Part 1: Maya’s Training

  Maya’s body spun in midair and slammed onto the training floor, a shockwave of pain exploding through her skull, neck, and back. Her brain rattled in her skull, but before she could raise a guard, Beatrice’s pointed toe crashed into her solar plexus.

  “Ggh—!”

  Gasping for air, Maya tried to roll away to create distance, but a kick to her throat froze her breath in her chest.

  There was no room for thought. Only pain. Only fear. Her entire body trembled uncontrollably.

  “Maya Graves.”

  Beatrice’s voice cut through the haze—cold and dispassionate, unaffected by Maya’s terror.

  “I hear no voices of the dead trying to protect you this time. Strange, considering I’ve killed my fair share—hundreds, at least. Surely some of them have a grudge.”

  Beatrice’s voice dropped, her tone sharper now.

  “Stop holding back. This isn’t sparring. This is a lesson in murder. I’m teaching you how to kill.”

  Her fist smashed into Maya’s face.

  Part 2: The Briefing – Operation Lumen Dei

  A few hours earlier—

  “My name is Maya Graves. The man who sent assassins after Clara... the new vice principal of Lumen Dei... is Ezekiel. He was my father. He killed me. And I killed him. Or so I thought.”

  Maya’s voice trembled slightly as she stood and spoke before the assembled operatives.

  A tense murmur rippled through the command room of LUNA Nordix.

  Beatrice listened silently, arms crossed.

  Emma kept her hands clasped in front of her, offering silent support.

  Victoria stared at Maya with icy blue eyes, unreadable.

  Ethan sighed heavily, shoving a hand into his pocket. Inside, his fingers unconsciously bent a 500-cent coin out of shape, stewing in quiet fury.

  One more person sat in on today’s meeting—a senior officer of LUNA Nordix:

  Elisabeth Neumann, the organization’s tech specialist. She looked to be in her early thirties, with waist-length platinum blonde hair and deep aqua blue eyes behind sleek glasses she had just removed. Her expression was gentle, but alert.

  “Somehow, Ezekiel came back. I don’t know how… but he found me. Even while I was under LUNA’s protection, when Emma was guiding me through Eldrant… he appeared.”

  Maya’s nerves were evident as she continued.

  “Then it’s possible Ezekiel has acquired a locating-type Exceed—or perhaps someone within Lumen Dei has one,” Beatrice said evenly. “Either way, the enemy was bold enough to enter Eldrant and approach you directly. That puts LUNA at risk.”

  She looked Maya squarely in the eyes. “One more thing.”

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “For the sake of explanation, I understand why you used the word ‘father.’ But I don’t want to hear you refer to him that way again. A man who abuses his own daughter isn’t a father. He’s a perpetrator. Use words that reflect the truth.”

  “…You're right. Thank you. I’ll remember that.”

  Maya bowed her head slightly, remembering Beatrice had told her this before—but the pressure of speaking had made her forget.

  “Good. Now—everyone, I’ve gathered you here because it’s time.”

  Beatrice’s voice dropped a note.

  “Alicia and Camilla are already informed and approved of the plan. As of today, LUNA Nordix will begin dismantling the criminal Returner organization known as Lumen Dei. I want everyone here to begin immediate intel-gathering.”

  Tension surged through the room.

  Victoria stepped forward. “So it begins… I always believed they needed to be destroyed. But why now? What prompted this timing? And what date are we planning to strike?”

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “The reason is Ezekiel,” Beatrice said. “We now know from Emma and Maya’s reports that he came close to this very building. He’s after Maya—and likely intends to take LUNA down in the process. That leaves us one option: strike first. Eliminate Ezekiel and the headmaster of Lumen Dei. The operation will take place in one week.”

  She paused. “Objections?”

  Victoria shook her head. “No, it makes sense. If they attack with sheer numbers, we won’t last. A surprise assault is the only chance. And I assume the people here will handle the recon work?”

  “Exactly. We’ll divide into two teams.”

  Beatrice’s gaze swept the room.

  “Team one—Victoria and Emma. You’ll access Clara’s memories. Based on what we know, it’s highly likely Ezekiel was involved in her death.”

  She turned to Emma. “Status report on Clara?”

  Emma met her eyes. “Her physical injuries are healed. She’s staying in Shelter Room 701 on the seventh floor. But mentally… she’s traumatized. Badly. Still, I’ll support Victoria as best I can. We’ll get it done.”

  “I’ll do the same, Emma,” Victoria said. “Understood, Director.”

  “Good. Team two—Elisabeth and Ethan. You’ll infiltrate the Lumen Dei academy. I want locations on Ezekiel and the headmaster, and I want their security systems neutralized before the strike.”

  “I can hijack their entire infrastructure,” Elisabeth said calmly. “Ethan will be my bodyguard… or assistant.”

  “Honestly, I doubt you need guarding,” Ethan replied flatly. “But I’m fine doing the dirty work. Count on me.”

  His voice betrayed a dark edge. In his mind, the image of Clara’s bloodied body—and the twisted grins of the men who hurt her—burned like fire.

  (There’s no reason those bastards should keep breathing.)

  Beatrice nodded. “If there are no other questions—proceed. Work in your teams. Stay off the AURORA surveillance net. Use your wristphones and secure lines for all transmissions.”

  With that, the meeting adjourned. Everyone filed out—except Maya.

  Part 3: Preparation – The Price of Strength

  As the others exited the room, Maya remained still.

  (What do they think of me now…? Now that they know I’m Ezekiel’s daughter...)

  She had discussed this in advance with Emma and Beatrice, and they had advised her to be open about it during the meeting. Beatrice had pointed out that the threat surrounding Maya—and by extension, LUNA Nordix—needed to be fully understood by the team.

  Just then, Beatrice’s voice cut through her thoughts.

  “Maya Graves. From this moment on, you don’t have a second to waste.”

  Her tone was cold, sharp.

  “You lack the experience, the instinct, and the martial foundation to face Ezekiel. That ends now. You’ll learn everything in the next seven days. Meet me in the B2 training room. Ten minutes.”

  “Yes, ma’am! Thank you for this opportunity!”

  Maya stood, almost too quickly.

  “I’ll train you personally,” Beatrice added flatly.

  For Maya, it was the beginning of a whole new kind of hell.

  (Maya… hang in there…)

  As Emma stepped into the hallway, she turned back and glanced at Maya with concern. Maya didn’t seem to notice.

  (But she’ll make it, Emma told herself. She has to.)

  Down the corridor, Victoria was already waiting. Ethan and Elisabeth had already left.

  “You’re worried about her, aren’t you?” Victoria said with a knowing smile.

  “I am,” Emma admitted. “But… pain is part of the path. I believe in Maya. And I believe in Director Beatrice.”

  She met Victoria’s eyes—ice blue, just like Maya’s.

  “Maya will grow strong,” Victoria said gently. “She’s like you—carrying pain, and still choosing to stand.”

  “…Thank you.”

  Emma blushed slightly. Compliments always felt a bit overwhelming, especially from someone like Victoria—who seemed to see right through her.

  “Well then. Time to face our own task.”

  Victoria’s eyes glinted. “I’ll activate Pulseveil fully.”

  As if in response, a breeze that shouldn’t have existed stirred her ash-blonde hair.

  “I can feel it… Deep sorrow. The weight of survival. It’s intense.”

  She leaned in close to Emma as they approached the shelter unit.

  “Clara is in pain,” she whispered.

  Emma swallowed hard. Soon, they would delve into Clara’s memories. That pain would become their own.

  Emma pressed the call button at the door—but there was no response.

  “Her sorrow… it’s overwhelming,” Victoria murmured. Her fingers lightly brushed Emma’s arm. A shiver rippled through the air.

  Emma reached for the keypad—when—

  “AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!”

  Clara’s scream tore through the door like a knife.

  A moment later, both Victoria and Emma clutched their temples as a spike of mental agony drove into them like an ice pick.

  Part 4: Clara’s Scream – A Window into the Wound

  Gritting her teeth, Emma punched in the security code and unlocked the door.

  Inside, the room was a wreck.

  Blankets were torn and scattered, stained with blood. In the center sat Clara—shaking, sobbing, her eyes crimson and swollen.

  “You’re safe now!”

  Emma rushed forward and wrapped her arms around the girl, placing her hands gently on Clara’s back and neck. Healing energy flowed from her palms—Healing Palm in action.

  But Clara thrashed and screamed.

  Her fingers clawed into Emma’s waist, tearing her shirt and raking deep gouges into her skin. Blood dripped to the floor.

  (I can’t use Spinal Tap on her.)

  The technique would render someone unconscious, but Clara didn’t need unconsciousness—she needed to feel safe.

  Through searing pain, Emma kept whispering.

  “It’s okay. You’re safe. I’m here.”

  Fifteen minutes passed—an eternity in raw emotion.

  Eventually, Clara’s sobs turned to hiccups, then silence.

  “…I’m sorry…”

  Her voice was weak, a hollow echo of guilt.

  “It’s nothing,” Emma replied, placing a healing hand over the bleeding wounds on her side. “Don’t worry about me.”

  She looked at Clara again.

  Silver-blonde hair, long and straight to her waist.

  Grey-blue eyes, dull with trauma.

  She could have been beautiful—she was beautiful, underneath all the pain. But her entire presence seemed fractured, as if her soul had been cracked and scattered.

  Emma clenched her fists. Whoever had done this—she would never forgive them.

  “I’m sorry we came unannounced,” Victoria said gently, kneeling beside Clara. “I’m Victoria. We came because we need your help.”

  “…You want help from me?”

  Clara’s voice was bitter, almost laughably broken.

  “Yes,” Victoria replied, solemn. “You’re important to us.”

  “Help!? From me!?”

  Clara burst into manic laughter, tears still running down her face.

  “Haha… HAHAHAHA!!”

  This was a pivotal moment for Maya, who must now face not only external threats—but also the truth of who she is.

  See you soon.

  check out my Substack article here:

  https://open.substack.com/pub/knishi2050/p/why-i-wrote-hells-returners?r=5wfkgu&utm_medium=ios)

  I'm really honored you stayed with Maya's journey this far.

  There's a lot more to come, and your support means everything ??