Chapter 158: Gift
Chapter 158: Gift
The room remained quiet as Logan stared at the crystal resting on the table. The fragment inside continued its slow, rhythmic folding, collapsing inward and expanding outward in a pattern that defied easy explanation. He felt the pull of it even from where he stood, a subtle vibration that resonated somewhere deep in his chest.Linda watched him closely. Her silver eyes reflected the fading orange light from the window. "You sense more than most do," she said. "That alone confirms my choice."
Logan shifted his weight. He crossed his arms over his chest. "What exactly do you expect from me? I am still a student. This sounds like something for senior hunters."
"You have already proven yourself beyond typical students." Linda set the crystal down again. The motion was precise. "Your performance in the academy entrance events reached certain ears. Including mine. The association needs discretion here. Official teams draw attention. A small group of capable students does not."
Logan considered her words. The unease from the forgotten encounter in the forest still lingered at the edges of his mind. He pushed it aside for now. "My team includes two others. Ethan and Luna. They come with me."
Linda raised an eyebrow. "The spatial specialist and the ambitious one. Acceptable. But the risk is yours to manage."
She walked to a nearby shelf and retrieved a small device. It looked like a compact scanner etched with glowing runes. "This will help map the fluctuations once inside. Do not rely on it completely. The disconnection may interfere."
Logan took the device and slipped it into his pocket. "When do we move?"
"Tomorrow at dawn. The anomaly entrance is located in a restricted zone three kilometers north of the city walls. I will provide coordinates and clearance."
She paused. Her expression softened just a fraction. "Be careful, Logan. Whatever lies there has already claimed seven teams without a trace of violence. That suggests something more insidious than monsters."
Logan nodded once. He turned toward the door. "I will see you at dawn."
"Wait." Linda stepped closer. She placed a hand on his arm briefly. The contact was light but carried unexpected warmth. "If you return with useful information, the association will reward you generously. And I will owe you a favor."
Her silver eyes held his for a moment longer than necessary. Logan felt the weight of her gaze. He offered a small smile. "I will hold you to that."
He left the apartment without further words. The elevator ride down felt longer than it should have. Outside, the evening air carried the faint scent of pine from the surrounding forests. He made his way back to the hotel on foot. The streets of Silverbrook City had quieted with the setting sun. Hunters gathered in small groups near taverns. Their laughter mixed with the clink of weapons and armor.
Back at the hotel, Logan found Ethan and Luna waiting in the lobby lounge. Snow lounged on a nearby cushion, one eye half open. Ethan looked up first. "How did the errand go?"
"Complicated." Logan sat down across from them. He kept his voice low. "We have a side objective now. A spatial anomaly beneath the city. Linda from the association needs help investigating it. Seven teams have gone missing."
Luna set her book aside. Her eyes sharpened with interest. "Spatial anomaly? What kind of disconnection?"