Miyuki took a breath as she followed Logan and Sarah into the office. The room was truly, if excessively, grandiose. It was at least one-hundred square meters. Instead of a wall behind Councilor Sigurd’s large wooden desk was one long window without a single streak or line. To their right was a couch and coffee table while on the left was an enormous television. What stood out most was the shelves upon shelves of treasures lining every wall from floor to ceiling. Millions of dollars of unique sculptures, rare metals, weapons, and more surrounded them. She could feel mana in many of them making them true artifacts. A dragon’s hoard if she had ever seen one.

  Upon the Councilor’s desk was a monitor, a box with two levels marked “in” and “out,” and a single tooth that was large enough to be mistaken for that of a dinosaur resting on its own pedestal. It was at least twenty-five centimeters long with serrated edges. She remembered when Logan told her it was a tooth from Fafnir itself. It had apparently broken off in a piece of the Councilor’s armor after he was bitten by the monster in its final moments. Ever since, he has kept it as a reminder of the legendary battle. She thought the beast-curse would’ve been enough for that, but what did she know?

  Sitting behind his desk was the Councilor himself. Miyuki licked her lips and waited for him to add to the layers of bad news she had on her head.

  Councilor Sigurd sat back in his seat. “I want to begin by saying that when I sent you two to India, no one knew of The Light’s presence. This event has created so many ripples that we have no idea where they’ll end. I also want to clarify that a full council was called not just because of you. All of us have been worried about those terrorists for a while now.”

  Miyuki has to stop herself from cheering. The amount of relief she felt was euphoric. Sure it didn’t feel great to be match that lit the dynamite, but that was nothing compared to being the fuel of said explosion. She noticed Logan also relaxed when his stiff posture lessened oh so slightly.

  “For now, your priority is preparing Sarah for her new life. The first step is to make Sarah disappear. I’ll be putting a team of specialists on the job who have also been assigned to remove all traces of your battle with the Crusaders.”

  When both agents winced, Sarah asked, “what does that mean?”

  “That means we have to cover up your disappearance,” Logan said reluctantly. “Standard protocol when a new cursed being is found is to fake their death. We already told you that you’ll be separated from your family, this is how we do it.”

  The room went quiet as what he said sunk in. Miyuki silently cursed to herself. She somehow forgot the protocol. She heard stories of what happened when a beast-cursed wasn’t declared dead. They usually ended with their friends and family dying and them going feral.

  Councilor Sigurd focused on the shocked and growingly distraught Sarah. “You will appear to have been killed by a wild animal during the night. I’ll have the team set it up. I am sorry, but this is for the best.”

  Sarah sputtered for a moment before stuttering. “W-wait, did you say that I would have to die? I thought you would’ve just had me transferred to the middle of nowhere.”

  “That’s not secure enough.” He answered simply.

  “But, what about my parents and brother? Will they think-.”

  He nodded. “Yes, they will think you are dead.”

  “That means…”

  Sigurd showed pity in his millennia old eyes. “Yes, that means you’ll never be able to contact them again. I am truly sorry.”

  Sarah fell to her knees in shock with her eyes as wide as they could stretch and her hands scraping across the floor. They had told her on the way here but only now was it really sinking in. “My brother’s eighteenth birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas. All of it…gone.”

  Miyuki’s heart fell in sympathy for the fallen woman. She never had the most caring or sensitive mother. Even then she knew that if she needed help, her mother would be there. Sure, it would be more for the family’s reputation than for her, but that wasn’t important. Sarah no longer had that. She became a single person in a world where everything she knew and learned was false while losing every support structure she ever had. Miyuki could only imagine how alone she felt.

  She was brought out of her thoughts by Logan going down on one knee and placing a hand on Sarah’s shoulder. “Listen,” he said with a comforting smile. “There is one thing we can do for you.”

  Sarah looked up at him with a tear-streaked face and hope filled eyes. Logan quickly glanced at Councilor Sigurd who gave him a quick nod.

  “What…What can you do?” She pleaded.

  He tried to give her a reassuring smile. “We call it a ‘just in case’ letter.”

  “A just in what?”

  “It’s a letter with the idea that if anything happens to a person and they die, the letter is to be sent to their friends and family as a final goodbye. We have been doing this for many years and have found that it is a comfort for both the writer as well as the recipients. Years of experience and literal demon lawyers make it look natural.”

  She started crying even harder. She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed him, searching for whatever comfort she could. Sarah, a girl who hated being dragged into this world, was holding onto one of her captors for dear life.

  Councilor Sigurd waited until she started to compose herself. “Sarah, I once again apologize for the position you find yourself in, but there is no turning back.”

  Sarah released Logan. “Are you sure this is necessary? Can’t I just not tell them? Even if they did find out they would never tell anyone.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Councilor Sigurd closed his eyes. “I’m sorry, no. Members of any number of illegal being or human terrorist organizations may come after your family if they don’t think you’re dead. They would go to them and forcefully pull out what they wanted. More importantly, you no longer age.” He let that sink in for a moment.

  “What will your family think in twenty years when you haven’t changed a bit? What will you do in another eighty years when you watch your younger brother age and die while you keep going?” He turned sombre. “I had to watch my great-great grandchildren age and die. I cannot describe what it felt like to outlive your entire family line. Please believe me when I say it is better for everyone to simply let them think you’re dead and cut contact.” Miyuki could see the long years of grief and pain that showed in his eyes.

  A fresh round of tears started their way down Sarah’s face. She buried her face in Logan’s chest and continued crying.

  “Unfortunately,” Councilor Sigurd continued, “time is of the essence. So, I am going to be sending the three of you to our central headquarters immediately.”

  Miyuki groaned. She just got back from a long and insanely annoying mission, had severe jet lag, was both hungry and tired, yet he still wanted to send them right back out again.

  “Sir, is that the best idea?” Logan asked. “We’ve all been through quite the ordeal, both mentally and physically. Isn’t it possible to give us some time?” It was fortunate that Logan spoke up before her. Her response would have involved debating his intelligence and his possible intimate relationship with a sheep who may or may not be his mother.

  Miyuki waited, praying that he would give them a much-needed respite.

  “I was planning on sending you out on the next supply carrier. That isn’t for another eight hours so you’ll have time to recover. You can stay in the barracks until you leave.” He dismissed them with a wave. Logan helped Sarah to her feet and bowed to him. Miyuki also gave him a quick bow before turning toward the door.

  The three of them left the Councilor with different emotions. Miyuki left with a feeling of wariness, Sarah left with the obvious signs of sorrow, while Logan looked to have left with the focus of someone who was pondering the greatest questions of the universe. The descent to the underground floors was silent, the entire time Sarah had her arms wrapped around her torso as if she was trying to prevent herself from breaking apart, which might have been true.

  As the unexpected twists piled, Miyuki’s attitude worsened. She was used to there being a level of pattern to her life. She knew she didn’t seem like a person who liked a well-scheduled life, but that was who she was. It was through a lifetime of strict upraising by her mother did she gain the appreciation of a predictable, if not set, plan.

  She would get an assignment, fulfill said assignment, and then wait for the next one. At most she would have a mission every one to two weeks. The rest of the time she was free to do what she wanted, within reason of course. Go see a movie, read some books, work on a hobby, whatever. This pattern was only disrupted by the occasional emergency mission or to attend an event with her mother, both of which she hated. Because of Sarah, she was forced to completely throw it off. She still couldn’t hate her for it. It wasn’t her fault she was cursed, or that they were attacked.

  The elevator continued further and further down before stopping on level negative eight. The doors opened and revealed a second set made of solid steel, which unlocked with a loud clang and slowly slid open. The corridor beyond was dark and gray with nothing but metal doors along each side of the hall. The hall was also unusually wide and tall. It had a width similar to those inside hospitals while the roof at least three meters from the ground.

  They eventually entered a larger corridor with four doors with distinct symbols. Miyuki knew they represented the four different classes and their purpose. The symbols depicted a hammer, an eye, a shield, and a clawed hand. The Support-class’ creation, the Scout-class’ sight, the Guardian-class’ defense, and the Hunter-class’ ferocity.

  Each one held personal quarters for the top-ten rankers of each class. Not every headquarters had enough space for forty mostly unused rooms. Usually it was just ten they set aside for any visiting rankers that may be passing through.

  They stopped only a few rows of doors down in the Hunter-class’ section. He entered without having to unlock it since who would be stupid enough to piss off or steal from some of the most dangerous creatures on the planet?

  It was about five by six meters with only a desk, rolling chair, and bed as furniture. The overall design was very spartan without any decorations or personal items. Miyuki imagined how she would decorate her room once she became a top ranker.

  Logan sat Sarah at the desk. Out of one of the desk drawers he withdrew a few pieces of paper, a catalog envelope, and a pen. All of which he placed on the desk.

  “Alright Sarah, this is the last way you’ll ever be able to send to your family. This will cover your will and final message.” Logan said before becoming sullen. “I recommend you say everything you never had the want or courage to say before. If you don’t, you will never have another chance. Write as if you’re minutes from death and these are your last words. I must emphasize that you cannot reveal any information about our world, the fact you are still alive, or anything that might make anyone question your family’s ignorant status.” He took a step away from the desk and sat on the bed, dropping his duffel next to him. “With how long we live, it’s best to avoid as much regret as possible. Some guilts may fade but if you collect too much you’ll snap.”

  Miyuki’s eyebrows met. It was true, in a normal human’s life they can do something they will regret but can somewhat find peace with the knowledge that they will either have a way to mend it or one day simply grow too old and forget about it. Which is opposite for such long-lived creatures as some of those in the being community. This is especially true for the beast-cursed and spirits. The longer one lives the more regrets they accumulate and the less chances there are to reduce them. That was only one of the many ways in which she was jealous of humans.

  The room remained silent save the sound of Sarah dutifully writing down her ‘final’ thoughts and feelings onto the previously meaningless pieces of paper, changing them into items that would change people’s lives. After she filled the fourth full page with writing she slumped back into the chair and released a deep sigh. Logan collected and sealed the pages in the envelope. He left the room after telling the two of them he was going to deliver it to the proper people and would return shortly.

  The door closed with a silent bang making it the final sound for what felt like an hour, though it was only about thirty seconds. Miyuki watched Sarah as she looked around the room while seemingly doing whatever it took to not meet Miyuki’s gaze.

  “So, what rank is he?”

  “Fourth.” Miyuki could tell by her lack of a reaction how much she didn’t realize how much of an accomplishment that was.

  “What about you?” She asked like she was trying to fill the silence.

  Miyuki flinched at the question. Normally she was proud of her position. After revealing how high Logan is in his rating she winced and said “twenty-first,” at Sarah’s initial snickering Miyuki’s hackles rose. “Hey,” she said aggressively, “in our world that’s pretty damn good.”

  Miyuki sighed when Sarah curled into herself. “Whatever, what did you write in that anyway?” She knew it was rude to ask, but she was also trying to fill up the time until he returned by whatever means possible.

  “Nothing much really, most of it was final goodbyes. To my parents, my brother, my…” she stopped when her voice caught and her eyes moistened. Miyuki sent a silent prayer to anyone listening for Logan’s speedy return and a possible escape.