The woman looked shocked. We both looked up, turning towards where the barrier had been thrown. Up on the roof, the roof of the building beside this narrow alley.
The figure stood tall, a dark silhouette against the gloomy night sky. His body was covered by a long black coat fluttering in the wind, his hat was tall and black, while his black mask, cracked over the right eye, added a mysterious aura. His eyes—or rather, the part visible through the crack in the mask—glowed a dim red, like embers nearly extinguished.
"Damn disruptors from 'The Umbra' always show up." The woman was furious.
I had never heard of an organization like that before, but from her reaction, it was clear this person was no ordinary troublemaker.
The figure jumped from the roof, landing softly in front of me like a shadow falling without a sound. Now, I could see him more clearly.
"I won't let you target this one, Sharon," his voice was deep, resonant. "He is not part of your games."
Sharon did not retreat. Her finger was still on the trigger, though her weapon was clearly ineffective against the energy barrier. "Any threat to national security is my business, 'Draven'. And you know very well we've long wanted to capture you and your organization."
The man laughed—a cold, emotionless sound. "You can try. But today is not the time!"
The one named 'Draven' raised his hand. Suddenly, a bomb was thrown, then it exploded. Darkness, spreading like ink poured into water. In an instant, the entire alley was submerged in a smoke of darkness. I couldn't see anything—not even my own hand.
"Don't move," the man's voice whispered in my ear. "It's just smoke, but it's enough to fool her."
I felt something cold touch my wrist. Like a shadow coiling around it. Then, my body felt pulled, moving swiftly through the darkness. I didn't know where to, but it felt like sliding through an endless tunnel.
A few seconds later, light returned.
I was standing in a different alley from before, an alley close to the general public's life. Right now, I knew I had returned to the urban area—Silver City.
The man stood beside me, his coat still moving as if alive.
The air in this new alley was fresher, though still tainted by city pollution. The sound of car horns and the rumble of engines could be faintly heard from the main road, dozens of meters away. The neon lights of small shops emitted orange and red glows, creating a contrast with the darkness I had just left.
I stared at the figure before me—Draven—full of questions.
"You must have many questions," he said. "But save your questions for now, I will take you somewhere."
"By the way, my name is Draven," he introduced himself. "Earlier, I saw you flying in the city sky, so don't be surprised how I found you. I've been watching you."
He stepped quickly while raising his hand, signaling for me to follow. I decided to comply, walking behind him while remaining cautious.
We walked through a series of narrow alleys, until finally Draven stopped in front of a steel door hidden behind wild overgrowth. He knocked with a specific pattern—two short knocks, one long, then three short ones again.
A few seconds later, the door opened automatically with a creaking sound. A descending staircase was revealed, its end swallowed by darkness.
"Enter," he said briefly.
I stepped inside, descending those stairs. Meanwhile, Draven behind me was relocking the door once it was closed.
Hundreds of steps we had taken, and when the door was in front of us, I opened it, and before us was a long corridor whose end was hard to discern as it was not visible.
"W-What corridor is this?" I was a little confused.
"Don't ask too many questions, all you need to do is follow where my steps land."
I glanced at him, doubt slightly troubling me. But I still nodded, accepting it.
"Good."
Draven finally began walking with a strange gait. He turned right, left, even though he had only taken a step or two. And after a while, he ducked, and I followed. Because I knew... this corridor was filled with deadly traps at every step.
When we had walked far enough. Finally, we reached the end of the corridor, in front of me was a lift door.
We had walked quite far. If counted, we had probably taken over fifteen hundred steps.
I turned my head, looking at Draven who appeared... exhausted, holding his knees.
"Uhuk! Uhuk!" Draven coughed.
"You look tired, Draven," I said.
"You think?" Draven looked slightly annoyed, yet his breath was still ragged. "Kids these days, seems like you have a lot more stamina, huh."
He sounded weird now...
After a moment, Draven succeeded in regulating his breathing. He stood straight and walked towards the lift door. I followed him.
The lift door opened, and we entered. The lift descended quite deep, when it finally arrived, the door opened, and the world before me changed drastically.
We stepped forward.
I was now in a magnificent, brightly lit circular room, its walls made of sturdy steel. In the center of the room, filled with holographic screens and digital maps. And several people busy working behind advanced computers in various corners of the room. This was like the headquarters of a secret organization, not a place I expected from someone like Draven.
I scanned the room, trying to understand the situation. "I thought we were going to meet a dark syndicate, not... a military headquarters."
Draven chuckled softly. "We do work in the shadows, but not for ordinary crime."
Draven nodded towards a woman with short blonde hair who was examining me with an analytical gaze.
"You've arrived, Draven."
The woman approached, folding her arms across her chest. "...Whose child did you bring? Is this your son we didn't know about?"
"Stop joking, Lissa. This kid... is not a kid you can take lightly."
"Oh, really?" Lissa looked at me curiously, then took two steps closer to me. "Who are you, little one?"
"He is one of 'them'," said Draven.
"Huh? For real?" Lissa turned her face, staring at Draven in disbelief.
Draven nodded.
I raised my hand, and once again, a small blue energy sphere appeared in my palm.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Several people in the room stopped working, staring at me with a mix of worry and awe.
"You... you really are one of them," she whispered.
"You keep referring to me like that. Who exactly are 'they' that you mean?" I asked, extinguishing the energy.
Lissa and Draven looked at each other, as if communicating in silence. After a few seconds, Draven nodded, and Lissa sighed.
"You really don't know?" she asked.
I shook my head.
Lissa stepped aside, directing me to a chair in the center of the room. "Sit. We need to talk."
I complied, sitting in that chair while Draven stood near the door, as if guarding to prevent anyone from entering or leaving.
Lissa took a tablet from the table, swiped through some images, then showed them to me. On the screen were figures with strange features—some had scaly skin, others had glowing eyes, and some even looked like ordinary humans but with a strange aura around them.
"They are called 'Mutans'," Lissa explained. "People born with abilities beyond normal humans, or people exposed to an alien radiation from space or the result of biological experiments. And not just humans, but animals, insects, and plants can become Mutans. No society knows of their existence, because information about Mutans is protected and kept secret by the governments, except for some nobles. As the name suggests, 'Mutans' can control elemental powers, some have the power to transform themselves like half-animals, and others have the ability to control energy."
I stared at the pictures. So there were people with superpowers called "Mutans". This was new information; in my 39 years of life, I never imagined there were people like this among society.
But... I am not a Mutan. I am also more than just an ordinary human.
"Where are they now?" I asked.
Lissa frowned. "Most are dead. Or hiding and blending in with society."
"Why?"
"Because the Exlish Government hunts them," Draven answered in a heavy voice. "They fear a power they cannot control for their own selfishness. So, every Mutan found is captured to be used as experimental material... or eliminated."
I nodded slowly.
That made sense. Power is always afraid of something it cannot understand.
"But you... you are not the government," I said, looking around the room. "You're not police either."
Lissa smiled thinly. "Indeed not. We are 'The Umbra'—an independent organization opposing the corrupt Exsoma government and the greedy nobles who hold power. Our mission is to maintain balance in the Exlish Federation from the shadows, especially facing threats that the government or ordinary troops cannot handle. And we desire to bring justice for every innocent human and Mutan," she said.
She paused for a moment. Then continued, "And we... are interested in someone like you."
I looked at her. "Why?"
From the explanation earlier, it seemed they were some kind of underground organization handling supernatural matters and things that defy justice.
"Because we need strength to fight," Draven answered. "And you need protection. Mutualistic symbiosis."
I considered it. This could be a path to a new identity, while also having allies who understand strange powers. But...
"How do I know you won't sell me out to the government once I join?"
Lissa pulled something from her pocket—a small badge with a symbol of a black hand on it. "We have a code of ethics. And traitors don't last long in our organization."
I pondered for a moment.
"Alright," I finally decided. "I'll join. But on one condition."
"What is it?"
"I will not kill innocent people. No matter the order."
Draven and Lissa looked at each other again, then nodded.
"We are not mercenaries," said Lissa. "We fight for justice. So, we agree."
I extended my hand. "Then, it's settled."
Lissa shook my hand firmly. "Welcome aboard... Eh, what's your name?"
I smiled slightly.
"My name is... Nova."
.....