One month later, I had achieved what I could barely imagine at the beginning. My aura had grown exponentially under Aura's guidance, and now, in the training field, the atmosphere had become so intense and dark it felt like something out of a nightmare.

I was ready—or at least I thought so. As the space around me transformed into that dark and terrifying prison I had created in my mind, adrenaline began coursing through my veins. Aura watched silently, waiting for me to finish manifesting the scene. This time, I had done it all: walls stained with blood, flickering lights, a long, narrow hallway shrouded in shadows, and a horde of deformed creatures, towering and monstrous, just like in my worst dreams.

The moment I saw Aura was ready, I gave the first command with just a thought. The horde of creatures began to move instantly, charging at her with axes and saws, their bodies covered in nails and blades that reflected the hallway's flickering lights. Hovering in the air with the control I had fought so hard to master in my dreams, I directed them to attack from every possible angle, testing her limits.

But Aura was an unstoppable force. With almost superhuman agility, she dodged every strike, slipping between the creatures with quick, fluid movements, as if she had been training for this her whole life. I watched her deliver precise, deadly blows while opening portals around her. From these emerged strange limbs and attacks from other dimensions—one moment a burst of fire erupted, the next an icy wave froze any of my creatures that got too close.

My attempts to surprise her seemed almost futile. I focused harder, trying new maneuvers, aerial strategies, and faster attack combinations, but Aura always seemed one step ahead. She blocked attacks with gleaming scales that appeared over her blind spots, countering every assault instantly. She was unstoppable, and I couldn’t help but feel a mix of frustration and respect.

In a rapid series of movements, exploiting a momentary lapse in my concentration, she countered one of my coordinated attacks. A final portal opened behind me, releasing a surge of energy that destabilized me. In seconds, my creatures vanished, and I fell to the ground, defeated and exhausted. Victorious, Aura approached with a calm smile, offering her hand to help me up.

As the training scenario faded and silence filled the space, Aura stepped closer, her gaze filled with genuine pride and a satisfied smile.

—You did exceptionally well, Ángel. You've made incredible progress in just one month, —she said, pulling something from her pocket.—I think it's time to give you this.

She handed me a small, sleek identification card that shimmered under the light. Intrigued, I took it, and my eyes widened in surprise as I read the word at the top: "Divine."

—The same rank as you? —I asked, incredulous, examining the card. It was a prestigious, rare title that I was only beginning to comprehend.

Aura nodded, pride evident in her demeanor.

—That's right. From the moment I met you, I knew you had the potential to reach this rank, but earning it wasn’t easy. —She explained, her tone turning serious.—Even a "Divine" like me can't recommend someone for this rank without rigorous trials. For the past month, I've been documenting your progress and sending daily reports to the higher-ups. They needed to see with their own eyes what you're capable of and the control you have over your abilities.

I listened attentively, feeling both honored and grateful.

—All your hard work has paid off, Ángel. You're now officially a "Divine."

As I admired my ID, it suddenly disappeared from my hand in a blink. Startled, I turned and saw a boy with a mischievous grin holding my card.

—Do you really think someone deserves the "Divine" rank when they don't even notice they've been robbed right in front of them? —he taunted with a challenging tone.

Before I could respond, a girl beside him sighed, visibly exasperated.

—Ignore him, —she said to me.—He's just jealous you spend more time with Aura.

The boy glanced at her, flustered.

—That has nothing to do with it! —he retorted, avoiding eye contact.

Aura, amused, stepped in to diffuse the situation.

—Well, Ángel, you won't be alone anymore. Let me introduce you to Axel and Angela, both anomalous of Category B. I thought you'd need some time alone to focus on your training this past month, so you hadn't met them until now, —she explained with a smile.

I greeted them, still taken aback by Axel's speed in taking my ID. Despite the initial awkwardness, the atmosphere quickly lightened.

—To celebrate this major milestone and your new ID, I'm treating the three of you to lunch, —Aura announced enthusiastically. Hearing this, the three of us perked up, leaving behind the tension from before.

—Perfect! —Angela exclaimed, while Axel merely smiled, clearly excited but trying to hide it.

Aura asked them to get ready, and in an instant, Axel and Angela headed to their rooms, leaving me alone with Aura for a moment. I turned to her, questions swirling in my mind.

—Why introduce me to them now? Are they… like a team or something? —I asked, trying to grasp my new role now that I had the official ID.

Aura nodded.

—Exactly. You'll train and work alongside them. They'll be your practice partners in the field and your allies on future missions. In the world of the anomalous, having trusted companions can be the difference between success and failure.

The idea of having a team felt strange yet comforting. During my training, I had grown accustomed to solitude, mainly to improve my focus, but now I would have to learn to rely on others.

Shortly after, Axel and Angela returned, ready to head out. Aura led us to the parking area and directed us to an elegant, spacious vehicle.

During the ride, Angela glanced at me through the rearview mirror and broke the silence.

—So, Ángel, —she said with a playful smile,—what's your ability?

Still adjusting to openly discussing my skills, I explained simply:

—I can materialize things from my dreams, including… nightmares.

Axel's eyes lit up with interest.

—Really? So you can bring out monsters and creepy stuff… Sounds pretty useful. —A hint of approval slipped into his tone.

Aura chimed in to clarify.

—And not just that. Ángel can generate detailed scenarios and sustain them for increasingly longer periods. Not to mention, he has advanced aura control for someone who's only just entered this world.

Hearing this, Ángeles smiled even more, intrigued.

—Interesting. Then you should definitely be the one to lead the "darker" missions. Though… I hope that doesn't mean you can't handle something less terrifying, —she joked.

Amid laughter and comments, the journey became more pleasant. We arrived at a discreet restaurant, ready to celebrate my official start in the world of anomalies.

The atmosphere in the restaurant felt different from any other moment in my life. Aura had reserved a table in an elegant place, one I definitely wasn’t used to visiting. We sat down, and as we got comfortable, she raised her glass with that typical smile of hers, full of pride and satisfaction.

—To you, Ángel, our new official anomalous. —She said, her eyes gleaming with genuine emotion. Axel and Ángeles also raised their glasses, smiling.

—To me, —I repeated softly, feeling my hands tremble as I lifted my glass and toasted with them. I had never been in a moment like this, nor imagined being the reason for anyone's celebration.

As we ate, Axel asked me a question that seemed to have been on his mind all evening:

—What do you feel when you materialize your dreams? —he asked, with a seriousness that caught me off guard.

I stayed quiet for a moment, searching for the right words. I remembered something she had said to me when we met. "It’s like putting everything I feel on paper, even the things I can’t say." Maybe something similar was the best way to explain it.

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—It’s… like painting in the air, —I finally answered, recalling how I got lost in every detail when creating those scenarios and creatures—. It’s like filling a blank canvas, only here I can pour everything I feel. Even the things I don’t know how to say.

I saw how Aura watched me, as if she had understood something about me that she had only suspected until now. With a melancholic smile, she stepped a bit closer.

—How much do you miss her? —she asked in a soft tone, one that seemed to reach the part of me I had been trying so hard to hide.

I felt a wave of emotion tighten in my chest. Of course, she knew. Despite all the control I had tried to maintain over my feelings, it was hard to contain myself in that moment. I forced myself to be strong, to not let the pain slip into my words, and I smiled with a determined air.

—No matter how much I miss her, I know I'll see her again. —My voice sounded firmer than I truly felt, and that gave me some peace.

Aura looked at me with a soft smile, and without warning, she pulled an envelope from her jacket. She extended it toward me, her eyes gleaming with a conspiratorial light.

—Here’s a surprise, —she said, and her words instantly caught my attention—. Everything you need to know about Luna is in this envelope. From her current address to the reason she disappeared. I wanted to give it to you as a gift, Ángel. Open it when you're ready.

My hands trembled slightly as I took the envelope. I could feel the weight of everything it meant. It wasn’t just an envelope; it was the key to what I had been searching for, to all the answers about her, about Luna. I hadn’t even mentioned her name before, but somehow it didn’t feel strange that Aura already knew it. In my mind, a whirlwind of emotions and questions swirled as my fingers grazed the flap, hesitant to open it right away.

—Thank you… truly, Aura. You have no idea how much this means to me.

She just nodded, respecting my decision not to open it yet, and I noticed in her expression a mix of understanding and pride.

That night was truly memorable, one I could hardly erase from my memory. It wasn’t just the excitement of my new life or the possibility of seeing Luna again but also the fact that Aura trusted me enough to reveal so much. I carefully stored the envelope and, upon arriving home, placed it under my pillow, feeling it was like a precious treasure waiting for the perfect moment to be opened. That night, I fell asleep with a sense of hope I hadn’t felt in a long time, as if my steps finally had a clear direction.

That same night, before waking up, I dreamed of her. We were in a calm place, perhaps a park or a formless spot, but enough to feel alone and at peace. I saw her approach, and without thinking, I took her hand with a gentleness I couldn’t express in words. I felt the warmth of her fingers intertwining with mine, as if finally, after so long, we were together again.

She looked at me with those eyes full of sweetness that I remembered so well and suddenly hugged me tightly, silently, as if nothing else mattered. I felt her warmth, her presence, as if she were really there. In those seconds, all the loneliness I had felt vanished. But just as I tried to tell her how much I missed her, I woke up.

I opened my eyes, and for a moment, I could still feel her hug, like a trace fading into reality, a residual effect of my ability. I stayed there, staring at the ceiling and holding onto that last trace of her presence in my mind, with the envelope still safe under my pillow. The certainty that she missed me as much as I missed her grew stronger, and although it hurt, it gave me the conviction that someday I would see her again.

But there wasn’t much time for sentimentality; it was the day of my first mission as a divine-ranked anomalous, and I had to focus. I got up, reviewed the mission report, and began reading what seemed like a considerable challenge. Apparently, it was an A-rank anomaly, with a fluctuating presence that had caused incidents in a couple of areas over the past few weeks. Apparently, the anomaly generated illusions so intense that victims became trapped in them, reliving traumatic experiences as if they were real.

I read every detail possible, mentally preparing myself for what I would face. Although this time I wouldn’t be under Aura’s protection, I knew that all the training and prior experiences had prepared me for this moment.

I headed to the base to receive the final details of the mission. Upon arrival, Aura was already there, waiting for me with a calm smile, as if she knew exactly what was on my mind.

—Alright, Ángel, —the supervisor began while placing some images and notes on the screen—. Your mission is to contain and neutralize the anomaly identified as "Reflection." It has been generating intense illusions in a specific area, causing people to become trapped in scenarios of their greatest fears or insecurities. Despite having an incorporeal form, we believe you will be able to perceive its presence and manipulate it as you did during training.

Aura added some advice.

—Remember, these types of anomalies tend to feed their illusions with the thoughts and fears of their target. If you try to approach it, be very careful with what you feel and think. Stay focused.

I nodded, understanding the magnitude of what I was about to face. Aura watched me with that mix of pride and confidence that always pushed me forward.

I grabbed my gear and boarded the transport that would take me to the mission site. The area was deserted, cordoned off to prevent any civilians from approaching. I took a deep breath and entered the abandoned building where the anomaly's last manifestation had been reported. The place was dark and silent, but the air felt heavy, charged with that strange sensation that always preceded the appearance of an anomaly.

As I ventured deeper into the building, I began to notice subtle changes in my surroundings. The walls seemed to shift behind me, and my vision blurred, as if I were looking through a foggy lens. It was the anomaly attempting to influence my mind.

I clenched my fists and focused on my positive memories, on the clear images I had been trained to visualize. But suddenly, the distortion intensified, and before I realized it, I found myself in a dark hallway that didn’t belong to the building. I was completely surrounded by mirrors.

Each reflection showed distorted versions of myself: versions filled with fear, doubt, and all the things I had worked so hard to suppress. I tried to remember Aura’s advice about maintaining control, but the pressure from each reflection felt overwhelming, almost as if it were draining my willpower.

I stopped and closed my eyes for a moment, focusing on a positive memory—Luna’s image and the warmth of the hug I could still feel. Somehow, that seemed to stabilize the environment; the mirrors stopped shaking, and gradually, the figure of the anomaly began to take shape at the end of the hallway. It appeared as a dense, shifting shadow trapped among the mirrors.

I took a deep breath and started moving toward it.

As I approached the dark figure, I felt the pressure on my mind intensify with every step. The anomaly seemed to perceive my thoughts, latching onto my doubts and fears as if feeding on them. The reflections in the mirrors around me became more defined, each one representing a defeated, broken, frightened version of myself. But I kept my eyes locked on the anomaly, forcing myself to ignore every distorted image.

The shadow, dense and shapeless, suddenly expanded, filling the space in front of me with incredible speed. I felt an invisible force dragging me toward one of the mirrors, as if it wanted to trap me in my own reflection forever. But at that moment, I remembered my training. I was capable of materializing my dreams and emotions. Focusing intensely, I created a barrier in front of me—a kind of opaque energy wall that protected me from its pull.

The anomaly shifted shape again, now resembling a distorted human figure with elongated arms that reached out for me. Instead of retreating, I moved directly toward it, raising my hands to summon the scene I had in mind: the dark hallway transformed into a bright pathway, illuminating every corner and momentarily stunning the creature.

—Is that all you’ve got? —I muttered, projecting an air of calm over the room, my gaze reflecting disappointment and boredom.

The shadow shuddered and shrank in on itself, trying to avoid the light. I took advantage of its retreat to move faster. With each step I took, I strengthened the light around me, holding onto the image of Luna and everything that had given me strength in my darkest moments. The creature emitted a sound, like a silent scream, as its arms sharpened into blades, attempting to slice through my defenses.

I felt a blow to my side, knocking the air out of me for a moment, but I didn’t let it defeat me. I could still feel the weight of its attempt to instill fear. The creature moved quickly, with overwhelming force that made the air tremble with every strike. In an instant, it lunged at me with its blade-like arms, and I knew I had to act fast. I materialized a familiar figure, one of the beings I had used in my training sessions with Aura. It emerged in front of me, massive and fierce, intercepting the anomaly’s attack and hurling it through the air. The shadowy figure flew toward a nearby mirror, bouncing from one reflection to another like a projectile, moving at an astonishing speed.

I quickly dissolved my creation as the anomaly returned with doubled fury. But I didn’t move. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, letting myself be enveloped by a profound calm and focusing on what I was about to do.

When I sensed the imminent strike, I let the shadow on the ground envelop me. Like a shadow among shadows, I vanished, and in the blink of an eye, I was on the ceiling, directly above the anomaly. I opened my eyes and, with all the strength in my body and focus, descended upon it with a powerful kick. The impact was so forceful that I immediately sent it hurtling toward the opposite wall, where I had materialized dozens of sharp objects that pierced it, filling the air with a haunting echo as it seemed to disintegrate slowly.

I exited the mission site, my body still vibrating from the adrenaline rush and the mild pain of a few hits. Looking back, I ensured the anomaly was fully neutralized. I concluded the mission and began my journey back to the academy, the mental report already taking shape.

Upon arrival, I submitted a detailed account of what had happened, including every movement of the anomaly and the strategy I had used to contain it. The officials reviewed it quickly, nodding occasionally before giving me their approval.

With the rest of the day free, I headed to a shop and picked up a couple of items I knew my parents would love: scented candles for my mom and an antique pocket watch for my dad, something he had always wanted. After wrapping the gifts and making sure I had everything, I set off for home.

When I arrived, I paused for a second in front of the door before ringing the bell. Within seconds, my mom opened the door. Her expression shifted from surprise to joy in an instant, and before I could say anything, she was crying and hugging me tightly.

—Ángel… it’s you! —she said, laughing and sobbing at the same time. She couldn’t speak; her arms wouldn’t let me go, and her embrace felt as if she never wanted to let me go.

My dad appeared in the doorway, curious about the commotion, and when he saw me, his eyes widened.

—Ángel? —he asked, looking at me with the same mix of disbelief and joy—. It really is you!

We went inside and sat in the living room, where we began chatting about everything that had happened. They asked about the academy, my training, and how I was doing overall. It felt as though no time had passed, enjoying the warmth and love of home.

My mom’s hug still lingered on my skin, and my dad’s proud gaze was etched in my mind. I said goodbye to them, promising to visit again soon, and left the house with the sense of peace I always felt after seeing them. But just as I heard the door close behind me, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

—Ángel, we have a situation. We need you to handle an anomaly that’s emerged near your current location. —They gave me the address, and the name of the street echoed in my mind, hitting me like an avalanche.