Conversation with Men in Black

The 'Men in Black' escorted Ayan to an empty house nestled within the city's quieter areas.

"This is one of the properties of the organization." the short man said, gesturing towards an old house. "We'll stay here for now."

Ayan watched them cautiously as the short man continued, "Alright, kid. It's time we introduce ourselves. I'm Jace, an official ranger from IRIS, commonly known as Agent J." He gestured to the tall man beside him and smirked. "And this is Kane, Agent K. Together, we're known as the 'Men in Black.'"

Ayan raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You mean like in those movie series?"

Kane chuckled, as though expecting the question. "In a sense, yes. See, back then, word traveled like smoke on the wind, hard to grasp and even harder to trace. People caught glimpses of our missions—especially those involving Indigo Children—and soon enough, our black coats became a symbol of mystery. Some writers took those tales and some films added fuel to the fire, and suddenly we were fighting aliens with all sorts of fancy gadgets in the public imagination."

Jace grinned, "Too bad we don't actually have memory-wiping devices or those cool weapons."

Kane added, "And fortunately, we don't have to fight aliens."

Ayan hesitated, then asked the question lingering in his mind. "Those movies came out in the '90s, right? But you two… don't seem that old."

Jace burst out laughing. "Don't judge a book by its cover, kid. We might be as old as your grandparents. Age is like a leaf in the wind—it doesn't settle the same way. If you ever join the organization, you might find that many old souls walk among us, looking no older than you."

"Anyways, Jaxon must've told you about the organization, right?" Kane asked, his tone shifting back to business.

Ayan nodded. "He only mentioned a few things about the secret organization, Indigo children, and the world beyond the known map."

"Tch, he even told you about the world beyond before confirming your intentions," Jace scoffed. "The youngsters nowadays are so reckless."

His expression softened a bit. "Since you know about the Indigo Children, you've probably heard about the seven-year training program, right? Here's the thing: you're a rare case. You were supposed to be an Indigo, but since you didn't get the training, you don't get the same privilege as Indigo and also don't qualify to directly enter the organization as an official ranger."

His eyes narrowed as he continued, "Normally, those who develop abilities later become either contracted employees of the IRIS working for us or living their lives quietly as long as they're no threat to normal citizens. If they prove themselves over a few years, they might join us officially. You'll be treated like one of them. Either you become a contracted employee or live somewhere remote, away from the spotlight."

"If I choose to live somewhere remote, can I choose the lands outside the world map?" Ayan inquired.

Jace gave him a serious look as he said, "Only official rangers are allotted slots to go to the world beyond. And living in the world outside won't be easy, kid. Sudden disappearances, strange deaths—those things are as common as clouds in the sky. Danger lurks around every corner, and in those lands, death can strike in unexpected ways, swift and often without warning. "

"But Jaxon mentioned something about a ranger's examination," Ayan pressed further.

Both Jace and Kane's gaze turned sharp as they looked at him.

'Damn, that Jaxon spreading such confidential information without considering the consequences,' Jace fumed as he thought.

Kane, though, responded calmly. "The ranger's exam is a brutal test. If you somehow pass it, you can become an official ranger. But don't get your hopes up—the failure rate is extremely high, especially for someone who had missed the standard training."

"Can you tell me what happens in the examination?" Ayan asked further.

"Many people including the official rangers prepare themselves for years just to pass this test. And, every time, the tests are different so there's no point knowing about it," Kane replied.

Jace's face darkened. "Now, tell us, kid—why was all of your travel information confidential? Even the mafia doesn't have such powers. Did Jaxon or some high-ranking official help you?"

Ayan felt conflicted inside but he finally revealed the information, "It was because I used a certain card with the 'R' symbol to arrange those trips."

"Show us the card," they spoke in unison.

Ayan shook his head in dismay. "A guy named Brone snatched it from me."

Jace and Kane looked at each other and pulled out their identical 'R' cards. "Was it like this?" Kane asked, holding it up.

Ayan nodded.

"Whose card was it?" Jace demanded. "And how did you get the authorization?"

Reluctantly, Ayan revealed, "It was my mother's."

Jace asked with narrowed eyes, "Who's your mother?"

"Aria," Ayan replied.

Both of them looked at him in disbelief.

"You're Aria's son," Kane asked in awe. "Show us some of her abilities."

Ayan shook his head. "I have her bloodline, but I don't have her powers."

Jace frowned. "How can that be?"

Kane guessed, "Some powerful bloodlines have tougher requirements for awakening. Maybe he hasn't reached that point yet."

Ayan's curiosity bubbled over. "Did you know my mother? Do you know how I can awaken the bloodline?"

Kane nodded. "Everyone knows about Tejas the Blaze and Aria the Shadow in the organization and the mafia world. Both were legends, passing the ranger's exam without formal training. They were like you born with abilities but were discovered later on. As for awakening, I'm not too sure about it. Each bloodline has specific conditions and it varies."

Though Ayan was disappointed about his awakening, his eyes still lit up with excitement and pride hearing about his mother. "What were her abilities like?" he asked eagerly.

Kane explained, "She controlled some darkness-related powers. Her body could blend into the shadows, becoming nearly invisible. In that state, she was faster, stronger, and deadlier. Although, Tejas was stronger than her in terms of destructive power and other abilities, but Aria was the one everyone feared due to her mastery of stealth and skills of an assassin."