"So let's summarize the plan… You'll meet the young man at the time and place you agreed on. Stay where you are and don't move. We'll handle the rest… Simple, right?"
Lina briefly repeated the plan.
We were now inside an old warehouse. Its door and metal roof had been eaten away by rust, and beams of sunlight slipped through the corroded holes above. The openings allowed the remnants of the past days' rain and droplets of dew that had dampened the floor to finally dry.
The air carried the smell of metal and old rotten straw mixed with moisture.
I crouched on a pile of damp hay while listening to Lina explain the plan, pointing to herself and to me as she outlined each of our roles.
"Any updates?"
She then turned to Suleiman, who had just entered through the half-detached warehouse doors whose peeling paint had long surrendered to rust.
"They rejected the evacuation request again."
He closed his phone and slipped it into his pocket. His face looked paler than before, as if he had swallowed something bitter. His expression grew even more unpleasant when a few drops of water fell from the ceiling onto his black suit.
It didn't seem like he liked this place either.
"So? How are we supposed to deal with that grilled kebab?" Lina asked.
"Even though they rejected the request to transfer the mission to another team—and also the evacuation request—at least they approved the use of that."
When Lina heard the words that, her expression instantly changed from annoyance to excitement.
"Are you serious? Can I use it this time?" she asked, clenching her fists eagerly.
"No."
The answer came immediately and decisively.
He didn't bother arguing with her or responding to her pleading attempts to convince him. Instead, he turned toward me while I was still sitting on the pile of hay.
"Let's begin the first lesson."
He raised two fingers.
"Some people awaken abilities because of their sensitivity to an energy called Aetherion. Because the types of abilities vary greatly, they were placed under two primary classifications from which all other types branch out.
"The first are Physicals.
The second are Psychics."
He let out a sigh, then gestured toward Lina beside him.
"For example, Lina is a Physical type. I believe you've already experienced her ability yourself. As for the Psychic type… you've met one before."
Right.
I had seen her face melt before my eyes like candle wax, and her voice had changed as well.
But when had I met someone of the other type?
"Oh! You mean Mr. Astral Projection?" I clapped my hands in realization.
"Yes. Do you know what classification your ability belongs to?"
He paused and looked at me for a long moment, as if he wanted to say something but decided not to.
"I don't even know what my ability is yet."
I knew he wanted to ask again about the faceless monster and how it disappeared. But if I had the answer, I wouldn't have come to them.
"The first lesson will end once we discover your ability."
He continued,
"Every ability has conditions for its use… or a price. They vary greatly depending on the type. For example, a telepath might suffer from severe headaches."
I glanced at Lina. I had realized her ability involved disguise and changing faces.
But what was the price?
When she noticed my gaze, she smirked.
"Curious about the price?"
A bitter smile appeared on her face as her fingers brushed over the scar that covered half her face and distorted it.
"Isn't losing the ability permanently punishment enough for me?"
My head lowered as guilt pricked my chest.
"Sorry."
I felt like my curiosity had gone too far.
"S-so… what about the astral projection guy?" I asked, unable to suppress my curiosity.
"…Just as there are abilities that shouldn't be known because they could harm their owner, there are prices that should never be revealed either."
"Do you mind if I ask about your ability?"
"I don't mind. My ability isn't exactly a secret. It's better if you see it for yourself."
As he said that, his eyes turned milky white, completely devoid of pupils.
Then he collapsed to the ground.
"Wait—?!"
Contrary to what I expected, his body never hit the floor.
Because there was no body there at all.
'Where did he go? How did he do that?'
I turned my head left and right, searching for the man who had been standing in front of me just a moment ago and had now vanished without a trace.
"I'm here."
The sudden voice behind me made me jump.
"My ability allows me to merge with shadows."
Wow.
What kind of cheat ability was this?
Was this even real? It felt like something straight out of a fairy tale hero.
My mouth fell open in a wide O.
"As for the price… or condition in my case, I can only use it when I'm asleep."
Heh… so the world really was fair.
There was no such thing as something perfect after all.
"If that's the case… how do you use it while you're asleep?"
"You could say I… adapted it."
"I can use it when I reach a state between consciousness and unconsciousness."
"H-how do you do that?"
"By depriving myself of sleep for at least two or three days."
He said it with a bitter tone.
'Oh… so that's why.'
I looked at his bloodshot eyes and the dark circles beneath them.
My mouth slowly closed.
"I'm sorry… I didn't realize it was that bad," I whispered, suddenly feeling small in front of these people.
"It's fine," he replied dryly.
What about me?
That was what I wanted to ask.
But something inside me hesitated.
If I found out what my ability was… what would be the price I'd have to pay?
Honestly, I didn't want to know.
But I didn't have any other choice.
"Now…"
His cold voice cut through my thoughts.
"Close your eyes."
I followed his instructions.
"Breathe. Relax. Don't think about anything."
My mind was full of chaotic thoughts crashing like ocean waves. But as I listened to his voice and followed his instructions, those thoughts slowly drifted away and disappeared.
"Feel the Aetherion flowing in your blood. It's like the feeling of opening a refrigerator door in the middle of summer."
What kind of comparison is that?
I focused on the sensation, trying not to think too much about his strange metaphor.
One second… two…
How much time had passed?
I frowned, and Lina immediately noticed.
"Did you feel anything?"
Her voice snapped me out of my concentration.
But…
"No… nothing."
"It doesn't matter. You might not be able to feel it immediately. Sometimes it takes time," Suleiman said, trying to soften my disappointment.
"That's all for today. We need to prepare for tomorrow."
He glanced at the watch on his wrist and quickly dragged his feet toward the warehouse exit—
or rather, escaped from it.
"Do you think I'll succeed? Or maybe… I'll get a useful ability?"
The thought of having something useful—something like Superman—filled my mind.
"Why do you need to be useful?" Lina tilted her head and smiled mockingly.
"Isn't it enough to survive until the next day?"
She winked at me before heading toward the car.
She's right.
Being more useful probably meant facing greater danger.
I'd rather remain useless.
All the way home, I kept thinking about the price.
Would I lose my appearance?
My sleep?
Or maybe something that should never be spoken about…
We exchanged phone numbers, and Suleiman—my leader and teacher now—told me to call if anything unusual happened.
The rest of the day became mental preparation for tomorrow's bait.
The thought of meeting the burning entity again sent chills through my limbs.
My inability to feel the Aetherion was a serious problem for tomorrow's encounter.
I knew it could be a trump card if something unexpected happened.
So I tried all night to feel anything—
but failed.
And the appointed time was drawing closer…