Yunho was lucky to receive his new glasses on the morning of his day off. The bill went straight to Auresce, so Yunho received shiny new glasses plus frames for free. After picking them up at the receptionist's counter, Yunho wore his casual civilian clothing for his day off. Jeans, some sneakers, and a big cosy hoodie that reminded him there was comfort for him somewhere.

For the first time in a while, he felt like himself again. Not like a puppet in a uniform, hiding his true identity as he was drawn on strings. This was the real him.

It was a shame not to use his time off for his family, but he was too intrigued by Song Mingi. Intrigued, and hopeful.

He left the compound for the busy streets of Gangnam and, though they were ever so harrowing and lavish to him, Yunho could breathe some fresh air outside of Auresce. Their territory offered everything he could ask for, but it was stifling. The people, the surveillance, the weight of every mistake.

Yunho needed to get out of there and he hadn't realised how depressed he was in those weeks. 

His guilt wasn't easily forgotten, but he allowed himself to take a breather. He was in a role that would deal with death time and time again, including his own. But the world still spun on its axis and the people rushing to work safely today would be grateful even to him.

Following the marker on his phone, Yunho stopped by a convenience store to get a drink and found a sleek black car parked in an alley with his strawberry milk in his hand. When he hesitated to approach, the driver stepped out. He wore a black suit and had slicked-back hair. The only thing not professional about him were his black sunglasses, making him look like a member of an undercover organisation more than a driver.

"Mister Jeong Yunho?" He asked and when Yunho nodded, clutching his strawberry milk like a lifeline, the man opened the door to the back seat for him.

As if Yunho was an honoured guest.

"Please get in the car. Tenebra sent me." When he flashed an ID, Yunho's heart trembled in his chest.

No one else would try to pick him up and get him to a foreign place, right? Right?

When he nodded bravely, the man nodded back. He seemed young despite the flat expression. Yunho had no other choice but to trust him. It was the right time and place. So far, he had done nothing wrong that would warrant Auresce to get rid of him.

Once his driver closed the door behind him, he pulled them out of their parking spot. A quiet motor brought them smoothly through the bustle of Gangnam. Through tinted and sound-proofed windows, Yunho barely heard any of the overwhelming noise.

The seats were clean and smelled of leather. Some drinks awaited him at the console and though this car was more luxurious than Yunho liked, it was smoother than Auresce's gaudy flair. Subtler. 

For a while, Yunho sat in nervous silence. He kept his GPS on just in case he needed to send an emergency signal and he wasn't told off, either. If there was really something in the bush, Auresce may track him, but they could be his saviours from some potential danger.

If they even cared to save Yunho.

The driver didn't seem bothered by his silence. But Yunho soon shifted in his seat when they crossed the Han river.

"What is Tenebra?" He asked, hoping this was a safe enough space to talk.

He wasn't disappointed. The man replied to him while steadily managing the traffic. Was he an employee?

"An esper association. I'm bringing you to our headquarters, so there is no need to be nervous. We are an official institution."

If he saw Yunho's surprise in the mirror, he didn't mention it. The fingers wrapped around his strawberry milk scratched at the carton's edges.

"There are others?"

"Absolutely. Auresce is the most renowned and funded directly by the government, but there are others with official licenses. We all do the same job. Fighting demons."

That explained why Mingi had been there. Other centres came to Auresce's aid to seal the massive rift. 

But Yunho was nervous. Another centre, more espers. What would make these people any easier to deal with than Auresce? Mingi definitely looked scarier than anyone Yunho saw on the compound.

His questions would soon be answered. They reached the outskirts of Seoul, where the residential buildings bled into the mountains. A winding path took them up to a villa perching on a hill, a modern and sleek building. Yunho spotted a sign on the driveway that read Tenebra and their motto, like Auresce had one.

"Invictus Maneo – I remain unvanquished."

Yunho peered out of the window. He spotted a sleek black helicopter, smaller than the large military ones Auresce used. The gardens were well kept, but there were no fancy gyms or pools.

Black wood framed the many windows, offering a glamorous exterior without losing personality. When the car pulled to a stop in front of the entrance, Yunho was greeted with a black orb as a statue to represent them.

He climbed out of the car before the driver had to become his servant again. As he relished the fresh air away from the city and marvelled at towering mountains, the empty carton in his hand became his squish toy.

"Wooyoung, thank you for collecting our guest," a deep voice greeted them from the door and Yunho spun on his heel, hopeful it was Mingi, but he was disappointed. Another man patted the driver's shoulder with a gummy grin. He also wore a suit and an elegant golden brooch on his tie.

"No problem, boss. I'll be inside." With that, the driver took the car away while the new man stepped in to greet Yunho with a polite handshake.

"My name is Bang Yongguk. I am the founder and head of Tenebra. Thank you for your visit today."

Yunho awkwardly bowed back. He didn't expect to meet the top dog today. Though that meant some quality answers.

"I'm Yunho." It sounded odd to introduce himself as an esper and Yongguk didn't seem to mind. His grin was friendly.

"Mingi already told me a lot about you. Let's have a chat." He beckoned a polite hand to their yard, and Yunho gladly followed. Since it was warm out, they strolled around the gardens, so he didn't feel trapped in a foreign place. 

"I don't know Mingi much... Or this place. I'm new to all this," he confessed, just so Yongguk wouldn't expect too much. But once more, his nod was indulgent.

"No need to feel inadequate. We all start somewhere."

Yunho liked him. He didn't know yet why he was here and if Mingi appeared to recruit him for another centre, but he was assured now. Nothing illegal was happening here. Auresce was simply leery of their rival centre.

"Who are you people?" He asked, unsure how many they could be. Not as many as Auresce, certainly. But this building looked well-funded.

Yongguk pondered the far mountains. He picked his words without much grandeur, but he was also mindful of their message.

"We are a free group of espers and guides. A lot of the people here haven't received what they sought from Auresce, so they moved on. Be it a lack of proper training, trust, or guides when they are so needed to keep espers sane. Many of us got shunned as lost cases. Executed when regarded as too big of a risk to our team mates when we simply needed some extra care."

That was a heavy story, but it tickled something in Yunho's brain. Didn't he hear something about that? The place where espers gathered that were deemed risky to themselves?

People like him, who harmed themselves with their power and who were treated as terminal hazards by Auresce.

"My guide told me about your centre. The rebels."

Bora had known Yunho didn't deserve the exclusion. That it had to do with his rank but also because he was regarded as no tremendous loss if shredded apart by bullets.

So this was the place where those came who suffered of the same neglect. Scarred by Auresce, but dedicated to use their powers for good.

Yongguk chuckled over Yunho's awe. That was a bigger sacrifice than just committing to the military because one had to be drafted. They picked their poison.

"That's what they call us. We fight the same evil. But we don't throw away people if they don't match our ideal. Not to say Auresce is all bad. They offer perfect funding and classes for the entire nation. But the people here will share a story of bitterness, so I hope you won't be discouraged. It's because we are special and a war isn't won with unpredictable weapons that might backfire."

So this person had been the first to leave, and he invited others who suffered the same issues to create their own centre. A centre of misfits and troublemakers in the eye of Auresce. Was that why Mingi hesitated to leave Yunho alone? The reason for the card? Did he see something in Yunho that reminded him of this place?

"What are the espers here like?" Yunho asked, curious to know more. This felt like no petty rivalry between two institutes with the same goal. They were allies. So why was Auresce so leery of them?

Yongguk walked with his fingers crossed behind his back.

"Risky. Ticking time bombs. They need to be handled with care, but their abilities are powerful assets that shouldn't be wasted. Their will just as strong. We have people who glide in the shadows and who can dissolve into mist. People who control blood and acid. Yes, they harm themselves and they have a higher risk of hurting team mates and themselves permanently, just like you do. But does that mean they don't get a chance to protect people? They didn't choose their powers."

Yunho saw the vision. And perhaps it was ideal that way. Tenebra offered special training and healthcare for those espers where Auresce didn't spread itself so thin. 

"Mingi saw the same in me," he guessed, and though it was a bit embarrassing to be detected as a bumbling fool, it was somewhat soothing to know they kept an eye out. Where Auresce reprimanded him, these people extended their help.

Yongguk had to laugh.

"It's not the first time he contacted someone and it won't be the last. I would like to offer you a home here. Under your terms. You can have your proper rank and guiding here and we will make sure you know yourself before we send you out to fight. We promise everyone here sanity and as little pain as possible for as long as we can. More than about military strength, we care about these people. A lot regard this place as family, me included. If you tell us what you lack and what your goals are, we believe we can find a spot for you. Be it at the front or in a regulated zone. Being an esper doesn't need to be scary."

Nervous fingers flicked at his box. That was a lot to take in. Yunho doubted Auresce could give him what he needed, but even if Tenebra were more understanding, he might hold them back. He didn't want to be an esper in the first place.

"Think about it. No need for hasty decisions. You know nobody here, and I am sure you are used to Auresce and its people. But Mingi wasn't wrong to notice you were disregarded. From what he tells me, they didn't even put you on the right level, which means your guide also couldn't help you properly."

Yunho didn't tell him that was partly his fault. For blushing whenever guiding as anything more than a hand on a shoulder was mentioned.

When he nodded, Yongguk sent him a grateful grin. There was no rush, but this was an alternative. Yunho would consider it. Though he would have loved to ask Bora for advice, he was on his own now.

"And who is Mingi? Was he on the battlefield that day to help close the rift?" Yunho changed the topic, still puzzled about the white-haired stranger. Their slow round ended in front of the entrance. Yunho hadn't paid attention to his surroundings at all.

"My right hand. You will meet him if you join us. He isn't in today, but he asked me to take care of you. So, would you like to see the inside? Perhaps I can entice you with a drink, be it strawberry milk or European wine?" Yongguk beckoned to the door with a grin and Yunho played down his embarrassment. He gladly agreed to explore Tenebra some more.