The next day came with a chilly breeze.
Ashfall's sky was clear, the sun just peeking over the distant ridge, casting a pale gold light over the cobbled streets and misty rooftops.
Myth and Sira stepped out from the inn, wrapped in light jackets. The air nipped at their fingers and noses, but it was refreshing—far better than yesterday's suffocating tension.
After some back and forth, Myth convinced the officers trailing him to allow a short supervised walk. Ashley had approved it—just two hours, no funny business. The officers followed from a distance, pretending to be tourists.
Ashfall was still a tourist spot, after all. Despite its creeping reputation and proximity to danger, the town had charm. Quaint little shops lined the streets, selling leather crafts, handmade jewelry, odd relics, and food stalls that filled the air with spices and warmth.
They walked aimlessly, Myth letting Sira lead the way.
She was talking. A lot. About a weird leather bag she saw, a crow that stole someone's sandwich, a man who tried to sell her a "blessed compass." Half the things didn't even make sense—but she smiled while saying them. Laughed at her own dumb jokes.
And Myth?
He didn't listen to most of it. Not really.
But he enjoyed it.
It wasn't about the words. It was her presence—this relentless, careless energy that seemed untouched by the world's weight. For someone like Myth, who calculated every step and measured every breath, she was… a pause. A breath.
She was the kind of person who wouldn't hate you, no matter what you did or said.
That was rare. That was dangerous.
But that was also comforting.
As they sat down on a bench near a fountain, steam rising from the cups of spiced tea they bought, Myth glanced at her.
But in the back of his mind, Myth knew—this peace wouldn't last. Because he never wanted Peace.
Evening came, cold and sharp.
Myth and Sira were dressed for the occasion—formal, composed. Myth wore a crisp white shirt tucked into black pants, polished leather shoes, and his signature black jacket. Sira kept it simple—a white dress that fell just above her knees, wrapped in a warm brown coat. Her soft brown hair framed her face, falling neatly just above her shoulders.
A black car pulled up to the station. Ashley and Walker stood near the gate, waiting.
As Myth stepped out, he noticed Ashley immediately. She wore a fitted black skirt paired with a matching coat—elegant, sharp, almost like they had coordinated by accident. Her blonde hair was tied into a neat ponytail, and a pair of circular silver glasses framed her striking blue eyes. She looked stunning.
"Looking beautiful, Ashley. All dressed up for me? Look, we're twinning," Myth said with a playful grin.
Ashley gave him a flat look. "If I'd known you were going to wear this, I'd have set fire to every outfit in my closet that looked remotely similar. But… thanks, I guess."
Myth chuckled. "That's why they say women with beautiful faces rarely have brains."
Before she could retaliate, he turned to Walker.
The man looked like he was dressed for a funeral—completely in black, stiff and grim. If Myth hadn't known better, he'd have thought Walker was headed to mourn someone's death.
"So, Detective Walker..." Myth began, pausing just long enough to gesture toward Sira. "This is Sira. A friend of mine. You don't have the right to question her."
Sira quietly stepped out, pulling her coat tighter around her shoulders. She gave Ashley a small wave and nodded nervously at Walker.
Ashley arched a brow and looked at Myth. "Really? How does she even tolerate you?"
Sira opened her mouth, clearly eager to answer, but Myth cut in sharply.
"Sira, don't answer that. She's trying to gauge you through me."
He immediately shifted the subject.
"She's just here to observe. That's all. Might even be useful."
He glanced at Sira, who gave a small, uncertain smile.
Walker said nothing for a beat, then stepped aside and motioned toward the station doors.
"Let's get this over with. You'll be entering as witnesses under escort. No touching anything. No wandering. Stick to the path."
Walker drove them to the research facility.
Soon, the car pulled up to the main gate, guarded by five armed personnel in uniform. Myth, Sira, Ashley, and Walker stepped out for the mandatory security check.
One of the guards scanned their IDs and bags, then looked at Walker.
"Sir, please hand over your car keys to him," he said, gesturing to another guard. "You'll be escorted to the portal research zone."
Walker gave a silent nod and tossed the keys.
The guard led them to a large transport van parked nearby. It was a secure model—two compartments, the front separated from the back with no passage between. The back door was the only way in.
Inside, the back compartment had parallel bench seats along the sides, facing each other. The space was tight, sterile, and clearly made to restrict movement.
They climbed in. A guard sat with them in the back, silent and armed. Two others entered the front seats, one driving, the other on lookout.
The door slammed shut behind them.
The van rolled forward.
The van passed through the gate. The first thing the group saw was a wide, two-storey building. The guard seated with them began to explain.
"This is the main building—mostly used for administrative and management tasks. We'll be heading deeper into the forest, to the heart of the facility, where the portal research area is located."
The van continued along a narrow road surrounded by dense forest. The atmosphere was quiet and still. As the sun began to set, the light dimmed, and the street lamps flickered on.
After a fifteen-minute drive, they arrived in front of a large square field of grass. Three glass buildings, each three storeys high, stood on three sides of the field.
Some of the rooms inside the glass buildings were lit, their lights glowing faintly against the darkening sky.
The van rolled to a stop beside a narrow concrete path that led directly toward the central glass building.
The guard seated with them stood up and knocked on the rear door. "We're here," he said, pushing it open.
Myth stepped out first, his eyes scanning the area — wide open space, neat rows of security cameras, and the cold, clinical aura of a government-funded lab. Sira followed, quiet but observant, her fingers curled around the edge of her coat.
Ashley and Walker exited next, exchanging nods with the guards stationed nearby.
"This way," the lead guard gestured toward the building.
They passed through sliding glass doors into a brightly lit lobby. The air inside was cool, filled with the faint hum of servers and distant beeping from control panels. Large display screens on the walls showed data logs, security feeds, and maintenance schedules.
"This building houses the main portal chamber," the guard explained as they walked. "It's on the far end of the ground floor — reinforced and under constant surveillance."
Down a sterile white hallway, they finally reached a secured door with a bio-lock system. The guard pressed his thumb to the scanner and entered a short passcode.
A soft beep. The door hissed open.
Beyond it stretched a vast, high-ceilinged chamber.
At its center stood a massive metallic ring—about ten meters in radius. The thick, two-meter-wide frame gleamed in matte black. Embedded at the very top of the arch was a small circular orb glowing with a faint, pulsing blue light.
Countless heavy wires snaked out from the ring, connecting it to towering machines lined neatly along the right side of the chamber. Their humming filled the air with a subtle vibration.
To the left were enclosed rooms with wide glass panes—labs, by the look of them. Inside, scientists worked at computers and fiddled with compact devices that emitted soft flickers of light.
The air was sterile and cold.
A man in formal attire approached the group, adjusting the ID clipped neatly to his coat pocket. His receding white hair was combed with precision, and thick-rimmed glasses framed sharp, analytical eyes. Though his expression remained composed, his gaze moved carefully from face to face—measured, calculating, like he was filing each of them away.
"My name is Dr. Elric Vonn," the man said, approaching them. "I'm the lead systems analyst here. I assume you're here regarding the incident."
Myth nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the glowing orb embedded at the top of the metallic frame.
"Yes," Walker replied. "We'll be speaking with you and others in the facility. We'll also need access to relevant data to verify everything. I advise you to be honest—any false claims will lead to charges."
Dr. Vonn gave a respectful nod.
"Understood, sir."
Walker folded his arms. "Let's start with the basics. Tell us exactly what happened that day—no details left out."
Dr. Vonn took a breath. "Of course. But first, are you familiar with the concept of a Bounded Core?"
Myth looked at Dr. Vonn, his tone calm but firm.
"No. Start from the very beginning," he said, eyes steady.