Chapter 17: Accepted

Grace looked at him with worry as she said, "I'm sorry as well, Caspian. I know you've been feeling guilty about all the people that died, but you shouldn't because it's my fault for letting those bastards run rampant."

With a bitter smile, Grace stood up to hug him, and she then turned around, "Well… I still have some work to do, so  I'll get going. You only have to stay here for a couple of days for some check-ups then you have to register with the bureau as a supernatural. During those times, I'll… think about your proposal."

Caspian nodded his head as he lay back down on the bed. He then thought, 'I still can't believe that all of this is real… this feels like a fantasy novel that came to life.'

Suddenly, the door opened with a creak. Caspian glanced at the entrance to see who opened it and saw Abby. He then sat back down and gave a smile, "Come in."

Abby nodded her head as she went inside and sat on the chair beside Caspian's bed. Before Abby could talk, Caspian said, "I haven't been able to thank you properly for saving my life, Abby. Thank you, Abby, for saving my life."

Abby felt somewhat teary as she hugged Caspian tightly, surprising him. Caspian then asked, "Hey, are you okay?"

"No… I just can't bear the thought of losing you! Why did you even push me to get yourself shot?" Abby said as tears dripped down her cheeks. Caspian smiled bitterly as he returned the hug. He then said, "I'll say the same thing as well. And I didn't know you were a supernatural back then. If I knew, I wouldn't have pushed you; I would just hide."

Hearing Caspian joking around, Abby pinched his side lightly, "Fuck…*sniff*... you…!"

"Ow! Ow! Okay, okay! I'm sorry, haha!" Caspian laughed as Abby wiped her tears. With an angry look on her face, she gazed at Caspian. However, the longer she stared, the more she had the urge to laugh.

Her face twisted into a smile as she looked away, acting all serious. Caspian wanted to tease her, but he didn't. Instead, he hugged Abby from the back, causing her to slightly smile. Her face was somewhat rosy as she turned around and said, "You have a lot to pay me back for."

"Okay, boss! What's your first order?" Caspian acted like he was Abby's subordinate, causing her to laugh.

She then said with a flushed face, "This."

Abby pulled Caspian close and kissed him on the lips slightly before letting go, her face turning even redder due to embarrassment. Caspian was immensely surprised, and he was frozen. After staring at Abby, he could only say, "Woah…."

Seeing the awkwardness, Abby then decided to change the topic, "Caspian, I saw your mom leave the room with a frustrated face; what happened?"

"I… proposed to her that I can help with the investigation to find the murderer," Caspian said with a bitter smile.

Abby looked at him with worry as she exclaimed, "Caspian…! That would just be putting yourself in danger again! You already got hurt so badly… I'm sure your mother wouldn't want you to join something that would just lead to your danger."

"I know," Caspian said with a sigh while looking at Abby. "But… I'm already involved with this shit. And not only that, but I know that the person mom's chasing is probably the same person that killed my dad."

"What…?" Abby couldn't believe what she had heard.

"Wait, you didn't know? I thought you knew since you're a member of my mom's task force," Caspian said with a tinge of surprise in his voice.

Abby could only rub her forehead as she said, "So that's why your mom is so adamant about hunting down that killer. But how can you say that the person that killed your father is the same and not someone else?"

"You remember the bodies of the victims? I remember vaguely that dad's torso also looked like it exploded when he died," Caspian said as he tried to remember the exact scene.

Seeing that silence emanated from the room, Caspian coughed as he changed the subject, "So, now that I know supernaturals… what type of supernatural are you…?"

Abby giggled, hearing the question as she replied, "I'm a mix of a lycanthrope and a beast-man."

"I see, so does that mean you're a half-blood…? Or," Caspian posed a stupid question that made Abby laugh.

She then replied, "I'm a pure supernatural, but I can be called half-blood in my family since I'm a mix of two supernaturals."

"So both your mom and dad are supernaturals…. I haven't seen them in a while; how are they?" Caspian asked.

"They're fine. They're also working for the Bureau or BSB, and they don't usually go out of the bureau, so they can't be seen regularly outside," Abby said with a smile.

Suddenly, Abby's new phone vibrated. She hurriedly answered the call, and after a while of talking, she hung up. "Caspian, I got to go for now. Rest up, okay?"

"Yeah," Caspian said as he lay down. Just before Abby left, she gave Caspian a peck on the cheek and ran out of the room in embarrassment. 

Caspian couldn't help but be surprised once more as his face blushed, "What… the fuck…?"

He then looked at the door while touching his cheek while thinking, 'When did Abby become that daring…?'

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A few days passed, along with a few visits by Abby and Grace. Finally, Caspian has been discharged from the Supernaturals' Med Bay. 

Caspian stood with his arms hung around Grace and Abby's shoulders. He couldn't help but laugh as he said, "It seems I forgot how to walk properly."

"It's normal, sir. Give it a few hours of walking, and you'll be fine in no time. Be careful on your way out," Ruth, the lizardman that nursed Caspian for the few weeks he'd been confined, said with a wave of her hand.

"Thank you, Ruth," Caspian replied as they left.

"Let's go and register you as a new supernatural, Caspian," Grace said with a smile as they helped Caspian walk to the registration area.

As they arrived at their destination, Caspian was given a seat and a form he had to fill in. He casually filled it in, and as he finished, he gave the form to the receptionist.

"Sir, come in for a small interview," the receptionist said after she reviewed the form, and Caspian followed suit. They then arrived at what seemed to be the interview room.

"Sir, we are just here to review your form. Can you please state your name, age, and occupation in the outside world?" The interviewer said.

Caspian nodded his head as he answered, "Caspian C. Ashwood, 27, and I'm a Detective 3 within the Wakefield District of Haverfall city."

The interviewer nodded at Caspian's answer as he asked, "Half-blood? Pure?"

"I'm a half-blood."

"Mhm… what type of supernatural?"

"Half-vampire, I guess?"

"When have you awakened?"

"Only recently, I don't remember much as I've been staying in the med bay."

"Okay, do you have any companions here?"

"Yes, two, actually."

"Can you state your relationship with them?"

"One is my mother, and the other is my… friend."

"Mhm… can you state the name of your mother?"

"Sir, aren't we getting a bit too personal here?" Caspian couldn't help but be suspicious.

"Oh, I'm sorry, sir. It's just we need to know if you have a supernatural companion with you, and if so, we don't have to give you a guide."

"Ah, I see. My mother's name is Grace Ashwood."

"Oh! You're the son of Captain Ashwood! That's why your surname was so familiar! Welcome, welcome! Well, that's all I have to ask for you. Thank you so much for your time. You're now officially registered as a supernatural. Congratulations! You better head to the saint shrine for the mandatory saint blessing."

Caspian nodded and smiled at the interviewer as he left the room. Grace smiled at him as she asked, "Did everything go well?"

"Yeah, the interviewer told me to go get my saint blessing," Caspian was somewhat confused as to what that was.

"Oh, yeah, let's go," Grace said as she and Abby helped Caspian go to the saint shrine.

As they reached there, Caspian was somewhat amazed by the look of the place. It looked like a church of some sort.

As they entered, they saw a woman sitting on a chair, a faint golden glow surrounding her, complimenting her blond hair. Grace then said, "Saintess, we are here to bless a new awakened."

The saintess then waved her hand as she opened her eyes, staring directly at Caspian with her ruby-red eyes. She then spoke with an almost ethereal voice, "Child, come."

Caspian approached solemnly. Noticing that Caspian hadn't sat down, the saintess pointed at the chair. Caspian smiled wryly as he sat down. "Present your arm to me."

Caspian then extended his arm as the saintess grabbed it. The saintess then changed some weird obscure words as she pushed her hand unto Caspian's bicep.

The glow upon the saintess became brighter, causing Caspian to close his eyes. A sharp pain was inflicted on his bicep, but it immediately subsided as a soothing feeling overpowered it.

"Child, you have been blessed. The mark on your arm shall signify that you are a supernatural creature connected with the bureau. May the blessing of gods protect you," the saintess said.

Caspian could only nod his head solemnly as they left the shrine.

After that, Caspian couldn't help but laugh as he said, "I didn't think supernaturals would have a god figure."

Grace and Abby giggled as Abby said, "Well, the god here isn't fake compared to the god humans worship."

"That is true," Caspian smiled.

"Come on, let's go to my office," Grace said as the three of them headed to her office. Caspian eventually got used to walking due to the natural recovery of a supernatural being, and they eventually arrived at Grace's office.

Grace then sat on her seat while Caspian and Abby sat on one of the sofas. Caspian noticed the subordinates Grace always had with her.

Grace then looked at Caspian with a solemn expression as she said, "Before anything else… Caspian, about your proposal."

Caspian turned his head and also took this situation very seriously. This was where he'll find out whether he could join them in the investigation or not.

"We accept you into our Task Force."