[Please, enter your designation.]


    Luca touched the bracelet with his fingers, tapping softly on the metal as he pretended to think. A name had jumped into his mind the moment he learned which squadron he belonged to. It was familiar. He didn’t know if that was a good thing, but he knew he needed the confidence that came with it—even if the situation wasn’t exactly the same.


    [Greetings, Mithras.]


    This could be considered his second step on the road toward a very dark place. But for a long moment, Luca stared at the bracelet, pondering why he didn’t feel any different. Well. The thing didn’t look any different—it still shimmered faintly, its surface smooth. It had accepted his designation on the first attempt—a record, considering how many people had come before him. Ah, no wait, the letters had been changing, right?


    On the other hand, if he focused, he could swear that there was a faint vibration pulsing against his skin. He tapped it gently, and a message popped up.


    [Profile is available.]


    [Additional services are temporally locked.]


    The last line wasn’t a surprise. The ‘camera’ that Lacerta had talked about would only appear during missions, and as a level 0, he didn’t even have access to the inventory yet.


    “Profile.”


    [Name: Mithras     |Level: 0


    Current Rank / Position: Intern (ΔM Sqn)


    Points: 3               |Skill Points: 0


    <u>STATS:</u>


    Strength: 5 | Agility: 6 | Endurance: 5


    Intelligence: 8 | Perception: 7 | Charisma: 5


    <u>TRAITS:</u> Stealthy   |<u>PERKS</u>: Night Vision]


    It was exactly as he expected—and as he already knew. Relaxing his shoulders with a long sigh, he rolled down his sleeve as he had seen Lacerta do earlier. With a simple thought, the text faded from his view. Covering his sleeve with his hand, feeling the pulse better than before, he stared at the air for a moment.


    Now, there was really no turning back.


    A brief smile stretched his lips upwards.


    As if I didn’t already know it…


    Shaking off the thought, he went to his luggage and dragged it to the bedroom. There was a closet half-hidden at the end of the bed, but he had no interest in ordering anything now. After rummaging through his suitcase, he finally unearthed his phone. The screen flickered to life, but the signal bars remained stubbornly empty. Still, it served its purpose: the time glowed on the upper corner of the screen, and some apps worked offline well enough.


    The notes—well, he would be careful about that.


    There were a couple of hours before he had to be at Office D33. Setting an alarm, Luca placed the phone on the bedside table and sank onto the bed. The mattress was firm yet surprisingly comfortable, cradling him just enough to coax his weary body into relaxation. He was so tired. And this bed was the best one he had even laid on. He didn’t think he would fall asleep so quick, so easily, and even so, the tiredness pulled him toward sleep.


    But a good rest didn’t come easily.


    As he fell asleep, he dreamed. The sound of dripping water began from the start–a faint plink echoing from somewhere within the walls. At first, it didn’t matter. The lights flickered at the other side of the windows as the car moved ahead and the radio came online with an unclear song filled with static. But soon, the dripping became more noticeable.


    It wasn’t loud, but it gnawed at the edges of his awareness, refusing to fade into the background.


    And then there was the heartbeat. Not his own—no, this one thudded slower, heavier, resonating deep in his chest like a drumbeat meant for someone—or something—else.


    It felt so cold.


    Rain poured outside, sliding down across the windows.


    The song changed but Luca still was unable to understand the lyrics or even the rhythm.


    Someone –someone familiar was there, on the corner of his eyes. He didn’t know who was. No anymore. Didn’t remember. But he was almost sure that—


    What?


    Beneath it all, the relentless drip, drip, drip.


    When the alarm blared, dragging him to the present, Luca bolted upright with a gasp. His heart raced, adrenaline surging through his veins as reality snapped back into focus. For a moment, he sat frozen, disoriented, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling while the remnants of his dream clung to him.


    Was this a nightmare? Not exactly. But calling it a simple dream…


    Luca rubbed his face, letting out a deep sigh. The only silver lining was despite the unease lingering in his gut, he felt… rested. Physically, at least. Mentally —well, he could be better. He sat still for a moment, one hand going to his arm. The bracelet on his wrist hummed softly, almost imperceptibly, under his fingers.


    Shaking off the last vestiges of sleep, Luca swung his legs over the side of the bed and reached for his phone to turn off the alarm. Two hours had passed, and it was time to start his first day. To face the music, as some people would say.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    His stomach rumbled as if there was no tomorrow.


    Alright. Whatever awaited him at Office D33 was still an hour afar —he could make time for a snack.


    After rummaging through his luggage, Luca pulled on a simple blue jersey and swapped his bathrobe for something more professional but comfortable. With a final glance at the place where the bracelet still clung to his wrist, he picked up a couple of things from his luggage —a bag of sweets, a plain notebook and a pencil, before tearing a piece of paper to write a quick message.


    There had been a lot of black clouds for those who didn’t act properly with the ‘favor’ received. It cost him practically nothing to cover his back against any possible problems that might arise from this front. He left the bag of gummies on the desk with the ‘thank you note’ and left his department with more ease. Now, it was unlikely he would come back to messy sheets, a clogged toilet or worms on his refrigerator.


    As he stepped into the hallway, he noticed movement from the opposite door–a figure slipping in just as quietly. A coworker. A shame they left so quickly.


    Luca took the stairs again, descending into the lobby below. There was no one in front of the building but a sign pointed the path toward downtown. A breeze caressed his cheeks as he followed that lead towards the commercial area, thinking about what he should eat..


    He found a small store in the first block—although the streets here seemed more open, with small green spaces between buildings—where a modest crow had been drawn, a line forming outside its glass doors. He didn’t recognize any of the faces waiting there, but they were no rookies. Their expressions were unreadable, their postures relaxed yet somehow guarded.


    As Luca hesitated, weighing whether to join the queue or explore further for another option (There should be a cafeteria nearby, right?), a cheerful voice broke through the white noise of murmured conversations.


    “Hey, new face! Are you looking for lunch?”


    Luca turned to find a man standing beside him, grinning broadly. He was of average height, with ruffled black hair and an easygoing demeanor that might have seemed friendly in another context. An agent, at least.


    “Yes,” Luca replied, meeting the man’s gaze without flinching.


    “Then let me give you a hand,” the stranger said, extending his own. “Name’s Mars.”


    The designation sent a pang of recognition through Luca’s mind, but he kept his expression carefully neutral. Still, the hairs on the back of his neck prickled as he shook the offered hand. Mars’s grip was icy, colder than any human skin had a right to be. However, it was better than the other agents, so schooling his features into polite indifference wasn’t difficult.


    His level should be lower than Michael or Lacerta.


    “Mithras,” Luca replied simply, offering his chosen designation.


    Mars tilted his head slightly, studying him with a certain intensity. “Ah, Mithras. What a choice.” His grin widened further, revealing teeth that looked just a fraction too sharp. Before Luca could respond, the man gestured toward the store with a flourish. “Shall we?”


    Luca gave a curt nod and followed Mars toward the growing line. As they joined the queue, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being sized up, evaluated—not by Mars alone, but by everyone around them. The older members glanced at him briefly, their eyes lingering just long enough to make him uncomfortable before returning to their hushed conversations as if nothing had happened.


    Someone weaker might have grown tense or sharp, letting paranoia take hold, showing spikes to those they shouldn’t. Or worse, they might have let themselves be pushed away entirely, turning their belly up. But Luca wasn’t weak. He kept his expression neutral and his body relaxed, refusing to give anything away. They weren’t the only ones with experience in hell.


    “So, what brings you to Pendulum?” Mars asked casually, walking next to him with an ease that felt almost like they were already friends. Another one with a good level of charisma, huh?


    “Needed a change,” Luca replied, his voice calm and his response deliberately vague. Then he gave Mars a brief smile. “Heard the pay’s good.”


    Mars chuckled, a rumbling sound with its own peculiar cadence. “Oh, you won’t be disappointed. It’s… different, sure. Maybe even overwhelming, especially at first. But the numbers at the end of the month? They can make it all worthwhile.” His grin widened, a flash of blinding white teeth. “You’ll see soon enough.”


    Luca didn’t reply beyond a simple nod, focusing instead on the menu board above the counter. After choosing a simple option—something familiar—he turned to Mars. “Do they take credit targets here?”


    “Nah. Company gives us points based on rank,” Mars explained, waving a hand lazily. “Use your band to pay.”


    At the front of the line, Luca swiped his wrist over the sleek scanner embedded in the counter. A soft beep confirmed the transaction, deducting 0.1 points, and he moved to collect his order. In a fluid motion, he added three sweets to his tray—only one for himself.


    “We can find a place around the corner,” Mars suggested.


    Luca didn’t respond, simply following Mars to the back of the store where a small seating area had been set up. Tables were scattered haphazardly, some occupied by clusters of people whispering amongst themselves, others left conspicuously empty. The air was thick with the mingling scents of food and something faintly unfamiliar. Yet, the warm red leaves swayed in the breeze, and laughter broke out from time to time, softening the otherwise tense atmosphere.


    As they sat down, Luca handed the second sweet to Mars without ceremony, his expression unreadable. Surprise flickered across the man’s face for just a moment before his grin softened, becoming less predatory and more genuine—or at least, as close to genuine as someone like a veteran could manage.


    “Well,” Mars said, accepting the treat with a slight nod, “can’t say no to free sugar.”


    Tearing open the plastic wrapper of his sandwich, Luca studied Mars with a quick glance, noting the way the man’s fingers curled possessively around the sweet. He must be stronger than I assumed, Luca thought, taking his first bite. Flavor and freshness exploded on his tongue, and he had to resist the urge to moan. This was, without a doubt, the best sandwich of his life. Unable to help himself, he picked up a fry and felt as though he’d discovered a second reason to live right then and there.


    As Luca ate in silence, he couldn’t help but notice how quickly Mars demolished his own meal. The man seemed almost ravenous, tearing into the food with an intensity that bordered on unsettling.


    Soon, it was time for dessert. Mars bit into the sweet Luca had given him, savoring it slowly, letting the flavor linger on his tongue before swallowing.


    “You’ve got a good head,” he murmured, locking eyes with Luca. “Sharing goes a long way around here. Not everyone figures that out so early.”


    Luca met his gaze evenly, refusing to flinch or look away. “Having manners is enough.”


    Mars laughed again, louder this time. “You’re going to need that mindset here.” He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice further, ensuring their conversation remained private despite the hum of chatter around them. “Delta isn’t so bad—at least, not compared to Gamma or Beta. But don’t let the simplicity fool you. Even here, mistakes cost. And trust…” His grin faltered for a split second, something colder and darker flickering in his expression. “…trust is currency.”


    The words hung heavy in the air between them, laden with unspoken meaning. Luca nodded once and returned his attention to the remnants of his meal. Around them, the murmur of conversations continued, punctuated occasionally by bursts of laughter or louder, indistinct talk.


    A breeze slipped through the branches, sending auburn leaves dancing in the air before they drifted to the ground. It was a peaceful place, painted in shades of red and gold.


    “You’ve got a new name now,” Mars said abruptly, breaking the silence. “Make sure to use it.”


    Luca hummed in agreement, his mouth still full of fries. When he finished eating, he stood without a word, gathering his tray and utensils. As he turned to leave, Mars watched him intently, the sweet now completely consumed, its wrapper crumpled carelessly in his hand.


    “See you around, Mithras.”


    It was the island’s version of “good luck.” After all, the dead, the bound, and the enslaved didn’t come back.


    How could he not understand it?


    “See you around, Mars.”