Chapter 7

  They moved a short distance off the main path, settling into a loose semicircle near the shadow of a collapsed concession stand.

  The tension had not vanished, but it had changed shape. It became less immediate; more wary curiosity. Kelix took the opportunity to actually look at them.

  Halvern stood closest to his construct, one hand resting against the machine's armored leg as if reassuring himself it was still there. Up close, the monster looked even more imposing. Thick plating layered its torso and limbs, reinforced joints humming quietly as it adjusted its stance to match its summoner's posture.

  Above it all, Kelix realized why his hand hurt when it impacted the Soulbound monster.

  "You're the tank," Kelix said, more statement than a question, and saw Halvern stiffen. "Since I'm apparently part of the discussion now, I should at least know who I'm dealing with."

  The businessman huffed. "Professional courtesy only," he said. "Names and roles. Nothing more." He tapped the side of his wristwatch, and the construct shifted closer, plates locking into a defensive formation beside him. "I'm Hal B. Halvern. Frontline tank. Damage mitigation, threat control, and asset protection."

  He adjusted his tie, eyes never leaving Kelix. "And before you ask, yes, I pay extra for maintenance."

  "And the briefcase?"

  Halvern scowled. "Shock-dampened alloy. Reinforced spine. Don't mock what you don't understand."

  Kelix nodded once. That made sense. Halvern carried himself like someone accustomed to taking hits so that others did not have to, even if he complained the whole time.

  Celeste stepped forward next, spinning her sword once before resting it against her shoulder. "Celeste Lumiaura! Frontline fighter. Command. Close combat extraordinaire. Sports clubs, tournaments, anything that lets me hit things legally."

  "That tracks," Kelix said.

  She grinned at him. "You should come watch sometime. You'd be fun to spar with."

  He pretended not to hear that. His gaze shifted.

  The boy with the staff hesitated, then adjusted his scarf. It was deep blue, trimmed neatly, and paired with a tailored coat that looked just a bit too formal for fieldwork. Kelix noticed the crest stitched near the collar, subtle but unmistakable to anyone familiar with the city's elite institutions.

  "Damian," the boy said. "Sorcerer." He paused, then added, "I attend the High Arcanum Institute. It's private." His tone suggested both pride and exhaustion. "I specialize in R&D, detection, battlefield control, and spellcraft optimization."

  Kelix glanced at the empty space where the floating books had been earlier. "And the books?"

  "Stored," Damian replied. "They don't like being out when I'm stressed."

  "Let me guess. They talk back?"

  "Only when I'm wrong," Damian replied flatly.

  Kelix accepted that without comment.

  That left the woman. She lifted her phone again, glanced at the cracked screen, and sighed. "Great. That's coming out of my stipend." Then she looked up and smiled, softer than Celeste's but no less genuine.

  "I'm Sheryl," she said. "Apothecary. Field medicine, toxins, counteragents." She gestured vaguely at her bag. "I'm studying to be a doctor, so… please don't get critically injured."

  Her purse shifted, and Kelix's gaze dropped.

  The ferret-like creature peeked out again, blinking up at him with glossy black eyes.

  At first glance it looked like an ordinary familiar, small and soft, but as Kelix crouched slightly, details stood out. Its fluffy fur had a subtle texture, almost fibrous, and green grass-like fur grew from its pale coat. Nestled between its ears was a flower petal, delicate and softly glowing, as if nourished by something other than sunlight.

  Kelix scritched the creature beneath the chin, studying it. "You're not an animal," he said.

  The creature chirped happily. "That feels nice!"

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Sheryl brightened. "Oh! You noticed. This is Pollen. She's plant-type. Specializes in regenerative spores, mild toxin neutralization." She paused. "And very sensitive to mood shifts."

  Pollen puffed up proudly. "Don't forget about emotional support!"

  Kelix nodded. "Explains the calm aura."

  Finn leaned closer, sniffed once, and hummed thoughtfully. "She smells like spring."

  Pollen squeaked in delight. "And you, the autumn before winter!"

  Kelix straightened and looked back at the group, the full picture finally clicking into place. A tank, a fighter, a sorcerer, and an apothecary. A balanced party. Organized. Official.

  Now, for reasons he still had not agreed with, they were looking at him like he belonged among them.

  "Alright," he said. "Now that I know who's who… what exactly did the Chimeron Association send you here to deal with?"

  There was no answer, just indecisive murmuring amongst the party as they discussed whether to reveal anything to him.

  Oh, right. He forgot the fifth person. His gaze slid to Aria, who stood beside him with an inscrutable expression, arms crossed and eyes narrowed as if weighing him against the entire situation.

  "And what about you?" Kelix asked, intrigued. "You've been quiet."

  Aria turned her gaze on him, the intensity in her eyes sharpening as she assessed him. "Aria," she replied curtly, "Field Operations Specialist. My focus is reconnaissance, strategy, and adaptability during high-risk scenarios." Her voice was steady, but he could sense an undercurrent of something more—possibly caution, or perhaps a hint of respect.

  "Not all who wander are lost," Finn quipped, trying to lighten the mood. "But clearly she's not one for small talk. You'll get used to her."

  Aria shot him a glare that could cut metal. "This isn't about my choice of dialogue, Finn."

  "Wait," Kelix said, "you know each other?"

  Finn smirked, leaning back slightly. "Know each other? More like I've been in the trenches with Aria more times than I can count. She's like a walking, breathing monster mincer. Keeps me on my toes," he added, giving her a playful nudge.

  "And you're the one who makes everything more complicated," she retorted. "Keep your damn paw to yourself or have it removed."

  Halvern cleared his throat. "If we're done with the introductions, we should address why we're here. The Chimeron Association set us out to investigate strange occurrences in this zone—disappearances, sightings of anomalous entities, and unregistered magic signatures that have been disrupting the balance."

  Damian adjusted his cuff sleeves, frowning thoughtfully. "The reports indicated an influx of hostile creatures and possibly rogue groups attempting to harness the anomalies. Given the patterns we've observed, it's likely whatever is causing this chaos is not a simple isolated event."

  "Exactly." Halvern nodded at Damian. "Our priority is to assess any immediate threats, secure the area, and report back to the Association with accurate findings. The last thing we need is for whatever is causing these disturbances to gain traction."

  Sheryl glanced around, her nerves clearly bad, though she ensured everyone was engaged. "We suspect a breach in the boundary between our world and the realm from which these creatures originate."

  Kelix thought for a moment. He recognized the terminology of "breach" and "realms," and if the amusement park had been compromised, it meant that the area was transforming into a Dungeon.

  That would be awful. Yet it made sense as to why the monsters were here. "If it's an anomaly," he said, "it's tied to a disturbance in the fabric of whatever reality we're operating in. Do you really think it could be… intentional?"

  Celeste leaned forward. "Intentional usually means someone is behind it. An organization or a rogue trying to tap into that power. The question is, why? What do they gain?"

  "Maybe," Pollen chimed in, "they want to make friends? Or they're lonely? Everyone needs friends."

  Finn chuckled again, drawing a more serious glare from both Aria and Halvern. "Or, alternatively, maybe they're summoning something nasty to wreak havoc," he suggested, shaking his head. "I'm with the suit on this one."

  Halvern nodded. "We gather intel, assess, and neutralize if necessary. We cannot afford to be reckless."

  Kelix fell silent for a moment, processing. Here was a group on a mission, battling not just supernatural threats but the chaotic undercurrents of their own personalities; and now there was him.

  He frowned. "And you need me because…?"

  Halvern answered, his tone clipped. "Because you're the only one with evidence of surviving encounters with a creature like the recent sightings. We need your insight."

  Aria nodded. "We didn't account for the interaction with civilians, or whatever Kelix is. Our main targets are reports of distorted creatures moving in and out of the scattered zones, possibly linked to the recent upheaval in the city's borderlines."

  Damian frowned. "Wait. So, this is more than just a standard hunt? You knew there was an anomaly entity already present?"

  Kelix frowned, recalling the beast he had faced off against before arriving here. "You mean the white creature? The one that attacked Sheryl?"

  Celeste's expression hardened. "It was an Echo Wraith. It's rumored that they wipe out entire squads, or at least make them vanish. If they're becoming more active, it means something bigger is at play."

  Halvern straightened, suddenly serious. "What do you mean? Don't frighten the group with the hearsay reported by guilds from other countries."

  Kelix squinted against the fading light. "There's a source. Something's manipulating them."

  Pollen, still tucked safely in Sheryl's arms, quivered slightly. "That's not good. Not good at all!"

  "So," Halvern said, "what you're saying is, we not only have to deal with Echo Wraiths but whatever or whoever is controlling them? This is completely insane."

  "Insane but real," Kelix gestured to the E-Rank crocoraptor core planted in the ground. "There was something very strange about that creature. Did anyone else notice its unusual behavior?"

  The group exchanged glances, the mood shifting once again. Halvern's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean? You think it was acting differently than it should? How so?"

  Damian moved before Kelix could answer Halvern's question. His gaze lingered on Kelix a moment longer than polite, brows knitting together as if a puzzle had just clicked into place but refused to finish forming.

  "…Before that," he said, "there's something I'd like to confirm."

  Halvern shot him a look. "If this involves paperwork, do it later."

  "It doesn't," Damian replied. "It involves analysis."

  That got everyone's attention.