Chapter 18 - Welcome to the Field

"So this is what a hunter hub looks like," I muttered as I stepped into the central base. Rows of desks, humming monitors, and a handful of bored-looking hunters sprawled across the common area. Some sharpened their weapons; others scrolled lazily through data tablets like it was just another Monday.

Except, you know, these people fought monsters for a living.

Elren walked beside me, perfectly composed, while I tried not to visibly vibrate with nerves.

Okay, Ava, play it cool. Don't let them see you panic. Smile. Smirk. Pretend you're a pro. That's what protagonist would do, right?

"Do I look like I belong here?" I whispered to Elren.

"Obviously."

Oh. Okay. Well, I was fishing for comfort, but sure. I'll take it.

I caught snippets of hushed conversations as we passed by.

"That's her, right? The outworlder?"

"No ledger? No record? And they let her in?"

"Heard she's Elren Vayne's partner now. That guy never takes partners."

"You think she'll survive?"

"You think she'll last a week?"

Oh, wonderful. Nothing like casual death pool betting to make a girl feel welcome.

Vance met us near the mission board, looking far too satisfied with himself.

"Your first assignment," he said, handing me a data pad. "Active Grave surge on the outskirts of Sector Five. Immediate response required."

I skimmed the details. "Conveniently urgent, huh?"

"They come when they come."

"Oh, sure. Totally random that my first assignment is flagged as urgent right after I signed up."

"The system wants to see what you can do."

"Oh, I figured."

"You'll be under live observation. Try not to die."

"Wow, your concern is heartwarming."

Vance didn't bother responding.

Elren only glanced at me and said, "Ready?"

"Obviously," I shot back, a little too quickly.

Nope. Not ready. But whatever. We're rolling with it now.

-----

The trip to Sector Five took nearly two hours by armored transport. I spent most of it glued to the window, watching the city shift from gleaming towers to weathered outskirts where rust claimed the edges of buildings.

"You know," I said, gesturing at the scenery, "I expected more flying cars or floating platforms or something."

"Not cost-efficient."

"But it would be so cool!"

"Irrelevant."

"Wow, you really know how to kill dreams, huh?"

"Obviously."

I leaned back, arms crossed. "So, tell me. How dangerous is this Grave surge?"

"Manageable."

"Manageable like a house cat or manageable like a house fire?"

"Somewhere in between."

"That is the worst possible answer."

"Correct."

"You know you could at least lie to make me feel better."

"I don't lie to you."

Oh. Oh, no. Why does that hit harder than it should?

I scowled and turned back to the window, determined not to read too much into it.

"Do you think they're sending us to test me?"

"Obviously."

"Do you think they're hoping I'll fail?"

"Possibly."

"Wow. Love that for me."

"They will be disappointed."

Okay, stop. Why does that sound so absolute coming from you?

"Do you always talk like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like you already know the outcome."

"Because I do."

"Humble much?"

"Obviously."

I groaned, but a smile tugged at my lips anyway.

-----

The mission site was a crumbling warehouse, half-collapsed with steel beams poking out like skeletal ribs. The air was thick with the faint static hum of a Grave presence.

Operators patched into Elren's comms immediately.

"Hunter Vayne, proceed with caution. Subject Lin is priority observation."

"Understood."

"We will monitor her performance directly."

"Obviously."

That's getting really unfair, you know.

-----

We moved through the ruins, Elren leading, his steps silent and precise. I followed, pulse racing, hands clammy around the grip of my blade.

A faint ripple in the air flickered near the broken pillars. The Grave shimmered into view, its limbs twisting unnaturally, its eyeless face tilted toward me as if it could smell something only I carried.

"Okay. Okay. It's fine. It's just one. I can handle this. I have training. I have Elren. I have sarcasm. I'm unbeatable."

"Stay close," Elren said.

"Obviously."

"Don't push too far."

"I make no promises."

The Grave lunged, faster than I expected. Elren moved like a shadow, intercepting it with brutal precision, his blade slicing through its clawed arm.

"You're not giving me much room to shine here!"

"Obviously."

Okay, now he's doing it on purpose.

I darted in, aiming low, managing to slash the Grave's leg. It hissed, twisting unnaturally, trying to grab me. Elren drove it back, leaving openings for me to strike again.

The operators kept giving him orders to pull back, to let me engage more directly, to test my limits.

Elren ignored half of them.

"You know they're probably screaming in their headsets right now, right?"

"Obviously."

"You're ignoring them."

"Obviously."

"You're going to get in trouble."

"Correct."

"I appreciate the loyalty, but this is borderline reckless."

"Correct."

"You really can't be swayed, huh?"

"Obviously."

Okay, I get it. You win. I'm blushing now. Are you happy?

I swung hard, my blade cutting into the Grave's torso as Elren pinned it from behind, slicing through its core.

The creature screeched before dissolving into static dust.

I doubled over, panting, every muscle in my body trembling.

"That was manageable?" I gasped.

"Obviously."

"You're unbelievable."

"Obviously."

Okay, I need to install a sarcasm filter on this guy.

Elren reached out and steadied me as my knees buckled.

"Steady."

"I'm fine."

"Obviously not."

"Don't start."

"Obviously."

I laughed despite the burn in my chest.

"I can still hear the operators trying to get your attention."

"I turned them off."

"Oh. Well. That's… probably a crime."

"Obviously."

I shook my head, but the grin stayed.

Maybe being in this cage won't be so bad. Maybe with him, I can make it my own.

Elren simply steadied me, his gaze as calm as always.

"Let's go home."

"Obviously."