REITENS RECOVERY

The next morning had arrived, and the soft glow of the early sun filtered through the HQ's windows. Ragra was already up, lacing his boots before heading out for a run around the facility. The cool morning air was refreshing, and the rhythmic pounding of his feet against the pavement helped clear his mind.

By the time he returned to his room, his display screen lit up with a notification. It was an update on when and where he was required to give a report on the mission. He exhaled, running a hand through his hair before grabbing a towel. After a quick rinse, he changed into fresh clothes and made his way downstairs to the canteen.

As Ragra walked into the canteen, the warm scent of breakfast filled the air. He spotted Sky and Elza sitting at a table, already eating. Grabbing a plate, he made his way over and sat down with them.

"Morning," he said, stretching his arms before digging into his food.

"You're up early," Sky noted, sipping her drink. "What, couldn't sleep?"

"Just felt like running," Ragra replied between bites. "Figured I'd get a head start on the day."

Elza smirked. "Yeah, because running at the crack of dawn sounds so fun."

"It clears my head," Ragra said with a shrug.

Sky rolled her eyes. "I'd rather sleep in, personally."

Ragra chuckled. "Yeah, I can tell you're not much of a morning person."

Elza laughed. "She nearly tripped walking over here. I thought she was still half-asleep."

Sky groaned. "Okay, I was just a little out of it. Give me a break."

Ragra smirked. "No promises."

Before Sky could protest, Chosen walked into the canteen. Without a word, he grabbed a plate of food and, surprisingly, sat down at their table.

Elza raised an eyebrow. "Look who's finally sitting with us."

Sky grinned. "Guess we're just that fun to be around."

Chosen didn't react. He simply started eating in silence.

The group continued chatting, keeping the conversation light—joking about how bland HQ food was and arguing over who could eat the fastest. Even though Chosen remained silent, he didn't leave, which, in a way, was its own kind of progress.

After finishing their breakfast, the four of them made their way across HQ toward one of the towering buildings at the center of the facility. The halls were busy with agents moving about, some heading to training while others were preparing for their own assignments.

They entered the elevator and rode up to the 16th floor. As the doors slid open, they stepped into a sleek briefing room where Cole was already seated, a tablet in his hand. He looked up as they entered.

"Welcome, guys. Let's try to make this as quick as possible so you can get back," he said, motioning for them to sit. "I've been informed that the enemies you encountered were from TAK. Is this correct?"

"Yes, that's correct," Ragra confirmed.

Cole nodded. "Can you give us any more details about them?"

"They were all Sicarii," Elza added. "And they were skilled. Every single one of them could use Inner well."

Sky leaned forward. "But there was something strange. One of them claimed he used to be an officer here, in the agency."

Cole's expression remained composed, but there was a brief flicker of something in his eyes.

"I didn't think it was true at first," Sky continued, "but once we engaged with him, it was obvious. He was on a completely different level. He made quick work of me and Elza, but… he spared our lives."

Cole raised an eyebrow. "Spared your lives?"

"He said he still has some attachment to the agency," Elza explained. "That's the only reason he didn't kill us."

"Did you get a name?" Cole asked, his tone slightly sharper now.

Elza nodded. "He called himself Tiger."

For the first time, Cole's usually unreadable expression wavered. He kept his composure, but the slight shift in his demeanor didn't go unnoticed.

"Noted," Cole said, tapping something into his tablet. "I'll be sure to report this back to the higher-ups."

He then turned his attention to Chosen. "I've also heard you were very impressive."

Cole glanced at his notes. "You took out three of them by yourself."

Chosen simply nodded, offering no further response.

Cole exhaled. "Alright. That's all for now. You're dismissed."

With that, the four of them stood up and exited the room, making their way back toward the complex. They still had time before any further assignments, so they decided to hang around for a bit before heading into training.

They all knew one thing for certain—after that mission, they had to get much stronger.

"Let's go visit Reiten," Elza suggested.

"Good idea," Sky agreed. She turned to Chosen. "Are you coming?"

Chosen simply nodded.

The four of them made their way to the hospital, located on the outskirts of the Agency. The building was sleek and modern, with tinted glass windows reflecting the morning sun. Inside, the scent of antiseptic filled the air as they approached the front desk.

"We're here to see Reiten," Ragra said to the nurse.

The nurse glanced at her monitor. "Fourth floor, room nine."

They took the elevator up, the soft hum filling the silence between them. As they reached Reiten's room, they pushed open the door—only to freeze at the sight before them.

Reiten wasn't in bed resting. He was on the floor, effortlessly doing one-handed push-ups, his stomach wrapped in bandages.

The three of them stood still, stunned.

"You've got to be kidding me," Sky muttered.

Elza blinked. "Reiten… are you insane? You nearly died last night."

Reiten glanced up mid push-up, then continued as if nothing was wrong. "I know my limits."

Chosen leaned against the wall, smirking slightly, as if he had expected this.

"You should be resting," Ragra said, still trying to process what he was seeing.

Reiten finally stood up, stretching his arms. "I know how to use Inner Control properly."

Ragra raised a brow. "Inner Control?"

Reiten nodded. "It allows me to direct my inner energy to specific areas of my body for faster recovery. It takes a lot of focus, but it speeds up healing significantly."

Sky folded her arms. "That's impressive. I thought that kind of control took years to master."

Reiten shrugged. "It does, but I picked it up pretty fast. I'm well-versed in all three core Inner abilities."

"What are the other two?" Ragra asked.

Reiten chuckled. "You seriously don't know? Well, I guess you did just start using Inner recently."

He held up three fingers. "First, Inner Control—like I just explained. Second, Inner Tracking—it allows you to sense the energy signatures of those around you, even from a distance. And third, Inner Reduction—it lets you suppress your own energy, making it harder for enemies to detect you."

"Makes sense," Ragra said. "I should probably start learning those."

Elza nodded. "They aren't necessary for combat, but they give you an edge."

The five of them stayed in the room for a while, talking and catching up. Reiten was set to be discharged soon, so once he was cleared, they would all head back to the complex together.