“So, after coming to a tie and beating all the other contestants by a landslide, we had overeaten so much that we ended up in a food coma for hours. We also succeeded in winning this massive golden trophy!” Lana spread her arms to illustrate the trophy’s grandeur.

“Where’s it now?” Allen asked out of curiosity. They all were still in Lana’s well-decorated room with Allen and Nera sitting on two wooden chairs while Lana was sitting upright in her bed. It was summer, but the room’s air conditioning was set so low that the atmosphere of the room was incredibly chilly.

“Oh, we ended up selling it to go out to eat with everyone the next day in celebration.”

“Wow, an appetite like that is a rare talent. I knew you were a big eater, but I didn’t know it was to that extent, Nera.” Allen responded wryly.”

Nera grimaced in embarrassment.”Any reason you started with that story, Lana? I’d rather not recall that parfait eating contest. It’s making me kind of queasy and ruins my ladylike reputation.”

Lana chuckled. “It may be that way to you, but for someone who hasn’t been able to eat solid food in years, it’s looked back on as a fond memory. I’d much rather have a plate stacked high with parfaits than the mush the doctor keeps feeding me.”

“But Ms. Doe helps him prepare it, so it’s like gourmet mush.” Nera affirmed. The two young women laughed and Allen grinned seeing that the two were having a good time. He got the impression that they had not talked in a while. It made him hesitant to ruin the cheerful conversation with more serious topics.

‘I gotta start somewhere at least.’

“So, this ‘everyone’ you mentioned just now, do they stay here at…” Allen trailed off and Lana finished his sentence for him.

“The Peryton House. This is the Peryton House and I’m the only one left. Nera and the others all moved out ages ago. Now, I have this whole big house to myself, besides Ms. Doe, Dr. Ramundo, and Five occasionally when he doesn’t feel like paying rent anywhere.”

“That guy is still squatting here? I thought he was with all of the rest?” Nera inquired with a hint of contempt.

“Apparently, it doesn’t matter where they stay or what they do in their spare time as long as they answer when called.”

“You know someone named Five?” Allen asked Nera.

”That’s his nickname. His real name is just Harold.” Lana answered.

“Hope this isn’t rude to ask, but that nickname wouldn’t have anything to do with him having a tattoo like yours, would it?” Allen questioned respectfully. Lana responded by taking notice of the tattoo and rubbing it faintly for a moment.

“It’s fine. Yeah, these marks were supposed to represent something for a ragtag group of modified humans, the Void Fold was what called ourselves. Nera and I were a part of that group but…we split from them some time ago.”

“I got most of that, but modified humans?”

Lana’s eyes shifted over to Nera. “You didn’t even tell him that much? I wish you were that tight-lipped when keeping secrets for me.”

“Hmph, I never tell them. I just keep running into people who are freaking lie detectors.”

“That’s funny to say to a person who can read expressions like a book. I guess the tradeoff is being an open book yourself.” Nera’s face went red as she turned away from them.

‘Impressive, she’s able to silence Nera pretty quickly.’

“Anyway, ‘modified human’ is a technical term used to describe people like me and Nera. People who have been modified by magic, Formation Craft to be specific.” A flash of shock ran across Allen’s face as Lana continued. “We all underwent a procedure where our bodies were doused in mana, broken down, and reshaped right down to our organelles. Our tendons, bones, and nerves were all restructured to perform at levels beyond what regular humans are capable of.”

“A variation of humanity, “Variates”. That’s the most popular term although mutts, emissaries of disaster, and living weapons are in the running for that.” Nera remarked with a strong hint of disdain.

“Their experiment didn’t just stop at turning us into superpowered circus acts. They also began training us in all sorts of combat drills. Some of which involved Marionettes in order to get a ‘real’ sense of dismantling a person.” Nera glanced at Allen and he instantly understood how she had encountered that specter’s victim. He could tell that Nera did not look back on that time fondly.

“Ultimately…” Lana started. “After an important ‘field test’ didn’t show a favorable enough result, they remarked that a Variate was ‘no more capable than a common beast’. We were left on our own and those of us without parents to take care of them in Atelier City ended up in the Peryton House.”

“Variates? Human modification? Combat Training? I would have a hard time believing that stuff if I hadn’t seen much crazier, but you both signed up willingly for that?” Allen's questions tumbled out of him like a broken faucet.

“Uhh…I’ll leave that to Lana to explain. My memories don’t go back that far.” Nera voiced as she leaned back in her chair so much she had to hold onto the back of Allen’s chair to keep from toppling over. Allen turned back to Lana.

“It depends on the person. The procedure was marketed as being a way to treat otherwise untreatable injuries. That’s what my parents thought it was for, but it ended up being much, much more.” Lana’s voice sounded distant as she recalled the memories of her becoming a Variate.

“I was in a really bad accident when I was young. A tunnel collapsed while my family was taking a train to go to the park, and my lower body was crushed. I was never meant to walk again, then my parents were contacted by Atelier City about a procedure they could perform that would fully heal me. I still remember that contraption they stuck me into that looked like an MRI machine, felt like I was being cooked alive.”

“That must’ve been terrible to go through…and then you got superpowers?” Allen stated trying to be as empathetic as he could despite being very interested in their enhancements.

“Yep, my legs were fixed and then some. I was faster, stronger, and tougher than any olympian out there.” Lana attempted to flex the muscles on her arm with an imperceptible result. Allen struggled not to wince at how emaciated her arm was.

Lana’s frame was almost like a skeleton tightly wrapped with skin. However, her emerald eyes still had a vibrant glow. Allen had a hard time keeping up with her and Nera’s bright atmosphere. It felt like an overinflated balloon that would pop just at the slightest poke.

“What about your parents? That part must’ve thrown them for a loop.”

“It did. They used to complain all the time about how the city didn’t let them in on the full details…when they were still around.” Lana looked wistfully out the window and sighed.

“...I’m sorry for your loss.” Allen gave his condolences with downcast eyes.

“Huh? Oh! My parents aren’t dead, they’re just in Wyoming!” Lana hastily corrected Allen and he awkwardly raised up his hands in embarrassment. He was so flustered by how wrong his inference was that it was a wonder that the young man did not fall backward in his chair.

“My fault, I have a habit of assuming the worst.” Allen nervously remarked.

“Nah, you’re just mega great at picking the worst thing to say.” Nera chimed in.

“It’s no biggie, Nera. My parents just couldn’t afford to stay in Atelier City for too long so they left me here. That’s it.” Lana explained as she reached for a remote on her nightstand.

“Plus, I can still do cool stuff like this…” She tapped the end of the remote that was hanging off the nightstand with her fingers so that the device would be sent into the air with a series of flips. Lana quickly outstretched her other hand to catch it. She winced and her hand stopped just short of the remote.

“Lana!” Nera ignored the remote as it crashed down to the ground and rushed over to her friend’s side.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. You know how much of a clutz I am. I guess I should’ve practiced some more before trying to show off.” Lana tried to dismiss Nera’s worry with a laugh. Nera’s expression gradually softened and she relented. She picked up the remote along with the batteries that had fallen out of it.

“If you say so, I’ll believe you. Since the remote’s already in my hands, what do you want to watch?”

***

The sky outside the window was bathed in dark hues of yellow, orange, and red as the sun descended in the horizon. The three had settled on watching Galaxina: The Space Warrior with some suggesting from Nera. It had been about an hour since Allen had arrived.

“Do you have any drinks here? I’m getting kind of thirsty.” Allen suddenly asked.

“Yep…there in…the kitchen.” Lana replied tiredly with her struggling to keep her eyes open.

“Alright.” Allen got up from his seat and began to walk to the door. “You two want anything?”

Lana silently shook her head slowly.

“I’ll take a grape soda.” Nera readily replied like he was a waiter and Allen nodded as he walked out.

Allen headed down the hallway and spotted the kitchen to the right of the main living area. He continued forward until his hand was on the handle of the building’s front door.

“That’s not the way to the kitchen, young man.” The man Allen had seen earlier on the porch of the building was now sitting on a large couch on the other side of the room. He still had a book in his hands that his eyes were not looking up from.

‘How did he know-nevermind, he probably just overhead us.’

“Oh, I just decided to feel the cool breeze of that dusk air for a few moments.” Allen responded with a strained grin.

“Last time I checked it was 50 degrees Fahrenheit in that room. You can be upfront with me, I’ll be able to get back to my book faster.”

Allen sighed with contempt.

“What do you want to hear? I just couldn’t pretend to be calm after hearing what they’ve been through. I don’t understand it all.”

“What is it that you don’t understand? How they could remain positive even after going through the struggles they’ve endured?”

“No, they both seem strong, stronger than me at least. I just can’t understand why those two would stay in a city that’s treated them as nothing but tools. Lana’s parents are just a few states over, why isn’t she with them?”

The older man closed the book shut and stood up. He looked Allen in the face for the first time. He had dark brown hair and stern gray eyes.

“It’s because they have no choice. The fate of all Variates is tied to Atelier City.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I guess neither Nera nor Lana told you. Those kids were always the most soft-hearted. That leaves me with more dirty work.” He rubbed his forehead as if the whole situation was giving him a headache before saying anything else. “Allen, right? The restructuring procedure could heal almost any wound and gave superhuman enhancement but it also had a steep cost.”

“What? They’re stuck paying off medical fees? I guess I can understand something like that.” Allen said lukewarmly.

The gray-eyed man scoffed. “If only it was something as simple as that, the cost Variates have to pay is with their life. ‘Project Eitr’ had the unforeseen side-effect of rapid cellular degeneration in Variates. Their bodies break down at an accelerated rate and the only known way to halt this process momentarily is a drug known as Organem that is only produced in Atelier City.”

Allen was lost for his words as he tried to take in what the man said with such nonchalance.

“So, that’s how it is, huh? You’re involved in this too, aren’t you?’ Allen declared as he came to the realization. The man did not say anything at first as he passed by Allen. He then uttered one last thing.

“Yes, I was. I’m the fool who helped design the Variate procedure.’

The man headed down a different hallway than the one Allen had entered the room from. His figure was gradually overtaken by shadows until he completely disappeared from sight. Allen had gotten a glance at the book in his hands. It made Allen even more unsure about how to feel about the man.

‘That was…a comic book omnibus.’

***

After getting some drinks from the kitchen’s fridge, Allen made his way back to Lana’s room with his mind weighed down by all he learned.

‘Is Lana in the shape she’s in now because of the cellular deterioration? Is that going to happen to Nera? If it is, I have to do everything I can to prevent that.’

Allen was startled to see Nera in front of Lana’s door. She was carrying a large black satchel on her back.

“What are you doing right there? Weren’t you watching that show with Lana?”

“The show ended and Lana’s asleep.” Nera answered quickly.

“I’m not asleep! I’m just resting my eyes…I haven’t even told Allen about the time we snuck into that play...” Allen could tell that Lana’s refusal of Nera’s sentiment was followed by her rapidly descending into slumber again.

“Yeah, she’s mega asleep now.” Nera asserted. “Let’s go.”

Nera grabbed the grape soda from Allen’s hand. Allen shrugged and walked outside the Peryton House with her. He took a generous chug of his cherry-flavored soda.

“So, did the doctor tell you about Organem?” Nera asked between a sip of her own beverage.

“Roger, it was honestly a lot to take in.”

“Likewise, that should tell you why it’s important we get to the bottom of who attacked the construction site.”

‘The clinic is planning to give out Organem?’ Allen could not think of another explanation.

“Bingo. That’s what the doctor told me earlier. It’s been difficult to get lately.”

“Hmm, even if that’s true, what makes you think that it will be attacked again?”

“Didn’t you watch the news today?”

“Yeah, but I kind of got interrupted by someone.”

“Tch. Well, this is the third time the place has been robbed in the last week. They thought it was just an employee lifting stuff but this time was too extreme to ignore. At this rate, there’s a chance the clinic won’t open at all.”

The two were now walking down the sidewalk with the sun’s light now totally absent from their surroundings. Streetlights and the moon in the sky were the main sources of luminescence.

“I have a feeling that means you want us to do something about it.”

“Of course, now, are you in or are you not?”

“This is a hardcore trap you’ve set up for me. How could I not try to help a girl who’s fighting desperately just to live her life? Tell me what your plan is already.” Allen spoke defeatedly but his face betrayed his resolve.

Nera grinned cheekily and she unzipped her satchel to retrieve two baseball caps from it, one red and the other purple.

“We’re going to have a stakeout!”

***

With Allen wearing a red cap and Nera wearing a purple cap, the two hurried sneakily down the emptied and dim streets of Atelier City. At least, they moved as sneakily as one could wearing a brightly colored hat during the dead of night. Their destination was the construction site of the new Heironymous Pharmaceuticals clinic.

When they reached the area, Nera lead the way to a tall building across the street from it. It was a five-story high office building made out of brick. It appeared to be closed with not a trace of indoor lighting shining through its windows. The building’s driveway was also empty of any vehicles.

“This coast is clear. Time for us to get into position.” Nera announced in a hushed voice.

“You make it sound like we’re trying to rob th-” Allen’s words were cut short as Nera pulled him into a vice grip with one arm and then bounded up the side of the building. It only took her jumping off the window ledges three times for her to reach the top of the building with Allen in tow.

“Give me a warning next time, you locomotive woman!” Allen demanded in exasperation as Nera dropped him to the ground.

‘Falling is surely the more popular fear, but rising too fast might one day be a strong contender.’ Allen contemplated. He realized that moving at high speeds with mana felt much different than being yanked around with brute strength.

“Shhh, we gotta stay quiet or we might tip them off.” Nera scolded with a finger to her lips.

“Sure, I’ll make just make extra sure to be prepared next time.” Allen replied with a thumbs-down as Nera walked over to the edge of the roof facing the construction site. The young woman took out a pair of binoculars and laid flat right next to the roof’s ledge. She used her binoculars to peer at the construction site.

Allen walked over and crouched down beside Nera.

“Can I get a pair?” He asked with an outstretched hand.

“Sure, be careful.” She pulled out an identical set of binoculars and handed it to him.

“Whoa!” The weight of the binoculars was much heavier than assumed, causing Allen to almost them.

‘This is some pretty heavy-duty equipment. Is it military-grade? Where did she even get it?’

Now that they both had binoculars, the duo began surveying the scene for any sign of trouble. Dozens of minutes passed without anything eventful happening.

‘I hope this doesn’t end up being a wild goose chase.’

“Look, Allen! Over there! I spotted something!” Nera yelled as she pointed to something down below.

Allen quickly focused his binoculars in the direction she pointed out. However, he observed nothing but a tin trash can rolling on the curb, carried by a strong gust of air.

“Nera, that was literally just the wind. Try to be more careful, Ranger, you might confuse a stray beast for our target.”

“Hmph, don’t start doubting my senses. That’s how I found out there was something was off about this whole thing.”

“Are you referring to last night?”

“Yeah, when I got here then, I heard a big commotion and what sounded like someone fleeing the scene. After making sure that guy who got attacked had someone call to help him, I tried tracking whatever it was all the way to the Marble Quarter.”

“How did you lose your ribbon baton?

“Uhh, I think I accidentally tripped the defense system of some rich person’s home. Before I knew it, alarms went off and I had a hole blasted through my jacket. When I realized it was missing, I figured it would seem too suspicious to ask for it right at that moment and just decided to ask you to get it in the morning.” Nera lowered the bill of her cap over her face at the last part. It was obvious to Allen that she was not able to get it in the morning herself because she had already scheduled to meet up with Lana then.

Allen sighed.

“I’m glad that’s all that happened. You really had me…”

“What? Worried? Afraid? You would be lost as to what to do if I was hurt? Is that it?” Nera prodded earnestly.

“Zip it! There’s something actually happening over there!” Allen swerved his binoculars to the other side, facing another building. Nera glanced over dubiously as she noticed nothing.

“Come on, I’m not falling for that trick.” Nera’s remark was followed by a loud crashing thud on the roof of the other building that sounded like something large landing on top of it.

“You were right!” Nera sprinted away toward the noise while Allen was getting to his feet.

“Whew, thank goodness there actually was something there. My bluff might've backfired.’

Allen quickly followed behind Nera until she got to the ledge. She leaped over the edge without a hint of hesitation while Allen stopped dead in his tracks. The distance to the other ledge was about five meters and it was at least an eighteen-meter drop down below.

‘Alright, Allen, all you got to do is get a running start.” He psyched himself up before backpedaling a good distance. He then ran to the end of the roof and bounded to the next one with a burst of magical energy.

He surpassed his planned landing point by a wide margin and was over to the next ledge by the time he made it back to solid ground. It was a rough landing and Nera was already on another roof, so he had to immediately leap again to catch up.

Allen was now running side by side with Nera as they followed whatever was ahead of them.

“Is that a specter wearing earphones?” Allen asked now that he was able to get a better look at the figure. It appeared to be a four-legged shadowy creature with silvery lines spanning its body and a pair of bright emerald earphones adorning its head.

“So you see that too? I thought my eyesight was going wonky.’

“Those don’t seem to be a part of its body. Why would a specter wear earphones and why is running away without even trying to attack us?”

“I don’t know. At least, they make it easier for me to keep track of the monster Hopefully, we find the answer once we catch this thing.”

“That’s easier said than done.”

The two chased after the strange specter while crossing a few more rooftops. All the while, Allen was struggling to keep pace with Nera, conserving the amount of mana he had left in his specter stones, and not plummeting down to the ground by accident.

The Wraith leaped down from a roof to the ground below. Nera and Allen jumped after it. The wind was rushing past them as they descended rapidly to solid earth. There was an explosion of hazy mist as they reached the bottom floor which made them both shield their eyes from it.

“Ughh!”

Even though he had braced himself for the impact using Subtle Iron, Allen still felt a jolt of pain run through his legs as they made impact with the hard asphalt. Nera and he both looked around in confusion until eventually, the mist faded away. What greeted them was a sight that left both even more bewildered.

Illuminated by bright, ember-like particles that filled the air, they saw Iyo standing right before them. His breathing was ragged and he was covered in sweat. The glove on his right hand was missing revealing that it was covered in scaled skin and ended with sharp claws.

His goggles were down for the first time either of them had seen, and what looked back at them was a golden eye like that of a raptor. Allen was even able to make out his teeth including what looked like fangs. Iyo caught his breath for a moment and spoke up.

“Allen, Nera, please stay away for now.” As soon he finished what he had to say, he clenched his clawed hand and a blinding eruption of yellow light erupted from his vicinity. Allen reached out his hand to try to stop whatever he was doing, but it was too late. The only trace of Iyo left there was a large crater on the ground where he had stood. There were now even more ember-like particles in the area.

Allen was nearly frozen in shock and confusion.

“That was…”

Nera cut him off with malice prominent in her tone.

“...a beast.”