In the crowded room, the scowling nurse, Lauren, threw away Chief’s cigarette in the trash bin.

The Chief looked down on the recovering Felix through the opaque lenses of her round, orange lenses, “So I see that both of your eyes are now blue. It’s always such a unique sight to see glowing eyes.”

“Yeah… I guess it happened when… when I…” Felix placed his hand against his forehead, unable to recollect the events of the last mission, “What… happened?”

“Maria told me everything. How you defeated Bentley East, who is now in our custody. About Moritz and the laser weapon he used, and the man he was with, Oscar.”

He looked at Maria, who smiled sweetly back at him, and then his eyes shifted to his shaking hand, which he clutched tightly, “So, when are we gonna hunt them down?” He asked excitedly.

“Calm down. Other operators will handle it. For now, there’s people I want you to meet with.” Chief then turned around and instructed, “Come with me.”

“My patient isn’t going out until he makes a full recovery.” Lauren adamantly declared as she got in between the two.

Felix could only watch with wide eyes and an awkward smile as the two stared at each other.

“Do… you not know who I am?” The Chief asked in disbelief.

“I don’t care who you are. My patient has not fully recovered, and as such, is staying here. Now all of you, get out.” The nurse pushed all three of them out the door.

Speechless, the only word the chief was able to blurt out was, “…Huh.”

From outside the room, the chief looked back and said to Felix, “Felix, I expect your report soon.”

“Y-yes, sir.” Felix answered.

The nurse then angrily shut the door on the chief.

“Well, that just happened.” The chief was completely dumbfounded by the nurse’s actions.

“From the looks of it, Felix will be fully healed in an hour or so. It won’t take long. In the meantime, I’m gonna go kill some time before my mission.” Maria shrugged.

Both Chief and Isabelle stood silently as they watched her leave.

“I should be going too.” The Chief stated as she started walking away.

“Chief Nguyen… is the person you want him to talk to… David Soldier?” Isabelle replied as she followed.

“No.”

“But… he’s still going to be taught by him?” She tilted her head.

“How did you—?”

“I overheard your conversation, you know, enhanced senses and all that. I’m sorry if this is stepping out of line, but... don’t you think he shouldn’t?”

She then turned towards Isabelle and confronted her, “Are you suggesting that the two of you teach him in David’s place?”

Isabelle lowered her gaze, “It’s only been six months since we went through the implementation. We aren’t exactly experts, either.”

“Then…”

“David isn’t the only one, right? If David taught him while he still holds those heavy feelings, then I doubt he’d learn.”

The Chief paused for a brief moment as she stared down the white-haired agent, “Nero’s right. You really are a busybody, aren’t you?”

Isabelle looked up at the chief with solemn eyes.

“Sigh… she’s… difficult to handle. But I’ll see what I can do.” The chief answered. “For now, I have a meeting to set up for Felix.”

Hours passed, and the sky was bright and blue. When Felix woke up, he stretched out his arms. No longer did he feel the pain.

“It’s amazing, but… you’re good to go. Just take these every three hours, and here’s some pain killers.” Lauren handed him the medicine.

Felix sighed as he made it back to headquarters. He crossed through the glass doors beneath the gold and red banner.

“I need some co—”

“Felix?” Carol spoke, sat on the couch at the entrance.

“Oh, hi Carol.” He greeted softly.

“How are you feeling? I heard what happened.”

“A little stiff… but I’ll—” He stretched out his arms before realizing, “Wait, how?”

“…um… a robin told me.”

“I see.”

“I was worried about you, so I wanted to see how you were doing.” She tiptoed and patted him on the head.

Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat and his face quickly turned red. He placed his hand on his hair where she patted him. He recalled moments like that one from a time long past and far out of reach.

“I see… a-and how are you?” Felix sheepishly replied

“I just got back from my last mission.”

“Oh, I’m glad to see you’re okay. What was it? Or is that classified?”

She breathed into her palms and answered, “I had to capture Lewis Shaw. He should be in custody by now.”

“Lewis escaped again? Are you cold, tired? Would you like some coffee?”

“I’m fine, just a little tired.”

“Th-they do grind us to the bone.” Felix laughed awkwardly as he scratched his cheek, “As long as you’re protecting the peace, right?”

“About that. Something I envy is that the Golden Lion is that the people in it are actually working to fix broken parts of the system, even though its achievements in doing so are small.”

“Didn’t all the twelve agencies do that?”

“The people in Cygnus Enterprise are more interested in lining their own pockets than anything.”

“Is that so? I wouldn’t be surprised. Most corporations are like that aren’t they?” Maria asked as she opened the door and walked up to them with a container full of cookies in her hands.

“Oh, hi there. My name’s Carol. It’s nice to meet you.”

“…I’ve seen you before. Lying in a hospital bed where Felix brought you.”

“I see…” Carol replied, not knowing how to reply to her statement.

“Cookie?” Maria offered from the newly bought cookies.

“Ah, th-thank you.” She answered as she took one.

“Maria Readman. Nice to meet you.” She introduced herself with cheerful wide eyes.

“So, what brought you to the agency?”

“Um…Actually, I came here to see the chief of Golden Lion.”

“Then you should have scheduled an appointment.” The chief declared as she walked up to them, “I’m quite a busy person.”

“Looks like the other guests have arrived.” Felix commented as he looked out the glass walls.

From outside, a car could be seen crossing through the gates. The two recruits from Frontier Industries flashed small pins to the glass door and it opened. A young woman with silvery white hair and a young man with golden blonde hair, both of whom with different shades of red eyes.

“Hiya.” Isabelle gleamed and waved.

“Oh great, you two.” Maria blurted out in dismay.

“Formally make an appointment next time, understood?”

“Ah… y-yes.”

“Now, all of you, come with me.” The chief instructed.

They entered the red room full of books where two figures in white robes stood.

Felix saw an unfamiliar face and asked, “Professor Tetsuya... and?”

“Professor Levi.” Isabelle waved at the professor with sunglasses above his slick-black hair.

“So this is Levi Ripley.” Maria commented as she invaded Professor Levi’s personal space and straightened out his tie, tightening it to an uncomfortable degree.

“Um— uh, that’s a little… It’s difficult to breathe.” The professor patted on her forearm, signaling for her to stop, as if to cry uncle.

“You know him?” Felix asked.

“He’s the one responsible for the new generation espers, Nero, Isabelle and... another.” Maria answered as she let go.

“How did you know that?”

“I’ve done a little research.” She cast her dark gaze over to the chief.

“Maria…” The chief lowered her orange-tinted glasses and pressed against her forehead.

Felix went inside and sat while the other three turned their heads and glanced around with curiosity on their faces. The two professors stood ahead of them. Both Professor Yusuke Tetsuya and Professor Levi Ripley stood to greet their greatest achievements.

“That’s odd. I thought that there would be four of you.” Professor Levi commented.

“There are four of us?” Isabelle tilted her head.

“I meant the espers.”

“You mean him?” Nero pointed towards the figure hidden behind the shadows.

“Hm?” Isabelle, Felix and the chief turned their heads to where he pointed, and saw a figure in the corner of the room with crossed arms.

“How did you know I was here?” The figure from behind asked.

“It’s not that hard when your eyes glow in the dark.” Nero commented cynically.

“It’s been a while. How are you, um…” Isabelle waved awkwardly, trying to be polite to the man in the shadows.

With glowing crimson irises, the man stepped forward, revealing himself with dark brown hair tied to a ponytail behind him, and a small scar beneath his lips.

He extended his hand to Felix from beside the door and the shadows. “You must be Felix Aster.”

“That’s right.” Felix replied as he shook his hand as he was still standing, illuminated from behind the door.

“I have high expectations of you.” He said with a cheerful smile.

“And you are?” Felix’s eyes furrowed slightly at the response. His hands felt cold and hard, as if it were wrapped in metal. Maria watched as the two shook their hands with a suspicious glare.

“He’s Grant Jaeger. He was a bounty hunter who found his way here, and possesses a similar skill set to Maria in terms of hacking and breaking in.” The Chief explained.

“S-so there you are Grant, all of you take a seat.” Professor Levi awkwardly mumbled.

“I’m sorry, but this is for the espers only.” Professor Levi gestured for Maria to stop.

“I’m Felix’s partner, where he goes, I go.”

“Yes, but—”

Felix placed his hand on the professor’s shoulder and asked in a polite manner, “Let her in, she’s my partner.”

“I see. I suppose we can make an exception. Alright then, right this way…” Levi responded defeatedly.

“That’s more like it.” Maria patted the professor on the shoulder and peppily entered the room.

The rest all followed suit and sat on the chairs that they were provided.

Professor Levi wiped his sweat off and said, “Then, there’s one last missing from batch Delta…”

“Actually, that’s all of them.”

“What? But there should be four of them with red eyes, right?”

“The fourth, Caitlyn Ashton, was killed in combat not less than two hours ago. Her body is on its way back.” Chief answered in a low voice.

“Wh-what?”

The Chief pinched her cheek and muttered in a disgruntled manner, “This is why those fools should have never let her go into the field.”

“But I requested them not to let them out yet?”

“After spending nearly a billion dollars, I’m sure they grew impatient and sent her to an early grave.” The Chief gnawed on her fingers and continued, “Fortunately, they didn’t blow her brains to smithereens. Hopefully, we can find someone else and can try again.”

Professor Levi cast his gaze down, taken aback by the suddenness.

But before he even had the opportunity to take it in, the Chief spoke, “I’ll be going to retrieve her body. Only tell them what they need to know.”

He adjusted his sunglasses and nodded his head, “Alright then.”

Felix turned his head as he noticed Chief Vivian’s shadow beginning to move away, “Chief? Where are you going?”

The Chief then turned her head towards the room, “You all wanted answers, didn’t you?”

‘You all?’ Felix thought to himself, only to realize that all of them looked at the chief with narrowed eyes. All of them were starving for answers.

“I already know what they have to say, besides, I have a quick errand to run.” Chief replied before walking away.

“That translates to “I’m gonna have a smoke break.”” Felix explained to the rest of them.

“How do you know that?” Isabelle asked him.

“Something my mentor taught me.” He smiled and scratched his cheek.

The lighting in the room turned off, save for the single light in the center and the holograms that were on the table. The black-haired professor cleared his throat before speaking. While professor Tetsuya scrolled information through holographic screens.

“Allow me to begin. Now where do I start?”

“Wait… weren’t there four of us, Professor? Where’s Caitlyn?” Isabelle perked up.

“Caitlyn… she’s… unwell. She’s currently in the hospital, we… don’t know if she’s gonna make it.” He adjusted his sunglasses and looked away, unable to tell her the truth.

Her red gaze lowered to the floor, “I see…”

Though the silver-haired girl accepted this, both Maria and Grant were able to clearly see through his words. And even Felix and Nero had an inkling that something was wrong.

“Like I said before, she should have never joined the mission. That’s why… that’s why you must learn these things that we will teach you.” The black-haired professor nervously gulped and felt a weight in his heart.

“You, the ‘children of stars’, have undergone a program known as “The Implementation—”

“Hell.” Both Nero and Grant spoke simultaneously.

Felix looked over to them and murmured, “Hell, huh…”

His eyelids rose up as the memory returned. The vision of a hand reaching upwards to the sky. He took in a deep breath and reached into his shirt, holding the necklace.

“I understand. It was indeed, “Hell” as you refer to it. And truly, you lot have gone through it, and survived. You were thus rewarded in ways we could never imagine.” Professor Levi lifted his black rimmed glasses.

“Psychic power, right?” Grant answered nonchalantly.

“Correct. Now, allow me to explain to you our research so far. You all, as enhanced humans, possess an ability that defies physics. The ability to produce an unknown force dispersed by brainwaves, one that which we believe may be a theoretical fifth force that defies the laws of physics, and allows you to move things with only your mind.”

“If this was a cult, then you’ve already lost my interest.” Grant scoffed.

“Basically, this psychic energy can be boiled down to telekinesis, is that it?” Nero asked.

“It’s a lot messier than that, and it’s not exactly energy… but, simply put, yes.”

“So then, what was it that you put in us to make us have that superpower?” Grant asked.

“Honestly speaking… we do not know.” Professor Levi answered, while Professor Tetsuya turned to the side, looking at a different holographic interface, as if to avoid looking anyone in the eye.

Professor Levi continued, “The description for Project ASTRAEA involved developing a genetic altering material by using the DNA samples from various extraordinary individuals throughout the Millennia, creating a compound known as “The Yliaster.” However, we cannot figure out how this anomaly occurred. We initially believed it was an error or miscalculation, but… is among the most incomprehensible of abnormalities that we have encountered thus far.”

“Ooooh, those are some big boy words…” Maria playfully commented.

“The problem is how we cannot observe your abilities until you produce them. They appear to be stored within your brain, but we have no way of detecting your energy until you release them. It is indeed quite a mystery.”

“Basically, we’re on our own to figure it out?” Grant asked.

“We intend for all of you to receive training from your senior, David Soldier.” Professor Levi answered.

Felix turned his head at Professor Tetsuya, and spoke with a voice dripping with animosity, “So this was your goal then? This is why you wanted to create superhumans?”

Professor Tetsuya took a deep sigh before responding, “There’s a limit to the regeneration of cells. Once that limit has passed, regenerate stops. But as enhanced humans, as espers, you all bypass that limit by an unimaginable margin. First stage increases the regeneration speed multiple fold, second stage doubles that, and so forth. You’re not immortal, but you’re ahead of the game, to say the least.”

The professor’s eyebrows furrowed when he turned over the document he was reading, “The point of this project was initially to improve the human body and increase natural longevity. That all changed when made discoveries that the military wanted to capitalize on.”

Maria glanced at Felix and said, “Nothing leaves a scar on us.” The same words she told him during their first mission.

“Regeneration…” Felix looked at his own hand, remembering a blurry vision of the white beam of light that tore it apart.

“Question, though.” Grant spoke.

“Yes, indeed, what is it?” Professor Levi responded.

“Why do our eyes glow?”

“See, the Yliaster alters your DNA at a fundamental level. It has biologically altered in a way that allows your irises to become bioluminescent.”

“But why?”

“I… we do not know.” Professor Levi responded in a resigned tone.

“Is that why my hair turned white? Why didn’t anyone else’s hair turn white?” Isabelle asked the rest of them.

“I had a little bit turn white, but it made me feel old, so I dyed it.” Grant looked at her and answered.

She turned to Nero and asked, “What, you... you dyed your hair? Nero, did you dye your hair?”

“No.”

“Felix?” She asked once more.

“No...”

“Maria?”

Maria stayed quiet for half a second before answering, “No.”

“Only the ones who’ve fully awakened their full potential have their hairs turned white. A full head of white hair denotes that one has reached esper maturity.” Professor Ripley explained.

“I... took it as a symbol of moving forward... but maybe I should also.” Isabelle mumbled as she combed her hair with her fingers.

“Well, it’s up to you, but if it’s any consolation, I like your hair that way.” Felix replied.

“Ah, thank you.” She smiled at him sweetly.

Maria’s eyes lowered in annoyance at the two.

“Wait, so by fully awakened, what does that mean?” Grant asked.

“The rate that it changes the body varies per individual depending on their compatibility to the drug.”

“My hair turned white after the first week.” Isabelle spoke.

“Huh? Mine changed after the second month.” Grant replied.

“Hmm, yes, indeed, that makes sense. Because it normally begins with changing the eye color and making it bioluminescent, then followed by turning the hair white. There are no visible effects on first stage espers. Maria and the rest are, by definition, enhanced humans. Nothing more.”

“This all sounds new to me.” Maria expressed genuine surprise before speaking in a low, frigid voice, “To think there’s still so much more.”

“And enhanced humans… what do you mean? Is it just us getting stronger? Because when I woke up the next day, not only did my eyes start glowing and a patch of my hair turned white, but I felt dizzy. I felt everything around me become… more… much more… it was a lot to take in. I had to stay in bed for a week after what happened.” Grant explained.

“It doesn’t simply enhance your current abilities. It changes you biologically. It reduces the physical limits and forces your body into its natural peak. Sight. Smell. Taste. Hearing. Strength. Reflexes. All of it is forced to its reasonable peak, just before straining your body.” Explained Professor Levi.

“Then… why come our eyes glow red, but Felix’s glows blue.” Asked Nero.

“Felix is a fourth stage esper. The only fourth stage we have so far, while the rest of you are all third stage.” Answered Professor Tetsuya.

“So then, does that mean he possesses more raw power?” Grant asked.

“And by raw power, you mean the amount of aura we possess?” Nero added a question.

“Which would mean it would take more time to merge with him if he weren’t compatible?” Isabelle also added her own question.

“Yes, yes, and yes.” He immediately confirmed all of their inquiries.

“It took seven years before Felix’s other eye finally turned blue. It takes time for the Yliaster to fully bond to the individual.” Professor Tetsuya explained.

Nero glanced over to Felix and taunted, “I guess that just means you weren’t compatible with it.”

“But that still doesn’t answer the different colors.” Grant remarked.

“I would like to say that the colors of the Zeta radiation, or aura, as you refer to it, resembles fire and heat intensity. But according to our research, that isn’t the case. First stages would have no visible physical changes, second stages would have orange eyes, third stages would have red eyes, fourth stages would have blue eyes, while our currently experimental fifth stage would possess yellow eyes, and defectives of any stage had other colors.”

“Defectives?” Isabelle asked.

“Defectives, the first generation would often have sudden, uncontrollable outbursts of psychic energy. But unlike the first generation, the stabilizers would not work on them.”

“Stabilizers?” Isabelle asked again, this time with a hint of concern.

“Actually, now that you’ve finally awakened your psychic abilities, it’s important that you have these. They took a while to develop considering you’re the only fourth stage, but they’ll help you deal with potential telekinetic outbursts.” Professor Tetsuya then threw a small bottle toward Felix.

As Felix caught the bottle thrown at him, Maria pointed to herself and asked, “What about me?”

“But… the newer generations don’t need this.”

“Maybe I might? Who knows?” She shrugged.

“Maria, you’re a stage one.” Professor replied.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” She crossed her arms and pouted.

“Wait, can we wind it back to “telekinetic outbursts?” What’s that?” Isabelle suddenly raised her voice.

“It doesn’t concern you new generations.” Answered Professor Tetsuya.

“Maybe it doesn’t, but I’m tired of being kept in the dark. Do our powers just suddenly go boom?” Her hands waved around as she pursued the topic with a slightly frantic voice.

“Well. I-indeed.” Professor Levi replied.

“This drug was made as a way to deal with rampant psychic power.” Professor Tetsuya explained.

“And you only thought to give this to me now?”

“You did not need it until now, and I was only able to perfect it recently. Giving you an incomplete version would have had catastrophic results, especially after what happened to the others.”

“There were others?” Maria asked.

“Yes. For them, the incomplete version only delayed the process, but also charging the destructive power.”

Isabelle let out a high-pitched noise, “How exactly were you able to perfect it?”

“That... I cannot say.” Professor Tetsuya answered somberly. There was a soft, subtle white glow in his irises, revealing the lengths he went through.

“So, are there any other questions?” Professor Levi asked with a nervous, awkward smile.

“... So let me just, um, let me get this straight then. Going through the implementation and surviving, turns our hair white, changes our eye colors and makes them glow, and gives us the power to move things with our mind?” Isabelle enumerated and summarized what she understood as concisely as possible.

“Indeed, it also heightens senses and speeds up the healing process.” He added as he fixed his glasses.

”This is… a lot to take in…” She pressed her index fingers to her temples, clearly overwhelmed by the large amount of information.

Nero scratched the back of his head, “Sounds like a fair trade considering we had a ninety-five percent chance of dying.”

“Ugh… don’t remind me.” Isabelle responded as her eyebrows curled at the recollection. A single drop of sweat made its way down from her forehead to her chin.

Grant then spoke up his own opinions, “I scoffed at the idea that I could get powers joining the agency from a drug. I expected weapons, men, and technology. But it was the easiest way to get into the agency.” He paused for breath, then continued, “Then I was made to watch a red-haired girl on fire stop bullets, and lift up without even touching them. I thought they were showing me were edited footage or some illusion technology. But after her display, the girl walked up to me and said hello. It was like a scene from a movie.”

“Red-hair… You mean agent Tundra?” Felix asked.

“Is that her code name? Yeah, her.” He replied.

“So, any other questions?” Though those words escaped his lips, Professor Levi nervously hoped that no one would ask any more questions.

“Yeah…” Grant perked up and looked at him, “Can you tell me what that place was?”

“What place?”

“The one with the ocean.” Grant answered.

“The sea of stars…” Nero muttered out as he looked at his own hand.

Isabelle looked at them and responded, “You guys saw that too? Did you guys also…” She said as she reached out her hand upwards.

“Reach for the stars? Yeah…”

“I did.” Both red-eyed men nodded in agreement.

Maria turned to Felix and whispered, “Do you know what they’re talking about, bud?”

“I… think so… I’d have completely forgotten about it until just now.” Felix replied as the vision in his mind distorts, fluctuating between the sight of the starry night sky in the sea, and the fiery sight of the hell he went through during the implementation.

“I’m… afraid I don’t know what you mean.” Professor Levi replied, unable to answer.

Professor Tetsuya interjected and explained, “David and Anastasia once said that after the implementation, they found themselves surrounded in an endless sea, and above them was the night sky. That they reached for it, and then they woke up. Other than that, we have no information.”

“Well, there you have it. But we’ll look into it if you like… So, any other questions?” Professor Levi muttered nervously.

“How many people… died in these experiments?” Isabelle asked with a distraught expression.

Professor Levi placed his hands in the pockets of his white coat. His voice caught stuck in his throat, unable to answer the simple question laid out for him.

Felix’s eyes widened as he heard Isabelle’s question. His breathing grew heavy, and a glowing blue mist began to radiate from over him.

“Calm down, bud.” Maria placed her hand on his shoulder. “We’re fine. You’re fine.”

“I suppose that… I’ve told you… all of the information we could… indeed.”

“Indeed. You have.” Felix looked at Levi with a somber blue gaze, to which he had swallowed nervously.

All of them stood up, except for the panicked Felix. Maria stretched out her arms upward, while Isabelle extended hers to Felix.

“Are you okay?” She asked.

“Ah… y-yeah. Thanks.” He answered as she took her hand as he stood up.

As the lot of them got out of the room, leaned against the wall was Chief, with her hands in her pockets, “So, are your questions answered?”

“Chief? You’re back quick.” Maria asked.

“I just needed to check on something, so what have you learned?”

“Too many things to recount.” Isabelle answered with an exhausted sigh.

“And the rest of you?”

Nero interjected and lifted his fist, “While the average Elite Agent could probably dent or put a crack on the wall, with psychic power, we can—”

“Stop! Stop. If you say you can shatter the wall with a punch, we believe you. Just... we don’t need any unnecessary expenses...” Chief yelled in a panic.

“Ah… okay.” Nero responded with a disheartened tone.

“Well, I have an errand to attend to, as per someone’s request.” Chief then eyed down Isabelle with a sharp scowl.

Isabelle swallowed and scratched the back of head as she gave the chief an awkward smile.

“Felix, I’m arranging a meeting for you soon.”

“Meeting? With whom?” Felix gave her a puzzled look.

“You’ll find out. Now prepare for your next mission. As for the rest of you, you are dismissed.”

The three red-eyed espers gave their goodbyes and branched off from Felix and Maria.

“Bye.” Isabelle waved.

“See ya later, pipsqueak.” Nero added.

“I’ll be looking forward to working with you, Felix Aster.” Grant gave a wide smile and left last.

As they exited the door and left their view, and the two headed back as well.

“So, what do you think of them?” Maria asked.

“Isabelle’s nice, Nero’s a jackass and Grant… he’s…”

“Up to something?”

“I was gonna say sketchy.”

“Pfft… who isn’t sketchy in this place?” She shrugged with a carefree giggle.

“I—” Felix paused, “You’re one to talk with how much you scurry around in the background like that.”

She grinned and boastfully asked, “What are you gonna do, stop me?”

Felix shrugged his arms and responded, “Nah… I trust you.”

Her eyes widened and she looked away as her cheeks turned slightly red, “Idiot.”

As soon as the red in her face faded, she looked over to him once again and asked, “So, what was this magical sea of stars you guys were talking about?”

“I don’t know… it’s all very blurry, but… it all felt so real. I don’t remember reaching out my hand like they did, but yeah… I still have faint memories. What about you?”

“I… don’t… I remember hearing the waves in my ears, but…” Maria’s eyes furrowed, but she then shrugged, “There’s no point lingering on it. Let’s go get some coffee.”

Felix smiled and nodded, “Yeah, let’s go.”