucien: Yes, recently lots of these incidents have been occurring in Loveland City.
His tone was measured, as if he was saying something completely normal.
My heart sank. Before, this was just a personal danger, but now it was everyone’s problem.
The STF probably started looking into this long ago. If I go to them for help now, they’ll probably just put me under protection.
If only I could find some leads myself…
{{MC}}: Lucien… If I said I wanted to investigate these incidents, would you think I was silly?
Lucien: I wouldn’t.
I looked at him and batted my eyes.
Lucien: Because I know you.
{{MC}}: But… I have no idea where to even start investigating…
Lucien: You seem to have forgotten that sitting next to you is an Evol researcher.
{{MC}}: Right! Do you have any leads?
Lucien handed me his phone. I took it confusedly, and then my eyes went wide with shock.
{{MC}}: Detailed files of these cases! How did you get these?
Lucien: Of course I have my own methods. I’m just happy it’s of help to you.
{{MC}}: It will definitely be a help! Thank you so much!
I looked carefully over the cases. Aside from the tourist elevator going out of order, the other three were all cases of sudden illnesses or broken bones.
{{MC}}: Lucien, when you just saved those people, did you see who it was that caused the building to crack?
Lucien: No.
This sudden incident didn’t have any leads. Looked like I’d have to start with the first case.
Thinking this, I was about to ask Lucien to investigate with me. Then I thought something might happen to Lucien and decided not to get him involved.
I took down the information of the first case and handed the phone back to Lucien.
{{MC}}: Um, I suddenly remembered there’s something I gotta do… So long…
I stood up, and before I could take my first step, I heard a sighing sound behind me.
Lucien: We haven’t seen each other in over a month. Looks like I’m back to being someone you think you can just lie to.
I halted ashamedly and turned around.
{{MC}}: Uh… I wouldn’t ever lie to you…
Lucien: Then why don’t you invite me with you on your investigation?
Lucien: I’ve said before, if there’s anything you want to do, I will always help you.
I solemnly shook my head.
{{MC}}: That’s not it. I was planning to originally, but this is my own choice. I can’t get others caught up in it.
{{MC}}: Don’t worry. I can do it on my own!
Lucien: But I can’t do this on my own.
{{MC}}: Huh?
Lucien: I worry for you.
I stared as Lucien walked over to me. With his back the the sun, he was outlined in a ring of gold.
Lucien: Cat got your silly tongue again? Let me go with you, alright?
{{MC}}: Alright…
[Main Story 13-06]
When we got to the sightseeing tower, it was noon.
Unlike the gloomy cold yesterday, today the sun was shining, illuminating this tower with its over 40 years of history.
{{MC}}: Hello, we’re reporters for City News. We’re here to interview the elevator operator from the elevator that malfunctioned.
I took out my press pass and handed it to the employee. She handed it back to me, seemingly used to this by now.
Receptionist: I’ll bring you to him. This is the umpteenth reporter already…
{{MC}}: Sorry, but can I see the elevator in question first?
The receptionist nodded and took us to the elevator which was now back in operation.
Receptionist: This is the one. If you need to take pictures, be quick.
{{MC}}: Great, thanks.
Lucien and I looked at each other. I took out my phone and carefully took pictures of every corner. Lucien closely examined its details.
Because the receptionist was still waiting and urging us on, we didn’t find anything abnormal. We could only follow her to see the operator.
On the way, I kept asking the receptionist what she thought about the situation.
Receptionist: Who knows with these paranormal things. I heard that a hundred years ago, this place used to be a burial ground. Maybe it was a ghost!
{{MC}}: A ghost?
Receptionist: Yeah. The repair company already came and checked, said everything was in perfect order. If it wasn’t a ghost, then what was it?
Receptionist: We’re here. He’s in there.
We stood at the door to the worker’s dormitory, a strong smell of alcohol coming from within. The receptionist pushed open the door with a disgusted expression on her face.
There was just a plastered, middle-aged man laying on the floor, liquor bottles all around him.
Receptionist: Go ahead with your interview. I’ve got things to do.
The receptionist, seemingly unwilling to spend a moment longer in this place, hurried off.
When the man on the floor saw us come in, he chuckled a bit and then slowly got up.
Elevator Operator: Another reporter? Haven’t you guys had enough? It was just an elevator malfunction!
I watched him as I ran all the information about this case through my mind.
5 days prior, the sightseeing tower elevator malfunctioned. The door wouldn’t close, and it even suddenly dropped. After multiple inspections, no cause was found.
After one sudden drop caused two children to get injured, all the elevator operators who witnessed it were put on work leave to cooperate with a police investigation.
{{MC}}: Hello, I’m a reporter for Miracle Finder. Today I’d like to interview you about the elevator malfunction incident.
Elevator Operator: Miracle Finder? Are you talking about that silly show where they go lookin’ for superpowers?
As if he had heard something very funny, the elevator operator busted out in a roaring laugh.
Elevator Operator: What a joke! There’s no such thing as superpowers! Why don’t you just go back to wherever you came from. I’m just a plain eyewitness!
Would a plain eyewitness have this kind of reaction? Would he be drinking himself into a stupor in the middle of the day?
This guy had a lot wrong with him, but I didn’t know where to find a breakthrough point.
I silently took in the small room.
Looking at the operator, I walked toward him.
{{MC}}: Are you planning on going somewhere?
{{MC}}: I heard that the managers were going to reinstate you after this blows over, but you refused?
{{MC}}: Is there something you found out? Or something you feel guilty about?
Elevator Operator: You’re just talking rubbish!
I don’t know if it was the booze or anger, but his body started shaking. He glared at me as if he would lash out any second.
I was suddenly at a loss and stood there completely motionless.
Lucien lightly pulled me behind him, standing in between me and the operator like a protector.
Lucien: You’re just gonna walk away from the problem, abandon your family?
As Lucien watched the operator open his mouth, Lucien’s eyes were as nonchalant as ever.
Elevator Operator: …You!
A nervous expression came over the operator, as if he’d been poked between the ribs.
Lucien: Because of the dispute settlement to the injured parties, you’re in dire straits.
Lucien: You’re the only source of income for your family. I’m guessing you don’t want yourself associated with this incident.
Lucien spoke coolly and calmly, but with one hand gripping mine tightly behind his back.
The firm press of his hand on mine filled my heart with assurance and warmth.
I quietly poked out my head and watched everything.
Elevator Operator: What do you guys know? What do you know?!
The man’s emotions became volatile, like he was having a meltdown. He rushed at us, but the barrier Lucien summoned up kept him a meter’s distance.
Beside him, on a messy desktop, a pair of rusty scissors and some keys started shakily floating into the air.
When they were half a meter off the table, they suddenly lost control and dropped back down with a mild clatter.
The sound made the operator shudder too. His eyes wilted, and he looked at us in terror and despair.
{{MC}}: All of these elevator incidents…
Elevator Operator: It wasn’t me!
Elevator Operator: It wasn’t because of me! You’re an Evolver too?!
He pointed at me. The moment he said that word, I knew this matter was probably a lot more complicated than I imagined.
Elevator Operator: I’m not like you two. I’ve never used this power! I’m just a normal person. This power has no use to me at all!
Elevator Operator: I don’t have the ability to use it! I don’t know why this happened either. It really wasn’t me…
Elevator Operator: I want to work. I need to make money! I’m just a normal person. Who would want this weird power! 17 years ago I even got hurt by it once!
Elevator Operator: Every day I’m scrambling to hide this crazy superpower, I work hard, and now it’s all ruined. It’s gotta be because of that no-good doctor!
{{MC}}: What doctor?
The operator didn’t speak. Seeing him hesitate, I hastily pressed further.
{{MC}}: We’re looking for the true cause of this incident!
{{MC}}: If you tell use the truth, we might be able to find a way to fix this problem.
{{MC}}: You won’t have to quit this job, and you won’t have to worry like this.
Elevator Operator: …A few days ago I was getting a chest X-ray at Central Hospital. Afterwards I had this uncomfortable feeling, like there was air in my chest that wanted to burst out.
Elevator Operator: The next day at work, the malfunction incident just happened to occur.
Elevator Operator: What’s that got to do with me? I clearly didn’t do anything! It must just be that the elevator’s getting old!
I looked at Lucien. His brow furrowed.
Lucien: Do you remember this doctor that gave you the chest X-ray?
Elevator Operator: I didn’t see her whole face. I only know it was a young woman, medium height, ponytail, wearing a pair of black-rimmed glasses.
Lucien gave me a nod. It seemed this hospital and doctor would be our next stop in the investigation.
As Lucien was pulling me out of there, the elevator operator called out to me.
Elevator Operator: You know something? I really do just want to be a normal person.
I will never forget the look of despair and struggle in his eyes at that moment.
{{MC}}: Things will get better. And so will your family.
I knew how useless that sounded. I opened my mouth to say something else, but all I could do was leave in silence.
Before the real truth is uncovered, anything I say is futile.
[Main Story 13-08]
Walking out of the building, the blinding sunlight shone down on me, but I didn’t feel a bit of warmth.
I looked up at the looming sightseeing tower and shivered.
Lucien: Are you thinking about what he just said?
{{MC}}: Yeah… I suddenly feel heavy. It reminds me of this: Having superpowers in normal life is a burden and a curse.
{{MC}}: Is having Evol really not a good thing?
Lucien turned back and looked at the building. The sun may have been shining down on him, but there wasn’t a bit of warmth in his eyes.
Lucien: Evol is not good or bad, it’s all in how humans use it.
Lucien: When it’s under control, if a person wants to cause havoc, even if it’s the most useless Evol, they’ll still put it to use.
Lucien: But even if they don’t have Evol, they’ll still cause havoc.
{{MC}}: Lucien, what do you think will happen to this city if Evol keeps going out of control?
Lucien: If it can’t be brought under control, this type of incident will happen more often, and more seriously.
{{MC}}: Then wouldn’t that put the whole city in a panic?!
Lucien: Perhaps it would.
The image of a city in ruins after a war popped into my head.
{{MC}}: If a panic sets in, and everyone is scared to go outdoors, worrying for their lives, if that happens…
As I rambled on, I don’t know when, but my ice-cold fingers were wrapped up by a warm hand.
Lucien: If that day comes, I can’t make predictions, because then the whole world would be a disaster.
Lucien: But if human society keeps developing, it will certainly become like that.
Lucien: People will become smarter, more sensitive. But not better, not happier.
Lucien: You must believe, before the worst sets in, that everything can be reborn and transformed.
Lucien looked forward. When he said “reborn,” the light in his eyes shimmered.
I didn’t really understand what he was saying. I only felt that the world he spoke of was very, very close to me.
Lucien: Promise me, that if that moment really comes, you won’t let the weight of it drag you down too.
Lucien held my hand. His tone was soft and carried a soothing power, gradually calming me down.
Right. Even in the face of overwhelming disaster, before it befalls us completely, even insignificant power is still power.
Lucien: Still want to continue the investigation?
{{MC}}: Yes. I want to keep going. Even if disaster really does come, I need to know the truth.
{{MC}}: I want to do my part towards making this transformation happen.
I looked at Lucien and solemnly said these words to him.
{{MC}}: I won’t speculate about the future, but at least I can’t let these out of control incidents keep getting worse.
{{MC}}: And I have a feeling that this is closely connected to the truth that I’m searching for.
Lucien didn’t speak. He stared at me with a tilted head, his pupils filled with my reflection.
I blinked somewhat confusedly and returned Lucien’s gaze.
Lucien: If I wasn’t here today, what would you have done?
Lucien lowered his eyes, and the look on his face turned serious.
I thought of how the elevator operator suddenly charged at us just then, and Lucien’s force field, and I suddenly understand why he was asking me this.
{{MC}}: I… I would…
Actually, I had no idea what I would do. Basically, the only reason I avoided getting injured or facing an even bigger attack was because Lucien was there.
{{MC}}: I’ll try hard not to do anything rash…
Lucien: If you encounter this type of situation again, are you going to try to antagonize them with questions?
Looking into his eyes, I helplessly nodded my head.
{{MC}}: Perhaps I still would…
Lucien: …Silly girl.
Lucien let out a sigh, held out his hand, and heavily stroked my hair.
Then he took my hand. It was a little sore from having been kept balled into a fist.
Lucien spread out my fingers one at a time, very gently… as if he was doing it for the last time.
Lucien: Up till that point, you had done very well.
Lucien: In the future, don’t be so rash, okay?
I looked into his eyes and nodded my head earnestly.
Lucien laughed and held out two hands.
Lucien: This represents two choices.
Lucien: The right is to placidly accept a life of protection, with no more mixing yourself up in this world’s turmoil.
Lucien: The left is to actively seek out the truth, but everything is unknown and who knows how many dangers lie ahead.
I had never before seen such a solemn expression on Lucien’s face. It seemed like my choice would have a huge impact on his own life.
Without hesitation, I placed my hand in his left hand.
{{MC}}: I choose this. I will not run away.
Lucien: And if this choice brings you harm and turns your life upside down? You still choose it?
{{MC}}: Yes, I most certainly do.
Lucien laughed and closed his left hand tightly, its seething warmth flowing into my hand.
{{MC}}: …Why are you laughing?
Lucien: I understand your choice.
With that, he stared at me, a glistening light flowing in the depths of his eyes.
Lucien: I’ll accompany you.
He didn’t say he’d accompany me to search for the truth, nor to suppress these out-of-control superpowers.
At the time, I simply assumed that’s what he meant.
Later, when I thought back on these words, I could only sigh at the irony and inconstancy of fate, taking us down a path like this…
[Main Story 13-10]
Lucien: This is for you.
A silvery-white steel pen glinted in the sunlight, with an “X” etched prominently into its surface.
{{MC}}: Isn’t this the pen you left on the set the first time you were on the show?
Lucien: Yes. At the time, I rushed back to the set. Everyone had left, but one girl was still foolishly sitting there, just to give me back this pen.
Lucien: For the first time I thought, compared to my own actions of running back there, she didn’t seem that foolish after all.
Lucien’s lips curved up in a smile, and his eyes softened.
{{MC}}: Was it really so foolish…
I covered my face and looked at him from the corner of my eye.
Lucien: No, it wasn’t foolish. I was slower than you, but afterwards I saw.
I didn’t understand what he meant. I tilted my head and looked at Lucien. His eyes were streaked with shadow and light by the sunshine.
{{MC}}: Why are you giving me the pen?
Lucien: This pen has a name. It’s called Iridescent. It’s a lucky charm that’s been with me for many years.
Lucien: Now, this luck belongs to you.
{{MC}}: Oh no, no, I couldn’t accept…
Lucien opened my hand and placed the pen in it, then he closed my hand back over it with an assertive force.
Lucien: It’s just a pen. Take it.
Lucien turned his head and looked at me, the sunlight glistening on his lips, clear and warm.
I ran my finger along the etching in the pen and placed it securely in my pocket.
After leaving the sightseeing tower, we went to the Central Hospital that the operator mentioned.
This is the largest hospital in Loveland City. It was like a well-oiled machine, with seemingly no sign of Evol disturbances.
Due to the large amount of staff, finding the doctor that the elevator operator talked about would be very difficult.
Luckily, Lucien was good acquaintances with the hospital president, who took us straight to the radiology department.
But after looking around, we still didn’t find that doctor the operator described!
Looking around at all the male doctors here, my doubts grew and grew. Could he have lied to us? Or did he remember wrong?
{{MC}}: Do you have a female doctor here? Medium height, wears black-rimmed glasses?
Doctor A: Used to, but then…
A small, scrawny male doctor spoke up, but he was instantly stared back into silence by several of his colleagues.
{{MC}}: What do you mean “used to”?
Doctor A: Nothing, nothing. I misspoke.
Hospital President: She either worked here or she didn’t! What’s this nonsense?! Apologies, Professor Lucien.
The hospital president started scolding those doctors, and they all looked at each other and let out a sigh.
Doctor A: Actually… we did use to have a female doctor here, but yesterday she quit.
{{MC}}: Why?
Doctor A: Because… because… because there have been complaints recently from patients about various problems they’ve had after getting X-rayed.
Doctor B: We discovered that they were all patients handled by her, and although the review board didn’t find any problems and took no action, she still quit on her own accord.
I couldn’t help giving Lucien a look. It was exactly as the elevator operator said! Now the most important thing was to find that doctor!
{{MC}}: Do you know where we can find her? We have a very important matter to discuss with her!
Doctor C: None of us knows. She was a specialist that had only been hired last month, and no one anticipated anything like this happening…
Unable to get any useful information from her colleagues, we then went to the hospital’s HR department. But they didn’t have any concrete information on her either.
The number the hospital had on file for her turned out to be invalid. Suddenly and unexpectedly, our leads had dried up.
I left the hospital with Lucien crestfallen, not really knowing what to do next.
On the lawn in front of the hospital were several boys flying kites, laughing and having a good time.
The events taking place in the world seemed not to infringe at all on their simple fun.
Watching them, I couldn’t help feel envy. I took in a deep breath of fresh air.
{{MC}}: Must be nice! It’s been a long time since I’ve flown a kite.
Lucien stood beside me, his eyes locked onto the soaring contraptions.
{{MC}}: Lucien, do you like flying kites too?
Lucien: I’ve never flown one.
Lucien turned and regarded at my expression of shock.
Lucien: So, you need to teach me.
{{MC}}: Alright! I loved flying kites when I was a kid. It felt so freeing watching them flying in the sky.
{{MC}}: …But later I sliced my hand once on a kite string and didn’t have the nerve to try again.
Lucien: But you’re not afraid of slicing your hand now?
{{MC}}: No. I have you, don’t I?
Lucien: Silly girl.
Lucien: Before the spring is over, we’ll go fly a kite together.
I don’t know why, but I found myself reaching out my hand to lock pinkies with Lucien.
Lucien: Just like a child.
Lucien chuckled lightly, but he didn’t refuse me.
Our pinkies entwined as we made our childish promise.
Since it didn’t look like we’d get any more leads here, Lucien and I decided to leave the hospital.
But a woman in sunglasses blocked our way.
Woman: I’m the person you’re looking for.
[Main Story 13-11]
What?!
The woman’s expression didn’t change a bit as she looked at our shocked faces.
Woman: …My Evol has changed.
{{MC}}: Your…
I was stunned. She just came out and said she has Evol!?
Woman: You heard right. I’m an Evolver, and my guess is so are you two. I’m wearing sunglasses, but I can still make out some traces.
{{MC}}: Traces? And what’s this change you just mentioned?
Woman: My Evol is the ability to see through things. I can see clearly anything going on inside of a person, a useful skill for a doctor to have.
Woman: But then recently…
Woman: Starting four days ago, the patients I’d seen and X-rayed started experiencing discomfort, fevers, shattered rib bones…
Woman: And for some, their cells began to mutate…
She began to speak slower, and more quietly.
Woman: At first I thought it was an equipment issue, or something wrong with them. But after ruling out other causes, I realized I was the problem.
{{MC}}: How can you be sure it’s because of a change in your own Evol? Lots of illnesses happen suddenly…
Woman: Like shattered rib bones? Don’t be silly. I couldn’t placate myself with rationalizations like that.
I opened my mouth but couldn’t respond. So that’s how those prior incidents of sudden illness and injury were caused…
Woman: So ironic… I’m supposed to be a doctor, charged with the mission to save lives and do no harm, but I caused even more harm and pain instead.
Woman: If I hadn’t made it out of there back then, maybe all of this wouldn’t be happening today…
I couldn’t see her eyes through her sunglasses and couldn’t imagine the look of gloom that must’ve hung in her eyes.
{{MC}}: So is that why you’re wearing sunglasses?
Woman: Yes. These are special sunglasses. I won’t ever harm innocent people again…
I felt a little sting in my heart.
The elevator operator made us realize how frightening Evol out of control could be, but this doctor before us cemented in our minds its frightening aftermath.
Namely, that the entire city– the entire world– would be thrown into chaos.
Lucien: Did you have any contact with any other mysterious persons or events four days ago?
Woman: No, I was at the hospital that whole time. I never even went outside.
{{MC}}: How did you know we were here looking for you?
Woman: Actually, I’ve never left the hospital. I’ve wanted to see how those people are doing…
The woman seemed tired, her face pale. When she spoke, it sounded like she was pleading for mercy.
Woman: Can you help me? I don’t want to keep these sunglasses on even when I sleep.
{{MC}}: We…
We couldn’t make any promises, and I probably didn’t have any ability to answer this question. The seriousness of the situation already far exceeded my imagination.
Seeing me unable to answer back, the woman turned her head and laughed bitterly at herself.
Woman: What am I really? A doctor, or an executioner? Is this Evol really my good fortune, or is it my undoing?
As we left the hospital, I looked back at the white building. I suddenly had the feeling that it was a bottomless vortex.
I didn’t realize that Lucien’s eyes were focused on the hospital’s rooftop. His brow furrowed as the white glare flashed in his eyes.
[Main Story 13-13]
With no more leads and nowhere else to go, I went back with Lucien to his research center.
I was lost in a daze all the way until Lucien placed a cup of hot tea in front of me.
Lucien sat silently beside me, tea in hand, blowing lightly on it.
After a long while, I snapped back to reality. I turned my head and found Lucien looking attentively at me.
He placed the cup of tea before me.
Lucien: It’s not too hot.
In that instant, I realized that Lucien understood me. He understood my shock, my powerlessness, my indomitable self-confidence, and my unwillingness to quit.
{{MC}}: I think I’m lucky. Very lucky.
Lucien let out a laugh and took a sip of tea.
Lucien: As am I. I’m quite lucky to have you by my side.
I couldn’t see his face through the thick steam, but I suddenly thought that his words were far from the truth.
I looked at the sunlight pouring in from the window, and I seemed to see before me that doctor’s tragic eyes behind her sunglasses.
Now that I’ve decided to get seek out the truth and try to restore control, how could I entertain thoughts of retreat after seeing what I’ve seen.
I can’t let my solemn promises turn into discarded, empty words. I must keep pursuing the truth!
With that in mind, I stood up and starting writing out everything I knew on the blackboard.
{{MC}}: The elevator operator had magnetic Evol. The doctor could see through things. Wind power was used at the twin towers…
Lucien: The power to see through things is equivalent to X-rays.
I looked in shock at Lucien. These clues seemed to connect!
{{MC}}: The doctor and the elevator operator’s Evols both had to do with electromagnetic waves! But how would that explain the incident this morning?
Lucien: And another thing, with this morning’s splitting building incident, I saw an electromagnetic receiver on the back of that billboard.
{{MC}}: A receiver?
Lucien stood up and walked over to me, bringing up a photo on his phone for me to see.
I looked at this billboard’s corner, where the outer shell was torn open. There was a black device affixed there, seemingly no bigger than a cellphone, thin and virtually unnoticeable.
{{MC}}: How do you know it’s…?
Lucien: I saw equipment like this before in a research report from the States.
Lucien: My guess is that this receiver is using the core tech from that equipment, which is related to electromagnetic waves.
{{MC}}: All three incidents are electromagnetic waves! This isn’t a coincidence!
Lucien: I suspect that these cases of losing control must all be brought on by this special electromagnetic wave.
My heart raced. I felt like I’d made a huge leap on the shadowy path toward the truth.
Lucien: Nothing happens randomly. There must always be some causal connection between events.
Lucien wrote on the blackboard the words “17 years ago”.
{{MC}}: 17 years ago?
{{MC}}: I remember the elevator operator saying he was “hurt by it 17 years ago”, but what’s the connection to the doctor?
Lucien put down the chalk, walked quickly into a closet, and came out holding a sealed document.
Lucien: Our clues aren’t limited to what’s right before our eyes. Everyone’s past also contains clues.
I took the document, opened it, and was shocked to find a list of those injured in the orphanage incident 17 years ago!
The names of the operator and the doctor were both on it!
{{MC}}: Well…
I was too shocked to say anything.
Lucien: After the doctor said “If I hadn’t made it out of there back then”, I decided to look up her background.
Lucien: Aside from the covered-up orphanage incident, there were no other questionable points.
Lucien: So it’s not hard to conjecture that she must have been talking about the orphanage.
My mind went blank. Now that this was connected to the incident 17 years ago, things were more terrifying than I’d imagined…
Lucien: Keep reading.
I tremblingly flipped the page. The name Ultima Bioresearch Institute jumped out at me.
The document showed that Ultima Bioresearch once helped a group of survivors from the orphanage incident, and these two names were among them!
Ultima Bioresearch was now involved in this. My mind started to swim.
Lucien patted the back of my hand and brought me over to the blackboard where there was a detailed map of Loveland City.
Lucien: Tell me everything you’re thinking, or write it down.
Lucien: No matter how absurd or nonsensical, I want to hear it all.
Looking at Lucien’s eyes of encouragement, a calm came over me, and I turned to the map.
As if under some spell, I found myself taking up a marker and marking the sightseeing tower, the hospital, and the twin towers. And then another for Ultima Bioresearch.
Lucien: Right. Do you make anything out of it?
Looking at the four points on the map, I wanted to connect them into some sort of meaningful symbol or letter like in detective stories.
But three points on a line and one way off on its own couldn’t be arranged together into anything of significance.
{{MC}}: There doesn’t seem to be anything…
Lucien: Because this is wrong.
Standing behind me, Lucien held my hand and drew an “X” over Ultima Bioresearch. Then he made a mark on an undeveloped part of the map.
{{MC}}: Where is this?
Lucien: This is the institute’s old location from 17 years ago.
I could feel the breath from his words on the back of my neck, and I broke out into goosebumps.
I wanted to pull back my hand, but Lucien didn’t let go. He took my hand and slowly connected those points on the map. It was a letter: S.
The marker fell on the ground with a muffled thud. The sun outside the window was shut out by a thick screen of clouds, like it was about to storm.
[Main Story 13-15]
Lucien and I hurried off to the old address of Ultima Bioresearch. The whole time, recent images played in my head.
It was what the Commander told us about, Black Swan’s totem.
When we got to that patch of land, in the distance I could see an unadorned building looming tall.
It seemed like a palace full of mysteries, waiting for me to arrive.
The door wasn’t locked. As I pushed it open, a cloud of dust stirred up.
I was surprised to discover that the institute looked the same on the inside as the outside, nothing but bare walls.
However, behind the main door I saw some words etched on the wall. I went over and discovered a string of word on the wall: through a glass, darkly.
The etchings didn’t look very old.
{{MC}}: Lucien, come look at this quick!
I turned and found that Lucien was squatting behind the stairs, carefully looking at something.
A beam of light suddenly shone in through the window beside me. Through the blur I saw the flash of someone’s face.
{{MC}}: Who was that!?
I froze in place, unable to move, a film of sweat on my hands.
While I was caught off guard, my hand was covered by Lucien’s. He pinched my finger, a look of concern on his face.
Lucien: What is it?
{{MC}}: It– it’s nothing. Maybe I’m just too nervous…
{{MC}}: Oh yeah, look at this!
Lucien scanned the words on the wall, an ineffable glimmer of something flashing in his eyes.
Lucien: This is a line from the New Testament. Chapter 13 of 1st Corinthians.
Lucien: For now we see through a glass, darkly.
Lucien: The truth is projected into the hearts of men through a glass lens. It’s distorted, blurry, and one-dimensional.
I was a bit lost. Why would a research institute have something like this carved on the wall?
Suddenly that sound of electricity crackled in my ear again, delivering pulsing stings to my temples.
Lucien’s finger traced over the carving, and then his eyebrows creased together.
Lucien: Not long after Ultima Bioresearch packed up and left, someone must have come here and left these marks.
{{MC}}: You mean over a year ago? But these marks look fresh…
Lucien: These marks are fresh, but the dust here shows no sign of being disturbed. The only tracks are the ones we left.
{{MC}}: Who could it have been…?
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a figure pass by again. I didn’t hesitate any longer, grabbing Lucien and diving for the shadow behind the staircase.
A look of bewilderment flashed in Lucien’s eyes.
The tightly-confined triangle of space was full of dust and cobwebs. At least it offered concealment.
Before I had time to explain, someone came in from outside. It sounded like five or six people, all shouting about something.
Lucien tightened his hand around my waist and turned me quietly towards him, holding me tightly to his chest.
Wrapped in his jacket, I couldn’t make a noise or make any movement. My face was turning red.
His eyes showed no change, but I could still feel his body tightening up, along with the tense atmosphere.
Seeing how nervous I looked, Lucien let out a smile and patted my hair to try to comfort me.
Lucien: Don’t be scared.
Seeing his smile, my wildly-beating heart slowly steadied its pace.
{{MC}}: I’m not scared.
I returned a smile, and Lucien laughed, bringing his arm in tighter. He tilted his head and watched the intruders out of the corner of his eye.
By their sound, they had gone up to the second floor. After a long time, they came back down again.
??: Someone got here before us! Nothing on the second floor at all!
??: Was the receiving device here taken by someone else?
My heart froze! They knew about the electromagnetic receivers, and came looking here! Who were these people?
I furtively leaned out my head, but I couldn’t see their faces clearly. I could only tell that they were wearing all-black jackets, a silver light shining on their waists.
??: There’s some words carved in here!
??: That has nothing to do with our objective. Time is tight, let’s hurry to the next location!
They looked around for awhile and then left empty-handed.
When we could no longer hear footsteps, I breathed a heavy sigh of relief, but Lucien still wasn’t letting go of me.
{{MC}}: Lucien, they’re gone.
Snapping back to attention, Lucien released me. This was the first time I’d ever seen him space out.
Lucien: Thanks for that back there. To be honest, I was surprised.
{{MC}}: It’s nothing… I thought I saw someone several times. I just panicked and then did that…
Lucien: Did what?
{{MC}}: Just… dove for you…
Seeing how embarrassed I looked, Lucien’s voice became warm and soft.
Lucien: You were very cute just now, but I still would rather not see it happen a second time.
{{MC}}: Huh?
Lucien: Promise me, when there’s danger, you’ll protect yourself first.
{{MC}}: I– I know. I reacted on instinct just now. And, I can protect you too, you know.
Lucien held out a hand and brushed off some dust that had fallen on my head.
Lucien: What to do with you… I kind of want to thank those people just then. Turning off one’s instinct does seem a little hard.
{{MC}}: You… I won’t do that next time…
I lowered my blushing face. I felt like I was falling into Lucien’s deep gaze.
Lucien: Alright, I won’t tease you. Let me see, how should I thank you for protecting me just now?
{{MC}}: You don’t need to thank me…
Lucien: I do.
Lucien: Anything you need or wish, just tell me.
Lucien looked at me with a surprisingly solemn expression that left me momentarily speechless.
Lucien: When you think of something, let me know. Take a look at this.
I then realized that Lucien was holding a little black box in his hand.
[Main Story 13-17]
{{MC}}: The electromagnetic receiver?!
Lucien nodded, a heavy look on his face.
Lucien: This must have been what those people were looking for.
{{MC}}: Where did you find that…
Lucien’s eyes glanced at the staircase. Following his glance, I finally saw that there was a piece of fake carpet there that looked just like part of the floor.
{{MC}}: Amazing! How did you discover that?
Lucien: There was more dust here than in other places. Sometimes, the more you try to hide something, the easier it becomes to find.
{{MC}}: I guess someone put it here. I wonder what their objective was?
Lucien shook his head and closely examined the receiver in his hand.
{{MC}}: I heard them talk about a receiving device just now. They knew this device was hidden here?
Lucien: It’s a possibility.
{{MC}}: Then we have no time to lose!
{{MC}}: No matter what, if this device falls into the wrong hands, there’s a good chance it would result in disaster.
{{MC}}: But I think we were pretty lucky. We didn’t run into any trouble, and we found this!
Hearing me say this, Lucien didn’t look up, but his hand paused.
I followed Lucien up to the second floor. He was studying the box intently, and I was standing far away trying not to distract him.
The time dragged on, and it looked to me like Lucien was a little worried.
If only electromagnetic waves were visible to the human eye.
I looked out the window at the darkening sky and let my thoughts wander.
Suddenly, a beam of light entered my vision. I turned around and my mouth dropped open.
Just like a scene from a movie, the receiver in Lucien’s hand was giving off a white light, condensed into a beam and shooting out the window.
Like a razor-sharp sword, cold and threatening.
I rubbed my eyes and confirmed that I wasn’t seeing things.
Lucien’s face behind the light seemed carved out of ice. His normally indifferent eyes now flashed with a fiery glow.
{{MC}}: What the…
Lucien: Look out the window. What do you see?
I walked over to Lucien and peered wide-eyed out the window.
{{MC}}: I see several thin, fragile beams of light.
Lucien: And?
{{MC}}: And… Nothing, I guess…
Lucien took my hand and stepped back a few paces. His hand was starting to feel cold.
We paused in a spot shaded from the sunset. The faint lights slowly became brighter to me.
The receiver in Lucien’s hand shook violently and made a continuous buzzing sound.
{{MC}}: I see three points of light! The closest one…
{{MC}}: Is in the direction of the sightseeing tower!
I looked toward Lucien in fear. He was nodding his head as if absorbed in thought.
Lucien: Not only that.
Lucien: The other two points are at Central Hospital and the twin towers.
My brain went blank. A piercing sound of electricity rang in my ears, and I felt a surging force, like something was going to break out of my skull.
I grabbed on to the windowsill as all kinds of images passed through my mind.
I looked at the four-sided shape formed by the three beams and Lucien’s that were all converging in one distant point.
A four-sided pyramid of light beams formed in my mind. The faint beams from the other lights focused on one landmark building.
That’s…!
My eyes went wide as I looked over there, vaguely thinking that I’d stepped into a mysterious world of the unknown.
I suddenly forgot to ask Lucien how he had turned the electromagnetic wave into a light beam.
And I didn’t think about how he could do this on top of being able to make force fields.
Without me noticing, Lucien had walked beside me.
Lucien: The center that these beams are converging on is the source of the electromagnetic waves.
Lucien looked up at the most distant light, a dark undercurrent stirring in his narrow eyes.
Lucien: That’s the tallest building in Loveland City, the Loveland TV Tower.
Lucien put the receiver away in his pocket.
{{MC}}: …the TV tower…
Right! That’s a building related to electromagnetic waves. If that’s the source of everything, then it makes sense…
{{MC}}: Lucien… you knew from the start that was the source, didn’t you?
Lucien seemed a bit shocked at my question. I didn’t even know myself why I said that so suddenly.
{{MC}}: Because you just had me stand in the shadow…
Lucien nodded, a hint of praise in his eyes.
Lucien: I conjectured that it might be the place.
Lucien: But I wasn’t certain…
Lucien: Remember that sentence etched in the wall downstairs? This shadow is like the dark lens that projects truth. If you don’t stand in the shadow, you won’t see the light.
Lucien: Conversely, if there’s no dark side, then you’re not standing in the light.
Lucien: So, do not fear darkness. The more dark things there are, the more light you will see.
I stared at him blankly, failing to fully grasp his meaning.
Lucien laughed and lightly stroked my hair.
Lucien: I’ll give you an analogy. It’s like how you heard Evol is going out of control, and you saw places on a map that connected to form a letter, and so your mind immediately seeks conspiracies and the truth.
Lucien: Aside from these conspiracies already appearing in your life, isn’t it because there’s a light shining on them that you were able to discern them more clearly?
I finally understood and nodded.
{{MC}}: Right. The people around me are my sources of light, giving me courage and faith to seek the truth.
Lucien: The truth of this world unfolds for people only through disappointment and suffering. If you feel pain, then you must definitely persevere.
Lucien: Even if the light is extinguished briefly, it will be lit up once again.
As Lucien said this, he kept his eyes on me, his voice like a faint glow tearing through the deep, dark night.
His deep eyes were look bottomless vortexes that I could fall right into if I wasn’t careful.
A cool breeze blew in from the window, caressing my hot cheeks.
A soft light flashed in the sky in the distance. Today should be a smooth, gentle day.
I looked at Lucien by my side. Today he was more gentle than usual. He also showed a rare moment of anger and a strangeness about him that eluded me.
His words always seemed to be warning me of something, but I couldn’t make out what.
I suddenly thought, I seemed to have seen the soft spot in Lucien’s heart, but now it was covered in a mist, to be seen no more.
[Main Story 13-19]
When we made it to the foot of the TV tower, it was already past opening hours.
It would be two more days until it opened again.
I couldn’t wait that long. Who knows how much would happen in that amount of time?
{{MC}}: We need to find a way to get in there…
Lucien: Don’t panic. I’ve already contacted someone to help us open the door…
Lucien suddenly stopped moving. I could feel that tense air coming over him again.
{{MC}}: What’s wrong?
A black wind appeared in mid-air, surging with violent air currents.
It was exactly the same as the one at the twin towers!
Without a word, Lucien raised a hand and pulled me behind him.
In a flash, several men wearing black appeared before us, blocking our way forward.
??: Is that you?
The leader laughed coldly, and they morphed into black wind, blotting out the sky as they charged at Lucien.
{{MC}}: Lucien!
I stepped forward nervously but discovered that the glowing white barrier had once again enveloped me.
Lucien turned and put a hand on my shoulder. He had an icy expression on his face like I’d never seen before.
Lucien: {{mc}}, wait for me.
Before I had time to speak, Lucien and the light started to warp.
An intense white light flashed, and when I came to, the scene before had completely changed.
{{MC}}: What’s happened?
Everything was happening so quickly. I stared around in a daze. I was on an unfamiliar street, and the only thing in sight was the TV tower in the distance.
How did I suddenly get here…
The image of Lucien’s hand on my shoulder suddenly flashed in my mind. Was this Lucien’s doing?
He wanted to face those people on his own?
A tangle of thoughts seethed in my mind. Reason told me that I would only be a distraction if I was there, but my emotions couldn’t let me just stay here.
If I get closer, just a little closer…
I felt the pen Lucien gave me in my pocket and gripped it tight. This luck charm of a pen would definitely give me some good luck.
I ran off toward the TV tower.
I’d never run so fast before, as if a great, terrible danger was chasing me from behind, like every second was life and death.
I could see it right in front of me, but it still seemed so far away, like I would never get there.
A golden beam of light suddenly streaked overhead, and a bitter cold black wind blew past me. The thunderous sound stopped me in my tracks.
Could it be…?
I didn’t dare think of such a dreadful possibility. It couldn’t be. Lucien couldn’t be in trouble!
Lucien: Why are you here all of a sudden?
It was Lucien’s voice! I could hear bits and pieces. As I crept closer, I could see Lucien standing in front of those men.
Seeing he was standing straight, my anxiety calmed down a little.
They seemed to be discussing something. Did something happen after I left?
??: Ares, we got the order to bring you in. You haven’t fulfilled your mission, and the organization thinks you’re going to turn traitor.
Lucien: Says who? All of you?
Lucien: Whose order?
They looked at each other and shook their heads.
??: We don’t wish to affront you. But you’ve been dragging your feet with this mission. Even with the requirement that the target stays alive, you’ve had plenty of opportunities…
Lucien: A good hunter won’t let his prey feel a hint of anything astray before it’s captured.
Lucien: She already walked step by step into my snare. If you all hadn’t appeared, I’d have already succeeded.
Lucien: Who can take the blame for this misstep?
These words sent me into a spiral.
A terror like never before welled up within me.
I seemed to have fallen through a crack in the ice. My heart was exploding with a sharp pain.
The face of Lucien I saw in profile before me held a gloom and viciousness I had never seen before.
That moment, I actually had an absurd desire to turn around and run away.
Was it so I could tell myself that I didn’t see or hear all this? That he wasn’t Lucien, and I wasn’t myself?
But I couldn’t go. The enveloping barrier burst in that instant.
I felt a strange suffocating feeling in my throat. I opened my mouth, but I couldn’t say anything.
I didn’t even see that Lucien had already turned around.
His fist fell open slackly, and then gripped tight again. I could only see surprise and concealment on his face.
{{MC}}: Was all of that true?
My quivering voice was like a dull blade.
Lucien: Lies.
Lucien stood there, his tone neutral.
Lucien: But if I say that, will you believe me?
I didn’t nod or shake my head. I only looked doggedly at Lucien.
With my last ounce of hope, I wanted to hear him deny it.
{{MC}}: Who is Ares?
Lucien pointed at himself and took a step toward me.
Lucien: Under the circumstances, I don’t need to lie to you.
Lucien: Everything you just heard– it’s all true.
His cold voice reverberated in the barren space. It was as if all my energy had been drained from me.
The blinding setting sun struck my face painfully.
It felt like something was jabbed into my heart. I pinched my palm hard so I wouldn’t start crying.
My body broke out in sweat, and my heart beat like thunder. Countless sounds were swarming in my brain, but I didn’t have the power to convert them into language.
{{MC}}: And the way everything went so smoothly today was also your doing?
Lucien: You’re quite clever.
{{MC}}: And all that stuff you told me today, it was lies?
Lucien didn’t respond. He only stared coldly at me.
{{MC}}: …and before?
Lucien: I have never engaged in idle pursuits.
In an instant, ice cold water snuffed out the last ember of warmth in my heart.
His words were like a knife, stabbing hole after hole in my heart.
My instinct was to flee to some place where no one knew me, but my feet were leaden. I couldn’t take a step.
A bitter taste dripped into my mouth.
{{MC}}: …Why?
Lucien: I’ve warned you before. You still had time to run. Too bad you have no awareness of danger.
Lucien: Or one could say, you trusted me too much.
Lucien spoke in a measured tone that was provocative and mocking.
With ease he ripped open a scar that I hadn’t fully healed, and my tears came pouring out.
I don’t know why, but in that instant I seemed to see a flash of sorrow in his eyes.
But in less than half a second, he had resumed his composure. Then he pursed his lips and made a faint smile.
Thick blackness surrounded him. Even the brightest of setting suns couldn’t reach him.
I really am stupid. How could an investigation be this easy? With such convenient obstacles? Everything was just a snare set up by him.
I defiantly raised my head and tried to force back my tears.
But I still hoped that the hint of sorrow I caught was real. I hoped he was still the way he used to pretend to be.
But then why did his eyes seem so sincere?
Even now, I wasn’t willing to completely believe. My heart told me that it wasn’t lies.
Helping me save my final show was real. Rescuing me from danger was real. Every bit of encouragement and help was all real.
If all that was real, then could the person in front of me now be fake?
I strained to find in his eyes any sign of pain, struggle, even a moment’s hesitation– but there was none.
There was nothing at all.
With the calm and indifferent way he was regarding me, it was like we were two strangers.
??: Ares, what are you waiting for?
The men in black saw that Lucien wasn’t moving and started to rush at me.
I don’t know where my strength came from, but in an instant, I held something sharp onto my neck.
I tremblingly held the pen, sensing the bitter taste in my throat.
They had just said they weren’t supposed to endanger my life, so right now, this was the only bargaining chip I had.
Seeing my action, everyone froze.
How ironic! He clearly gave it to me as a gift, and now it was carrying out its mission like this.
{{MC}}: Just what is your objective?
Lucien: A better future.
He didn’t want to say more. He picked up his foot and stepped slowly toward me.
{{MC}}: Don’t come near me!
Lucien: You won’t do it.
He was as sure of himself as always. His eyes didn’t twitch. When he got less than a meter from me, he stopped.
My neck was in terrible pain, and half my body was going numb.
I didn’t even realize that a trickle of blood was streaming down my neck.
We stood there, neither of us moving. The cold wind stung my face.
Lucien: Don’t do anything foolish.
You’re right. I am too foolish.
When I was at my lowest, he held out a hand of friendship to me. And I took it in full trust.
And now here he was again, saying in that same voice I was so familiar with, that all this was a trap.
He wished me luck, said to make him proud, and even said facing the truth required undergoing pain and torture.
Isn’t this pain and torture that he’s giving me now?
He stood there, aloof and cold, with all those emotions swirling in his eyes that I never understood before.
Now I finally understand. It was the thrill of laying a trap, the joy of watching your prey take the bait.
{{MC}}: Let me go…
Lucien: You think you can negotiate with me?
{{MC}}: …You still owe me a thank-you gift.
A tear rolled down my face silently.
As I said this, his mouth curled up a bit. Such a subtle smile made it look more like a kind of mockery.
Lucien: I can let you go, but next time, you won’t get such an opportunity.
??: Ares!
Lucien: Silence.
Before he’d finished speaking, those men were wrapped up in a white light and disappeared instantly.
Lucien: Don’t let me catch you next time.
Lucien spoke softly, so soft I almost couldn’t hear.
He turned his back to me, seemingly not wanting to take one more look at me.
Who is he really? The Lucien who’s given me unending warmth and encouragement? Or this Ares who coldly says I stepped into his trap long ago?
Wasn’t he tired from deceiving me all this time?
{{MC}}: Next time, I won’t trust you, Ares.
I said his name with deliberation. He’s not Lucien. He’s Ares.
{{MC}}: I will never trust you again, because you are not Lucien. He would never harm me…
{{MC}}: Ares and Lucien have nothing to do with each other!
He turned, but said nothing. That was the last time I saw that gentle look in his eye. Then he looked up at the sky as his whole body merged into the shadows, and he continued onwards.
I looked up and saw in the distant sky two kites get tangled together– and then fall from the air.
The sunset truly was beautiful. In the end, this was a waste of wonderful weather.
I gathered my nearly-frayed wits, dried my tears, and departed from that place with no reluctance.
I walked slowly and didn’t look back once.
The way home was long, and I staggered along. I don’t know how long I walked. All around were garbled, distant sounds of people. I felt like I was floating in the middle of the ocean.
In my stupor, I heard someone call my name. I turned, but all I saw was my own reflection.
I seemed to see myself get in a car that went the wrong way, one that didn’t go to the research institute when I was preparing for my last show.
I seemed to see myself walk past that camphor tree. A familiar boy sat under the tree, but I didn’t go up to him. I turned and left.
I even saw myself chasing a man in a white coat, holding a kite in his hand. In the blink of an eye, the string broke, and the kite flew away. I was the only one left on the field.
A cold wind blew, and my whole body shivered.
I never thought that I would think about those past events in circumstances like this.
The boy with his drawings under the camphor tree. The boy wearing the red scarf, lying in a pool of blood.
Memories came flooding back, drowning me.
*Clatter* The pen fell from my hand onto the ground, the “X” etched onto it gleaming, seemingly telling me some story.
The crowds were erupting in cheers. Following their gazes, I looked up.
Several beautiful kites flew high overhead in swooping arcs. I followed their traces until they disappeared.
Spring was almost over. No one would be flying kites anymore.
[Main Story 13-22]
The spacious hall was shrouded in a gloomy, deathly-still darkness. Pale light from the clear, cold moon spilled onto the floor through two large windows.
Lucien stood there, his face expressionless.
In the darkness before him sat a masked individual.
His ringed finger slowly tapped on the metal armrest.
??: Ares, this time you have disappointed me. You should have been more covert.
Lucien met the man before him with a malicious glare.
Lucien: The time is ripe. I will return to her side again as Ares.
The oppressive tapping sound suddenly stopped.
Lucien: The game has hardly begun, and you’re already getting too impatient.
The cold light in Lucien’s eye solidified into a sharp, bone-chilling blade.
The man in the darkness rubbed his ring and grunted.
??: Then let me see just how ruthless you can be.
The moonlight outside the window seemed in this moment like the sharpest of knives.
The earth trembled, and suddenly, the moonlight shattered like glass into countless fragments, frozen in mid-air.
It lit up Lucien’s eyes. Eyes like a brimming sea. Eyes that the girl no longer trusted.
The sharp ray of light instantly pierced Lucien’s eye, splitting open in his cold vision. Blood flowed from his right eye and down his cheek.
Lucien didn’t even blink. Rather, an unnatural smile curled upon his thin lips, icy and perverse.
The figure in the dark paused, and in the baleful silence came the sound of two booming claps.
??: You always surprise me.
??: There will be no next time.
Lucien laughed coldly and with scorn. He turned and strode out.
Outside the door, a man with a scarred face stood there. When he saw Lucien, he winced.
??: You don’t need to do this.
Lucien didn’t look up. After a long while, he slowly opened his mouth.
Lucien: What do you know?
The man looked at Lucien, this person whom everyone called Ares.
He has facing away from the light, looking cold and haughty. In his chilling eyes there was an undercurrent like the sharpest of daggers.
No matter when, this pair of eyes always left one feeling mystified, and chilled to the core.
They say Ares is the most ruthless person in the organization. Respected and feared equally.
Today he finally realized Ares’ ruthlessness was not in how he cruel, underhanded, and emotionless he could be to others.
It was in how ruthless he was to himself.
It turns out, under his cold exterior, Ares had long been suppressing a vicious desire.
The man didn’t understand, and he said nothing. He just watched in silence as that figure walked off into the darkness.
He vaguely felt that this person, his only trusted companion, was brewing something.
A cold smile crept once again across Lucien’s face, mixing with the blood and blossoming into an eerie flower.
He raised his head, and a wild ambition bloomed in his eyes blacker than the night sky.
When the shadow of death shrouds over us, the end is just the beginning.
Destiny begins anew, and for this war, he is ready and waiting.