Chapter 16: Alpha Team - 03

According to the book I read, Minders are believed to be born with an innate connection to what scientists call Etherium – the source of the awakening phenomena. But on Earth, Minders aren't born, they are awakened as well.

Or is it something that has been lying dormant inside people, and when the apocalypse happened, it woke up? Then, the theory that humans are capable of reaching beyond a certain limit might be possible.

Humans adapt to their surroundings. When the world changed, we changed as well. This adaptation, however, wasn't without consequences. Scientists theorized that the latent connection to Etherium varied from person to person, lying dormant like an ancient seed waiting for the right conditions to grow.

And the apocalypse was the perfect catalyst. The question that lingered, however, was whether Etherium had always been a part of human evolution, waiting for this moment, or if it was something external—introduced to Earth by the very apocalypse that awakened it.

Ha… these books are interesting.

I want to read more, but Patrick, the male NSA employee in charge of monitoring me had been waiting by the door for quite some time already. He kept smiling at me every time I would shift my gaze from the book to glance at him, not knowing I could see how impatient he was.

I tried to ignore him, but having someone glare daggers at you while you read, is a bit disturbing. I can't focus.

"Are you done?"

I shook my head. Patrick's face drooped. I stood after tidying the book in the corner.

"But you're leaving already."

I almost rolled my eyes at him. Who wouldn't if he kept glaring at me while I read? "I haven't finished the book. It would have been nice if I could borrow them out—

"That's not possible."

I failed before I could even try to convince him. Speaking of books, I have to search for something. "Are these books from a library?"

Patrick nodded as he guided me to the training facility. It's the day I have to train my ability with Captain Vanderheinz.

"So, there's a library in this building. What for?"

"It's to keep records from the day of the first vortex appearance. History had changed. The world has entered a new era, and every national association in every country has to record everything, including new discoveries, magic-related inventions, and even successful or failed research."

My eyes gleamed.

"It's a library that only authorized personnel could enter. Don't even think about it."

Tsk.

"Are you one of them?" If he is, maybe I can steal his ID and sneak in.

The guy shook his head. "I only delivered the books. But I haven't even entered the library yet. Only three of the Central 12 Chambers are managing it, and the groups working under them are only the people that can enter."

I looked ahead.

The Central 12 Chambers are the ones managing the NSA. I'm not sure if they are individuals, organizations, factions, or whatever. However, from the books I read about the NSA, I found that they are similar to the board of directors.

Three out of twelve. A quarter of the NSA's boss. Could it mean that there are four divisions in the NSA?

The Seekers. The library. The management…

"What is the last one?"

"What last one?"

I briefly glanced at Patrick. I didn't realize that I mumbled my thoughts quite loudly. It happens when I'm too engrossed about something. Is it safe to ask? There is something fishy about the fact that the division isn't included in the books.

Or is it because it's something obvious?

"We're here."

We arrived at our destination. Patrick pushed the door open and gestured me inside. The first thing I thought as soon as I entered was wondering if I had gone back to the RDC's testing facility.

It was a similar sight. Only this time, I was standing above—on the viewing deck. "Are we still inside the NSA building?"

It's hard to believe that this huge dome is inside that tall structure. We can't be underground, since I can see the sky from the opened roof.

"Of course not. Where's your common sense?"

It was a different voice. I glanced to the side and saw the Alpha Team – 03's captain walking towards us. His hands were in his pocket and he looked bored.

"We've exited the building. The training facility is located behind the NSA building. The long corridor we passed through is the connecting bridge," Patrick explained after bowing slightly at the captain.

Maybe I was too focused on thinking about the central chambers and the organizational structure of the NSA that I didn't even realize we passed a connecting bridge.

"This place is similar to the testing room in RDC…"

"It's because the materials used are the same." Allen appeared out of a sudden, walking behind the captain. He waved at me. "The NSA's training facility was designed specifically for awakened individuals as a training ground where their powers would be pushed to absolute limits without risking harm to the surroundings. It was constructed with only two materials—Stronixite and Vibraglass."

Allen explained the nature of the two materials. "The wall is made up of Stronixite, an indestructible metal; and those glasses are called Vibraglass—a crystalline material that can resonate at a frequency that neutralizes energy-based attacks, from plasma bolts to psychic waves. This training facility also serves as a stadium when there are Seeker-related meetings or matches, which is why the roof is retractable."

I pretended like I wasn't surprised, but I still was after hearing his last words. So, Seekers fight each other for entertainment?

"Do those materials have mana?" I asked instead, abandoning my initial thoughts. If they fight with each other, so what? That's no longer my business. As I planned, after I'm able to control my ability, I'd apply as an employee at the UAO, after revoking my Seeker ID.

"They don't. Though they are material harvested inside a Class – S vortex, they don't have mana or any trace of magic, unlike mana stones."

I caught a glimpse of Terrius emerging from the corner where the two Seekers came from. Our eyes met when he looked up. He curtly nodded and I did the same. After that, three Seekers appeared as well.

One of them looked excited after seeing me. His strides quickened and a grin was plastered in his face. He looked like a kid, but he was taller than me a bit.

"Oh! You must be the newbie Allen keeps talking about!"

My eyes moved as I glanced at Allen, who scratched his head and looked away. What the hell is he looking embarrassed about? It only makes me suspicious of what kinds of things did he spout about me to his teammates!

"I'm Noir. Nice to meet you, newbie. I've been wanting to meet you after you saved our captain, since I really, really, really, want to ask you something!"

I accepted his handshake. But fuck, he grabbed my hand too tightly and even pulled me closer. He leaned in, that his face was just in the right spitting distance. Bile rose in my stomach, deliberately.

It is very rude to spit on someone, but invading my personal space will earn him that. I was loading my shots when he exclaimed again.

"So, how did you release the—ack!"

Before he finished, his neck was grabbed from behind, then he was yanked away. Captain Van's lips moved, but I couldn't hear it since Allen was covering my ears like I was some child who shouldn't hear something perverted.

I sighed. Is there anyone here that does not get tempted to peek at a porn site?

A soft chuckle entered my ears after I pulled Allen's hands and gave him a ridiculous look. It came from a woman, standing next to me. I did not feel her presence at all, but I did see her among the three.

"Noir's just curious about how you handled the drawback of absorbing the captain's dark energy," she said.

"Lexie!"

I almost rolled my eyes too at Allen after seeing her do it. Lexie must be her name.

"Geez, Allen. Is he a child?" Lexie turned to me. "You're an adult already, right? And I'm sure you already know what Minders go through after doing their job. The stronger the Seeker and their nightmare, the higher the contaminated energy the Minder sucks. The higher it is, the harder it is to release that energy, and the Minder has to do the extreme. This means, just peeing won't help you release the captain's energy. We're curious if ejaculating is—I mean, Noir. Noir is curious."

I furtively back away from the pervert—I mean, from the woman. From her soft chuckle and demure look, I thought she was innocent. She gave me a pout from my action, but I looked away and just took another step back.

However, I didn't expect to bump into someone. I looked up, ready to say sorry, when my eyes were blinded by a saintly beauty. This person shines like the sun and the moon at the same time. Golden eyes and moonlit hair—white with bluish sheens.

"Hi." I closed my mouth when he spoke. He smiled warmly and helped me steady myself. Even his voice sounded angelic. "I'm Etienne. I'm the healer of the team. Nice to meet you, Jade."

I heard Allen sigh. Claude looked at us suspiciously while Noir was pouting behind him. Terrius was just gazing at the sky like a forlorn guy missing his beloved, while Lexie covered her mouth, probably suppressing herself from teasing me after seeing me starstruck at Etienne's beauty.

I think I just met the whole team. Now, I wonder why they were all present on my first day of training.