Part Three
Lea stood on the rooftop of a neighboring building.
Below, paramedics moved unconscious civilians onto stretchers.
Wen De had been moved already.
She had made sure of that.
Not to a hospital.
Somewhere quieter.
Safer.
For now.
A ripple of energy formed behind her.
Three figures stepped through.
Each bore the same geometric wings as she did — though more refined.
More structured.
"Guardian Lea," one of them spoke.
"You interfered."
Her posture remained straight.
"Yes."
"You were assigned to monitor."
"Yes."
"You escalated the anomaly."
Her jaw tightened.
"The anomaly escalated itself."
The lead Guardian's gaze sharpened.
"The Minor Enforcer withdrew."
"For now."
"You allowed the Forbidden Line to survive."
Lea said nothing.
The second Guardian stepped forward.
"Explain."
She looked at them steadily.
"He is not aligned with the Throne."
"That is irrelevant."
"He is destabilizing the harvest structure."
Silence.
The third Guardian's wings flickered faintly.
"You sympathize."
Lea's eyes hardened.
"I observed."
"The Council will review your conduct."
"I'm aware."
The lead Guardian glanced toward the city skyline.
"Multiple Earth-based factions have detected the surge."
Lea's gaze shifted slightly.
She had felt it too.
Other awakenings.
Smaller.
Hidden.
Old things stirring.
"The seal is weakening," the Guardian continued.
"If the Forbidden Line matures, the Origin Throne will not send another Minor Enforcer."
Lea knew what that meant.
"They'll send something higher."
"Yes."
The three Guardians began fading back into light.
"Your assignment is unchanged," the lead one said.
"Monitor."
A pause.
"And if necessary… eliminate."
They vanished.
Lea remained alone in the rain.
Her expression unreadable.