Chapter 13 - Government Dogs and Glorious Coffee

Two days passed. Two peaceful days of drills, coffee, and me finding increasingly creative ways to test Elren's patience. But today—today was different.

They finally came.

A black government vehicle pulled up outside our training facility. Four people stepped out, all in sleek uniforms with sharp edges and colder expressions. I knew immediately who they were.

System Agents.

"Ava Lin?" The leader, a woman with silver hair and a no-nonsense stare, addressed me directly.

"The one and only." I offered a mock salute. "And you are?"

"Agent Draven. We're here to conduct your evaluation."

"Oh, good. I love pop quizzes."

"Elren Vayne." Draven turned to him. "You'll step aside for this."

"I won't."

"Your assignment was observation, not obstruction."

"You're free to proceed. I won't leave."

Draven's jaw tightened but she didn't argue further. Apparently even system agents knew not to push Elren when he got that particular glint in his eyes.

Oh, he's serious about this. I love that for me.

"Follow us."

They led me into a portable examination unit, sleek and sterile, humming with quiet technology. I sat in the chair they indicated, crossing my legs like I was settling in for afternoon tea.

"What's the first test? DNA? Blood? Psychic scans? Will you ask me deeply philosophical questions about the nature of existence?"

"We'll start with resonance scans."

"Sounds boring."

"Try to remain still."

"Can I make sarcastic comments while I'm still?"

Draven did not answer.

The scan device activated, a soft hum resonating through the chair as light passed over me. I glanced at Elren, who stood nearby, arms crossed, watching the process with his usual unreadable expression.

"So how does this work? Do you scan my soul? My timeline? My deeply repressed desire for a nap?"

"Your resonance frequency will indicate whether you're destabilizing."

"How exciting."

"So far, you're unusually stable."

"Thank you. I credit my stability to excessive caffeine and pure stubbornness."

"You should not be adapting this quickly."

"Everyone keeps saying that. Maybe I'm just built different."

"Your ledger-null status hasn't shifted. That is... concerning."

"Concerning for you or for me?"

"For both."

"Ah, shared anxiety. Lovely."

The next test involved a memory resonance scan. I was instructed to recall my earliest memory in this world.

Well, that would be the moment I woke up in a dusty back alley with a monster chasing me. Good times.

"Your outworlder signature is stable. No signs of fracture."

"Again, everyone keeps expecting me to break. You know, this is starting to feel personal."

Draven studied me like I was a glitch she couldn't debug. "You don't exhibit the expected deterioration patterns."

"Sorry for disappointing your data sheets."

"We need to conduct field resonance trials."

"You want to throw me at another Grave?"

"Not throw. Monitor."

"Oh, you mean like how you monitored the last one?"

"That incident was an outlier."

"I'm starting to think outlier is just your fancy way of saying 'oops.'"

Elren finally spoke. "She won't go without me."

"Her resonance will be compromised by your proximity."

"Adjust your parameters."

Draven stared at him. "You're unusually protective."

"She's under my jurisdiction."

"She's under the system's jurisdiction."

"Try to take her alone. See what happens."

Oh, that sounded like a threat. Nice.

Eventually, they agreed. Elren would accompany us to the designated field site, a low-threat zone where a dormant Grave signature had recently surfaced.

On the way, I glanced at Elren. "So, you really weren't going to let them drag me off solo?"

"No."

"Because you're contractually obligated to babysit me?"

"Because you're not expendable."

Oh. Okay, I wasn't ready for that answer. Noted. File that under 'things to emotionally unpack later.'

When we arrived, the agents set up a perimeter and activated containment beacons.

"Approach the resonance point," Draven instructed. "We'll monitor your readings."

"What happens if the Grave activates?"

"You run."

"Lovely."

I stepped toward the designated marker, the ground vibrating faintly beneath me. My pulse picked up, but I kept my breathing steady.

Okay, Ava, you can do this. Just walk slowly. Observe. Don't panic. You're the queen of surviving ridiculous situations. This is fine. This is totally fine.

The Grave materialized—a weaker one this time, barely formed, more shadow than substance. It shifted toward me but didn't immediately attack.

Okay, progress! Maybe this one just wants to chat.

The resonance scanners beeped rapidly.

"Her signature is spiking!"

"Why? I'm not doing anything!"

The Grave shuddered, its form twisting as if reacting to something inside me.

"Pull her back!"

"No! Let me try something!"

I raised my hand, not in defense, but in curiosity.

Why are you drawn to me? What do you see?

For a brief moment, the Grave pulsed—a beat, like a heartbeat—and I heard something faint, like a whisper in a language I couldn't understand.

"Ava! Step back!"

The Grave surged suddenly, but Elren was faster. He yanked me away just as the agents fired their containment beams, snapping the creature into temporary stasis.

Draven rounded on me. "What were you thinking?"

"I wanted to understand why they keep coming for me!"

"You could've been killed!"

"But I wasn't."

Elren placed himself between me and the agents, his presence sharp, protective.

"Enough."

Draven glared but eventually signaled the team to stand down.

"Your resonance is growing stronger. That's... problematic."

"Problematic for you or for me?"

"Both."

"You really need to expand your vocabulary."

"We'll be in contact."

When they left, I finally exhaled the breath I didn't realize I was holding.

"They're going to keep coming, huh?"

"Yes."

"Good. Let them. I want answers."

"And what will you do if you don't like the answers?"

"I'll keep asking until I get better ones."

Elren gave me a look—a mix of resignation and quiet admiration.

"You're persistent."

"Correct."

"Your coffee will be cold."

"Not if Gloria has anything to say about it."

We returned to our apartment, the weight of the day still clinging to me. As I brewed our usual cups, I glanced over my shoulder.

"Hey, Elren."

"Hm?"

"Thanks for not letting them take me."

"You're not easy to replace."

"Is that your way of saying you'd miss me?"

"Possibly."

Progress. Definitely progress.