Chapter 15: Still Under Observation

"Where have you been?"

Looking away, I unintentionally gulped. Before me, stood Captain Van—arms crossed over his chest, and glaring down at me with those laser eyes.

I realized something. I can be invincible against him if we battle with our abilities, but in physical combat, I'm still no match. Just glancing at those biceps… I'm a stick in comparison. If he uses them to wring my neck, I'm dead.

So, let's behave respectfully now, Jade. Death is inevitable, but let's not rush it.

"I've been watching over my house."

"Then, you must have seen that vortex."

"I did not."

Due to my years of practice in displaying a poker face, I can lie easily and shamelessly. Captain Van narrowed his eyes at me. I met those black eyes, without blinking, brave and bold. Let's not say more. If I explain, I will sound suspicious and defensive, but if I show my honesty through my eyes, he'll believe it.

"Blink, idiot. You're straining your eyes."

I did. Now, it hurts.

Claude approached the window and looked outside his Sanctum. "I don't care if you see it or not. I just want to ask you something if you did see it."

"What is it?"

"… so, you did see it."

Hm? I thought he caught my lie. Was he just concerned about my eyes?

"Yes. What is it?"

Claude glared at me. He fumed. "I told you to read books, and you were roaming outside?"

I looked away guiltily while scratching the back of my ear. He said he did not care. He's a liar, as good as me.

"My head reached the daily limit of words it can understand. So, I went to the UAO to ask about my money and ended up agreeing to rebuild my house. I just checked on it to see if they're building it right."

He stared at me in disbelief. It was the same expression he gave me a year ago when he asked me how I remained calm in a dangerous situation. To be honest, I panicked, but that's when I get sucked in.

I'm never gonna tell him that though.

"So, you just purposely ignored calls and messages asking for your location? Haven't you read the rules of a Seeker? A Seeker has to check in every day at the NSA and walk under the Hex Gate to measure the contamination level in their energy and avoid sudden mutation!"

I've read it. The Hex gate is a frame-like structure that reads and projects any contamination levels on a display above as one passes through. If a Seeker goes past the safe levels, then he will be immediately sent to NMA for counseling.

However, this gate is only often used by non-active Seekers, because those who are actively participating in closing vortexes are sent to the NMA as soon as they exit the vortex.

But because I'm just going to check my house, where I don't have to use any of my abilities, I didn't think too much about it.

I wanted to tell him that nothing happened, but before I did, his shadow was looming over me already. I inched back, but wrong move. My hip bumped into the desk behind me, and I was cornered.

Unconsciously, my senses activated nullification. Claude dropped his gaze at me, sensing the change in his aura, and I ended up staring intently into his eyes… amazed. A tiny part of it was shaded blue… like it was a flickering blue fire trying to ignite.

"Imagine what would happen if you, a Seeker who doesn't even know how to control his power, suddenly had an increase in contamination level and mutated. You're still under observation and someone whose ability is rare! Can you imagine what kind of monster you will be?! A monster that can cancel any power, you'd be the cause of the next Judgement Day!"

I zipped my lips. Trying to defend myself when I clearly disobeyed one of the rules, will only earn me another mouthful of disciplining and nagging.

Claude inhaled deeply and exhaled loudly.

Right in my face. Fuck him. He's so rude. I could smell his warm, minty breath, but I'm a bit leaning on being a self-proclaimed germaphobe so having your face getting blown by someone who just spouted lots of words and saliva's still fresh, I was outraged.

"Why are you raining on me?!" I wiped my face dramatically. There was nothing really, but I felt like my face was violated. I shouted back, with the same openness and drizzle. But there's no way a rain could drop upward, right? If only I was a bit taller.

"I get it. I was wrong. I didn't think about the consequences. But don't you think blaming me for something terrifying like Judgment Day is too much?! You're basically implying that I'm a disaster under watch and if I show signs of breaking, I'll be killed right away! How…"

What the fuck? Did I just… I'm just spouting nonsense, right? These possibilities raiding my head, there's no way, right?

"Is that right?" I mumbled after a few moments.

Captain Vanderheinz averted his gaze. He straightened his posture and walked away. I grabbed his arm and gripped him tightly until my nails dug into his skin.

"Is that the reason why you, a top Seeker, are taking care of my training? To monitor me? Then, kill me if I showed signs?"

He stared straight at me. Then, slapped my hand away. "Would have I been shouting at you like this if we'll only end up committing murder and getting murdered? Idiot. I'm concerned that your stupid self will self-destruct."

Claude looked away. "I admit I went overboard because I'm mad. I apologize."

"What about the fact that I'm under observation?"

If he answers, I'll forgive him. If he won't, I'll spit on his food later.

"That is true. Partly because of what I said, but I'm not ordered to kill you, since there's a high chance that you could be the most effective…"

I frowned when instead of continuing his speech, he glanced at me cautiously. What's with the dramatic reveal? Just spill it!

"Effective what?"

"…Minder."

"…"

I picked my ears, tapped them down, and even pinched myself to see if I was just hearing things.

"The NMA had shown interest in you after you saved me from my Nightmare. They're trying to convince the NSA that your ability is much more significant in their field, as it does not require you to suck dark energy and has no risk of absorbing it. You only cancel, but that's only how far the observation has been achieved. You fainted after you saved me. My contamination level decreased, and no one knew you did it."

No risk of absorbing it… but the silver-haired doctor said—

"Juris did say that it might be because of your absorption ability, and he's refuting the fact that you're safe if you're a Minder, since if you're going to use your ability as the source, then you're basically increasing your mutated cells. Juris is still researching if you can self-nullify. Can you?"

I don't even know how absorption works, so how can I?

"No."

"So, until you can properly use and explore your ability, the NMA can't claim you. Let's proceed with the actual practice tomorrow."

He walked away after that. I watched him leave, unable to ask further how Minder's ability works. Is it similar to mine?

I got answers after I decided to check in with the NSA to pass through the Hex Gate, and saw books related to Minders on my desk. After I read it, my respect for Minders went up, but I also prayed that I won't be one of them.