Aftermath

With stronger senses, despite the soldier showing them around, he didn't memorize anything. The base looked like a labyrinth and was too neutral. If he lacked the senses he has now, it would be hard to keep track of this place

While enhanced, his eyes couldn't compare to his nose and hearing— the key factors helping him keep track of the base, surprising as it may be, a wolf still is a canid, famous for smell and hearing, not eyesight.

The world doesn't have any new color, nor is it exploding with new senses. It was as if they were always there… Yesterday, they were not as clean or strong as they are today, as if something was blocking them…

Either way, he could hear people behind them for a good twenty meters, even behind walls, or get the smell of people— 'This sounds gross.' In hindsight, having enhanced smell is more gross than he expected… recognizing others solely by their smell…

'Yucky.' Konrad, stays a bit anxious, looking behind them, obviously to Cain, going back and forth from looking ahead and checking on the "barghest". Too nervous to start a talk because of the brooding aura of his friend…

The teenager accompanies him, while Cain stays a good ten meters behind them, shaking. 'Is it that bad, being in the same place as him?' While a bit of an airhead and shy, Konrad doesn't appear to be that bad.

His brooding aura was so thick he could feel it without turning back to stare at his friend. 'No, it isn't brooding. It is bloodlust.' Much like the ones of the monsters back them. He doesn't want to fight, he wants to kill. So much it must be shown to others too. 

Both Cain and Konrad are too tense, ready to jump at each other. Surprisingly, Konrad is not the one eager— being nervous, but ready to jump in a defensive state. "With powers and not, he still is a kid and not a monster like us…"

To believe they are still something close to humanity with how much carnage they can bring, and himself unable to control his flames is… naïveté, and may become a problem if left unchecked.

At the very least, K.J tries to control himself, while Cain… reeks of carnage and blood, a pressure cooker ready to explode at any moment… 'I should cut his bullshit short, lest something bad happens.'

As a confirmation, behind them, the sound of bones snapping and droplets of blood falling to the ground. The source of it is obvious… "Cain. Stop with this right now. You are being a nuisance." The same bone snapping back in the park where he grew claws.

While he tries to not be so blunt, or intrusive with his friends, this is an exceptional situation. Cain, who should be the one with a clear head by being old, is acting impulsive, too impulsive in fact.

To be brutal against monsters? Okay, but against a fellow human being? This is getting too much. There are people without powers there, what do they think upon seeing one of their fighters being a brat because of a cat?

Answering with a grumble, Cain subsides, conceding defeat. "Okay." The brooding aura suddenly strops, as if they were never there in the first place. The shoulders of the boy relax, relieved.

'Why are my friends being so unreasonable today?' Yesterday amidst the chaos, they were very reasonable and understanding but now… they are simply acting on their instincts, just what happened to them? Swallowing dry, the boy tries to start up a conversation.

His stomach knots itself, while his heartbeats slow down a bit. This day is bound to be another bad one, for different reasons than yesterday, but still a bad one. Won't he get another moment of peace?

"Mister Kyrie… What did you and your friend do to be called here? I know some others who have powers too, but they weren't called there." More people have powers, this was already a given, but how many of them are combat-ready like them?

Probably a few, this is why only they were called there, which is understandable. "We killed a bunch of monsters for hours. I don't think it was a big deal given how many of them are still in the city." Maybe they didn't even slow down the monster tide. Maybe it was all for nothing.

"I see. I helped in the evacuation out of the school. A bunch of monsters attacked the bus, I jumped out and killed them, but you fought for hours? This is incredible!" The tone of the boy is hopeful, having sincere and honest admiration of his actions…

It would be good to have hope and not worry. "No matter the perspective, the future ahead looks grim." To have this boy's determination, but he doesn't have it. He is he, and Konrad is Konrad.

They better make this teamwork, or otherwise, things may become bad due to inner friction. 'Keeping Cain on a metaphorical leash sounds wrong… but this was only a few minutes between us, and he looked ready to rip the boy's throat…'

K.J needs a break, and time to breathe. Otherwise, he may bring down a wall by banging his head too hard against it. The walk, thankfully, went without a hitch, Cain staying painfully silent as he trailed behind them.

The teenager takes a similar stance to his friend, going on calmly, just letting the soldier explain how things work and what rooms they need to know. However, the boy looked bored. 'They probably already had taken him on a tour around this place.' So he is there just to make a face… or something like that.

The soldier stops their tour at the entrance of the infirmary and medical room. "Konrad already went through his check-up, but you guys will need one. We don't know what changes to the body these new powers can bring."

The younger boy gives a thumbs up. "Tho, the doctor is kind of a nut job… so try to put up with her." Very, very reassuring words to hear about a doctor. One more reason to hate hospitals and these places…

Their guide knocks on the door, not daring to enter it, for some reason. Shouldn't they all be safe and free to come and go here? Or is it a clearance-level type of thing? "Are you the colonel or the guy that brings me food? If not, get the shit out of here, I'm knee-deep in work right now."

A tired, high-pitched, and extremely annoyed womanly voice comes from behind the door, making the soldier sigh in defeat. "Doctor. Amelia, please. These orders are from the Lieutenant Colonel himself. We need you to check on more people to see if they are alright."

A loud grunt comes from behind the door. Opening it— K.J has to look up. A woman, with a disarranged doctor's attire, standing at very least 6 ft. The boy steps back. Suddenly, he feels small. "I thought James was the only giant around…"

A ginger head with messy hair a tired expression and wrathful eyes, glaring bags below her eyes. "So, get inside the room, you and the guy there?" She points towards Cain, who straightens his back. K.J merely nods, confirming her assumption.

Without a word, she goes back to the room, leaving the door open for them. The soldier shakes his head, just accepting how things are. Stepping inside the room, it is oddly organized, in comparison to her messy outfit and hair, and lack of sleep, probably.

Her infirmary looks too organized, even for the standards they should uphold. "That woman or someone who keeps this place must be a hell of a neat freak." Just a check-in, nothing can go wrong, right?

(…)

Walking back to the dorms in silence, being guided by a soldier. "What do they think we are, toddlers?" Maybe this is to keep track of them, or maybe he is seeing things. The sheer quantity of "maybes" is discomforting.

The halls of the base are like the ones of many builds he entered before, none of the mystics people put on them, or the greatness moves like to portray them. 'People are still armed to the teeth here.' Proven by the lack of monsters, and their "entrance" party yesterday.

'Me and K.J put quite a show there.' They almost brawled there. 'Those black flames… were quite something.' If they fought… who would've won between them? The flames were nothing compared to the ones he saw in the city.

But if what they saw in the city were the flames going out of control? 'The base would be engulfed in a burning inferno.' K.J is impulsive and too sentimental like Tyler. Sympathy is good, but too much of it is problematic.

Looking at James, he appears conflicted but still chooses to go with him. 'If at least it was K.J… he can't control his power for shit, apparently, prone to emotional outbursts and those flames may react to it.'

What if something tickles him the wrong way and makes him explode? He will be risking his life and that of everyone else. How could he be so blind? "I know you saw and went through the rough stuff, but this doesn't justify your actions, Kyrie."