Jade was visibly perplexed as she looked over at Rosa, who lay there, too exhausted to utter a single word.
"What do you mean, Sir? I've only just begun going out on these missions. Why would you pull me off? I'm aware the facility is already short-staffed as it is."
The director interjected, "We're not so depleted that we would crumble without you, Jade. While your contribution has certainly been beneficial, we managed before you arrived, and we will continue to manage after you. Don't overestimate your importance here. This request came directly from Ash after I debriefed her on your recent progress."
Jade's confusion only deepened. "Why would she want me pulled off the front lines?"
The director maintained a firm tone. "We will discuss this in a more private setting. For now, your task is to ensure Rosa gets to the infirmary to rest."
He then shifted the topic slightly. "Tell me, that shard—did you extract it from the creature during your encounter?"
Jade, a bit confused as Rosa lay exhausted, unable to speak up either, questioned the director's decision. "What do you mean, Sir? I just started going out on these missions. Why would you pull me off? I know the facility is already short-staffed as it is."
The director, cutting in, stated, "We're not so depleted that we would fall apart without you, Jade. While your presence has definitely been of assistance, before you, we managed, and after you, we will manage. Don't misplace your value here. This request came from Ash herself after I debriefed her today on your current progress."
Jade, further confused, wondered why Ash would want her pulled off the front lines. The director stated they would discuss this in a more private setting but tasked her for now with getting Rosa to the infirmary to rest up. He then inquired about the shard she had encountered during her mission.
"Did you rip it out of the creature in your fight?" he asked.
"Yes, why do you ask?" Jade responded, trying to understand the relevance.
"I see, that's good at least. We will talk further this evening," he responded, not clarifying his question.
He entered, loosening his tie, his face etched with fatigue. Observing Jade's focused search, he silently approached and pulled up a chair.
"Exactly what I needed," Jade exclaimed softly, triumphantly holding up a piece of aluminum. She returned to the table swiftly, the metal clutched in her grasp.
Concentrating deeply, she manipulated the aluminum, channeling her energy into it.
It began to dissolve between her fingers. With her eyes closed and a steady hand, she held the disintegrating aluminum above the shard.
Remarkably, instead of merely covering it, the aluminum was absorbed by the shard, melding with it in a display of unexpected compatibility.
Moments later, the shard expelled the aluminum as sharp, jagged thin spikes that disintegrated after a few seconds.
Jade, with a finger under her chin, mused, "This is really interesting."
Turning her focus to the Director, she apologized, "Sorry to keep you waiting, sir. I just wanted to finish this experiment." Stay connected through m-v l|e'-novelhall.net
"No, it's fine. You're doing what I meant to ask you to do," he responded, a hint of confusion appearing on his face as he noticed the crystal sitting next to the vial of blood.
"Uh, what is that, and where did you get it from?" he inquired.
"Oh, this?" Jade replied. "When I went on the solo mission with V, we ran into Erebos for a short fight, along with the wolf creatures, and this crow saved me and gave me this before leaving."
The Director's expression shifted, an eye twitch betraying his previously tired demeanor, "And you never thought to tell me the guy we can't detect showed up and tried to kill you, Jade?!"