> "Monsters don't get second chances. Just shorter leashes." – Aira Velmont
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Central Sector – Spectral Order HQ
21:56 PM
Aira Velmont stood at the edge of the crystalline viewing pool, arms crossed, posture sharp enough to cut steel. Reflected in the pool: a boy running through a scorched forest, blood on his face, a cursed brand glowing faintly beneath torn fabric.
"Confirmed Host resonance," the scryer behind her said quietly. "Category... Unknown."
Aira didn't blink. "It surged during proximity to a Rank-B corpse zone. Suggesting he triggered the mark on accident."
"Accidents still kill people, Velmont."
The voice came from behind her—older, grating, annoyed.
Grandmaster Zell.
One of the last living markless. One of the coldest.
He tossed a parchment across the stone slab between them. It bore Raven's makeshift profile:
> Name: Raven Kaizen
District Origin: Zone 5B (Border Slums)
Affiliation: None
Cursed Signature: Unregistered Fang-Type
Status: Active Host
Execution Level: Pending Immediate Review
"Give me clearance," Aira said, voice neutral.
Zell raised an eyebrow. "To execute, or observe?"
"Whichever you'll regret less."
---
Four Hours Later
Outer Ring Forestline
Jin Kuraga whistled as he jogged along the perimeter wall, oversized coat fluttering behind him. His cybernetic arm clicked softly with each step, the mechanical fingers twirling a coin as he moved.
He liked assignments with low expectations. Fewer people to disappoint.
What he didn't like was seeing Aira waiting in the clearing with her arms folded like she was about to bury someone.
"Let me guess," Jin grinned. "You're tracking a feral and I'm your emotional support plushie."
"I'm tracking a new Host," she said, eyes cold.
"Oh." The coin stopped spinning.
He flipped it into the air. It landed on the back of his metal hand—tails. Bad luck.
"Aira. You know I don't babysit rookie killers."
"He's different."
"You always say that. Then the blood happens."
---
They moved in silence—only the sound of boots on frost-covered soil and the occasional flick of cursed energy flaring from Aira's blade nodes. She was wound tight, Jin noticed. Too tight.
"He didn't choose to awaken," she finally said.
Jin glanced at her. "You're hesitating."
"I'm evaluating."
"Same thing when people die slower."
She ignored him.
The tracking glyph flickered near her wrist—then pulsed.
"Found him."
But what they found in the glade wasn't just Raven.
It was his shadow echo—still flickering, still standing watch.
Aira drew her blade. "That's... a summon."
Jin whistled low. "That thing's stitched from specter energy. You sure he's not bonded to something worse than a curse?"
The shadow-beast turned toward them. It didn't attack.
It watched.
Raven wasn't here.
But something else was listening.