Discover Top Posts Tagged with #light vs shadows

Chapter 7; Light Versus Shadows

A few, quiet days pass. Eve had been uncharacteristically calm the whole time. She had been more cautious, but more preparing for what to come. Everything seemed like it was quiet, till one morning an emergency signal was set off from the base.

As the day began, speakers from the hall started to ring. People start to make way to the elevators and stairwells. Eve looks around curiously and sees Agent Grey bounding toward her. His face seemed more serious, yet Eve couldn't figure out what was going on.

Grey helps Eve's confusion and grabs his stuff from his desk, already starting to move away slowly. "Maestro? We got a problem. There's a hacker trying to access our database. That alarm means an outsider just tried to get in our systems. We have to all evaluate to a lower level of the unit."

Eve gets up, and rushes without her coat. She just takes her belongings and stuffs them into her tactical belt, with all her spells and ingredients. Eve catches up to Grey and she calls from behind him. "What do we do?"

They keep their pace and wait in the center elevators that lead further down than the main elevators in the hall. They wait with other agents, and Grey explains. "Since this is a threat on the unit, we must be the ones to find out who it is as outfield agents. And, stop them from further action."

Eve tilts her head. "But, how?!" She uttered, confused.

The doors open and Grey grabs Eve's arm and leads them inside before the elevator was full. "Hurry up, and follow me. Our tech and specialists are working on it right now, let's go down to the underground control room, and find out what they've got."

Once the doors opened, they were in a large room, full of controls, monitors, along with a giant center monitor. On the main screen, countless surveillance was broadcasted. People all crowd in the wide and spaced room, able to fit so many decently. Seas of people wave the partner agents into the center of the room. Eve walks towards the screen, and sees the director looking up at it in front of them. Grey walks over to him, she follows and stays slightly behind.

Grey points out while looking at the alert. "They used an EMP to hide from the first alarm, but the control room still locked them out. It seems they're using an odd encrypted device, or ability to come and go without a trace. It seems we might have some rebels or anarchists."

Eve whips her head to Grey. Her eyes go wide and she holds her fists to her cheeks. "Why would we have that?"

The Director steps in closer, hearing Eve's outburst from behind. He stands before the agents with a small smile still. "I can answer. Different viewpoints. We never know what they want, but it's usually never good. We don't know who they are, but we have this surveillance and the few security guards they tried to take out. They don't seem well planned out, or possibly though they could storm in here." Which was near impossible to do. And just a few people in masks didn't seem like enough at all.

Grey sternly breaths out. "What's the captain's orders?"

The director looks back at the monitor speaking, calmly and confidently. "We'll look at street surveillance and see if they go through any."

The surveillance lessened to just the area around the building, and a few blocks out. They go back to the time the alarm was set off, sped up to now, and the director's eyes glow as he observes. He points out to one of the monitors. Someone zones in at the camera footage Oracle spotted and projected it across the screen.

"Looks like we found one. A male just appeared, he wasn't there till a crowd past an alleyway and he took off running there. His hood fell off so I can see it's one with a gas mask still on. He's off in the east, agents. Go try to find them, but be inconspicuous." Oracle then turns back to the partner agents with his order.

Eve turns to Grey urgently. She pours an invisible bucket of glitter onto her and ushers closer to him. "Grey! Quick, let me do a cloak spell on us."

Grey huffs shortly. "Okay, fine. Just hurry."

Eve does her cloaking spell on Grey. He felt like she just poured goo all over him. Then, it was soon gone. Grey tries to brush it off and turns behind to the elevators. Still, he couldn't shake how weird it felt at first, with a guttural response. "Bleh... The hell?- Let's just go...."

_____________________________

They head out of the unit and they start to run. The agents follow a signal from Grey's log where the suspect's recent activity was spotted from surveillance. They make it right on where their tracker had placed it, but looking around, the agents couldn't find the man in the gas mask, or any resemblance of his description.

Grey decides for them to widen their search, while he goes another way from Eve. They were set to meet together a few blocks away if they haven't found anything. Grey also makes sure Eve uses her work log, if she runs into trouble.

They turns around a corner, and sees a man in a hood walking away. His mask peeked out from the sides, it was the suspect. Eve starts to run and shout. "Hey, you! I need a word with you!" Just by her voice, the man starts running away. She shouts to the man again. "Don't run!!"

The man starts to fade into a black mist and indeed, stops running. He lunges into a plume of smoke flying away faster than his legs carried. Eve gets even, becoming lighter and radiant. She uses her powers to try to catch up to his speed. She felt like she was just within grasps of touching the smoke, till it bounced across the alley to avoid her. The smoke steers itself into a back alley. Eve runs up a wall to jump into the another alley, going down a set of trucks and supply stops.

Eve still remains cloaked. Unseen even as she's fast as a flaming arrow, chasing a dark gas. She calls out to it as she veers into another alley with a gate blocking in the middle. The gas phases through it. Eve makes an effort to jump onto the wall and leap over gracefully with one foot pointing out, over the gated fence. She lands with ease and continues to run after. "Heh, you can't run forever! I need to talk to you!"

The man takes a moment to reappear and land back on the ground running. He turns his head and shouts. "Whatcha' want? I can keep this up allll~ day!"

Eve shouts angrily at the suspect. He should know exactly what's going on, because she still didn't fully. "Grr!! I need you to tell me why you're snooping around private property! And what are you and the others using?"

The suspect peers behind at Eve. He tries to get a decent look at her. She was still glowing, almost angelically, and intimidating. Her eyes pouring out like blue flames. The man turns forward again and yelled aloud into the alleys. "Huh?- You're one of them! An agent!!"

Eve suddenly hears something behind her. She turns her head and sees blue and green lightning form then teleports two other suspects behind her. Now she's surrounded but keeps running. She turns back to the first suspect in a mask. He notices his comrades trapping her as planned. He stops by sliding with one knee and pivots his body back around to face Eve.

Eve is unintentionally the center of the rebels' attention. Figures in masks and dark clothing surround Eve's exits. Two on one side, the biggest and tallest along that Eve was chasing a moment ago, on the other. Eve looks around, seeing them trying to get an upper hand on her. Of course, Eve wasn't thinking of the alleyways and downwards paths she was running in, she was going farther away from the unit's precinct, and into their trap. "We don't have to fight, you'll regret it...."

Eve stands her ground as the rebels get closer. Her voice, still confident and unwavering of her mission. "As a federal agent, I think you'll need to be taken in for questioning. I only ask for that, not to have to get physical. We don't know if your intentions are for good or bad, we need to talk."

One of the two paired, gawked, "Talk? We don't want to talk." He oddly wore a thin, black sack over his head, his accomplice only wore a mask over their eyes.

Eve looks to him and ushers. "Well what do you want? I bet things could be a lot nicer if you didn't try to do something illegal." She gives a brief smile.

The sacked man responds, behalf of his cohorts, and maybe all the rebels as well. "We 'want' something you can't do! A revolution, for other superhumans. We don't want the damn organization to tell us what to do any longer! You can all go to hell!"

Eve awkwardly looks down at the ground. "Well... I would agree with you, however, I find them... okay?" Eve looks back up, but not very sure of herself.

The same man outbursts. "Just okay? I was stuck in the ward they locked me in, till I was driven mad! That's NOT okay!!" The man in the sack-mask argued.

Eve jumps to her surprise. She didn't know what it was like, but was told of how some facilities operated, if the information was honest. "?!- Well, I'm definitely going to have to check that out, and whatever else they might just say to please. I've been recently taken. So, I also don't know much about them yet...."

The man in the gas mask breaks the two's tension. We waved his hands up and laxed. "Heh, so, do ya wanna join us instead, maybe? Learn what it's like from the outside?"

Eve jumps again and protests with her arms. She points with her whole hand to herself and exasperates. "What? But, I AM from the outside. I wasn't taken as a child like many! I still don't know if they're good, but I have to find out for myself! We can't have chaos and uproar to keep moving people to change, that's not the plan...."

The one in the gas mask chuckles and points at himself. "I was a child taken once I got my powers. But, I got out young, and joined a revolution. You could join, if you'd prove you're not so loyal to the agency."

Eve raises a brow to the man speaking. "Why listen to you either, again, you're doing something illegal. I don't like that either, and would have to see for myself all the terrible stuff you BOTH do. So, why don't you all tell me about it....?" Eve smiles, tilting her head. She leans and places her hands behind her back innocently. She acts non-threatening, hoping it'll persuade them.

"Stop talking, don't give anything away! Just take her as a hostage!" The man in the sack turns to the man in the gas mask. The silent suspect also nodded in agreement. All of their eyes were now directed to Eve.

Eve smirks, and creates two small rings with two fingers. She points her fingers out to shoot the suspects. The one alone she was chasing dodges, just nearly. He makes a break to charge at Eve. While the one that was more hostile gets a direct hit in the chest. His partner, still silently beside him, watches and dodges away from the blast in surprise.

A quick plume of smoke moves and the man in the gas mask appears right in front of Eve. She defends herself, grabbing a kick sent at her and sweeps his feet from under him. She grabs a fire capsule and claps her hands together, breaking it and sending a swirling flame from her shoulder, to hand. She uses the flame to swipe at the two standing, and the one on the ground, trying to scoot away to get back up.

They try to ambush Eve, after each took a turn to rush her after countering the blasts. Eve grabs capsules from her belt and throws them on the ground. She spins a fiery kick onto the ground, then jumps up and swings a foot to counter a rebel. "Heh, I said you'll regret fighting me. I'm different from them...."

Rings in a spherical fire protected Eve from getting touched and grew so they would corner the group. One body suddenly zipped from spot to spot, getting closer to Eve. She sweeps a foot back behind her and prepares herself for an attack.

Eve starts to glow, and ready to dodge. When suddenly, the taller one in the gas mask swipes at her, then appears right behind her again. Eve stomps her foot and then turns to send a wave of light to counter as she sweeps her leg up. When it was about to touch the man, he vanished. He didn't instantly come back or poof into smoke, just disappeared. It was as if he teleported, without the same electricity the others used.

"H- huh?" Eve felt like she just blinked and he was gone. She backs away into the wall as protection from the other two still present.

They both run towards her, after murmuring to each other. She takes from her belt two different capsules, and clashes her hand together in front of her. A fan of violet and green fire shoots towards them, and they back away. Eve waves her hands, and fist, at them as they were caught unbalanced. She sweeps a kick with the two flames twirling around her. The rebels hall to the ground with small burns all over them from her attacks.

Eve tries to finish them off till they surrender. She kneels and presses her fingertips onto the pavement. She creates a large ring around her, when suddenly inside of it, a dark, shapeless sludge appeared from the ground and tried to fight Eve's light. It twitched, shot back down and up from the ground sporadically.

Eve stands up hunched, and breaks the circle as everything slowly stops glowing. "What... was that?...." Eve looks back up after the odd occurrence. Holding just her fists up preemptively, not knowing what to expect at first. The two rebels still present tried to get back up and use the opening to attack. Suddenly, something pops up from the group between them and Eve.

'Someone' in a gas mask pops up, their head phasing from the ground. "Aaahh- oouch!!... What did you do?! Ffff- jeez!!... That stings so much!" The man in the gas mask fidgets and rubs his aching head with his hands profusely. Eve sees his torso is turning black and disappearing into her own shadow.

Eve tried to back away. Even with her shadow not on him, a squiggly dark line still attached himself to her. "H- huh, you have a shadow power?"

The man waves his arms as he's still halfway into the ground. "And what on earth did you use?!" He cried bitterly.

Eve breathes a confident chuckle. "Heh, light. Your ability can't withstand mine."

'Mr. Gas Mask' holds his head and rubs it a bit sorely. "Ouchie... No fair~ That really burned like no other, ya' know? Imagination paper cuts and lemon juice all over your freakin' body! My head felt like it was burning up..." He shimmies himself out of Eve's shadow and sits on the ground with a loud and exhausting 'plop'. For such a bigger guy than the other two, he was kind of like a giant child.

Eve clenched her fist together and stomps one foot down, sending a light to flash suddenly. She gains their attention as they stop fighting. "All of you! Last chance to come with me nicely. I don't want to hurt any of you but I must, if you resist."

Eve hears a sigh and verbal pout from the gas mask. "Aww... you don't HAVE to hurt us." He opposed.

Eve holds a fist close to her, hiding a capsule inside for safe measures. "Then, come with me for a moment, and don't try to hurt me as well."

"Fat chance...." 'Mr. Sack' gawked. He ran towards Eve, and suddenly he took some shiny out of his pocket. Eve dodges backwards as he swipes a knife towards her. Eve whines up a fiery spin-kick into the man's stomach, with his knife in the opposite hand she swung from. He drops it, stumbling back.

As he tries to quickly bend down to grab for it, Eve points up, using her finger to let off a firework up to the tops of the buildings above. This is hopefully something Grey could see, he would hopefully know it was hers.

The sack man jumps up and turns around wildly. He pushes his partner to run as they try to make a break for it, before backup comes. "Let's get out of here!!" He shouts as he turns to the shadow-rebel.

The lone rebel waves them off and shouts back. "You guys go on head! I'll hold her off."

The two just quickly got together and on his command, they huddled and took off in an electric flash. The one with the shadow power watched them and turned back to Eve.

Mr. Gas Mask turns back to Eve. "Now, where were we?" He tilts his head, giving the same harmless act Eve did.

Eve looks down at him and coolly answers. "Hmph, you coming with me for questioning." She then smirks.

The man gets up and starts to walk closer. "Right, sure, but can I ask questions too? You said you weren't 'really' working for 'em. What are you then? Were you taken? Also, are you single by chance-?"

Eve interrupts sternly and waves an arm to silence him. "No more questions. What are you doing here?"

The lone rebel shrugs, kneeling on the ground. He showed no signs in fighting. He might have not wanted to. "Heh, just wanting to see what the big hub was about the agency. We're part of people who've escaped or hid from the power-militia. If you've never heard about us, you must have not seen other superhumans before them, have ya?"

Eve nervously shakes her head. She had, just different, since she's been learning about her kind for years now. "I'm new, and not fully sided with the agency's, but another. I also assume you don't know anyone in that building do you? I think, if we just show each other our different point of views, we'd not need to fight. If you talk to me, we won't need to do anything further than that. As long as you don't try to harm anyone."

Gas Mask coos contemplating. He scratches the back of his head, but not to mess with the straps of his mask. "I don't know, heh I don't want to fight ya either but... We're on opposite sides, for now."

Eve scoffs and corrects him. "Hey, I'm on my side. That doesn't mean the agencies, they just need me for some reason..."

The man gets up. Eve didn't notice till he was still and in front of her, the suspect was even taller than her partner Grey. He really seemed harmless however, just trying to make conversation. "Why? Maybe you don't need 'em?"

A loud clash, followed by shouting interrupts the two. "MAESTRO!!" Eve, and Mr. Gask Mask, turn to Grey, turning around a corner at them.

Gas Mask takes a step away from Eve, then makes a full turn, and tries to run off the other way. "Welp! Gotta go! Bye, Sunshine. Hope we meet again!"

Eve quickly turns back to the suspect. "Hey! We're not done here!" She tries to reach for him but he disappears in a dark swirling trail down to the ground.

Eve looks down and around at her shadow, following it as it casts down the alley, closer to Grey. Eve shouts, but Grey still didn't understand. "Grey! Watch your shadow!" As he's still running toward Eve.

Eve quickly places her fingertips onto the ground and glows. She hoped the light could protect Grey from a possible attack from the shadowy figure. She gently breathes and a circle appears around her and starry orbs float all around the entire alleyway.

Grey finally starts to halt, halfway across the way from getting to Eve. At least she made him stop at a safe proximity. "Maestro! What are yo- ?!"

Suddenly the fidgeting, thick mist popped from the ground, and proceeded to stumble to Grey. No matter how fast the shadow moved, it couldn't escape from a light orb hitting his shapeless figure. "Aaaahh!! Goddangit!! Again?!" The man shoots up from the ground behind Grey.

Shadow user goes to attack Grey. Grey quickly turns, using his arm and shoulder to push him away. Once Gas Mask was in his normal form and stumbling from his counter, Grey strikes at him. He sends a shoulder right into the other man and knocks him back. Grey takes out a small cylinder, and with a click of a mechanism, it launches into a steel stick. He swings at the rebel a couple of times till he was able to shift again, and reappears behind Grey in a dark mist.

Grey doesn't turn but swings the back of his weapon. Like a fool in a trap, the gas masked man gets a blow to the face. Grey turns, and he swings at staff, till he sweeps and foot and knocks the rebel down. Gas mask grunts falling onto the cold, hard ground. "Oof- !! Okay, now I REALLY gotta get out of here...." He kicks his legs out and runs as fast a he could from off the ground, till he was in a sprint.

Gask mask ran away from Grey, Eve tried to catch up from the other side with her power. "Stop!" She shouted, getting lighter and faster so she could make ground.

The suspect ran out of the alley and collided with a few civilians outside. As a few people fell or were suddenly looking. From the quick commotion, the man in the gas mask had vanished. Eve and Grey look out of the alley, and around investigating.

Eve takes a step out of the shadows and Grey grabs her arm. "Don't follow... We already lost him. Let's just head back and give word." Grey undoes the mechanism, and brings the pole into a small cylinder again.

Eve points to it as he puts it away. "What's that?", she asked. Grey looks down at his hands and takes it back out to show.

Grey holds his palm out with his weapon cradled in his hand. "This? It's a mechanical bo staff, a perfect non-lethal, self-defense tool."

Eve jumps up intrigued, and excitedly cups her cheeks. "What? I want to train with one! I don't want to use the guns or stuff as is...."

Grey quickly shrugs and nods. He walks closer to the end alleyway, as he puts his weapon back in his pocket. "Certainly, you may. I'm not a fan of lethality if the situation doesn't call for it either. You can keep it too, versus checking out a gun each day."

Grey looks out to the street. "We want them alive, of course we wouldn't just try to kill them. Follow along, we've been here for long enough." Grey turns away, back to the direction of the S.O.U. Eve follows behind and eventually catches up. Grey kept silent walking back, and Eve never spoke up to break the silence between them.

____________________________________

It wasn't until they arrived back at S.O.U. headquarters, Grey was the first to speak. As soon as they passed through the doors, his temper finally erupted. He turns to Eve, cold and harshly. "What happened back there?!"

Eve waves her arms, frantically explaining to her partner what had happened through words and hand gestures. "I was chasing one guy and two teleported with the same flash they used before behind me. We fought a bit, they said they're part of a revolution and some had escaped the agency. I'm assuming they're part of a resistance group, and hate anything the agency does. The one stayed so his friends could escape. He tried to convince me to go with them." She was still shocked about the events that happened.

Grey worries, and questions Eve. "Maestro? You're not thinking about going to join them, are you?"

Eve purses her lips tightly. She then flailed her arms up and down shouting. "Grey! If I could, wouldn't I?! You saw my signal, I didn't follow along with them. I'd be doing anything to get me to the desert, if that was the case!"

Grey clears his throat into his fist and coolly brushes off his worry. "Okay, okay. Making sure... I know you don't really like the agency, but the rebels are another thing. They're a whole new type of 'chaotic' society... I can't have you getting hurt where I can't protect you." If only he was the one to find them first, and not Eve. She could have gotten hurt. She didn't mention to him that one had a knife, because he might flip out.

Eve scoffs childishly. She then waves Grey off. "Protect? I think hide is better but, yes I already know that. I just take no side to any agency, or rebels. No one beside those I've known for so long... I see no one side is in the right, or wrong."

Grey, for a moment was about to each out to Eve. He realized and stopped, whipping his head away before he tried to console her. "E-... Okay, let's just get back to the control room. We'll have to find out more, another way...." With that, they both head back to the lower level.

The two agents make their way back to the lower level clearance. While they had been gone, the unit followed another safety test on the systems, and everything was cleared. No threats were near, thanks to Eve chasing off the rebels. While, also going a far distance away, so that it was deemed clear in the unit's facility to go back to their normal business.

Eve and Grey walk up to the director, who was still there, overseeing a smaller monitor. Him and two others were seated, looking through information.

Eve announces, lowering her voice to sound sincere, but somber. "Director? If I may... I had failed to catch the perpetrators when they were all there. I take responsibility, as we've come back with nothing."

Grey looks at his partner, a bit taken back at her blaming herself. The director turns from a computer and gives Eve a smile. "On the contrary, Maestro, you did just fine. With you, we were able to catch which way they were going. It's at least not completely empty handed. And the bright-side, no data was taken, and everything's fine. Now that we've scared them off."

The director turns and points to the big screen, which had no more warnings. It was street surveillance, and on the lower corner two profiles. One looked very familiar to Eve. The director's words only slightly comforted her. She couldn't forget the one rebel, dead set on getting revenge on the S.O.U.

Eve raises the question on her mind. "I'm curious. This group exists most likely because of the agency. So, what happened to them? One person said they were driven mad. Were they criminals, or hostages? Are some of the sanctuaries safe to live in?"

Grey scoffs and growls annoyed. "Jesus, Maestro. One question at a time...."

Eve peers at Grey, then back. She tries to find the right question that could answer it all. "I mean to say... What drives those people to want to destroy the secret unit?"

The director just sighs and explains the best he could. "Lots of things... just like any system. I'm afraid I couldn't give you a straight answer or short explanation, it's more in-depth than that."

Eve persists on knowing, not getting short answers, but to get real proof of the director's claims. "Well, I would like an explanation, and to see the facilities, given some time. I hope to ensure everything is peaceful enough. I may just be an agent here... but my higher purpose is outside of that. I want the old and new societies to get better at keeping magic and abilities from harm. The creatures and earth included."

Eve hoped she seemed needed, or acting outright of what she actually needed to do for them. It was honest, but she felt like it needed to be stressed more. It wasn't an idea already thought about. Oracle believed Eve could bend and build their rules, for the better. She could make a great higher operative, as she was placed to be. But, the director would give her more room to grow, when, and if, she was ready. Eve was already wanting to be more involved. Her fresh and righteous mind, he plans her to lead their unit alongside them, for something greater.

The director grew more sincere. "Yes, if you'd like to be a part of it. We'll just have to go through some things first. You'll see our rescue for our creatures, then you'll have a lot more treks lined up after. In our and your places. You'll always have access to other government services and facilities for your work, but can give a request form for permission to go see them, if it's not for a mission. For now, your speculation and special guidance is crucial work for you, your partner, and the agency to work on."

Eve nods, face serious with her soft features. "Okay, hopefully I can be of help for the greater good... It seems not all think the unit is so kind." The whole agency too, than just their unit perhaps.

The director breathes a sympathetic sigh. "You're correct, of course. Not everyone gets along with us, you would understand from your experience. So they often plot out attacks on the agency bases. We might have another underway."

Grey adds again. He walks close, and shrugs his shoulders and arms casually. "Maestro said they were rebels. She doesn't know much, but she tried to get more information from them."

Director Oracle nods. He turns to Eve, in question. "Anything particular they wanted?"

Eve looks between the two, then shrugs. "Well... All I heard was that they were trying to get revenge." She wasn't able to get much intel. But, she did personally learn a bit from the rebels about the agency. She hoped to not be tricked by the agency, or even the rebels. She saw no side as favorable, especially if one was apparently violent.

Oracle chuckles almost ironically. "Heh, that's always the main reason they claim. We want our people heard, but no matter how hard we try, not everyone is happy with the results. That's why we also trust you not to be like them. We want your help after all. You have the mind to shape some things that the agency might not grasp fully."

Eve brings a hand to her face meekly. She used to be a threat to them, exposing magic. Yet, they somehow needed her, and her trust, now. "Why me? I- I'm just curious, if I may ask..."

The director speaks a bit more serious. However, he was still kind, and critically thinking. "After reading your case, and our first talk, you Eve, hold a lot of power. A lot of knowledge and skill. It could shape ability users, their livelihoods, our system, and well-being. One person couldn't do it alone, so your help will give us more actions to put forth. You also have a great way at making yourself heard as well. Not many hold such a unique mind and power. And..."

The director paused, looking straight at Eve when speaking, to emphasize. "... You thought to use its purpose for good, like you did before coming here. Heh, you did get some fame. Not for you exactly, but for magic." The director's been trying to prepare her to be the voice of the people this whole time, yet Eve's been hesitant. She needed to hear his idea, to really think about helping them grow. Not for evil, but for their people.

Eve places a hand to her heart, and a princely bow to the director. "Really... Well, as an advisor for magic, I'll make sure the people's voices are heard, even the whispers. Those people...."

Eve then points to the large screen at the suspect list. Three pictures taken from surveillance, the three she encountered. Only two identified in the files below. She only assumed the last one left was Gask Mask to be identified. "... I must see their views too, to not be biased."

Eve's forward thinking brings an idea to the director. "Well, that's perfect. We could also use you to go undercover, if they're up to something dangerous. Sometimes their threats can be a problem. We could find a way if you need to get into a rebel base. Maybe, you could also learn a bit from them. You're the most honest and curious, but it serves you well for this mission, heh."

Eve leans to one leg and looks doubtful. "You're not worried I'd just leave?" She questioned plainly.

Director Oracle shakes his head. "Not exactly, I'd only hope you wouldn't go and attack us. Sure, you can run and hide, but we won't force you to come back. We would monitor you if you ever show abilities off to any normal people again, however. Then, you might expect a visit from us." He smiled and spoke friendly, but the last part sounded eerie, and a bit threatening for sounding so cheerful.

Eve looks around and thinks. She gives her honest feelings. And, her hopes. "After coming here, if I could leave, I'll go to one of the places where magic is part of normal life for everyone. But... I suppose I should try to change things for the better here before that idea. You wouldn't have to fear me exposing anything anymore. I just want to live a peaceful life, if I could. But, I want overall peace too of course..."

Eve gives a soft grin. As much as she love music, I can just stick to that and connecting with others. Or, go abroad to study spells in secluded areas, and beautiful oases. Wherever Eve could try to find the peace.

The director understands her completely. Eve always seeks what's right, a blessing and cursed trait to hold. A lot of weight falls on her shoulders with all the power she possesses and protects. Yet, even Oracle is hopeful in her success. "Maybe one day we could all be at peace, but for now, we have our ways and will try to make it right."

Eve nods and agrees. "Yes, I will help with that as long as you use the knowledge to better societies."

Director Oracle smiles. He holds a hand to his chest, as if pointing. "We'll try, that's part of our mission too."

The director then turns back to the screens in front of him, showing reports coming in. "Well, two of their identities are found from previous attacks, and they most likely have a lot more coming. We'll have to keep this investigation open, till this all settles down."

Grey turns and starts to walk back to the elevators. Eve waves goodbye and she runs off to catch up to him. She stares at him wide-eyed. "Does this happen a lot or something?"

Grey plainly answers. "Surprisingly, yes. It's not the first time dealing with this group. If they're abilities wielders, it's the same group we're familiar with. They looove to plot attacks on us..." he said unamused.

More people come in the elevators before they reach their floor. While Eve and Grey stay close to one edge, Eve brushes Grey's shirt sleeve, and keeps the back of her fingertips touching. She taps him with one finger.

'Grey, I need your opinion on something important if you can hear me... Can I really trust the Director about telling him about my mentor?'

The interaction, followed by the question made Grey think. He leans over and speaks in a hushed tone. "I... Maybe? I don't think he'll cause any harm if you explain it to him. Whether he'll want to contact him will be another thing. It'll be good to mention that before you go adventuring there. Finding out now would be better than later."

'Okay... I need you to talk to him first, are you able to use your power on the Director?'

Grey raised his shoulders, and quickly whipped his head to Eve. He tries to regain and whisper. "What?... I can, but he'll know."

Eve sighs exhausted, bringing both hands to cup her face. She muttered quietly. "Never mind... Sigh, I'll talk to him and hope he doesn't do anything. If he does, he'll never reach him without me anyways. Grey, will you come too?" She rubs her cheeks tired, then looking up at him softly.

Grey nods, and quietly speaks towards Eve's ear. "Of course... I know this will be a sensitive topic for you, since you're so protective of your beloved..." He leans closer, drawing out the last part. He then grinned, taunting her by saying nothing else after that.

Eve whips her head to Grey. She tries to be vocal, while hush in an angry whisper. "?!- I hope you know there's a word after that, and it's a secret civilization... You saw the lives there, you saw him, I love them all."

Grey draws out a toying, and doubtful breath. "Sure you do...."

Eve snaps at Grey annoyed, only fueling his teasing. "Shuddup!"

They step out of the elevator, not before others around them turn at Eve's sudden outburst in confusion. They try to go back to work, as if nothing happened. Eve however keeps her mind full of questions. And, she needed the answers to them.

___________________________________

It was just getting late, around the time Eve and Grey went off duty. However, they had one last thing to do for the day, and Eve was dreading it the most. The director was in his office, typing away at his computer. A knock at the door stops him and he looks to the door.

Eve pops her head in after a moment. "Director? Sorry to bug you, but I was hoping to have a serious talk about some information... I am hesitant, but hope I'm making the right decision in meeting with you."

The door fully opens, not because of Eve, but Grey behind her making their way in. He didn't want to be standing the whole time as Eve was avoiding going in.

The director watches them with a small, inquisitive smile. He waves Eve, and Grey, in to take a seat. "Well, you ask for a small meeting, and you mean with us three? Is there something I should know?" Oracle looks between the two smiling. Confident, yet for once a bit confused. Grey sits down with no hesitation.

Eve however, nods, slowly and cautiously moves closer to the seat to sit next to Grey. "Yes, if you haven't suspected... I have a lot of skill, for someone who's never seen powers before. I actually have met someone, before the agency. A powerful, but peaceful, one. I have come to learn a lot from them..." She admits, but it was hard for her to.

The director rubs his chin and thinks where Eve was avoiding mentioning a mentor before. "Ah, I see. They taught you all of your spell books?"

Eve nods hesitantly. "A grand magician, one that is needed in a secluded place, had shown me the way of what they call 'magicians'. A place where it wouldn't be good if he wasn't there, the civilization would die off, magic there will too. So... I once wandered, till I met him. That definitely was just by great luck, and he taught me everything he knows. He knows a lot, it could be information to bring peace and understanding here, maybe development...."

The director rests a fist under his chin and nods. It all made sense to him, even Eve protecting its identity. "Fascinating, everything you know, truly is from this man?"

Eve nods, but mopes. "Yes, but please don't blame him for my use of it in modern life- It was my decision after all, and didn't plot anything that-." She begged, then a loud scoff interrupted her.

Grey cuts in, for Eve's sake. "Breathe Eve, breathe. I'm sure he's not in trouble for that."

The director nods in agreement, and smiles at the two. "He's not, don't worry. If he knows a lot, we might want to have our researchers meet with him, with your permission and guidance, of course."

Oracle may already know, but Eve still emphasizes. "Okay, as long as he's safe and I WILL contact him first. I need to tell him everything to prepare for our arrival."

Now that it's no longer hidden, it's being stressed as much as she did with Grey. Even Eve knows, and had hid from the director previously, her mentor was also a key to discovering what the ability users were, and what their powers meant.

The director makes a mental note of it, and gleams. He was happy to hear Eve's agreement. They would keep their plan to learn from places Eve traveled, and hope her mentor could teach them a thing or two. "Definitely, we could also definitely use the help. We will try to be mindful, when we start our long trek to them. We could use all the help from him that we can get."

Eve nods slowly, looking down. It was what she wanted, but scared if the agency might do something. "He most definitely would give things that can't be used for evil. He may try to judge the agency's character to see if he can teach them more than a few things, however."

Oracle can see Eve's not hesitating, now talking about this new person of intel. He could suspect such, and wants both Eve's, and her mentor's trust. "Ah, well we will try to prove our intentions are just for help. We don't know what we'd learn from him, but we will use it for good, not in vain."

Eve eyes the director, and confidently speaks. "Good... my mentor's one of few real magicians felt, few wonders felt out there. There's possibly more places like that all over. Shops there carry unique imports for magic. Although incredibly expensive, it's for the magician to use, normal people cannot use it the same way after all."

Grey chimes in, leaning in his chair and arms crossed. He speaks calm and deeply. "Heh, I would also like to add that I saw Eve's memories, of course. Many actually, and she is quite honest. A lot of the things I don't exactly understand but could see its purpose. I would possibly trust this person, as Eve has been with them for years learning under him. She even tried to keep him safe and secret up until now."

Eve give Grey a side eye. She questions his rephrasing, shaking her head. "Wait... just 'possibly'? He understands a lot more about powers than you, he also just understands a lot in general. He's a scholar, a wise teacher, and a protector of a small city." She confidently spoke.

Grey explains, to both the director, and Eve. Pointing out the differences. "He lives in a place where powers can be seen as a gift, not every place is like that. He does know a lot but he doesn't have every answer to shaping a whole system in modern-day life."

Eve pouts at Grey. She still insisted on their help. "Well... that's why we must learn his perspective too, to better ours, and learn what could be a solution to some of our problems. Waters tainted, gardens dying, animals from extinction...." She trails on a small list of what many wonders it could bring. Seeing the town would help others see first hand how it helps a society.

Oracle chimes in, also hoping the two won't make this an argument in front of him. Yet, he smiles, and knits his hand together on his desk. "So, we will meet with your teacher first, then scout for other places for more answers. This information will help the current systems placed with old ones. Hopefully, they can help us as well."

Eve turns back to the director, and nods. "Sure, as long as we are peaceful anywhere we go."

The director waves a hand, laxed. "Of course, not to worry. We'll talk more about where and when later. More of the other details soon. Have a good rest of your night's, you're dismissed."

Eve gets up, bringing a hand to her heart and bowing her head to the director. She's zoned in her heroic acting with her genuine personality. She's relieved, and grateful for the director's word. She will hold him to it, not to break their promise. "Thank you for your time, have a good night."

Grey gets up and only turns his head to Eve. "A moment, Maestro. I want a word with the director, alone."

Eve meekly backs away and turns to open the door to leave them. "Oh- okay. I'm just going to get my stuff..." For some reason Eve was worried, like they were going to talk about her. And somehow, she was worried about that.

Eve leaves the two alone. Now, Agent Grey and Director Oracle stare each other down. Grey, serious, and the director smiling.

Grey finally breaks the silence, and exhales deeply. "I'm glad you're doing all of this, for the agency, but also for Eve. She's been very nervous about coming here, knowing only what her mentor taught her about powers, and their own people. She knew of no others like us, other than the them, and apparently other remaining magicians in the world. Why Eve calls it 'magic' and was taught the history of all that stuff. It was her mentor, and she cares a lot about him."

Oracle brings his hands up slightly, and shrugs. "But, spell-casts are still a cast of something. Either magic or ability, it's the same thing. Like different sides of the same coin. We learned the logic, but there's also the mystic portion. Sadly, we don't know the full story of the past of our kind. Eve has made this aware to us, and the possibility of something greater."

Grey eyes the director and away awkwardly. "Ah, you see it too. The weird part."

The director was only making an observation, but chuckles at Grey response. He can tell he's heard, maybe even seen a fair share already. "Haha, yes, I think so. This is definitely a breakthrough for our kind, we all could benefit from this. Eve could also see herself taking part in helping us, just with time."

Grey crosses his arms and chuckles. He waves with a finger. "Hopefully... Heh! She's a bit of a wild card, that one. She's uncertain of our true motives, she's hesitant to trust us...."

Oracle joins in a small laugh, agreeing. He can see it in Eve's eyes the fire and confidence she had at times. "Haha, as I've been well aware of. You'll have to keep an eye out for her. In case she runs into some troubles. Trust or none, protect her, if you can. She's too valuable to get in harm's way."

Grey eyes Oracle and smirks. "Of course, as it's sure to happen."

Oracle chuckles, cheeks brimming his eyes. "Heh, let's just hope not. You're dismissed, if that's all."

Grey briefly walks away to the door and leaves. He turns as he opens the door. "It is, goodnight, sir."

Oracle waves him goodbye, and smiles till the door closes. Then, everyone was back to their own vices.

_____________________________________________________________________

After a long day at the agency, Eve closes the door to her apartment and takes a heavy sigh, leaning on the door. The day was very confusing, and scary. She turns to the door and puts a seal around it, so no one could enter. The bottom and cracks of the doorframe glowed, knowing the protection charm was set.

Eve and Sameer walk into Eve's bedroom. She unbuttons her shirt a bit and takes out her communicator she's kept hidden. She holds it in her hands and waits as the crystal in the center starts to glow. It flashed for a moment, and Eve brought it in close. "Um... 'Mehl? Are you there?"

A slow flash responds to Eve.

'Of course I would be. Hello, Eve.'

Eve could hear her mentor's voice again. She jumps ups up, cheering gleefully. "Hi 'Mehl~! I wanted to check up on you again! How have you been?" She cradles the crystal and sways left and right in excitement.

'I'm well, and hopefully you are too. Just been so quiet when you're gone. I do miss hearing you sing in the shop.'

Eve blushed idiotically as she gushed over her mentor. "Hehe~, I miss you too! Telling Sam all about you has made me dying to get you two properly introduced!" Eve giggles and infectiously made Yamehl chuckle too.

'As before, I would love to. How has everything been with the organization?'

Eve slumps onto the floor, but speaks still excitedly. Not like she acted relaxed when working, all the time. "Been better! Thankfully, I think we got to resolve some things. But, I've encountered another group now. They hate the agency, so I want to know why. But otherwise, I've been able to live a decently normal life still, in part to having a weird job now."

Eve then pouts and talks in a childish moping. "I've been following their 'no magic in public rules', grrgh! It makes me so upset, but I'm behaving!..." She grumbles childishly.

Yamehl chuckles again, and then speaks sincere and kindly.

'Just hang in there, sorry you're being constricted of your powers. I know you do very well on your own. I have much certainty you could help them if you wanted.'

"Well, I might be. I'm training for a high level operative, or... am, but I've just been following someone around. They've been helping me not rebel against them sometimes, heh...."

Eve jolts and remembers her reason for contacting Yamehl. Her voice got much softer, and worried. "A- actually... I had to come clean about you today. I was worried about them finding you out themselves, and what they might do. I gave them warning, though. I definitely won't allow them to get to you easily. I told them if they ever needed to contact you, that it would be through me. And, if they ever need to go to Uridian, they won't know the location unless they remember it by foot. Unless they need a map, I won't be using one..." She whispered, panicked, but her mentor reassured her.

'It's okay, Eve. You might not have to worry about that. I'm sure as long as they've been treating you well, they will be fine. If I can't reach you, they must come here, if I were to really settle on things with them. You have not to worry about that. I will see their intentions for myself, soon. They will be granted a visit, if they comply.'

Eve sulks into her floor by her bed, she cuddles up to Sam, and sighs heavily. Sameer rests his head on Eve's lap to comfort her. Yamehl continues to try to calm her, as well.

'I'm glad you spoke freely of me, you don't have to be afraid. I don't want to burden you with any troubles...'

Eve gasps, she couldn't fathom her mentor ever being a burden. She however, could argue she's a burden to him. "But! I don't want you to be in trouble... I'll be fine... They live as a new form of magicians, only knowing their own affinity. Nothing about the past, as it was wiped away almost completely...."

Eve whimpers a bit. She knows if secrets are out there, someone's going to try to find it. With Eve being able to be tracked, compared to a secret desert oasis, it could possibly put the civilization at risk. She doesn't want the last bit of hope destroyed.

'Of course, it is still rare and different. Those things tend to be taken or destroyed, but not all have been lost. The earth never lost all of its power. Till the day it ceases to, magicians still coincide.'

Eve draws out, her tone in understanding but nervous. "True...." She twirls the sting of the necklace with her finger. Eve never breaks eye contact from the crystal. It flashes, with the calm, reassuring words of her mentor.

'Heh, I'll leave the rest to you there. I'm sure you'll know what to do. I'll find you, and them. I shall also grant them to visit, whenever it's time. Maybe they could learn some things to better the earth.'

Eve's head perked up. She could use the agency for good, of course with the right teachings. "Yes, yes! That's exactly what I hoped too!! If not, I should see if I could try to teach them a few. I just need some more materials, I've used up too much of my resources for the agency recently... And, it's impossible to get ingredients here! So far, I would also say being a mentor is hard work, hehe." She rubs her head awkwardly as she giggles. Yamehl could practically see her doing it, just from hearing and knowing her.

'Haha, the student becomes the teacher, you grow so quickly. I feel like there's not enough spells and magic in the world that you couldn't learn.'

Eve mopes as brings the crystal closer. "Yet, I still can't do every spell, or have everything I need sometimes. That's a bit of a bummer not being able to come see you... Hopefully if they let me see you for work, I can learn and practice more!"

'Heh, I miss teaching you very much as well. I don't know much else I could really teach... Ah, I'd have to come up with a list if you want one, heh.'

Eve giggles, a moment after, her feelings gave way in her voice. "'Mehl, I miss you so, so much..." Eve drops her head again as she looks at the crystal, only seeing it glow brighter as Yamehl would talk. It flashed, and she heard his response.

'We will meet again, if fate allows it. I'm sure it will, soon. I've missed you too.'

But, Eve didn't know if he missed him as much as she did. Or, feel the way that she did. "...." She goes silent, unable to try to forward the conversation with what she wanted to say. Yamehl noticed, and said.

'What's on your mind?'

As response, Eve blushes and panics as she couldn't tell him the truth. She started to ramble embarrassed. "N- nothing! I was just thinking if I could see you soon. Have breakfast again, make potions and remedies, go out- and stuff! Heh! Galaxies! I miss it so much, heh heh...."

Eve internally screams, she couldn't sound more blunt. She couldn't even talk to him without feeling like it could be their last, everytime now. She almost couldn't hold it in any longer. Her years of interest, finally overcoming her. Her words couldn't keep her deepest secrets forever.

Her mentor didn't seem to notice, or just didn't bring it up. Yamehl only replies to Eve's response, and her hopes.

'We shall. You're always welcome here at any time. Even if the Emperor looks for you, however, I suspect he's forgotten all about you.'

Eve jokingly chuckles. "Heh, I'm sure if he sees my face, he'll remember. I'll just have to make sure I'm not by the palace."

'We shall see, then. I'll always try to help you, if that man tries anything. I promise not to get myself thrown in prison, but I will make no exception to the emperor if a sword is directed at you again....'

Eve giggles and sways to one side. She waved Sam over, so that she can pet, and speak to her friendly freely. "Don't worry about me~ I'll be okay! If anything, I've been trained to fight now! I can protect myself in many ways, hehe! The heroes always prevail!"

If Eve's a hero, she was indeed getting stronger. But, for what? She was getting stronger, physically and ability-wise regardless. Eve was practicing enough, and gaining more strategy at the S.O.U. Eve even exhausted her powers at times, a rare thing for her to feel.

Yamehl was supporting Eve's journey, as scary as it was at times. But, her mentor can tell somethings different.

'Heh, you've changed a bit, haven't you?'

Eve straightens her posture, surprised. "Eh? Well... considering I've been very temperamental, scared, training to be a bit of a weapon... I'm still 'Eve', no agency will change me so easily. I still know what I do this for...."

'You have much to show for yourself, you've come a long way. Just from entering my shop, to how you are now. All these years, each trail, you've gotten stronger from.'

Eve wipes her hand under her eye, feeling her vision getting blurred. "G- goodness, 'Mehl... Heh, you're making me emotional. I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm crying, it's happy tears..."

'Oh Eve... If you wish it, I'll always be by your side. You wouldn't have to face this alone in the beginning. You can always call to me...'

Eve thinks deeply, she tries to be logical. Yet, her heart gives way. "... You're better where you are, even for your sake. You have much to do... and so do I... I will always communicate with you, by your side, or not. You're also always in my heart, and not a day goes by that I don't think about you..." She huffs with a tired smile.

'Please get some rest. It'll be a new dawn for you soon. We will talk soon enough, have not to worry about that, heh.'

Eve softly but gleefully cheered. "Talk soon, 'Mehl. I hope that your day goes well."

'Thank you, Eve. I'll also keep our ties close to my heart, you have been my dearest companion. Do rest well.'

"You're my dearest as well...- ah I mean to say likewise, heh! You and Sameer are the greatest thing in my life. I wish you all well." Eve chokes and rephrase her words, looking at Sameer with eyes widened. Yamehl assumes she was having a hard time saying goodbye, as it was always hard to, even more now.

'Take care of you two.'

Eve smiles warmly, petting Sam in the process. "We shall."

Eve waits for the crystal to fade and become a normal-looking crystal again. Their conversations had ended. She holds it there, then puts it around her arm, and puts her hands to her face, tiredly. "I need to shut my mouth..." She lays her head on her knees and rests the crystal on her head in her fist. "Why is love so scary!" She kicks out and scrambles with her hair, becoming more messed up and frizzy as a result. Sameer looks at her curiously and a bit concerned.

At least Eve was able to speak about her mentor at the agency. If only now, she would speak up about her feelings, other than to her partner, tiger friend, and even designer at times. It seemed like things were only going to get tougher from there. And, she's worried what will happen when the agency inspects her friends. Eve was either helping them be like her and her mentor, figure out her tiger friend, or play a part to something she doesn't want. Time would tell, and it was drawing more near.

#agent starlight #chapter 7 #wattpad #my story #light vs shadows #secret agent #special abilities