Karoline wore a pink beanie, with her reddish hair down, completely covering her shoulders. Her eyes were hidden behind dark sunglasses, and a white cloth mask covered the lower part of her face. She wore a gray coat, a white shirt, a denim skirt, tights, and black boots.

She was seated in a train car where holographic advertisements floated above, and LEDs pulsed in quick bursts of light. The space was crowded with a variety of people, predominantly young students in uniform and well-dressed adults. Many were grouped together in lively conversations, while a few remained isolated, absorbed in their own thoughts. Yet, something everyone had in common was the cell phone held in front of their faces.

The young woman kept her legs together, using them as support for her hands as she worked on a smartphone; on the screen, there were mathematical equations, primarily focused on limits.

– Dude, have you got the money to pay me back yet? – said a young man in uniform with glasses, his voice indifferent as he stared at his phone.

– I Wish… My part-time boss said the payment’s gonna be delayed a bit. – replied another young man beside him with messy hair, also in uniform and looking at his phone.

– Then sue him! If I’d known you wouldn’t pay it back, I wouldn’t have lent it to you.

– If only I could… diverging incident, you know how it goes…

The guy with glasses clicked his tongue, shaking his head slightly.

– Yeah… what a mess. Everything in our lives gets delayed because some powerful idiot decides to do something stupid.

– I heard last month or so, the Scarlet Flame took down a building?

At the mention of the messy-haired guy’s comment, Karoline instantly froze, keeping her eyes on her phone screen.

– I was the one who showed you the video, you goof… I’m pretty sure if she weren’t the Red Dragon’s daughter, she’d already be in a cell at the Acropolis.

– I doubt it… she’s way too pretty to be locked up underground.

The two started laughing softly until Karoline stood up and looked at them, making them step back in surprise. She seemed as if she was about to say something but only made a slight nod.

– Excuse me…

They nodded back and cleared the way for her as she walked between them, moving through the crowded car toward the exit door, watching the city pass by at high speed outside the window.

She looked down at her phone again and opened a messaging app. There were several conversations, but she selected one in particular, from a girl with white hair that hadn’t been responded to in months.

‘I hope you don’t regret this choice, but I’m sure you will.’

She stared at the message for a moment before locking her phone screen. She took a deep breath, lifted her head to look once more at the city before her, which soon disappeared as the train entered a tunnel.

Exiting the train, she found herself in a vast central metro station, where wide platforms, illuminated by LED panels, pulsed with the energy of a diverse crowd. Transparent glass escalators and automated ramps led to the upper floor, while floating holograms displayed real-time information on schedules and directions.

The architecture was a fusion of ergonomic design and natural elements, with vertical gardens bringing life to the environment. The aroma of fresh coffee and exotic foods drifted from various kiosks.

She walked through the crowd, head down as she made her way toward the escalators, adjusting her sunglasses and mask when she accidentally bumped into someone, knocking her glasses to the ground.

– Watch where you’re going, damn it! – exclaimed a man in a suit, sidestepping the spilled coffee on the floor.

– I’m sorry, it was an accident… I can buy you a new one. – Karoline said, bending down to retrieve her fallen item.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

The man looked at her with a puzzled expression, raising an eyebrow slightly.

– Wait a minute… I know you…

– I don’t think so… you must be mistaken… – Karoline replied, pulling a small plush wallet from her coat.

She opened it and took out a five-dollar bill, offering it to the man as she put her sunglasses back on.

– No, I’m sure… You’re the Scarlet Flame, aren’t you!? I recognized your voice; I’ve heard you a lot on TV. My daughter is ten years old and adores you!

The man quickly pulled out his phone, opened the gallery, and showed photos of his daughter dressed in an imitation hero costume in red and white.

– Oh, that’s cute… But today, I’m just Karoline…

– You have to take a picture with me! She’ll love it! Please, Scarlet Flame!

The man said as he activated his phone’s camera and pointed it at himself, positioning himself next to the young woman. She slowly backed away until she bumped into another person walking by.

– Watch it! – said a man dressed in casual clothes.

– I’m sorry…

Karoline was about to apologize when the man in the suit stepped forward, gently pushing aside the guy who had bumped into her.

– Watch it yourself, man! Do you know who you’re talking to? She’s the Scarlet Flame!

Several people began to stop to see what was happening, and a large number pulled out their phones to record.

– So, you’re the one who knocked down Santa Claudia? – questioned someone in the crowd.

– Of course not! She was fighting Divergents; they’re the ones who knocked it down! – another person in the crowd exclaimed.

Karoline looked around and realized a large commotion was forming. People started questioning her as she tried to move away.

– Scarlet Flame! Do a fire trick for us!

– What are you doing here!? Shouldn’t you be on patrol?

– Scarlet Flame! I love you!

– Is this how you waste our tax money!?

The crowd pressed in closer to her, to the point where she couldn’t even make out what people were saying anymore. She felt light pushes, flashes of photos around her, and people attempting to hug her.

She tried to distance herself, but they kept surrounding her until a piercing sound echoed, and a reddish light encircled everyone in the area.

– Everyone, step back! This is Division Zero! Move along! –

The robotic voice came from a drone hovering above everyone, followed by a grating sound. People quickly moved away from the red-marked perimeter, but when Karoline tried to cross it, another drone stopped directly in front of her.

– Not you. Please follow the blue-marked path.

The drone projected a blue line on the floor, indicating a path around it, bordered by red light. A small siren began spinning on top of it as it started to move.

Karoline simply followed; people continued taking photos and recording, but they didn’t approach the drone, making way as it passed.

The drone led her to the upper level of the metro station, guiding her toward an area marked with the Division Zero emblem and two agents at each corner. When they reached an automatic door, the drone turned off its lights, and the door opened.

– Please enter and proceed to the room on the right.

Karoline simply nodded as the drone flew away. She entered the area, which had a reception with a counter and several chairs lined up against the walls.

There was a woman seated at a computer; she merely glanced at Karoline and nodded toward the left, rolling her eyes as she said: – Last room at the end of the hall.

Karoline nodded and walked to the end of the white hallway, its walls had striped lines with red and yellow.

Upon entering the room, Karoline found a man seated, typing on a computer. In front of him was an MDF desk, with two office chairs positioned across from it. He was an older man, with sparse hair, slightly overweight, and with wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

– Please sit down and remove your mask and glasses.

Karoline walked to the chair on the right and sat, following the man’s instructions.

– You can call me Marcus. – he said, placing both hands on the desk. – Now then, can you explain why the daughter of a Defender is causing a commotion in the central station?

– It was just a misunderstanding. I’m not acting as a hero, but…

– It’s public knowledge that you have private transportation. So why are you here? – Marcus questioned, crossing his arms.

Karoline gave a faint smile, taking a deep breath, looking away, and twisting a strand of her hair around a finger.

– I’m sorry, it’s just that I needed to get to the Iovem building, and the car broke down. I was in a hurry, you know…

Marcus looked at her with lowered eyelids before turning back to his computer.

– I should report this incident to the Convergence.

Karoline swallowed, unable to raise her gaze, which remained fixed on her hands clasped tightly over her knees.

– But I’ll let it slide, just this once… – Marcus said with a serious tone. – You should know that you can’t just walk around among regular people; there’s always the risk of something going wrong.

– It won’t happen again…

Marcus nodded slightly at her words, tapping his fingers twice on the desk.

– I’ll arrange for an agent to escort you out of the station. From there, you can continue to the Iovem building. – he said, typing again on his computer. – And do me a favor, Scarlet Flame…

– Don’t worry, I won’t cause any more trouble… – Karoline replied with a serious look.

– What…? No, that’s not it. – Marcus said, picking up his phone, turning his chair, and looking at her from over his shoulder. – Can I take a selfie with you...? You see, I’m a big fan of your father, but I know he’ll never stop by here…

Marcus continued talking while Karoline watched him with half-closed eyelids. Then she sighed, forcing a smile as she made a peace sign with her fingers.

– Sure… go ahead...