Capítulo 10: Chapter 10: Assigned Seeker

I didn't die. I'm alive. Just not kicking. Why? It's because my legs and arms were cuffed on this metallic bed, cold as fuck. I can only move my eyeballs, and by that, I can see monitors beeping next to me, tubes connected to my naked upper body, and something moving at the corner of my eye.

That something moved closer, and I saw a human whose silver eyes were coldly looking down at me. Did I turn into a monster? I can feel my limbs, but I can't see them. What if they turned into tentacles already?

"You've gained consciousness." The guy whose silver long hair was tied in a loose ponytail loomed over me and stated the obvious. After confirming, he straightened his body and fixed his glasses with his middle finger.

I'm not sure if it had a double meaning, but it made me open my lips to retort, but only a single word in a dry voice came out. "…yes."

The guy walked away, mumbling. "That's a relief. I really don't want to cut open your head and study your frontal lobe if you die."

That's a horrifying thing to say to someone who just escaped death. I swallowed twice, still feeling the dryness of my throat, but the icky taste of my stagnant saliva only made it worse. "Where… am I?"

I want water.

"NSA."

Ah, so I'm back here.

"Why… am I here like this?"

"You're being subdued. You're a threat to all Seekers here," the silver-haired guy answered, his voice was distant, indicating that he was far from me. "Based on studies I've run on you, you're able to nullify energy-based forces, magic, elemental, even psychic energy. So, if you walk out there in that state, you're like a vacuum suctioning every ability within a specific range."

I heard some metallic noises, like a scalpel hitting a stainless tray, or maybe just scissors purposely tapping the edge of the table to add suspense to what I'm feeling.

"The only thing that can restrain you is physical restraints. Your ability is formidable, but your body's vulnerable to non-mana weapons," the guy mentioned with amazement. He sounded amused.

But isn't this being too much? If I'm weak to ordinary materials, why do I have to be restrained like an experimental subject ready for dissection? Even if they only tied my hands with a rope on the post of the bed, I don't think I still can escape.

First, that's too bothersome. Second, I'm really weak. I think a long time had passed already, and they didn't even bother to feed me.

"What state am I in?" I asked. The silvered-haired guy approached me again. I moved my eyeballs to the side and watched him check the monitors.

"Code red."

"What does that mean?"

"You're about to snap."

Now, I understand why I'm tied like this. No more questions, I guess. I won't sue them for my human rights.

"Don't worry. You're still under observation, but the worst case has passed. Do you remember what happened to you?"

"I… jumped over the barrier and approached the captain…" I vaguely answered. I'm not sure if I saved him or not, so let's just say it like that.

"You saved him." I blinked. My eyeballs are hurting from looking sideways too long. "You managed to absorb the captain's nightmare and put him to good sleep."

Nightmare. It's what Seekers called when their powers went haywire and they lost control, turning to monsters themselves. But I didn't know that I absorbed it. How? I just… what did I do besides hug him?

I just hugged him, I think. So, does physical connection allow me to absorb someone's power using my abilities?

"Seems like you don't know about your absorption ability." The guy concluded after seeing me lost in thought. I nodded. "I think it's one way of how your ability could work. We've never encountered such an ability before, so there are limited studies about it. But until we're sure that you won't be a harmful Seeker, then the NSA will have someone monitor you."

"Why?" I still wondered why I was brought into the NSA and not at the UAO. Though I don't want to go back to Dr. Four Eyes, I was confused as to why the NSA sent me there if they have their own research facility.

"As I said, until you're no longer a walking ticking timebomb, you'll be under someone's watch and supervision. And until we confirm something, you'll be a Seeker."

Something beeped and another voice echoed in the room, calling out the silver-haired guy. I was left alone, just staring at the white ceiling, counting sheep to fall asleep again. I don't want to think too much about my situation. I'll just go with the flow.

Although mutating still scared me, becoming an awakener taught me that it was inevitable. So is death. I just imagine how brave Seekers are, willing to risk that to preserve peace. Ultimately, when a Minder can no longer help them, they succumb.

That's why Seekers are seen as heroes, not everyone, but almost all of them. It makes me wonder what they were fighting for or amazes me for their conviction.

I spent three days in that white room. Just waking up and drifting back to sleep. Every time I would wake up though, I would notice one of the metal cuffs was gone. To my relief, since it indicates that my condition is getting better.

Tubes on my body were slowly disappearing too, and by the seventh day, I was completely free. I was finally allowed to walk out of that white room. I somehow feel traumatized. Maybe I should ask for counseling once I leave.

My eyes squinted after seeing the outside world after a week. I covered them with my hands and blinked many times to adjust to the glares.

"Mr. Jade Dela Torre."

That voice.

So, he was indeed alive, and maybe obtained an amnesia, since he called me politely. I looked up at Captain Van who stopped a few feet away from me. He was in his usual uniform, tight-fitting upper body turtleneck suit, and black pants and combat boots, covered with a gray trench coat… in this hot weather.

His black hair, a bit longer and unkempt, cascaded on his smooth forehead. He looked vibrant with golden hair but looked hot on black.

What am I saying?

My eyebrow raised unconsciously, scolding myself for thinking nonsense. Claude dropped his gaze, like a scolded puppy. Wait, stop, Jade. Don't find him cute. And why is he acting like that all of a sudden?

"What… do you want?" I asked, taking a few steps back.

Claude sighed and looked at me apologetically. I'm really going to call an exorciser now. "I'm the one assigned to monitor you."

… what?

"I will train you on how to control your ability. So, from now on, you will have to stick to me, Jade. Let's get along."

Uh, yeah. I did not expect this. But what's the worst that could happen? I'll be learning how to properly use my ability, and the eyes of those research maniacs will finally leave me alone. I thought nothing would be worse than losing control, but what the heck?

What is this arrangement?!

"You're telling me I have to stick with you 24/7?!" Yeah, I lost my cool.

Claude grinned. He fucking grinned. I want to smash him. But what the fuck is the reason he's acting like a tamed dog?! Could someone tell me?!