"Squad Leader."

Taking a deep breath, Bella slowly emerged out of the meditative state she'd been in. Eyelids fluttering open, she felt the effects of her inner world fade away as she returned to the hallway. Her eyes scanned the area, seeing the women still asleep. Looking to the person who'd pulled her out from that world, "How long have I been out?"

"Only a few minutes if my sense of time hasn't become too distorted by this place," Olivia reported, occasionally paying attention to her surroundings.

Bella's eyes widened involuntarily, surprised by the amount of time that had passed. "It felt like I had been inside of that place for hours, not minutes," Thoughts raced through her mind as she tried to comprehend the significance. Her time had been dedicated to testing how those lights worked and the way it affected her body.

Raising a hand, a part of her was nervous and hesitant to repeat the process inside of that world. Bella was scared that everything she had seen was only a dream.

"Squad Leader? Is there anything wrong?" Olivia sounded concern by Bella's strange behavior.

Not hearing Olivia's words, Bella's heart beat faster as she concentrated. Initially, nothing happened, but soon her hand glowed with the similar light she had seen during her training. A smile grew on her face as the familiar feeling of comfort was felt from the glow.

"What's happening?!" Olivia shouted involuntarily, her voice echoing around them.

As Bella continued to look at the light, she was happy to see how the light didn't fade away like her first attempt. Now she could feel a sense of how much the new ability could last. "It feels like a container filled with those light, letting me know how much I have left," Bella thought in wonder. "Taking the extra time to learn this power was worth it. I probably increased how much I can hold inside myself, compared to the first time. I've even made it possible for me to continue drawing those lights to me passively. This way, I don't have to continually focus on it." Making the light grow stronger, it felt as though the darkness in the hallway shrank away.

"The light... I feel as though I'm having all the stress inside of me..." Olivia couldn't explain her thought coherently, not understanding what was happening. "Squad Leader, how?"

"I don't know myself," Bella shook her head. She didn't want to reveal the voice that reached out to her, not knowing how it would be received. "Usually, hearing a voice isn't taken as a positive thing. I can't let people think the stress is getting to me." She thought to herself.

Due to Olivia's outburst, people were beginning to wake up. There was confusion, some jumping awake with their weapons ready, worried they were under attack by a new eldritch threat from the dark.

When it was discovered that nothing was happening, word was spread amongst the squad. Some of them sighed in relief, unable to handle the constant pressure. Being able to rest and have some time to recover was a precious thing, treasured by them.

Su and May walked over to where Olivia and Bella were located. Both of them women appeared anxious and hopeful for an explanation.

Su was the first to notice the glowing on Bella's hand. "Squad Leader? What?"

Directing her attention towards the women, Bella shrugged the shoulders, unable to figure out what to think.

"Is it from the monsters?" Su asked, connecting her own new abilities to what she was seeing.

Bella shook her head. Lifting her hand and to give them a better view, "Whatever this ability I've gained is, I know it's not connected to the boost we've received from slaying the monsters. I'm still unsure where it originated from."

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Why does it feel as though I'm back at home?" May had a bewildered expression.

Getting up, Bella motioned for the woman to come closer. When May reached where Bella was standing, Bella asked, "Give me your hand."

Without hesitating, May offered her hand to Bella.

Gently taking May's hand, Bella imagined the lights entering the woman.

The was a quick sucking of air from May.

"May?" Su asked in concern, worried about what was happening.

Bella removed her hand from May's.

When May lost contact with Bella, she had a look of surprise and wonder. Looking at her leg, which had a cut from a monster earlier, she quickly began removing the bandages.

Su gasped in surprise. "May! Your leg!"

"It's healed!" May shouted. Quickly looking at Bella, "How?"

Not answer the question, Bella decided to try out something she had been practicing in that world inside of herself. Concentrating, the light slowly grew around her body. The rate at which her powers were being used increased drastically, but she felt it was important to try what she had in mind.

Thinking of her body like a lightbulb, she imagined the light to wash over everyone. If what May had experienced was created by the light, then...

A flash of light lit up the hallway, blinding the women. Shouts of confusion were made as they tried to understand what was happening.

"What is this light?!" Sin could be heard off in the distance.

"My bruises?! They're fading away!" A voice was heard.

Another shout was heard, "My ankle! It's not sprained!"

Hearing the words from her subordinates, Bella couldn't help but smile in happiness. Feeling that she had used up a quarter of her powers, the light began to fade away. Once again, the light from the torches took over lighting the area. The difference was a sense of rejuvenation, similar to when they first arrived in the world.

Bella could see smiles on the faces of her subordinates. No longer did they look depleted, moving forward only because of their training as special operation members.

Running could be heard as Sin rushed over to where Bella was standing. Cynth also came rushing over to Bella's location.

"Squad Leader?! What was that?!" Cynth yelled out.

Already feeling the lights inside of her slowly refilling what she had used up, Bella said, "I, honestly, don't know. I somehow discovered these abilities that are separate from what many of you have developed."

Cynth looked at May's leg, pointing at it in shock, "Your leg!"

Seeing her friend's reaction, May giggled. "The Squad Leader somehow healed it." Saying the words, May looked to not believe what had happened.

"The light was from you, Squad Leader?" Sin tried to process what was happening.

Nodding, "It seems as though my theories are right about my power."

Tilting her head, Olivia asked, "What do you mean?"

Making her hand glow again, "I believe this light has some kind of protective and healing properties to it. This is why many of the members are feeling better after I flooded the hallway. Instead of being exhausted, like we have been for a while, it seems everyone has returned to their peak fitness."

"I agree. Though even more surprising is feeling a little stronger." Cynth added after getting over seeing May healed and back in top health.

Hearing Cynth's reaction, Bella looked at the woman.

"I don't know how to explain it. It's like taking a drink from a strong cup of coffee, energized for a brief moment." She crossed her arms and tilted her head, as though trying to come up with a better explanation.

"Is it possible?" Bella could feel herself getting excited at the possibility after hearing Cynth's words.