SOUL-SEEKER || (On Hiatus)

(Chapter 4) New Recruitment.

As consciousness began to stir within the depths of a dreamless slumber, a dim, sterile light filtered through closed eyelids, casting an ethereal glow upon the shadowy corners of the medical room. The air was cool and carried the faint, antiseptic scent of sanitizers, while the soft hum of machinery provided an eerie, mechanical lullaby. For a moment, the world seemed to exist in a suspended hush, broken only by the sporadic beeping of distant monitors, a dissonant symphony of life and technology. Lucas' senses slowly reawakened, and a profound disorientation gripped them. He moved his head to the side and his still exhausted sight could make out the form of two people sitting down across the room, arguing over something.

KTO: You promised me that you'd get me my favorite dessert!
NLN: Actually promised to just get you a dessert, not your favorite.
KTO: *sniff* But I wanted something else...

Crocodile tears started to fall from Kaitos' eyes, as he switched to his cute face and looked at Nolan with a sad expression on his face, but it didn't last long. Lucas sat up on the medical bed and rubbed his head, trying to recollect what happened. Excited, Kaito threw the cupcake at Nolans' face and rushed to Lucas' side.

KTO: You're finally awake!
NLN: Kaito, don't startle the kid.

Lucas glances at the noisy young teenager next to him. Kaito gazes expectantly, as if anticipating a response.

LCS: Who are you..?

Kaitos is devastated and collapses to the ground, holding his heart. Nolan covers his face with his hand and sighs, clearly disappointed.

NLN: Kaito is the person who saved your life. He's also a hunter like me.
KTO: Yup! That's me! The famous Kaito!

Nolan grabs one of the chairs and brings it closer to the medical bed. He sits down and takes a deep breath, collecting his thoughts and then talking.

NLN: You don't know much about this field of work yet, so I'll fill you in with the basics.
KTO: So in the future, me and you can have missions together!
NLN: Hunters are found worldwide, and they operate under organizations known as Agencies. Generally, each significant region should have its own agency, although this may differ by location. Hunters are categorized according to their skills and experience, using a system that ranges from the lowest rank, D-Class, up to the most formidable rank, S-Class. Similarly, devils are also ranked within this system based on their destructive capabilities and overall malicious pressure they exert into the world.
LCS: Then that means Kaito is an S-Class hunter?
NLN: No, that's not completely accurate. There is another category of rankings for both hunters and devils, and the only requirement to be placed in that category is possessing immense power capable of causing catastrophic threats to the world.
KTO: But I'm a good guy so that won't happen!
LCS: That's good and all, but I'd like to know what happened to me.
NLN: Right, that's not a job for me. Our agencys' one and only medic will explain.

A woman in her mid-twenties walked into the room wearing a doctor's attire and gloves. Her face showed signs of exhaustion, as if she had gone without sleep for days.

NLN: Mave, long time no see!
MAV: Thought I'd never see your face in this place ever again after what happened last time.
NLN: Nah, I've gotten over that already by now.
MAV: You sure? Being unable to have children is quite a tragic fate.
NLN: No need to remind me, y'know.
KTO: Hmm, what's happening here?
NLN: It's nothing, Kaito.
KTO: Did Dr. Mave cut your balls?