They were now inside Agent Kael's car a sleek, matte black vehicle that looked less like a civilian car and more like something designed for covert operations. The windows were tinted so dark that the outside world felt distant, muted, as if separated by a thin layer of glass and secrecy. The interior smelled faintly of leather and antiseptic, clean and cold, just like him.
Denver sat by the window, her forehead lightly pressed against the glass. The city blurred past in streaks of light and color crowded sidewalks, neon signs, rushing pedestrians who had no idea how close they were to something abnormal, and something dangerous.
In the distance, the WGR complex slowly came into view.
At first, it looked like a massive fortress walls layered upon walls, towering concrete barriers reinforced with steel and surveillance towers. Armed guards stood at every checkpoint, their silhouettes rigid and unmoving, rifles slung across their shoulders. Cameras tracked every passing vehicle, every moving shadow.
"It's like a castle," Denver murmured under her breath.
But as they drew closer, she realized it was more than that.
Behind the fortifications lay an entire city, buildings of various sizes stretched out across the enclosed area dormitories, research facilities, training grounds, medical centers, and administrative towers.
Roads wound through the compound like veins, with armored vehicles and personnel constantly moving. People in uniforms walked in groups, their expressions serious, their steps disciplined.
It felt alive, organized, controlled and at the very center of it all. A single colossal tower pierced the sky.
It was unimaginably tall, its surface reflecting the sunlight like polished obsidian and silver. The structure rose floor after floor, disappearing into the clouds above, easily hundreds maybe thousands of stories high. Unlike the other buildings, it looked almost elegant, like a monument built to defy the heavens.
"That's the core building," Kael said, following her gaze. "The brain of WGR. Every order, every classified decision, every piece of critical information flows through that tower. It's also where the most important people reside, high ranking officials, directors… and even some Paladins."
Denver swallowed something about it made her chest feel tight.
A few minutes later, the car slowed as they approached the main gate. Massive steel doors parted with a deep mechanical rumble, and the vehicle passed through multiple security checkpoints. Scanners swept over the car, blue lights tracing its frame, before finally allowing them inside.
As the gates closed behind them, the outside world felt impossibly far away.
They had arrived at the WGR facility and for Denver, it felt less like entering a hospital… And more like stepping into a cage built for monsters.
They stepped out of the car, and the moment her feet touched the ground, she felt it an invisible pressure pressing against her chest. The closer they got to the main entrance, the more intense it became, like walking into the territory of something far above her.
Guards in dark uniforms stood at every checkpoint, their eyes scanning everything with mechanical precision. Some of them had faint glowing marks on their skin, subtle but unmistakable, they were gift users. And unlike the boy from before, these ones didn't smile.
The massive gates opened silently, revealing a lobby so vast it looked like a cathedral. The ceiling was so high she couldn't even see the top, and holographic screens floated in the air, displaying unreadable data and shifting symbols. People in lab coats, suits, and combat gear moved with purpose, barely sparing her a glance.
"Try not to wander off," Kael said as they walked. "This place isn't forgiving."
She scoffed, but her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag. "You act like I'm a child."
"You act like one," he replied flatly.
She shot him a look, but he was already scanning his ID at a security gate. The barrier dissolved into light, and they stepped into a private elevator.
The doors slid shut with a soft hiss. Inside, the silence felt even heavier, the elevator began to descend fast, too fast.
The digital panel flickered as the numbers dropped: 100… 89… 67… 32…
Denver felt her ears pop as the cabin plunged deeper underground, her stomach twisting as if gravity itself was pressing down on her.
Denver swallowed. "So… where exactly are we going?"
Kael stared at the numbers, his reflection faintly visible on the mirrored wall. "The Diagnostic Wing, and after that…" He paused, as if choosing his words.
"…your evaluation."
Her stomach twisted.
The hum of the elevator grew louder, a low mechanical growl that vibrated through the metal walls. The lights overhead flickered once, then stabilized, casting a sterile white glow over the narrow cabin.
Denver leaned against the wall, crossing her arms. "How deep are we going exactly?" she asked, trying to sound casual, though her voice betrayed a hint of unease.
"Deep enough," Kael replied, his eyes fixed on the panel.
The numbers kept dropping: 28… 12… 5… B1… B5… B12…
"Basement floors?" Denver muttered. "How many basements does this place even have?"
Kael finally looked at her. "Enough to hide things that shouldn't be seen."
She frowned. "That's not reassuring."
The elevator jerked slightly as it passed another level. The air felt colder now, heavier, as if the deeper they went, the less sunlight and people existed down here.
Finally, the panel stopped at B27, a chime echoed through the cabin, then the doors slid open.
Outside was a long corridor, stretching endlessly in both directions. The walls were smooth white metal, lined with glowing blue lines that pulsed faintly like veins. Armed guards stood at every intersection, their eyes hidden behind dark visors. Some of them glanced at Denver, their expressions unreadable.
She swallowed. "This feels less like a hospital and more like a prison."
Kael stepped out first. "Welcome to the lower sectors of WGR."
Denver followed, her footsteps echoing loudly on the polished floor. Every door they passed had a code panel and a red warning label: RESTRICTED, AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY, HAZARDOUS ZONE.
"Is this where you keep people like me?" she asked quietly.
Kael didn't answer right away. He stopped in front of a large door marked: DIAGNOSTIC WING | CLASSIFIED | and placed his hand on the scanner.
After a brief beep, the door unlocked with a heavy click.
He looked back at her. "This is where we find out what you really are."
Denver forced a smile, but her heart was pounding.
"Yeah," she muttered. "No pressure or anything."
The door slid open with a muted mechanical groan.
Inside, the diagnostic wing felt nothing like the rest of WGR. The walls were made of dark glass instead of sterile white metal, reflecting faint blue lights that pulsed rhythmically, almost like a living heartbeat. Cables crawled along the ceiling and floor, connecting to massive machines that hummed in low, steady tones. It felt less like a hospital and more like the inside of a giant brain.
At the center of the room stood a circular platform, surrounded by transparent panels and floating holographic screens filled with scrolling data and complex symbols. Several researchers moved around, checking instruments and murmuring to one another.
Then, a woman with silver hair tied into a neat bun approached them smiling. She looked surprisingly friendly for someone working in such a creepy place.
"Ah, you must be Denver!" she said brightly, waving a hand as if greeting a friend. "Nice to finally meet you. I'm Kiara, Head Researcher of the Curse Diagnostics Division. You can call me Dr. Kiara, or just Kiara if you don't like formalities."
Denver blinked. "Uh… you're way too cheerful for a place like this."
Kiara laughed lightly. "People say that a lot."
She tapped on a floating screen, and several panels rotated toward Denver, showing colorful graphs and glowing symbols.
"This platform will scan your curse. Think of it as a full body MRI, psychological evaluation, spiritual resonance test, and reality distortion analysis all combined into one system."
"…That explanation somehow made it worse," Denver muttered.
Kael stepped aside, arms crossed, watching quietly.
"So," Denver asked, eyeing the platform suspiciously, "how long is this gonna take? Like, an hour? A day?"
Kiara's smile widened. "Weeks. Possibly months."
Denver froze. "Excuse me?"
Kiara clasped her hands behind her back and began explaining, her tone casual but professional.
"Curses are not like diseases or mutations. They don't follow normal biological rules. Each curse is tied to multiple layers of existence your body, your mind, your subconscious, and sometimes even external entities or phenomena."
She flicked her fingers, and a hologram of a human silhouette appeared, layered with different glowing systems.
"First, we analyze biological changes how your cells, nerves, and organs react. Then, we study cognitive effects how your thoughts, memories, and emotions interact with the curse. After that, we measure spiritual and dimensional resonance whether your curse is connected to external forces, alternate spaces, or conceptual entities."
She looked back at Denver, still smiling.
"And finally, we run long term simulations to predict how your curse will evolve over time. Some curses change, grow, split, or even develop consciousness."
"…Develop consciousness?" Denver repeated slowly.
"Mm-hmm! That's why we observe for weeks or months. A curse today might be harmless, but tomorrow it could rewrite reality in a ten meter radius. We can't risk misclassifying you."
Kael added calmly, "A wrong classification means wrong containment protocols. That leads to casualties."
Denver stared at the platform again.
"…You could've just said that."
Kiara patted Denver's shoulder lightly. "Don't worry. You'll be under constant monitoring, and most of the time you can live normally. Think of this as… a very intense checkup."
"That's not reassuring at all."
The transparent panels slid open, inviting her onto the platform.
"Go ahead," Kiara said gently. "The first scan is just to map your baseline. The real testing begins after that."
Denver took a deep breath and stepped forward.
The moment she stood on the platform, faint symbols lit up beneath her feet, slowly rotating like a magic circle. The glass panels closed around her, forming a transparent cylinder.
She glanced at Kael through the glass. "If I turn into some kind of monster, this is your fault."
He replied flatly, "Noted."
Kiara's fingers danced across the controls. "Initiating Phase One. Let's see what kind of curse decided to fall in love with you."
"That wording is also not comforting!"
The machines began to hum louder, and blue light poured down from above, scanning her from head to toe.
Data flooded the screens.
And for a brief moment, the symbols beneath her feet twisted into something darker, something that did not match any known pattern.
Kiara's cheerful smile faded just a little.
"…Oh," she murmured. "This is... Interesting."