[TIER: UNKNOWN]
Raphael couldn’t stop staring at it. Unknown. He wasn’t sure whether he should feel proud or terrified, probably both.
"How long will this observation last?"
The gray-haired official looked at him and answered with a small smile, his eyes practically screaming, National Asset! or perhaps, I have a promotion!
"Until we have a definitive answer."
"And how long will that take?"
"We don’t know."
Of course. Raphael sighed. The official tapped something on his tablet.
"Which brings us to your temporary supervision."
As he spoke, the doors behind them opened, causing everyone to turn toward the sound. A woman walked into the room.
She looked to be in her late twenties, tall and athletic. She wore a fitted black combat uniform beneath a long gray coat. A silver insignia was pinned near her collar, marking her as an official member of the Awakened Evaluation Bureau.
Her dark brown hair was tied into a neat ponytail, with several loose strands resting against the sides of her face.
Her expression was calm.
She didn’t look like someone who had come to meet an extraordinary awakened individual. She looked like someone who had come to inspect a suspicious package, and her eyes immediately landed on Raphael... the suspicious package.
The official cleared his throat.
"Raphael Matthews, this is Elena Cross."
Elena gave him a small nod.
"Hello."
"Hi."
"Elena Cross is an A-Tier Awakened and a registered field operative of the Bureau."
Raphael’s eyebrows rose. A-Tier. So this was the guard they’d mentioned.
The gray-haired official continued.
"She’ll be assigned to you until your evaluation is complete."
Elena’s expression didn’t change.
"My responsibilities are simple." She looked directly at Raphael. "I’ll monitor your activities, ensure you don’t endanger civilians, report any unusual developments, and protect you if necessary."
"Protect me?"
"Yes." Her eyes moved toward Vanessa. "Although I’m beginning to question whether that’s actually necessary."
"Are you?" Vanessa’s violet eyes narrowed.
Elena looked at her, her blue eyes glowing slightly. "I am."
The two women stared at each other, and the atmosphere suddenly became uncomfortable. Raphael raised a hand.
"Okay." Neither moved. "Can we not do this?"
Both women looked at him, causing him to slowly lower his hand.
"Thank you..."
Elena looked back at the official. "I was told he had a summoned entity."
"Correct."
"I wasn’t told she was capable of producing this much pressure."
Vanessa scoffed.
"This?" Her expression became faintly disdainful. "This is barely a fraction of my power. The mana in your world is too small."
"Interesting." Elena’s eyes narrowed.
Vanessa just looked away. Raphael could practically feel the amusement coming from her.
Please stop provoking the government employee.
Elena approached him, stopping several feet away.
"I need to establish a few things."
"Okay..."
"First, do you have any control over your ability?"
Raphael hesitated.
"I don’t know what my ability is."
Elena stared at him.
"You don’t know?"
"No."
"And your summon?"
Raphael glanced at Vanessa.
"She came from my system."
Elena’s eyebrow lifted.
"System?"
Raphael froze while Vanessa turned toward him. He immediately realized his mistake.
"System... as in the system used by awakened people to classify abilities."
Elena stared at him. Raphael could feel sweat forming on his back.
"Right..."
She clearly didn’t believe him, but she didn’t press the issue. Instead, she began walking around him.
"Have you experienced any unusual symptoms since awakening?"
"No."
"Headaches?"
"No."
"Mana fluctuations?"
"No."
"Hallucinations?"
"No."
"Voices?"
Raphael paused.
"No."
That one was technically true. The system didn’t speak most of the time. It displayed messages. That was completely different; at least, that was what Raphael told himself.
Elena stopped in front of him.
"Any sudden changes in your body?"
"Not that I’ve noticed."
"Hmm."
She pulled out a small device resembling a thin metallic bracelet and activated it. A blue light swept over Raphael.
BEEP!
Elena frowned and moved it closer.
BEEP! BEEP!
Her expression changed.
"What?"
She looked at the device. Then at Raphael.
"Your mana is fluctuating."
"I thought my mana was unmeasurable."
"It is." She looked annoyed. "That’s the problem."
Elena activated the device again, and a holographic graph appeared. The line was moving slowly but steadily upward.
"Your mana output is increasing."
The gray-haired official immediately walked over.
"What?" Elena showed him the graph. "It was lower when he entered the room."
"And now?"
"Approximately twelve percent higher."
"Twelve percent?" Raphael asked, confusion and shock mixing in his voice.
"In the last five minutes."
Raphael’s stomach dropped.
"Is that bad?"
Elena looked at him.
"I don’t know." She lowered the device. "And that’s precisely why I’m staying with you."
Raphael sighed.
"So, you’re basically babysitting me?"
"No." Elena paused. "I’m monitoring a potential catastrophe."
"That’s somehow worse."
Vanessa chuckled.
"Don’t laugh." Raphael looked at her.
"I find your situation amusing."
"Thanks."
"You’re welcome."
Elena looked between them.
For the first time, her expression softened slightly, enough to suggest that she found their interaction strange. Then she turned toward the officials.
"Where is he being transferred?"
"Back to the medical ward for observation."
"Then I’ll accompany him."
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
"So will I."
Elena looked at her.
"I assumed you would."
"Good."
"However, there are rules."
Vanessa’s eyes narrowed. "I don’t recognize your authority."
"I know." Elena’s gaze remained steady. "But you’re in a government medical facility. If you want to remain beside him, you’ll follow the rules."
Vanessa’s hand tightened around her weapon, and the pressure in the room immediately rose.
Oh no.
He quickly stepped between them.
"Everyone." Both women looked at him. "Please."
He pointed toward the door.
"I’ve been dead and resurrected, probably, and tested like a science experiment, classified as an Unknown Tier, and assigned a government guard."
He took a deep breath.
"The last thing I need is two powerful women fighting in a hospital."
They both stared at him for a few seconds. Then sighed.
"Fine." Vanessa looked away. "As you wish, Sovereign."
Raphael froze, while Elena’s eyes immediately snapped toward Vanessa.
"Sovereign?"
Vanessa’s expression remained completely calm.
"Yes."
Elena looked at Raphael, and he looked back at her.
"What exactly does she call you?"
His mind went blank.
Oh, crap.
A translucent window suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Warning.]
[Host’s secret has attracted external attention.]
[Recommendation: Exercise caution.]
You think?
Elena crossed her arms.
"Raphael."
"Yes?"
"There’s something you’re not telling me."
Raphael smiled nervously.
"Probably."
Her eyes narrowed.
"That’s not reassuring."
Vanessa smiled faintly.
For the first time since meeting her, Raphael saw something other than arrogance in her expression. Amusement.
She clearly knew exactly what she was doing, and Raphael had a horrible feeling that his new A-Tier guard was going to make keeping the Throne of Knights secret very difficult.