After the two Scouters deemed Jun a non-imminent threat, the lamp-carrying Scouter led Jun away from the street beneath the old Clock Tower. They stopped before an old brick wall sealed by a rusted tin roof at the end of a narrow alley.
Issac spoke with a sharp, strained voice: "Don't wait here." He scanned the surroundings with his eyes, moving like a soldier entrenched in hiding.
The place they had reached was the remnants of an old tavern named 'The Mountain Mug.' The wooden doors were chained shut, and the window panes were shattered. In this part of Mistveil, there was no need for complex codes or fingerprint systems; silence and authority were sufficient protection.
The lamp-carrying Scouter gently unlocked the rusted padlock. As the door creaked open, a puff of warm air, a mix of stew and earth, hit Jun's face.
Scouter (Whispering): "Inside is our spot. It's temporary."
They proceeded past the dilapidated bar counter towards the back. Tables covered in dust and moldy wooden crates cluttered the view.
At the back, a narrow brick staircase leading down was hidden beneath a torn rug.
As Jun descended the stairs, a warm, humid air enveloped him. The cellar was the old tavern's storage room, spacious and vast. The walls were made of cracked stone, with patches of mold clinging to the corners.
The cellar's only light came from three low-energy yellow bulbs, casting a faint, weak glow. It resembled an old bomb shelter more than a secret rendezvous point.
In the center of the room, a sturdy, steel-framed long table held maps of the Mistveil region and various arcane objects.
The lamp-carrying Scouter completely removed his hat. His hair was a pale blonde, matted and messy from prolonged exhaustion. His face was marked by deep wrinkles and an old scar, presumably from a past battle, tracing from the corner of his left eye toward his ear. His eyes were pale blue but overshadowed by constant fatigue. He exuded the gravity of a good leader.
Issac removed his hat, revealing his dark hair and severe facial features. His eyes were a charcoal black, fixed and emotionless. Though young, his expression gave off the aura of a calm, cold executioner. His body looked taut and robust even beneath his clothes.
Markus Volken (Scouter with the lamp): "Alright, boy. Let's talk. My name is Markus Volken. He is my subordinate, Issac Richter. We are both members of 'The Watchers.' We have two other members out on watch duty."
'Watch duty?' Jun thought to himself.
Issac leaned his rifle against the table, intently watching Jun.
Markus: "We come to Mistveil every three months to investigate unusual occurrences and individuals with supernatural powers. We haven't decided yet if you are someone we need to arrest or utilize."
Markus nudged a stool towards Jun with his foot. "Sit down. Start talking. What are you? Explain why you wanted to come here."
Jun sat down immediately, not a trace of fear on his face.
Jun: "I've sat, Mr. Markus. I want to start with your first question. What is an 'Aethernal' as you call it? What does that mean?"
When Jun directly asked for the definition of an Aethernal, Markus's tired eyes fixed on him. Markus gently shook his head and picked up a coffee mug from the table.
Markus: "An Aethernal is what we call those who are unusual, boy. More precisely, those who have various Triggers awakened due to the residual effects of the Chaos Impact."
'Chaos Impact?'... 'Triggers?' Jun murmured internally.
Issac tapped the table with his hand, his posture a warning.
Issac Richter: "The Chaos Impact destroys the Emotional Core that stores and balances human's vital emotions. It allows people to convert Negative Emotions into energy. Those affected by the Chaos Impact have only two choices."
Issac rested his elbow on the table and held up two fingers.
Issac Richter: "1. Resist and become a Rejector? 2. Fail and become an Acceptor?"
Markus continued the explanation.
Markus: "A Rejector is what we call those with a strong Soul Essence that can withstand the Impact, boy. They awaken various Triggers and gain extraordinary powers... they are called Aethernals."
Markus: "They possess hyper-sensory perception and use strange supernatural powers related to their awakened Trigger. However, they must constantly control themselves. Because when their control loosens, their spirit is consumed by the madness the Impact creates. The worst-case scenario is that they turn into the mindless Forsaken..."
Jun's expression showed a slight comprehension of the Emotional Core and Aethernals. However, the strange phenomenon known as the Chaos Impact and Forsakens left him with unanswered questions.
Markus took a sip from his coffee mug.
Markus: "We had reason to suspect you might be an Aethernal. Normally, not even Alchemists or those with strong Soul Essence can make their eyes glow this deep violet. Not every strong Soul Essence user gets unique physical changes. That's why we came out."
(Markus and Issac rushed out because when their attention was drawn to the noise Jun made, they saw Jun's deep violet eyes glowing in the darkness.)
Jun's composed gaze instantly vanished. A look of genuine bewilderment appeared on his face.
Jun's thoughts: 'Alchemist? Soul Essence?'
Jun frowned, appearing utterly confused.
Jun: "What are you talking about, Alchemist or Soul Essence?"
Markus looked surprised by Jun's genuine expression of ignorance. Jun was not hiding a secret, but was simply completely ignorant of World Knowledge.
Markus: "You... you truly don't know what Soul Essence is? That's Fundamental Theory. Listen. Soul Essence is..."
Just as Markus Volken prepared to answer Jun's question, a sharp, vibrating sound pierced the cellar. It came from a small, steel-framed portable device on the table: the Aetheric Signaller, ancient technology of The Grand Sunderheim Empire.
Aetheric Signaller Sound (Loud, with static and a whistle)
"...Markus! Markus! Do you read me! It's Clara! Answer quickly! We... bad situation... tell Issac too!"
Markus Volken and Issac Richter both leapt from their stools. Their expressions hardened with tension and alarm.
Markus Volken quickly snatched the Aetheric Signaller and replied with authority.
Markus Volken: "Clara! What happened! Are you still in Alpha Sector! Explain the situation clearly!"
Aetheric Signaller Sound (More frantic): "Not there! We're East of the Clock Tower! We... we found a group of people dead on the street! Their bodies... all decayed! It must be the work of an Aethernal!"
Markus Volken's eyes immediately fixed back on Jun. His thoughts seemed to be in turmoil.
Markus Volken: "A new Aethernal? Clara!?"
Aetheric Signaller Sound (Fading into static): "Jik... Jik..." The Signaller line went dead.
Markus Volken fiercely slammed the Aetheric Signaller down onto the table. His gaze met Jun's.
Markus Volken: "Is that new Aethernal you! If not... we have two Aethernals in Mistveil!"
Jun was obviously now under extreme suspicion. He understood that no explanation would suffice in this situation.
Markus Volken: "Issac! You know the situation! This boy might be a dangerous Aethernal."
Issac Richter instantly grabbed the rifle he had leaned against the table and aimed it at Jun with a calm, icy demeanor.
He briefly took his charcoal eyes off Jun and looked at Markus Volken.
Issac Richter: "We don't have enough force if we have two Aethernals, Markus. We need to restrain him with the Sealing Restraint immediately."
Markus Volken nodded. ''Do it!'' Then you stay here and watch him. He'll try to escape no matter what. I'm going to Clara. We must examine the bodies before they are destroyed."
Issac Richter wordlessly opened a small steel box and took out the Sealing Restraint—a black leather strap with metal rings.
(The Sealing Restraint was a magical invention created by Magus-level Alchemists to capture Aethernals and those with strong Soul Essence. In a frontier town like Mistveil, where magical knowledge was scarce, only street magic and fortune telling were commonly known.)
Issac Richter moved behind Jun and, with swift, experienced movements, pulled Jun's arms back and bound them. The leather straps, designed to suppress Soul Essence energy, tightened firmly around Jun's wrists.
Jun remained calm and emotionless, his deep violet eyes fixed on Issac.
Markus Volken quickly departed. In the cellar, Issac Richter placed the rifle on his lap, watching Jun without blinking.
Jun let out a long sigh—not one of despair, but of acceptance.
Jun: "Mr. Richter. If you examine the bodies closely, you'll know the killer and I have no connection. But... you chose suspicion instead."
Issac Richter said nothing. He shoved Jun back against the stone wall and pulled the restraint tight one last time.
Issac Richter: "Listen, Aethernal. Survival outweighs suspicion. We have two Aethernals, one Alchemist, and me—a mere Vitality user. But I'm enough to blow your head off. What are you? A spy? A Mercenary? Tell me the truth now."
Jun noticed Issac Richter's Vitality power—the Body Enhancement.
Jun smiled—the start of a negotiation.
Jun: "Mr. Richter. Your force—a mix of Vitality, Alchemist, and Aethernal—you know it's not enough to face what's newly appeared in this city."
Issac Richter: "What makes you so sure of that?"
Jun: "Because the instant you heard about the savagely killed bodies over the Signaller, both your face and Markus's went utterly white with panic. A newly awakened Aethernal wouldn't cause that reaction, would they? This must be an Aethernal who has been awakened for a long time."
Issac Richter's mouth dropped open in shock.
Issac Richter: "H-how did you figure that out...?"
Jun fixed his deep violet eyes on Issac. Issac's rigid composure dissolved; confusion began to flood his mind.
Jun: "I'm not a spy, nor a Mercenary. I am a Seeker of Information. What if your enemy is committing murder simply to divert your attention? Who knows—he might be searching for something right here in Mistveil."
Jun's primary purpose was to read Issac's reaction.
Issac Richter's eyes narrowed. Jun's words clearly unsettled him. Fear and anxiety then appeared on his face.
'Mission Accomplished,' Jun thought to himself.
Jun: "Mr. Richter, think clearly. If I were that powerful, I would have fought back before you put on the Sealing Restraint. And this is the Scouters' secret base; if I were the murderer, I would have already killed you and taken the information I wanted."
Jun's astute logic made Issac's expression immediately shift to reluctant acceptance.
Issac Richter: "You make a good point... But don't imagine that confusing me a little means I'll let you go."
Jun smirked.
Jun: "Do you truly believe that keeping me locked up will help you find the killer, Mr. Richter? I am an Aethernal. I can use supernatural power... Don't you think I could be of help to you?"
Issac Richter: "How can I trust a stranger I just met like you?"
Jun ignored the constraint on his wrists. His deep violet eyes glowed with a calculating light.
Jun: "Trust? Mr. Richter... You don't need to trust me."
Jun paused, staring straight into Issac's charcoal eyes.
Jun: "You only need to use me. Use my power. Your Rival has been awakened for a long time. It's highly possible he belongs to another organization... or even a Mercenary as you suggested."
'A Mercenary?' Jun mused internally, considering the type who would monetize their Aethernal power.
Issac's eyes widened. His face looked pale and bloodless. Jun's hypothesis suggested a possibility their leader hadn't even considered.
Then, a sudden, terrifying sound from the ceiling violently shook the entire cellar. It was the harsh shriek of stone and metal dissolving, being eaten away by a potent acid.
— Fizz... Fizz-fizz-fizz... —
The sharp smell of acid and hot fumes began to seep down the stairs. Issac Richter's cold face was completely overwhelmed by sheer panic. This was the very same power that had dissolved the civilian bodies Clara had found.
Issac Richter (Whispering): "He... how did he do that..."
Issac forgot he was aiming the rifle at Jun, his gaze fixed on the exit. Their enemy was not waiting for Markus Volken—he was attacking immediately.
Jun: "Mr. Richter. Your enemy is smarter than you think. He's not wasting time. If you don't release me right now... this cellar will become your grave and mine."
Issac Richter had no choice. He had to choose between the distrusted aid of an Aethernal and certain death. Issac grabbed the lock of the Sealing Restraint and furiously tore it open.
— Click! —
As the metal rings dropped, Jun gained his freedom. His focus was entirely on the enemy descending from above.