"We were lucky," Jackie muttered as a standby medic finished bandaging him, waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
Adam turned toward Beth, his expression serious. "The wolf had an Ability." He quickly recounted everything he experienced while trapped under the wolf's power.
The rest of the group listened in horrified silence.
Jackie grimaced. "Guess it figured Adam was the stronger one, so it used its Ability on him." He gave a pained chuckle. "Tsk, shouldn't have underestimated me."
Sarah clenched her fists tightly, a heavy thought weighing down her mind.
Would I have survived against it?
The answer was painfully clear: No.
Tia looked moments away from a complete breakdown, her emotions swinging between panic and exhausted relief. Peter simply stared at the ground, lost in thought.
Arnold rubbed his chin, his voice low. "The worst-case scenario's starting to play out. It's not just humans gaining Abilities."
Beth nodded grimly. "We assumed animals would only develop enhanced strength and intelligence... but it's worse." She pulled out her phone, dialing quickly. "Still, better we learned it now than later."
She glanced back at the squad. "You will all rest for two weeks before resuming any operations."
No one argued. They just let out quiet sighs as the ambulance finally pulled up, its red and blue lights painting the battered scene in color.
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Adam slowly wiped a glass, absentmindedly listening to the low murmur of conversation from the few patrons still lingering at their tables.
The bar was open, though it felt quieter than usual.
Sarah moved around, wiping down a recently vacated table as another group of drunken regulars stumbled out, wobbling down the street.
Adam sighed to himself, deep and tired.
If it had been anyone else besides me and Jackie who met that wolf...
He couldn't even bring himself to imagine the outcome.
Another sigh slipped out.
Sarah approached, drying her hands on a rag. "Hey, that's the twenty-fifth time you've sighed today."
Adam glanced at her, rubbing his face. "Was it really that much?"
Sarah gave him a deadpan look. "No. I guessed."
Adam chuckled under his breath. "How's Ben? I haven't seen him around lately."
Sarah leaned on the bar, wiping down the counter. "He's doing fine. Still going to school, somehow. Especially now with the world gone crazy."
Adam fell quiet, lost in thought for a moment. Then he looked back at her and asked, "I never did ask. What school were you at?"
Sarah paused, giving him a look before answering, "Saint Mary College. Private school. I was in my third year, studying Computer Science. Got in on a scholarship."
Adam blinked in surprise. "Wow. That means you're really smart."
Sarah narrowed her eyes. "What's that supposed to mean? Do I look stupid?"
Adam quickly waved his hands. "No, no! I meant— you've always got that serious look. Hard to imagine you hanging out with other students, that's all."
He sighed, leaning against the bar. "I was in college too, you know. Wasn't a star student or anything, but I was doing okay. I was supposed to graduate this year." He gave a short, bitter laugh. "Now here I am, running my old man's bar."
Sarah was quiet for a moment before speaking. "I was the top scorer at my college."
Adam stared at her. "Hey, now you're insulting me."
Sarah glared. "You started it."
Adam exaggerated a bow. "Fine, fine. My bad."
Sarah rolled her eyes and turned away.
After a pause, Adam asked, "Do you have any plans to go back and finish your studies?"
Sarah thought deeply for a few seconds. "I don't know," she answered honestly. "The world's getting worse. I don't think going back to school will help as much as what we're doing right now."
Adam watched her quietly. "Maybe. Or maybe the world will start changing for the better."
"Let's hope for that," she said, and walked off to clean another table.
Adam watched her for a second before sighing again.
I'm definitely not telling her I thought she was still in high school when we first met.
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It was early morning when Adam was jolted awake by the sharp ring of his phone.
Groggy and annoyed, he squinted at the screen—Beth.
That woke him up fast. He sat up immediately and answered. "Hey, Beth. What's up?"
There was a faint sound of her talking to someone else in the background before her voice focused on him. "Where are you right now? Are you free later?"
Adam rubbed the back of his head, thinking.
The bar only opens at night...
"Yeah, I'm free. Why?"
Beth lowered her voice slightly, serious. "One of Division 0's higher-ups is in the city. They want to meet you."
Adam blinked, surprised. "Should I bring anyone else?"
There was a short pause. Then Beth said, "Bring Sarah. They might bring up a different topic too. I'll call you again later. Be ready."
The call ended before Adam could ask any more questions. He stared at the screen, puzzled.
Sarah too?
He couldn't imagine what would interest Division 0 about her.
Still half-dazed, Adam shot Sarah a quick message. After that, sleep was a lost cause. Might as well grab something to eat, he thought.
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Afternoon. Division 0 Wist City Branch Building.
Adam and Sarah arrived at the gray, utilitarian building, exchanging polite nods with the front desk receptionist as they made their way to the second floor.
Beth was already there, waiting by an open door.
Inside the room, two strangers sat on a sofa—an old man with the sharp, intelligent gaze of a scientist, and a young woman who looked like a strict secretary, her posture rigid and formal.
The old man rose to his feet smoothly. His presence felt heavier than his frail frame suggested.
"Good afternoon, Weilder Sayer and Weilder Wells" he greeted.
Adam and Sarah stand in confusion at the word.
Weilder?
The scientist smiled at their confusion, then began speaking with a calm, almost amused tone.
"The River Kingdoms Confederation's research on abilities has finally come to fruition. Although, of course, it's still early in the process, and much of it remains to be contradicted. We've officially coined the term Weilder to refer to all human Ability users. Naturally, other countries have their own terms for them."
The old man chuckled to himself, as if reflecting on the diversity of terms. Adam raised his hand, curiosity evident in his eyes.
"What do the other countries call them?"
The old man grinned, clearly enjoying the question. "In the Axia Dynasty, they call you Awakened. Moros Empire prefers Chosens, as in 'Chosen by the Emperor'. Strange bunch, I know. The United Freedom Federation and Beru Republic both go with Supers, as in superpowers—or superheroes, as they like to think of it."
Still puzzled, Adam asked, "Why Wielder?"
The old man's grin widened, satisfied with the question. "Wielders—as in Ability Wielders. We believe that abilities are foreign in nature. An extension, like a prosthetic. The Tide, as we called it, was not a natural evolution but rather a wave of alien energy that granted you unnatural powers. Unlike the Axia Dynasty, which believes Abilities were innate and simply awakened, we theorize the Tide gave Abilities based on one's strongest desire at the moment of exposure—whether that desire came from impulse, trauma, unreachable goals, or even mundane wishes. Like yearning to soar through the skies... and gaining the ability to fly."
Adam and Sarah listened, stunned by the revelation.
Before they could ask another question, the secretary cleared her throat, causing Dr. Miller to snap back to the present. Realizing he had strayed from his main point, the old man chuckled lightly.
"My apologies," he said, refocusing. "I haven't introduced myself. I am Dr. Alexander Miller, director of Division 0 and a representative of Division 1. You may call me Dr. Miller." He gave them both a measured look. "I'm here to gather firsthand insight on the subway station wolf—the one with the Ability. We've already interviewed Weilder Laderik yesterday, and now we wish to hear your side, Weilder Sayer."
Adam glanced at Beth, who gave him a small nod, signaling him to proceed. "Alright," Adam said, his voice steady. "Where do you want me to start?"
"Start from the beginning," Dr. Miller replied. "Before you arrived at the station."