First Mission? (4)
"That day - 10:00 - Date 20-9-2987
Tamim and Fahim were strolling along.
"I saw some police cars near the Butterfly Lake a while ago, and the place seemed chaotic. I thought it was related to the Soul Sorcerer, but it seems it wasn't because police don't usually work with the Soul Sorcerer. What do you think happened there?" Fahim asked Faria.
"How would I know? That's not my concern," replied Tamim.
"To be honest, being a regular human isn't that safe these days," Fahim remarked.
"Why do you say that?" inquired Tamim.
"I mean, with Soul Sorcerers and soul made a huge impact on normal human lifestyle and now these new superhumans stuff all over the world , normalcy seems uncertain. Most souls aren't harmful, but people are scared of them. I've encountered soul existence in my mini lab a lot, but I've never felt any fear. I wonder how they truly look," Fahim pondered aloud.
"I believe humans fear souls because humans themselves are the real danger. If I may say so, humans are the reason why the world isn't safe. While only 1% of souls can cause significant impact or harm, every human has the capacity to kill. Every individual harbors a potential monster within," Tamim concluded.
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That Day - Inside Nextera Esports
"Wow, that's amazing! You literally used math in the game and wiped the squad from a very long range," Samia praised Faria.
"Yeah, there's a Japanese national player who's able to do that, but seeing someone from our country nail it like that is rare," Fahim chimed in, acknowledging Faria's skill.
"I'm really glad I found you, Faria. You're a top-tier player, but you're not that well-known. Have you thought about doing live streams?" Samia asked.
" Well I used to play for only time pass. I didn't had much interest in this things" Says Faria
Meanwhile, Tamim was lost in thought. "This girl had a fight today, and she seems so composed. Honestly, I can't keep that level of composure. But to be fair, she doesn't seem to conform to typical 'girly' expectations; she's more reserved, not big on makeup, and, most importantly, incredibly skilled at the game. I never expected an under-19 female player to excel so much with a sniper."
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That afternoon, Tamim walked home with Fahim.
"Alright, see you tomorrow. Bye," Fahim waved and headed his way, leaving Tamim alone.
"I wanted to discuss today with her, but she took a taxi. It's clear she wouldn't walk with both of us," Tamim thought to himself as he continued strolling. He stopped at a vending stall and bought a drink called "Rin," taking a sip as he observed Faria stepping out from a nearby store. Their eyes met briefly. Faria finished her shopping and began walking toward Tamim.
"Sorry for today," Faria apologized.
"Sorry? For what?" Tamim was puzzled.
"Everything that happened today was kinda part of my plan," Faria admitted.
"Your plan? What are you talking about?" Tamim questioned.
"When we spoke yesterday, I sensed a recorder placed nearby. It looked the same as any other recorder I found which was clearly a spy cam . I deliberately spoke about Butterfly Lake to lure them there. As I expected, they showed up, providing the police with valuable evidence, thanks to you," Faria explained.
"So, you used me?" Said Tamim
" Yah, kinda. Again sorry for that" Said Faria
"I don't really care as long as I'm alive. But, about the police, how did you know they got information from me? I'm sure you have connections with them," Tamim suspected.
"No, I don't. And don't attempt to inquire further," Faria defended herself.
"Your defense only confirms my suspicion that you're somehow linked to the police," Tamim remarked.
"If that's what you think, I can't do much about it. Here's a SIM for you," Faria handed a SIM card to Tamim.
"A SIM? What do I do with this?" Tamim questioned.
"Keep it in your phone. It's for our private contact. With this, we can text each other without any third-party interference, ensuring our safety," Faria explained.
"Ah, I understand," Tamim acknowledged.
"For now, I'm leaving," Faria said, ready to depart.
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That night - 11:50 PM - Tamim's home
Tamim's phone rang, displaying a call from Faria on the SIM she had provided.
Tamim answered, slightly curious, "Who is this?"
"It's Faria. Listen carefully. The police have located a hideout and are heading there. If you want to join me, meet at Nigah Roads backside as soon as possible. Dress inconspicuously and bring a bag with spare clothes to conceal your identity. I'll wait for 5 minutes, and if you're not there, I'll leave," Faria relayed and abruptly ended the call.
"What was that all about?
Should I go? And where will I find clothes to hide my identity ?" Tamim pondered aloud.
—---
"5 minutes have passed; I guess I'll have to go alone," Faria thought, preparing to leave.
She started walking. After walking a while she looked back and saw Tamim
Tamim in the distance coming toward her.
"You're late, and I won't wait any longer," Faria told Tamim as he arrived.
"You should have given me more time," Tamim retorted.
Faria swiftly created a portal, prompting both of them to step inside.
"It's a train station," Tamim observed.
"Yes, and we'll take the train from here," Faria informed him.
"Wait, if you can create portals, why are we using a train?" Tamim inquired.
"My abilities have limitations; I can only teleport to places my eyes have physically seen," Faria explained.
"Where exactly are we going?" Tamim questioned.
"Greena Forest," Faria replied firmly.
The station's announcement echoed, signaling the imminent departure of the last train to Green Forest Station.
"We need to hurry," urged Faria, leading the way onto the train.
Once inside, they noticed only a handful of passengers scattered throughout the carriages. An old ticket collector approached them.
"Tickets, please," requested the old man.
Faria and Tamim exchanged a concerned glance, realizing they hadn't purchased tickets.
"Oops, I teleported into the train station to avoid the CCTV cameras and forgot about the tickets," Faria mused, inwardly chiding herself.
"We, uh, seem to have misplaced our tickets," Tamim attempted to explain.
"Oh, I understand. You remind me of when my wife and I escaped and boarded a train without tickets. The ticket collector allowed us to travel for free. Don't worry, it's not a problem for you folks," the old man recounted, smiling nostalgically.
"Wait.. It's not what you think. " Tamim interjected.
"Sorry, I didn't catch that. My hearing isn't what it used to be," the old man said.
Faria jumped in, "He said we're fine and will cover the ticket cost."
"Ah, no need. Just wishing you both a safe and happy journey together," the old man said, departing with a smile.
Tamim, perplexed, asked, "What the.. Why did you lie? That wasn't true or even possible."
"I know, but I think it made him happy, and it won't cause us any trouble. At least good for us" Faria justified.
They both sat alone keeping distance.
Sitting apart from each other, Tamim and Faria remained lost in their thoughts as the train journey continued.
"It's already 1:23 am, and it looks like it'll be another 10 minutes. I'm not sure what's going to happen today. I've already taken a beating earlier in the morning, and now I might be heading into a situation that could make things worse. But I've been devising strategies to handle the next fight. Maybe this time, I can defeat those monsters if it comes down to it," Tamim contemplated while seated.
Unexpectedly, the old man appeared again and inquired, "Is everything alright? You both are sitting far apart. Something happened?"
Both Tamim and Faria hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
"We're just trying to keep our distance," Tamim replied.
The old man chuckled, "Ah, keeping a bit of space before marriage is said to be good for a lasting relationship."
"Why did I even say that? Am i stupid? Ah.. This old man is just annoying" Tamim regretted his earlier comment.
Soon after, the train came to a halt.
"Sorry, but we have to disembark now," Faria informed the old man.
"Oh yes, it was a pleasure meeting you both. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together," the old man warmly responded.
"Thank you for your help," said Faria as she stepped off the train.
"Well, we need to head to the Five Mountain Forest, and I can see it from here," Faria remarked.
"It's nighttime, it might be difficult," Tamim cautioned.
"I have X-ray vision, so I won't have any trouble," Faria reassured him.
"Hmm, I think I might have that ability too, but I don't know how to use it," Tamim pondered.
"We don't need X-ray vision at the moment; we need to teleport there. But for that, I need a clear view of the mountain, and this fog is making it difficult," explained Faria.
"What if I teleport you onto that big tree? Will you get a better view from there?" Tamim suggested.
"Unfortunately, my portal ability won't work like that; it would harm the tree and create noise, which might cause issues," Faria explained.
"I can teleport you," Tamim offered.
"Oh, I completely forgot. Yes, please, that would be a great help," Faria accepted.
They both teleported there.
"Finally, I can see the top of that mountain," said Faria.
They both leaped from the tree, and Faria advised Tamim, "Wear clothes that can conceal your identity."
"You don't have any, so why ask me to do that?" Tamim asked, perplexed. As he spoke, Farias dress changed into a dark purple costume that covered her entire body, including her eyes
"I don't need to carry stuff for my portal ability; please change your costume," Faria requested.
Tamim donned a full black costume, along with a black monkey cap and obsidian glasses over his previous clothes.
Faria created a portal to the mountaintop, and both entered. From there, she pulled out her telescope and started scanning the area, spotting some monsters and police engaged in combat. Acting swiftly, she created another portal and vanished there. Before Tamim could react, the portal closed, leaving him surprised.
"What the hell? Where did she go? Did she forget my existence?" Tamim muttered. He noticed the telescope on the ground, picked it up, and zoomed in, spotting a car fleeing from the forest.
Deciding that the main enemy might be escaping, Tamim teleported directly behind the car and attempted to use telekinesis to halt it, but encountered a spiritual force blocking his powers.