Snapping her eyes back open, she felt a rush of panic as she released the crystal. Pain seared through her hand, mingled with the metallic tang of blood as the crystal met the ground with a dull thud.
Surveying the room, a wave of embarrassment washed over her, unnoticed amidst the chaos. Her heart clenched as she observed the boy's plight, mirroring her own harrowing experience during the ritual. A small crystal emerged from his trembling form, tethered to the larger one, before the connection shattered, leaving him crumpled on the floor.
Driven by a surge of adrenaline, Jade darted forward, shoving aside one of the assailants with determination etched into her features. Their confusion met her resolve as she grasped the crystal, her mind racing to unravel the tangled web of events."
As she placed her hand on the crystal, the indicators became clearer and easier to see.
"Weakness Heat"
"Power: Restriction"
"Code Break: N/A"
"Crystal Count: 4/4"
"Time stamp: 459070240812"
"Designer: 3rd in Command, Arch Angelic Division Captain"
Following the flashes of these words and codes, Jade shouted to the Director to get a piece of paper as they carried the boy, who was slowly starting to wake up, away. She relayed everything she was seeing to the Director as her hands began to burn more.
Suddenly bombarded by endless images of her life, from Ty and more family friends, and everything going back to the day she was born, the images began to speed further back. Images of the crystal being moved and transported in military-grade vehicles and transportation that looked similar to the early 1900s flooded her mind.
Flashes of the crystal sitting in a lava bath filled Jade's mind, each crack quickly healing over. Despite the intensity of these visions, it became evident that the breaking point for the crystal was nowhere near. It would require temperatures akin to those of the sun to even begin to crack it.
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With Ashaiki's return looming, Jade knew her focus must return to combat soon. "Yes, Sir, I should have the best results figured out in the next two weeks."
"One week, actually," corrected the Director, revealing Jade had lost a week to sleep.
The revelation stunned her. "Excuse me, what? There's no way. What did I miss? Where is V? Also, I had some questions about my parents; do they know I'm dead?"
Jade's sudden awakening, coupled with the loss of time, brought a surge of questions. The Director's raised hand signaled a pause.
"Yes, the misinformation about your parents was a deliberate decision, influenced by Ashaiki. You should discuss any concerns with her upon your reunion," the Director clarified, shedding light on the deception.
"V is faring well; he's made considerable progress in learning to read and write in English, for reasons unknown to us. As a result, I've had him assisting with some administrative tasks," he continued, providing an update on V's unexpected academic pursuits.
The conversation took a somber turn as the Director mentioned the increasing casualty rates. "There has been an uptick in casualties lately, reducing our facility's personnel to the low sixties," he revealed, underscoring the gravity of their situation.
Jade digested the information, her concern evident. "I see. I don't imagine it's getting any easier for the other departments, however that may be," she speculated, aware of the broader implications.
"Correct. While they're managing to maintain their numbers for now, as the King of Nothing has indicated, we're seeing a concerted effort from enemy forces focusing on our planet. It's only a matter of time before we face a significant threat," the Director explained, highlighting the escalating conflict.
He further detailed the challenges they faced, including encounters with creatures capable of speech and taunting. "Many groups have begun to encounter misinformation, and creatures can speak and even taunt them," he noted, adding a layer of complexity to their battles.
Concerned, Jade asked, "What happens if an entire team is wiped out?"
"In such cases, Master Gojaro or another Master would intervene to manage the situation. They are spread thin, so their involvement is reserved for critical situations. We have yet to let a creature breach our defenses," the Director assured, emphasizing the safeguards in place despite the dire circumstances.