The air inside Zarek Technologies' cafeteria carried the warmth of freshly brewed coffee, the low hum of conversation weaving through the space like a thread stitching together the fabric of the organization. It was a rare moment of reprieve—a break in the constant cycle of rift emergencies, training drills, and high-stakes missions.
Rowan sat at a table near the wide glass windows, the city skyline stretching beyond the horizon. The lights of towering buildings flickered against the darkening sky, casting their glow over the bustling streets below. Across from him, Lucian nursed a cup of coffee, his posture relaxed but his sharp gaze scanning the room.
For once, there was no urgency. No alarms blaring. No Espers teetering on the edge of corruption. It felt… foreign.
"You're staring," Lucian murmured, breaking the comfortable silence between them.
Rowan huffed, leaning back in his chair. "You don't strike me as the type to drink coffee."
Lucian raised a brow. "And what do I strike you as?"
"A machine that runs on pure stubbornness and questionable life choices," Rowan shot back.
Lucian let out a rare chuckle, quiet and low. It was the closest thing to amusement Rowan had seen from him in days.
Before their conversation could continue, a tray landed on the table beside them with a loud clatter. Rowan turned just in time to see Juno Fletcher, the ever-energetic rookie Esper, plop down into the chair next to him. Her short-cropped auburn hair was still damp with sweat, likely from a training session.
"Please tell me I'm not the only one enjoying this brief moment of peace," Juno groaned, shoveling a forkful of food into her mouth.
"My body feels like it was put through a blender and then taped back together."
Alexander Hawke, the veteran Esper who had seen more rift battles than anyone present, took the seat across from Juno with significantly more grace. His dark eyes flicked toward Lucian and Rowan, nodding in greeting. "You two holding up?"
Rowan shrugged. "More or less. Lucian had his corruption spike stabilized, so that's a win."
Alexander's gaze lingered on Lucian. "That was a dangerous spike. I haven't seen readings that high in a long time."
Lucian said nothing, merely sipping his coffee as if the topic didn't concern him.
"How exactly does it feel?" Juno asked, tilting her head. "Like, when corruption is building up?"
Lucian placed his cup down. "Like drowning in ink. It stains everything inside of you, and the more you fight it, the faster it spreads."
A heavy silence settled over the group at his words. Rowan, who had seen the effects firsthand, swallowed the lump in his throat.
"Well, thank god for Guides, then," Juno finally said, flashing Rowan a grin. "We'd be in deep trouble without you guys keeping us from going full monster mode."
Rowan rolled his eyes. "It's not magic. We just redirect and stabilize corruption."
"Yeah, yeah," Juno waved him off, stuffing more food into her mouth. "I still think you guys are underrated."
As they ate, a group of Espers and Guides entered the cafeteria, their uniforms bearing different insignias. Rowan recognized them immediately—members of various specialized teams responsible for different aspects of rift combat and management.
The Vanguard Corps – The front-liners, consisting of the strongest Espers who specialized in direct combat against rift creatures. Their physical and elemental abilities made them the first line of defense whenever a rift threatened to break.
The Rift Containment Unit (RCU) – A group focused on stabilizing rifts before they could explode. Though they couldn't close rifts entirely, they could delay the inevitable and buy time for evacuation or combat preparation.
The Hazard Recovery Team (HRT) – Responsible for cleaning up after rift battles, ensuring no remnants of corruption lingered in the environment.
The Sentinel Division – Elite Espers and their Guides assigned to monitor high-risk individuals, preventing them from succumbing to corruption.
Zarek Technologies' Research Division – Scientists and engineers developing new technologies to assist in rift combat and Esper corruption management.
As Rowan observed the various groups chatting and laughing in their own corners of the room, he realized just how diverse the Esper-Guide world truly was. Each unit had its own culture, its own rhythm. The Vanguard Corps, tough and battle-worn, carried a quiet pride. The RCU always looked like they hadn't slept in days—because they probably hadn't. The HRT wore casual fatigue, often smeared with grime and tech gear strapped across their chests. The Sentinels were sharp, controlled, all business. And the Research Division, dressed in pristine coats and tablets in hand, looked like they existed in another universe entirely.
Evelyn Zarek, the head of Zarek Technologies, strode into the cafeteria with her usual commanding presence. Beside her walked Quinn Reyes, the famously rigid S-Class Guide, and his partner, Ari Winters—breezy and strong, her long black coat tossed over one shoulder like she hadn't just taken down a rift beast an hour ago.
Evelyn made a beeline for their table. "I assume you're all taking this time to recover."
Rowan nodded. "More or less."
She gave Lucian a sharp look. "You're stable now, I take it?"
Lucian inclined his head. "For now."
Evelyn exhaled. "Good. I don't want you exploding into a corruption meltdown in the middle of my headquarters."
Lucian smirked. "I'll do my best to avoid inconveniencing you."
Quinn folded his arms. "We need to discuss the anomalies from when you visited Lucian at the Montrose Towers. And then, there's the matter of how quickly Rowan managed to bring the corruption levels down."
Rowan tensed. "Is that… a problem?"
Evelyn exchanged a glance with Quinn before shaking her head. "No. But it raises questions. Guide abilities aren't supposed to work that fast."
Lucian's eyes flickered toward Rowan, something unreadable passing through them. Rowan wasn't sure how to respond. He had felt something different during that last guiding session, something he couldn't put into words.
Juno, ever the one to lighten the mood, leaned across the table. "Maybe Rowan's just cracked. Ever thought of that?"
"Or Lucian's corruption just wanted to be kissed better," Alexander added dryly.
Rowan's face flushed. "I hate both of you."
"Deeply and truly," Lucian added, deadpan, though the corner of his mouth twitched.
Before anyone could throw another jab, a loud alarm blared through the cafeteria, followed by a voice over the intercom.
"All combat units, report to Command. A new rift signature has been detected."
Groans filled the cafeteria.
"Already?" Juno whined. "I just sat down."
Evelyn's demeanor shifted instantly. "Break's over. Let's move."
As the cafeteria emptied in a flurry of motion, Rowan caught Lucian's eye. For a moment, there was a shared thought between them—this brief calm would never last long. Not in their world. But somehow, they'd make the most of it.