Silence, Where Do You Come From? Part I

On the night of that same day, the clock read 23:45. The sky was clear, and down at the city port stood Eterrai, investigating the lead he had obtained a few days earlier by confronting Lucas. He had arrived much earlier than the agreed time and snuck into the abandoned warehouse, hiding in a dark corner among the shadows with a perfect view of the entire area. Eterrai's keen eyes examined every detail of the environment, searching for any movement that would indicate someone's arrival.

Time passed slowly, and no one appeared. The silence in the warehouse was broken only by the distant sound of a cat meowing and the occasional creaking of the aging structure swaying in the wind. Eterrai, with the patience of a predator lying in wait, remained still, blending with the shadows.

As minutes turned into hours, Eterrai's mind began to wander. "They must know I would come here and changed the meeting point. What a drag," he thought, considering the possibility that his presence had already been detected. He started to get up, determined to leave and reassess his options.

However, before he could take the first step toward the exit, a loud noise echoed through the warehouse, making the walls tremble. Startled, Eterrai looked up and saw a portion of the roof above him beginning to give way. In a fraction of a second, he launched himself to the side, skillfully dodging the debris that crashed down with a thud.

As the dust began to settle, Eterrai lifted his eyes to the hole in the roof and saw an imposing figure descending. Sera, with her metallic wings gleaming in the darkness, landed with lethal elegance. The moonlight reflected off the silver surfaces, casting threatening shadows on the warehouse walls.

— So I wasn't entirely wrong, you really are connected — said Eterrai with a slight smirk.

Sera advanced with impressive speed, her wings slicing through the air like sharp blades. Eterrai barely had time to react, jumping back and dodging the initial attack. Sera didn't stop there, unleashing a series of precise and rapid strikes, forcing Eterrai to keep moving constantly to avoid being hit.

The warehouse resonated with the sound of blows, the metallic clash of Sera's wings echoing off the walls. Eterrai knew he needed to stay calm and find an opening. He waited for a moment when Sera would be vulnerable, and when he saw a gap, he advanced with a quick kick, striking the guardian in the chest and pushing him back.

Sera quickly regained balance, her eyes blazing with fury. She lunged again, this time using her wings as a shield while advancing. Eterrai blocked the strikes with his forearms, feeling the force behind each impact. He knew he couldn't keep up that pace for long.

In a swift move, Eterrai grabbed an iron rod lying on the ground and used it to deflect Sera's attacks. The fight intensified, the two combatants moving with lethal grace, each trying to outdo the other. Eterrai used his agility and intelligence to evade Sera's heavier blows, while the guardian used brute strength and power to press Eterrai.

With each strike delivered, parts of the warehouse gave way under the force of the impacts. Metal and wooden crates were sent flying, colliding with the walls and scattering across the floor. The sound of twisting metal and breaking wood resonated, echoing through the vastness of the warehouse.

In a crucial moment, Eterrai managed to momentarily disarm Sera, knocking one of her metallic wings off. Seizing the opportunity, he delivered a direct punch to Sera's face, causing her to stagger back. But Sera wasn't willing to give up so easily. With a quick move, she retrieved the lost wing and used it to block Eterrai's next attack.

The fight continued fiercely, both displaying their skills in an evenly matched confrontation. The warehouse was a battleground, with debris flying and the ground shaking with each impact. Eterrai knew he needed to find a way to end this before he completely exhausted himself.

Finally, Eterrai saw a chance. Using a moment of distraction from Sera, he jumped onto a stack of crates and, with an acrobatic move, launched himself at the guardian, bringing her down to the ground. He held Sera firmly, pinning her against the floor.

Before he could finish the fight, the distant sound of sirens interrupted the battle. Both turned to the entrance of the warehouse, where red and blue lights were flashing, approaching rapidly. The police and firefighters were arriving, drawn by the noise of the collapsing structure.

Sera looked at her opponent one last time, her eyes gleaming with frustration. With a sudden movement, she broke free and launched into the air, disappearing into the night. Eterrai, knowing he needed to avoid the authorities, ran to the opposite exit, slipping into the shadows and vanishing into the darkness.

As the dust finally settled and the shadows of Sera's wings faded away, Eterrai took a deep breath and spoke aloud.

— Looks like I'll have to pay someone a visit, huh? What a drag!

Eterrai had his suspicions about Aurora. After their last encounter, he had done some homework, trying to learn more about her. He had a general idea of where she lived, and with the clues he had gathered, he was determined to go there to get more answers.

Arriving in the neighborhood where Aurora resided, Eterrai walked the streets, observing the tall buildings rising around him. The night was cold, and the wind blew, making the strands of hair on Eterrai's face sway gently. He knew it wouldn't be easy to find Aurora's exact apartment, but he wasn't willing to give up so easily.

As he approached the building where he believed Aurora lived, he noticed a group of residents outside, murmuring among themselves and pointing to the building. Curious, Eterrai approached, seeking more information.

— Good evening — greeted Eterrai. — Excuse me, do you know what happened here?

One of the residents, an elderly man with a worried expression, replied:

— They stoned and set fire to young Aurora's apartment. Fortunately, she wasn't there during the incident, but the police are investigating and asked everyone to leave while they examine the place.

Eterrai felt a wave of concern. Aurora was being targeted, which didn't surprise him considering the mob he had seen in the morning, angry with her and her partner. It was probably some extremist person with no real connection to the case who tried to kill her.

— Do you know where she is now? — asked Eterrai, not showing much urgency.

The old man shook his head, disheartened.

— I'm not sure, son. I saw her leaving early in the morning, probably because of the protests, and she hasn't returned.

Thanking them for the information, Eterrai stepped away from the group of residents and stood looking at the building from a distance, reflecting on what had happened. He didn't know if he had missed something or if the next clue was lost in the ashes.

A certain distance away, the darkness of the alley was almost palpable, cut only by a flickering lighter flame. Two figures hunched over, surrounded by the metallic and sweet smell of the drug Merry. The environment, soaked in urine and trash, was a perfect depiction of those living there.

The man, skinny and hollow-eyed, held a syringe with trembling hands. He looked at the companion beside him, a woman with a torn jacket and a vacant stare, who seemed hesitant.

— Ready to get wild again, huh? — He laughed nervously as he adjusted the syringe.

The woman averted her gaze, murmuring:

— You have no idea the queen I became with those tentacles... and the men there, haaah.

He went first. He injected the needle into his skin with a relieved sigh, then handed the syringe to her. The woman repeated the gesture, her hands almost steady, as if her desire was stronger than his.

The reaction was immediate. The man gasped, doubling over. Dark fur began to sprout on his arms, his hands enlarging grotesquely as short claws emerged. The woman, on the other hand, let out a muffled scream. Her skin took on a strange, shimmering tone as her arms twisted, becoming slippery, muscular tentacles. Her fingers merged into suckers that moved restlessly.

— I-I have wolf ears! — He laughed hysterically, pointing at himself.

— Ah, finally — she whispered, touching her own face with trembling fingers.

They looked at each other, eyes shining, a strange connection forming in the silence.

— Do you see what this means? — The man spoke, exalted, waving his arms like a prophet. — We can... we can dominate everything again!

The woman laughed, but it was a different sound, more restrained.

— The boys are waiting for me.

Their laughter mingled, echoing like a howl and the sound of water splashing. Suddenly, without warning, the two dashed down the alley, tripping over their own feet, muttering incoherent phrases and laughing like maniacs.

Across the street, Eterrai walked alone. His boots echoed on the wet pavement, and his face bore the weight of many sleepless nights. He stopped when he saw the two drug addicts cross his path. The man still had furry ears and visible claws, but it was the woman who drew attention. The tentacles swirled around her as if they had a life of their own, leaving shimmering trails on the ground. They stumbled further ahead until they vanished around the corner, laughing and murmuring unintelligible words.

Eterrai stood still, staring into the empty alley from which they had emerged. The bitter smell of Merry still seemed to linger in the air. He furrowed his brow, deep in thought, and stepped into the alley. On the ground, he saw syringes, vials, and a piece of paper from a place he had heard mentioned by Lucas, “Snow Bunny Syndicate.” In that moment, everything clicked, and he knew exactly what he had to do next.

And so, under the cold light of the streetlamps, Eterrai walked into the night, his solitary silhouette vanishing into the shadows.