I glanced toward Louvel, Temple, and Placid, who were still seated at the nearby table. Their conversation paused mid-sentence as they turned to watch me curiously, their expressions ranging from mild interest to blatant suspicion.

"I have to leave," I announced loud enough for them to hear, grabbing my jacket. "You three can either call it a day and head back, or if you want, stick around and grab dinner. Your call."

Placid raised an eyebrow, her skepticism practically oozing off her. "Leaving? Where to?"

"A friend’s place," I replied vaguely, pulling my jacket on. "Something came up, and I need to check it out."

Their frowns deepened in unison, like they were collectively debating whether or not to interrogate me further.Honestly, I expected them to let it go. I should have known better. Louvel leaned back, stretching casually like this was the most relaxed decision of his life.

“Yeah, I’ll tag along. My schedule’s wide open.” Henry replied.

Temple casually brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to see what all this is about.” And there it was. That little spark of intrigue in her eyes.

“I’ll come too,” Placid added, sharp as usual. “Though I might have to cancel my evening Pilates class.”

I deadpanned immediately.

“Oh no, Placid, not the Pilates class!” I threw her a mock-concerned look, placing a dramatic hand over my heart. “Maybe you should stay and attend if it’s that important.”

Temple couldn’t hold it in and let out a small chuckle behind her hand, trying and failing to hide her amusement. Louvel just grinned, clearly enjoying the exchange. Placid, on the other hand? She stomped her foot in irritation, her glare burning holes through my soul.She didn’t say anything, though, which was a surprise as she always had something to say about every situation, leaving me with a little to no choice.

Fantastic. Now it was a group field trip.

Meanwhile, Vesper shot me a side-eye look. “They’re coming too?” she asked, her voice laced with clear disapproval.

“Unfortunately, yes.”

It was also the moment I realized I was babysitting not just one, but a half dozen people. Why the hell was I suddenly responsible for this circus? Oh my god. I was on a fast track to losing my sanity. If this kept up, I probably wouldn’t survive the next ten days, let alone this one.

The other three caught her tone and frowned, their gazes shifting to me. I could tell they weren't exactly thrilled with her attitude. Placid looked especially annoyed, her posture stiffening as if ready for an argument. Rich kids and their egos—God help me if this turned into a full-blown spat.

“Do you want me to help you or not?” I squinted at Vesper.

I didn’t care if my tone was blunt as hell. I was officially done with the bullshit.

Vesper met my eyes, her face deadpan. “Yes.”

Then, without another word, she stood up, adjusting the strap of her schoolbag over her shoulder. The black cat on the table didn’t miss a beat—it leapt gracefully onto her arm, curling around her like a living shadow. Then it stared directly at me with an intensity that normally seemed like a cute-pet kind of stare. Both the owner and the pet were unhinged. There was no other explanation in my eyes.

Louvel leaned forward, his easy going demeanor cracking just slightly. “You know, for someone who’s asking for help, you’re not doing yourself any favors by being rude.”

Vesper turned to him. “I didn’t ask for your help,” she said coolly. “I asked for his.” She gestured at me.

"Wow," Placid said, arms crossed as she leaned back onto her chair. "I don’t know what’s worse—your attitude, or the fact that you think you’re too good to ask for our help properly."

“Guys,” I said, slipping on my jacket, “We don’t have time for this.”

Though, deep down, I secretly kind of wanted them to throw hands. Just a little. How fun would it be to see them go at it? The thought was almost entertaining enough to make me smile. But, of course, the universe didn’t grant me that wish. Instead, the moment I spoke, half of the tension in the air immediately fizzled out. Like some unspoken agreement had been reached. Placid, Temple, and Louvel exchanged looks that made it painfully clear they’d decided they were dealing with nothing more than an angsty teenager. Vesper, for all her unflinching intensity, was suddenly beneath their interest, and they seemed to collectively decide it wasn’t worth wasting their breath on her. How rich of them. Their mannerisms were always so polished, so “top-notch.”

Temple, with her ever-present graceful calm, Louvel with his effortless charm, and even Placid, who could be sharp as a blade, still carried herself with an air of superiority. Watching them disengage so completely was almost more annoying than their previous bickering.

Vesper, meanwhile, seemed oblivious—or maybe she just didn’t care. She kept petting her cat like she was above the entire situation.

Is that why the rich were richer—not just in money but in other aspects too? Their confidence, their composure, their ability to navigate situations like this without breaking a sweat? Meanwhile, the poor often stayed poorer, not just financially but in everything else—opportunity, mindset, even luck. I wondered inwardly, watching the dynamics unfold before me. Maybe it wasn’t just about wealth but the way people carried themselves, the resources they leaned on, the invisible advantages they had. It wasn’t fair, but then again, when was anything ever fair?

“Alright,” I said, glancing around warily. “Let’s keep this moving. And Vesper?” I turned to her and explained seriously. “Try not to alienate the people trying to help you. It might save your life.”

“I’ll try.”

I was glad she didn’t just let my words go in one ear and out the other. For once, it seemed like something had stuck.

We rode in Louvel’s car, and by the time we arrived at his place, the sun had already dipped below the horizon, casting the street in long, deep shadows.

Henry greeted us at the door, his gaze sweeping over each of us before his expression softened into a smile. “You can call me Henry,” he said, “North’s told me a lot about you guys, by the way.” He extended a hand.

Louvel took a step forward with his usual ease. “Louvel,” he shook Henry’s hand firmly. “It’s good to finally meet you. North’s mentioned you, too—says you’re the one to watch.”

Henry let out a chuckle, “He exaggerates. But I’ll take the compliment.”

Temple followed close behind, “Temple. Nice to meet you.”

They introduced themselves with the kind of confidence I expected from them. After all, Henry was their future senior from the Beyonder’s Academy.

Meanwhile, Placid, however, lingered at the back. And when Henry’s attention shifted to her, her shoulders stiffened slightly.

"And you are?" he asked gently but curious.

“I’m, uh—Placid,” she stammered, stepping forward hesitantly.

She took his hand, her movements awkward and uncertain, like she wasn’t quite sure how to act.

"It’s... nice to meet you."

She was flustered.

Placid. Flustered.

The same girl who could tear people apart with words alone was now tripping over basic introductions. She kept staring directly at Henry’s face—his sharp jawline, piercing eyes, and that stupid, naturally effortless confidence. Watching her fall apart for a second was a rare treat. Henry, for his part, didn’t seem to notice. Or if he did? He was polite enough not to acknowledge it.

"Well," he said, motioning for us to follow, "come on in."

He led us through the basement door. Caleb was sitting at the main desk, fully absorbed in a computer screen running hot. Gina sat beside him, her eyes darting rapidly as she sifted through scenes and images already sorted by AI and algorithms.

The moment Gina noticed me, her expression brightened. “Hey, you made it!” she said, flashing a bright smile. Her eyes flicked briefly to the others before returning to her work, the smile lingering as she resumed her task.

Caleb, on the other hand, reacted with zero restraint. The instant he spotted me, he practically shot out of his chair, “Henry told me about the fight at the warehouse!” he exclaimed, his voice bubbling with energy as he rushed toward me.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

I shot Henry a pointed look. He waved a hand dismissively, brushing off my unspoken annoyance. “He wanted the highlights before continuing to help,” Henry said, completely unfazed.

I clicked my tongue, mildly irritated but ultimately resigned. As long as it satisfied Caleb’s curiosity and kept him from pushing to get involved in the fight itself, it wasn’t a real problem.

“Don’t worry,” Caleb said with a grin, clapping a hand on my shoulder. I raised a brow at him. “I’m happy being the computer guy.”

I sighed, “Well, thanks for staying out of trouble. And for everything you’ve done to help us. We couldn’t have made it this far without you.” Inwardly, I was very relieved. Caleb understood his role, and I didn’t have to worry about dragging him into something he wasn’t prepared for. The last thing I wanted was innocent blood on my hands.

We all took seats on Caleb’s now surprisingly clean and organized sofa, I turned to Henry. The last time I’d been here, the place had looked like a madman’s lair—cluttered, chaotic, and borderline hazardous, as if Caleb had been holed up for months without stepping outside. Now, it had a polished efficiency. With computers, servers, and high-tech setups, it almost felt like a proper superhero base.

“Where’s Alex?” I asked, leaning back and stretching out my legs.

Henry glanced up from his phone. “He went to the warehouse site,” he said. “Wanted to make sure the City Protectors handled everything properly.”

I nodded, filing that information away. Typical Alex—always thorough, always taking on more than he probably should.

Vesper, sitting quietly on the edge of a chair with her cat curled on her lap, suddenly asked in confusion. “Warehouse? City Protectors?”

Caleb, still busy fine-tuning a cluster of screens filled with maps and satellite feeds, swiveled in his chair to face me. “Speaking of resources. I’ve been digging up everything I can on old train stations and underground locations. Found a couple of leads that might be worth checking out.”

“That was quick,” I said, leaning forward to scan the screens, impressed.

Caleb shrugged modestly. “It’s what I do.”

I glanced at Henry, who lounged casually against the edge of Caleb’s desk. “Just send me the list. Jade and I will check it out tomorrow.”

Henry nodded, tapping something into his phone. “You’ll have it by tonight.”

I turned to Louvel, Temple, and Placid. They had been following the conversation quietly, their expressions shifting between curiosity and confusion. It was clear they had no real grasp of what was happening. I clapped my hands together, drawing their full attention.

“Alright, here’s the deal,” I said seriously. “The reason I brought you here—and yes, I did that willingly—is because I wanted you to see how things work behind the scenes. I know all three of you are sharp enough to have dabbled in… heroes and villains - activities of your own.”

I pointed at the screens. “As for this… the investigation we’re working on is connected to the train accident and the missing people from two weeks ago.”

Placid’s squinted. “Wait. You mean the one all over the news?”

“That’s exactly the one,” I confirmed.

Temple frowned, shifting her leg over another, “They said a few people survived, but the city never showed their faces. It’s been two weeks, and still nothing?”

“You could say it was for their safety,” I replied, waving a hand dismissively. “Actually, I was one of the six survivors. Barely made it out, to be honest. The only reason any of us did was because we were with someone… incredibly powerful.”

“Wait, really? You were there?” Placid blurted out, her usual composure slipping. The surprise in her voice was almost comical. “That explains why you vanished for a week. We thought you were just hiding out or something.”

I nodded, “The investigation we’re working on is directly tied to that train accident and the missing people. We’ve made solid progress, and I’m confident we’re onto something big—something that might finally give us answers.”

Temple leaned forward, “And by ‘solid progress,’ you mean you’ve got some leads? Or are we talking about something concrete?”

“More than just leads. We have results. Real results. Which brings me to the real reason I asked you here.”

Louvel looked at me with flicker of interest, “You’re asking if we want in.”

“Exactly,” I said with a nod. “This isn’t something I can force anyone into. At the end of the day, it’s your choice. If you decide to walk away, I won’t hold it against you. But if you choose to stay… You need to understand what that means. This isn’t just an Academy exercise or a sparring match. People have already died, and the risks are only going to grow. If you step into this, you’re stepping into danger. Real danger.”

The room fell silent, save for the heat and noise coming from the computers and servers running in the background. I added, “Take the next two or three days to think it over. Let me know where you stand.”

I scanned their faces, gauging their reactions. Louvel’s lips twitched as though he were already making up his mind. Temple leaned back slightly, her fingers drumming against her knee, thoughtful but not unwilling. Placid’s frown deepened, her mind clearly weighing the risks.

“Good,” I said finally, breaking the silence. “That’s all I wanted to say for now.”

Finally, my eyes landed on Vesper. She’d been listening quietly, but her intent gaze revealed she wasn’t just eavesdropping. Part of me hadn’t wanted her here, simply because she was still in school. But, with how bad her know-it-all attitude was. In hindsight, maybe this wasn’t such a bad thing. She must have formed her meta nature not long ago. So, she needed to see how the world worked beyond the sheltered lens.

I turned to Henry, who was busy with something on his tablet, concentrating. “Henry,” I called, “A minute, please.”

Henry lifted his head up from the tablet, “Sure,” he said, setting it down with a quiet clink on the desk. “What’s up?”

I nodded toward Vesper. “Can you put a mental cue on this girl?”

Henry thoughtfully studied Vesper, “Is there a problem?”

Vesper opened her mouth to respond, but I raised a hand to stop her. “Yeah, she has gotten herself mixed up in some bad stuff. I want you to keep an eye on her when she’s out and about—make sure she’s safe.”

Henry shrugged, “It’s normal for kids who’ve just started tapping into their meta nature to get into trouble. What’s the big deal? Let her enjoy her life. She’ll join some school gang, get into a few fights, maybe take a beating or two. Nothing deadly. Why track her movements?”

“It’s not that simple,” I shrugged, “She’s involved in something far worse than silly school gangs. I’m worried about her safety.”

Henry’s brows knit together, but he didn’t push further. Vesper, however, glanced between us, her expression a mix of frustration and confusion. But I wasn’t about to drag the rest of the group into more chaos before I had real leads. If I needed help, we could discuss it later.

Henry’s lips pressed into a thin line before he gave a small nod. “Alright. Sure.”

He turned to Vesper, his tone shifting to something more direct. “Just make sure you don’t leave the city. My range only extends that far. I don’t know if he explained that to you.”

His gaze flicked to me, and Vesper recoiled, clearly unsettled by the cryptic way we were discussing her situation.

“What exactly does this ‘mental cue’ mean?” she asked, skepticism laced in her voice.

“Alright, I’ll break it down for you. Once the cue is placed, I can tap into your senses—what you see, hear, and feel. Basically, I can monitor your surroundings. But only when I choose to focus. But, I’m not constantly tuned in.”

Immediately, Vesper squeezed herself smaller as she processed the implications. “You can… see what I see? Hear what I hear? And more?” Disbelief edged into her voice.

"Only when necessary,” Henry clarified. “Think of it as a security measure, not an invasion of privacy. Unless you’re in immediate danger or doing something life-threatening, I won’t even bother checking.”

If you need me to step in, just say my name. I’ll tune in and handle it from there.”

Vesper wasn't impressed by the assurance, “So… would I know when you’re, uh, looking at me?”

Henry shook his head, his tone flat and matter-of-fact. “No, you wouldn’t. When I tune in, it’s seamless. You won’t feel or notice a thing.”

Vesper shot me a hard glare. “I’m not a fan of that,” she said bluntly. “How do I know you’re not just… watching whenever you feel like it?”

Henry stiffened, then snapped his gaze to me, irritated. His glare screamed ‘Really? You’re making me explain this?’ From every angle, it seemed like he was being painted as the bad guy, but he still kept his composure as he calmly explained.

“That’s fair. But here’s the thing—you’re not exactly an entertainment channel for me, nor do I have time to waste on nonsense. I’ve got better things to do than spy on someone changing clothes, taking baths, or whatever else you’re worried about. I only pay attention if there’s a clear need. And even then, it’s strictly situational. If you don’t call my name, I’m not checking in. Simple as that.”

Vesper still didn’t look convinced, And what about my privacy? This feels… invasive.”

Henry let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “Right, because I have a personal vendetta against your boundaries? Do you know how many people I could be keeping tabs on instead of you? Important people? Criminals? People who are actually relevant to world security?”

Vesper looked away, afraid to meet his gaze. “That doesn’t make it better.”

Henry sighed, “I swear, if one more person questions my ethical standards today, I’m charging an hourly rate.”

However, if I were in Vesper position, I’d feel the same way. But it was better that she aired her doubts now rather than agreeing and regretting it later. She couldn’t expect me to trail her secretly just to keep her safe—I had my own life and far more pressing responsibilities. And I wasn't exactly thrilled about helping her, so this was the only option.

Henry glanced at me, as if silently asking why I hadn’t explained this to her beforehand. Still, he tried for one last time, “I get it—it doesn’t sound great. But think of it this way: if something bad happens, this could save your life. You asked for help, and this is part of how I can give it. But unless you’re in trouble or specifically ask for my help, I won’t interfere. That’s a promise.”

I decided to step in here. “Vesper,” I said, meeting her stubborn gaze, “if you want my help, this is the risk you’ll have to take. But you can trust Henry—he’s my close friend. Secondly, we are Beyonder’s Academy students. Their reputation’s solid across the country. I or he’s not going to do anything to make you uncomfortable. None of us will.”

Vesper eyes widened slightly at the statement, darting between Henry and me. “Wait,” she said, the pieces falling into place. “You two are students of the Beyonder’s Academy? Like… THE ACTUAL ACADEMY?”

Henry leaned back with an air of casual confidence. “Guilty as charged.”

I gave a small nod, my expression neutral. “That’s right.”

Vesper stared at us, her skepticism giving way to disbelief. “I thought you guys were just… I don’t know, some randos, working together on some secret investigation. But you’re actually from the Academy?”

“Does it really surprise you that much?” Henry asked, amused.

“Yes!” she blurted, then quickly backpedaled. “I mean, it’s not that I don’t think you’re capable, it’s just… the Academy is a big deal. Everyone there has one goal—graduation and making it to the top.”

“I never actually met an Academy student before,” she admitted, like it was some rare species sighting.

“Well, now you have three,” Henry said, gesturing toward Gina, who was too focused on her screen to acknowledge the conversation. “And we’re good at what we do. You’ll see.”

Vesper studied us again, her wariness still present, but something else flickered beneath it—curiosity.

After a long pause, she let out a breath and uncrossed her arms.

“Alright. If this is what it takes, then… fine.”

Henry clapped his hands together. “Perfect. Let’s get to work.”

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. Thinking, “I really hope I won't regret this.”