The first thing he felt was pressure. Then soreness and aching throughout his entire body.


    His ribs throbbed with every breath, like someone was beating it with a hammer.


    Alexander opened his eyes to a familiar wooden roof. It was dark, except for the few rays of sunlight that shined through the cracks.


    He was alive.


    It shouldn''t have been possible—or at least, he thought it wasn''t.


    He heard some shuffling besides him, then came a voice, "It''s about time."


    Alexander breathed a sigh of relief as he heard Tera''s voice.


    "How long-," he coughed, "was I out?"


    "About a week," she said, "You were unconscious. Convulsing, and breathing irregularly. We thought you wouldn''t make it."


    "Shouldn''t have."


    "Don''t say that."


    He winced as he tried to sit up, his muscles screaming at him. He felt his bones creak, and crack. His body had healed fast, but it also healed wrong, he could feel that his bones weren''t in place.


    He felt the bandages wrapped all around his body like a cocoon.


    The Corruption throughout his body had dulled to a low hum. The Aether in his core circulated quietly. They were separate, though barely. It seemed that his body had naturally stabilized itself out of desperation.


    Tera''s voice broke through his thoughts, "The World Authority is here. They want to ask you some questions."


    Alexander didn''t respond.


    "Look, you have to leave this place," Tera spoke, this time with worry in her voice, "You know what the World Authority does to hybrids. They disappear. That''s why you have to leave, before the World Au-"


    The door to the shack was opened, interrupting Tera.


    A man stepped in, clearly not belonging to the Wastelands. His dark coat was too clean, it was clearly tailored—not scavenged. Reinforced on his shoulders was the Word Authority''s insignia. 7 towers, rising above the sun.


    His boots were spotless, almost shiny if not for the dust from the Wastelands.


    His hair was groomed, and his expression was natural. His eyes were scanning every part of Alexander. A data pad clung to hand like a parasite.


    He didn''t move like a soldier; he moved like someone that never had to.


    Two guards stood outside the door, still as a statue. They stood with their sleek, black plating reinforced armor. Their helmet visors segmented like insect eyes.


    Each guard carried their own Aether-Pulse rifle, but their real weapons were their bodies. They always had enhanced reflexes, stabilized cores and moved with almost no wasted movement.


    Alexander could feel them tracking each and every twitch of his muscles.


    The agent adopted a soft smile when he spoke, "You''re awake. That''s good. We weren''t sure if you were gonna make it."


    His tone was friendly and soft.


    "Our scanners picked up some… unusual energy spikes. The ones we see in most Forgers. "


    Alexander said nothing.


    "Now, this wouldn''t be unusual on its own, but the problem is that your readings indicate that you''re unawakened."


    Tera spoke up, "I told you—he just overexerted himself during the fight. That''s all."


    The agent didn''t even glance at her, "Overexertion doesn''t explain how this boy managed to fight at the level of a Forging stage Aetherian. We''re just trying to understand how and why."


    "So, you came all the way out here to understand something that even your machines couldn''t understand?" Alexander said, his voice had hints of mockery.


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    "We came because anomalies matter," The agent replied, "Especially anomalies of this sort."


    Alexander held his stare.


    "We''re just trying to make sure that you stay safe."


    Tera scoffed, "You people never gave fuck about us in the first place. Why the switch up?"


    The agent ignored her, "Tell me something, Alexander. Your family doesn''t have any unusual family ancestry, right? Parents from Deadzones, perhaps."


    Tera spoke up before Alexander could, "His parents were regular scavengers, that''s all."


    The agent finally looked at Tera, his smile still on his face, "Of course."


    He turned back to Alexander, "Well, if anything strange happens—aches, hallucinations, instability—be sure to tell us. Early warnings save lives."


    Alexander nodded once. Not in agreement, just acknowledgment.


    "Good." The agent logged something in his data pad, gestured to his guards, "Rest up. For now."


    He stepped out of the shack, closing the doors behind him.


    Tera turned to Alexander, "They know something''s off."


    "Doesn''t matter. I''m leaving tonight."


    Tera flinched slightly, but nodded in understanding, "Where… are you gonna go?"


    "I''m going south of the Ridge."


    Tera blinked, "You mean Darkfall?"


    "Yeah."


    "You really believe it exists?"


    "I have to."


    She hesitated, "You''ll disappear there. You know that, right?"


    Alexander nodded.


    Tera sighed, "Fine, I''ll help you pack."


    ...


    The agent, whose name was Cadwell, walked towards his temporary camp.


    His expression was dark; his steps were heavy.


    He walked into the tent and took out his comm bead. He injected some Aether into it, lighting up a holographic screen.


    On the screen was another man, his face had a deep scar that ran from his eyes to his mouth.


    The man on the other side spoke, "Did you confirm the anomaly?"


    Cadwell didn''t speak immediately. He removed his gloves from his hands, flexing his fingers as if speaking required physical preparation.


    "Not conclusively," he said, "But he fits the description. He emanated no energy. He survived with no external tech. That can''t be random"


    "Hybrid?"


    Cadwell''s eyes narrowed, "If he is, then he''s perfectly stable. No bleed or imbalance at all."


    "We buried that program, if word of these hybrids gets out- "


    "He''s not from that program, and even if he was, nobody would trace it back to us."


    "Then what do we do?"


    "We stay in position and don''t engage. At least, not yet."


    There was a pause, then, "You want him to run."


    Cadwell smiled faintly, "I want to see what he becomes."


    The screen flickered off and he placed the comm bead back into his pocket.


    "Let''s see just exactly what you are, Alexander."


    ...


    The wind cut through Greyreach at night. The fires that would be in the middle of Greyreach had died down. There were no lights and nobody on the street. Most people were asleep, and those who weren''t knew better than to wake them up.


    Alexander drifted through Greyreach like a ghost, his bag slung over his shoulders. His black hair and dark clothes seemed to blend in with the night, as he was almost invisible to the naked eye.


    Each stepped sent pain traveling throughout his body, but it was manageable.


    Tera had been waiting at the southern gate, where the junkyard thinned out into the Wasteland beyond. She didn''t say anything as he approached, just stared.


    The silence was almost enough to drown win.


    Finally, she broke it.


    "You sure?" she asked.


    He wasn''t, but he nodded anyways.


    She walked up in front of him, "You don''t have to go tonight," she added, "let your body catch up."


    "I''ll just be a sitting duck."


    "And where exactly are you going? South of the Ridge? To go chase some rumor that''ll probably get you killed?" Her voice trembled.


    "It''s better than waiting to get dissected."


    Tera flinched at that—barely.


    "They don''t know for sure."


    "They know enough, and that''s all that matters."


    She didn''t argue. Instead, she looked at the ground, her voice dropping.


    "You saved my life. Back at the Ridge, when you… snapped. I know what it cost you."


    He didn''t respond.


    She rummaged through her jacket coat. Finally, she took out a pouch. Inside it was some rations and an old comm bead that she had fixed up not long ago.


    "What''s the comm bead for?"


    "I just figured that it could remind you of me."


    He took the pouch from her hand, "Thanks, Tera."


    Tera finally looked up; her eyes glassy but steady.


    She spoke quietly, "Promise me you''ll come back."


    Alexander hesitated. He wasn''t sure if he would, or rather, if he could.


    He didn''t know why, but he felt guilty.


    "I''ll find you. When I can."


    That was all Tera needed.


    She smiled.


    "Then go," she said, "Before one of us says something stupid."


    He nodded, then walked.


    No hug, no turning back. Just footsteps fading away into the night.


    Tera stood there until the darkness consumed Alexander''s figure.


    She sat down on the dirt, her arms wrapped around her knees.


    Her shoulders trembled unevenly.


    ...


    The sun rose, and Tera walked the streets aimlessly.


    She hadn''t felt this way in years, and it was something she so desperately wanted to go away.


    She stood in front of the hut Alexander lived in for so many years, hoping that maybe Alexander would pop out.


    She knew he wouldn''t.


    "You knew what he was, and you let him go."


    It was Cadwell.


    Tera was startled.


    She turned around and backed away.


    Cadwell stood a few paces behind her; hands held behind his back, his soft smile still plastered on his face.


    "No, I didn''t." She said, her voice firm.


    "Oh, don''t lie, you''re not very good at it." he added, "We both know what he is, we just have to decide what you are."


    "What do you want?"


    "Oh, nothing much really. I just want you to join us."


    Tera was taken aback by the offer, "And why should I do that?"


    "Well, it''s simple really. You''ll either be useful to us, or labeled as compromised. We''ll have to make you disappear, quietly, of course."


    Tera clenched her fists. She looked down at the ground, her eyes conflicted.


    She didn''t want Alexander to find her dead.


    She managed to hiss out, "Fine, I''ll cooperate."


    "Good. We leave in two days."


    He turned and left without a word, leaving Tera standing there, her fists clenched.