Chapter 3 – Interrogation

  Oscar’s eyes slowly opened.

  The first thing he noticed was the cold weight around his wrists.

  Metal.

  He lifted his hands slightly and heard the chains rattle.

  “Chains?”

  Instinctively, Oscar tried to activate his core.

  “ARGH!”

  A painful shock surged through his body the moment the energy reached the restraints.

  “I wouldn’t try using your core.”

  Oscar’s head snapped toward the voice.

  The man slowly walked into view and sat down across from him.

  He looked completely calm.

  One leg crossed over the other. Hands folded together.

  Yet the pressure surrounding him hadn’t changed.

  Even without releasing his core, the man felt overwhelming.

  Like an insurmountable wall.

  Oscar raised his chained hands slightly in mock surrender.

  “You chained me.”

  The man seemed mildly amused.

  “If you had seen the state your core was in, you would’ve done the same.”

  “Take them off,” Oscar demanded.

  “Not yet.”

  Oscar narrowed his eyes.

  “Then why save me?”

  The man leaned back slightly.

  “Two reasons.”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  He raised two fingers.

  “First, your core doesn’t make any sense.”

  A small pause.

  “Second… curiosity.”

  Oscar wasn’t sure how to respond.

  The man leaned forward slightly.

  “Cores don’t typically become unstable at such an early age. They might be hard to control, but yours is different.”

  His gaze sharpened.

  “Your core isn’t corrupted.”

  He paused.

  “It’s artificial.”

  Silence filled the room.

  “I know,” Oscar said quietly.

  The man stood up.

  Without warning, he unlocked the chains binding Oscar’s wrists.

  The restraints fell away with a metallic clink.

  Oscar flexed his hands after the chains fell.

  “Why did you do that?”

  “I don’t sense hostility from you,” the man replied calmly.

  He studied Oscar carefully.

  “Besides, I can tell you’re aware of your situation.”

  Oscar couldn’t deny that.

  If this man wanted him dead, he wouldn’t still be alive.

  “So,” the man said, crossing his arms.

  “Who are you?”

  Oscar looked toward the ceiling.

  “My parents called me Oscar… before they were killed.”

  The man nodded slightly.

  “My name is Haruto.”

  He paused briefly.

  “I’ve been a Guardian longer than you’ve been alive.”

  Oscar froze slightly.

  Haruto.

  He had heard that name before.

  Stories whispered inside the facility.

  A Guardian who had caused one of the directors endless problems.

  Oscar’s expression changed.

  “So you know my name?” Haruto asked.

  “I’ve heard… bits and pieces about you.”

  Haruto laughed quietly.

  “So I’m famous over there.”

  Oscar noticed the shift in his tone.

  He’s treating me like a kid.

  “Where are you from, kid?” Haruto asked.

  Oscar looked back at the ceiling.

  “…Nowhere you’d recognize.”

  “That’s not an answer.”

  “It’s the only one you’re getting.”

  Haruto sighed softly.

  “Look, kid. I can tell you were abused there. Any information helps.”

  He paused.

  “I’ll ask one more time.”

  The air in the room changed.

  Oscar felt a faint surge of pressure fill the space.

  Haruto released just a sliver of his core energy.

  Even weakened, Oscar’s instincts screamed at him.

  If Haruto wanted to…

  He could crush him instantly.

  “I came from a facility,” Oscar said.

  “What kind?”

  Oscar tensed as the memories surfaced.

  “…An experimental one.”

  Haruto didn’t interrupt.

  Oscar continued.

  “They called the subjects ACP.”

  A small pause.

  “I was ACP-1.”

  For the first time, Haruto looked surprised.

  “ACP-1…”

  Oscar gave a weak laugh.

  “Apparently I was their ‘first success.’”

  Haruto studied him again.

  More carefully this time.

  The unstable energy flowing through Oscar’s body twisted unnaturally.

  Artificial.

  Dangerous.

  But beneath all that chaos…

  Haruto frowned slightly.

  “…Your core signature feels… layered.”

  There was something familiar.

  A faint echo of energy he had only felt once before.

  On a certain night…

  “…By the way, old man,” Oscar said.

  “Even though I’m their ‘first success,’ they said we were too humane.”

  Haruto’s eyes narrowed.

  “What do you mean?”

  “They started working on a different kind of ACP. I don’t know what it is.”

  Haruto’s thoughts sharpened instantly.

  Interesting.

  “Well,” Haruto said.

  Oscar frowned.

  “Well what?”

  Haruto slowly walked toward the door.

  “There is only one place that might be able to fix your core.”

  Oscar watched him carefully.

  “And where exactly would that be?”

  Haruto opened the door.

  Sunlight spilled into the room.

  “…Aegis Academy.”