The morning after his call with the mysterious stranger who saved his life, Yunho received a notification to come to a meeting room. His heart was anxious in his throat, but he dutifully put on his uniform and was on his way.

He didn't know what expected him, but he politely knocked on the door once he found the right room (after asking a loitering guide for help.) When he was asked to come in, Yunho recognised the gruff voice as one of the older commanders.

Three people in red uniforms awaited him. They gathered around a table with some documents between them and looked up briefly when Yunho peered his head inside.

"Jeong Yunho?" The woman asked and even when she was younger, the lines of her mouth were pursed just as strictly. Yunho was nervous about what this committee meant for him. They wore plaques with their positions and names, but he had little idea who took care of what in Auresce.

"Ah, yes..." He mumbled when their hard stares expected his answer. The woman pulled out the chair by her side.

"Sit down."

With a hasty bow, Yunho huddled inside and sunk into his seat. He was stiff, along with their strict postures. Under the table, he clutched his fingers to his pants. He had recovered quickly despite his severe wounds, and he had to blame it on the effect Song Mingi had on him.

"We are here to talk about your latest mission," the older officer opened and Yunho paled further. Was this the moment he got kicked out?

"Our reports state we can chalk several deaths to your name specifically, which is worrying concerning your rank and the time you spent at Auresce." They shifted through their papers. Personal information on those police who died. Bora's face was among them and Yunho couldn't bear looking at her picture.

"What is the reason for that?"

Even their stares reprimanded him. Yunho gulped, stifled in the shining white uniform he couldn't live up to.

"I only recently awakened and cannot harness my powers well. But I regret my mistakes deeply and try to improve through my training."

They still looked stormy. Not for the names of these people. But for the loss of puppets they could send out onto the field. For having to recruit new victims.

Yunho bit the inside of his cheek and kept his head lowered. He wouldn't dare to argue with them. Though the lack of education and training seemed to be a norm for lower-ranking espers, getting used to his abilities would be easier if he had the willpower and more people who supported him like Bora.

But he wasn't important enough for that. He was just some esper, one among many. Nothing special.

"Because of your inability, outstanding soldiers died, Mister Jeong. Luckily, you couldn't harm anyone else on this last mission and ruin it, but we deal with extreme risks and blunders of this scale can make or break the operation. Are you incapable of harnessing your powers properly?"

In a way, he was. He couldn't commit, couldn't see the pain coming and catch it as he was supposed to.

When he didn't reply, they made their conclusions.

"According to our reports, you spent the week in the sick ward. That shouldn't be necessary for the injuries you suffered. Drones captured your guide tending to you."

Nervous fingers knotted into the fabric of his pants to wrinkle it. Their accusations were leery. Normally, someone of his rank wasn't worth anything more than an automatic warning notification.

Did this have to do with that stranger? Did they take Yunho for some sort of spy?

But he had nothing to do with all that.

In a fresh panic, he stuttered out the truth.

"I-I think my guiding wasn't enough. There was a man, he- I don't know what his rank was, but he could clear my head, so I made it out and healed quicker than usual."

"Do you know who that man is?"

Yunho meekly shook his head. They didn't even need an esper to detect his lies. His regret and panic were written on his face like on a big neon board.

"I never met him before. He disappeared after saving my life."

Something told him he shouldn't ask. That these people didn't like the topic, just how Lux hadn't.

Yunho purposefully didn't mention the card or their conversation.

Indeed, the trio looked relieved at that information.

"Good. Your new guide will meet you outside. Train harder. Put some work in like everyone else does. We won't allow more losses because of you. Return to your duties now, Mister Jeong."

They didn't tell Yunho what would happen if he failed again. He was scared to find out.

He stood to bow at them, and they left first, leaving Yunho with a chill. The investigation had been quick and calculating. Something was in the bush there. Perhaps a backstory with that man named Song Mingi. Or perhaps something that happened on that very day. The higher-ups were searching for information among their recruits.

This time, their lack of care for a small fry like him came in handy.

Yunho slinked outside after a few minutes, so he didn't have to run into them again. In the corridor, he found a young boy with bright eyes and a green uniform. He bowed deeply before Yunho.

"Hello! My name is Minjae, and I am your new guide! I will be in your care!"

He stared up at Yunho, full of awe, clearly new to the gig, whereas Bora had already been around for a few years.

Yunho's heart sank.

Another person trusting him. 

Another person whose life he might end.

"Hi, Minjae," he tried a smile, and the boy looked happy to be acknowledged. Yunho bet some espers didn't even do that. They just took.

"Count on me if you ever need help. I'm a level D guide to match you! What can you do?"

"I can control demons. Well, in theory, whenever it works. Shall we get some ice cream together?"

Minjae nodded eagerly, glowing at the idea of a nice person as his team partner.

Yunho lost his confidence with every babbled word from the younger boy. He told Yunho about recently discovering his powers, about leaving his home tearfully, and about how he planned to become one of the greatest guides and help many people.

By the time they reached the cafeteria, Yunho was depressed again. 

The scolding, this kid looking up to him with sparkling eyes, all the people ignoring him... Bora gone.

There had to be more to this.

Yunho gnawed on his lip while they were in line and Minjae told him what ice cream flavours he liked. His conscience gnawed back. What if this kid also died on him? If it was his fault once more? Yunho might be better off dead than cursing everyone around him.

Once they received their ice cream, they found a bench outside to sit in the sun and relish the rustle of the wind in the trees. The sky was clear today, looking innocent, as if it had never birthed murderous demons. Not that they belonged in this world. The rifts were portals between their purgatory and the human world. Their hunger drove them to transgress.

Yunho unpacked his ice cream while Minjae already enjoyed his, humming in bliss. Yunho's question was mindless.

"Do you know if we do our missions with other groups, aside from the police? Like special forces? Especially for high-ranking rifts?"

Minjae watched the clouds drift past. His brow knitted in concentration.

"Not that I know of. Other groups have their strategies and we have ours. We can't collaborate spontaneously. That would just make things more difficult," he guessed, and Yunho nodded. That made sense. The people who knew the strategies were the red-uniformed staff of Auresce. The guides and espers were just their helpers.

"Are there ever... stray espers? And guides? Who work like mercenaries?" Was his other idea, and this time, Minjae shrugged.

"Probably?"

His confusion reached Yunho, and he managed a crooked grin.

"Thank you. Sorry for the weird questions. Do you like puppies?" 

The change of topic worked, and Minjae pounced on it immediately.

"I love puppies!"

They spent more time outside and exchanged numbers. Minjae offered to try out some guiding to warm up to Yunho, but Yunho politely declined and explained he was touchy on the subject. Despite his youth, the boy understood.

They parted in the corridor and while Yunho was happy to know another nice person, thinking of Minjae as Bora's replacement stung.

Yunho couldn't keep repeating this cycle. He needed information, and he needed them from someone who was ready to talk.

Mingi warned him last time that things would repeat themselves, as if he knew. The weird cross examination by the members of Auresce proved that hunch. If Yunho got stuck in the same loop as before with a lack of training, he would keep losing the people around him without anything to stop it.

After pondering some more, he went with his gut feeling. The black card flashed silver writing at him when he opened the drawer to his nightstand. He deleted the number from his phone since he was worried someone might find it and question him. Perhaps they already knew because the call went over their network.

He had to be careful.

He tapped in the same digits and lifted his phone to his ear. Once more, two beeps. The line picked up.

"It's Yunho, the D-class from Auresce..." He played with the card between his fingers, made it spin on his leg. 

Tenebra.

When he tried to look up that word online, he found no results. It didn't make sense. Even the smallest firm would have a website in their day and age. And since Mingi was involved in a rank S rift, people would write about him.

So why couldn't Yunho find anything on him?

"What can I help you with this time?" That deep voice replied to him and he sounded pleased that Yunho had called again.

It was risky. Yunho might be falling into a trap. If Auresce were leery of this person, he might use Yunho to hurt the centre.

But could he harm so many powerful espers?

If Yunho weren't so full of doubts and frustration with this institute, he might have taken their side. But as it was, the mysterious alternative that presented itself looked attractive. Very attractive...

"I would like to talk. In private," Yunho suggested, not giving away his doubts in case someone listened in. He could always claim he had an eye on the potential enemies of Auresce. That he was unafraid.

Mingi didn't challenge the lack of information, even when it was just as risky on his end. As if he knew there was a reason for secrecy.

Restless fingers flicked at his wearied nails. His fingers ached from ripping them too deep.

"I'll send someone to pick you up. Meet them outside the institute's compound tomorrow at 2PM. They will text you once they arrive," Mingi told him, not waiting for anything else to get in between.

Yunho gulped. 

"Thank you," he mumbled, following the doubts in his heart. If Mingi trusted him, they probably had a common thought.

"Much obliged. Have a good rest until then."

"You too."

The call clicked and then ended. Yunho stared at his phone, unsure if he was doing the right thing.

Bora would have known. She was unafraid to point out the issues within the centre, and she didn't keep secrets. 

Yunho wished he could ask her. Wished Mingi appeared in his life sooner, so Yunho may have had the opportunity to protect her.

It didn't matter now. Though his stomach was in twists, Yunho committed.

He made his way downstairs to demand his first day off. Thankfully, the lower ranks were flexible with it. When asked for his plans, he made sure he mentioned visiting family, so his leaving made sense.

The timing was risky after he was just questioned, but Yunho would go for it. The worst Auresce could do was to kick him out.

He received his grant, which meant he wasn't under house arrest.

Hopefully Mingi would know if there was a reason to be leery. But if he had nothing to hide, Yunho also didn't.

He crawled into bed that night, and he was nervous about the next day. For long hours, he laid awake, hoping he was doing the right thing. For himself, for Bora and Minjae, and for anyone else who might suffer from his curse.

*********

This story will have 29 chapters btw!