"Are you not going to answer?" James asked, noticing Noel's silence.

Noel took a deep breath, his gaze distant, as if searching for the right words in the depths of his memory.

"All awakened have their own powers. Why do you think I would have a power source or anything like that?"

James's eyes were piercing, filled with an intense curiosity.

"Because your power is different, on a whole other level. And secondly, you mentioned someone named Sauron. Who is he?"

Noel hesitated, the memories swirling in his mind like dark storm clouds.

His face contorted with the effort of recalling painful events. After a few moments, he collected his thoughts.

"Why do you want to know this?"

James's tone was calm but insistent.

"I'm just interested. So tell me."

Noel's eyes met James's, searching for any hint of deceit, but all he saw was genuine curiosity.

He sighed, resigning himself to share the truth, the burden of his secret weighing heavily on his shoulders.

"Okay. To be honest, I don't know too much about him," Noel admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of frustration and resignation.

His hands trembled slightly as he spoke, the memories of Sauron like shadows haunting his mind.

James listened intently, his gaze unwavering. "Go on."

Noel took another deep breath, his eyes reflecting the turmoil within.

"When the experiments were done on me, one day, he suddenly started speaking to me. At first, I thought I was losing my mind, that the pain and fear had finally broken me."

"But his voice was clear, unwavering. He told me that he was always a part of me, a dormant force, but awakened too quickly due to the experiment. He claimed these powers... they all belong to him."

James's eyes widened in surprise and concern.

"So, he's like another entity within you? And the power you showed at that time when you were surrounded was also because of him?"

Noel nodded slowly, the memory of that moment still vivid in his mind.

"Yes. He helped me keep my mind stable so I was able to unleash my full power," Noel said, his voice tinged with exhaustion but also a hint of pride.

James's eyes narrowed with curiosity. "Can you tell me how he did that?"

Noel sighed, his gaze distant as he recalled the process.

"I basically let him take over a portion of my consciousness, and he maintains that portion's functions. I call it fusion."

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James frowned, trying to grasp the complexity of Noel's explanation.

"If you could do that, then why didn't you do it sooner?"

Noel's eyes flashed with frustration, his voice rising as he spoke.

"Isn't it obvious? It's too dangerous. If anything goes wrong, my mind might stop functioning. Can't you see my condition right now?" His voice trembled slightly, betraying the toll the fusion had taken on him.

James looked at Noel, truly seeing the extent of his physical and mental exhaustion for the first time.

Noel's body was battered, his face pale and gaunt, every breath a struggle.

The aftereffects of wielding such immense power were painfully clear.

His hands shook ever so slightly, and dark circles framed his eyes, evidence of sleepless nights and relentless nightmares.

James's voice softened, filled with a mix of sympathy and respect. "Is it so? I didn’t realize how much it took out of you."

Noel nodded, his expression weary but resolute. "Yes. The fusion gives me incredible power, but it’s like dancing on the edge of a knife. One misstep, and I could lose everything—my mind, my life. It’s not a risk I take lightly."

James's gaze was steady, filled with admiration for Noel's strength and resilience.

"You're incredibly brave to use that power, knowing the risks involved."

Noel shrugged, a faint smile playing on his lips despite his exhaustion.

"Yeah, I know. But the bigger reason is that I don't want to see that thing," Noel said, his voice trembling slightly.

James's brow furrowed in concern.

"That thing? Are you talking about the monster you mentioned?"

Noel nodded, a haunted look in his eyes. "Yes. I'm talking about him."

James leaned in closer, his curiosity piqued. "And who might that monster be?"

Noel's gaze turned distant, as if recalling a terrible memory.

"I don't know. But whenever I do fusion, Sauron and my senses merge to some extent. And I am able to sense his presence. His presence is too chaotic and dangerous."

James's eyes were filled with a mix of sympathy and determination. "Can you describe a little more about him?"

Noel took a deep breath, his voice faltering as he spoke.

"Well, basically, I don't know how to describe him. He feels too vivid, too horrible, and it's as if he's watching everything," Noel said, his voice trembling with the weight of his fear.

James leaned in, his eyes locked onto Noel's. "Do you know anything else about him?"

Noel swallowed hard, his mouth dry. "Sauron told me his name is Abyss. And his goal is to destroy everything."

James's eyes narrowed, a mix of suspicion and concern. "Abyss... that's quite a name."

Noel sighed, frustration edging into his voice.

"I know it sounds absurd and hard to believe, but I've told you everything. Now, can I go?"

James looked at him for a long moment, weighing his words, the intensity of their conversation hanging in the air.

Finally, he extended his hand, his voice calm and sincere.

"Okay. I believe you. You can go."

Noel hesitated, his eyes searching James's for any sign of deceit.

Finding none, he grasped James's hand firmly, a flicker of relief and gratitude in his eyes.

"Thank you."

As soon as Noel grabbed James's hand, a sudden, blinding light enveloped his palm.

Startled, Noel tried to pull back, but the light held him in place.

As the glow faded, a small, intricate tattoo appeared on the back of his hand, its dark lines swirling in an almost hypnotic pattern.

Noel stared at it, his brow furrowed in confusion and fear.

"What is this?" Noel asked, his voice tense and trembling.

James's gaze was steady, unwavering.

"It's one of my abilities. I can track you whenever I want with this mark. I'm letting you go today because I believe you're telling the truth. But I'm going to investigate everything, and if I find anything false, be prepared."

Noel looked at him silently, the weight of the situation sinking in as he slowly stood up.

His body ached with exhaustion, but his mind was sharp, assessing the implications of this new development.

The mark on his hand felt like a brand, a tether linking him to James's watchful eye.

James's tone was stern, almost fatherly. "And don't think about committing any crimes, got it?"

Noel's lips curled into a smirk, a hint of defiance in his eyes despite the situation. "Sure. As you say."

James nodded, his expression softening slightly. "Good."

Noel watched as James turned around, the air thick with unspoken tension.

The weight of their encounter pressed down on him, each step away from James feeling like a step into a future that was now uncertain and shadowed by this new connection.

"Goodbye. Let's hope not to meet again," Noel said, his voice carrying a mix of relief and wariness.

He wanted to be free, to live without the constant threat of surveillance and suspicion.

"Yeah. Goodbye," James replied, his tone firm but not unkind.

There was a flicker of understanding in his eyes, a silent acknowledgment of the burden Noel carried.

As they both moved in opposite directions, the alley seemed to hold its breath, the gravity of their encounter lingering in the air.

Noel's mind raced, the mark on his hand a constant reminder of the tenuous freedom he now held.

James watched Noel's retreating figure, a mix of concern and determination etched on his face.

He had done what he could for now, but the road ahead was fraught with uncertainty.

He knew that Noel's journey was far from over, and so was his own quest for justice.

The alley, once silent and forgotten, now echoed with the footsteps of two men bound by fate and circumstance.

The weight of their encounter lingered, a silent promise of future confrontations and the relentless pursuit of truth and redemption.

As Noel disappeared into the shadows, a sense of resolve settled over him.

He would uncover the mysteries that plagued him, and he would do it on his own terms.

The mark on his hand was both a curse and a reminder of the ally he had found in James, even if their paths were destined to clash again.

James turned away, his thoughts already moving to the next steps.

Each step he took was heavy with the responsibility of the promise he had made—to Noel and to himself.

In that moment, the alley seemed to hum with a new energy, the beginning of a journey that would test their limits, challenge their beliefs, and ultimately, reveal the true strength of their characters.