Her hand is still warm.

Amara Angkara Khurana leans back at where she sits, relaxing as the hectic crowd near her subsides.

Right after they are back from Remote Town Malkuth, any Espers that’s exposed with the C-rank Sentinel’s Acceleration Wave needs to go through various tests. They are worried that perhaps the rapid corrupting effect will affect the said Espers or they’re so close to the point of the zone or berserk.

But then, someone already gives her a ‘first aid’ beforehand—an unexpected turn of events that happened today. So when Amara is tested, nothing seems to be out of ordinary, just that she needs to take a day off to stabilize after the exposure of Acceleration Wave.

Acceleration Wave—a noise, or perhaps a ‘power’ imbued in ‘sound wavelength’ that may affect extrasensory perception which will induce a rise in Aether buildup in mind. It may affect those Espers that are sensitive to sound more than the other, and likely the reason why the state of berserk among the affected Espers are different. Amara might be affected as she is close to the site, but she still has it under control.

Or she could say, ‘almost’, if not because of a perceptive Guide who gives her a helping hand.

Amara looks at her own hand again, and she notices how it tingles in warmth that’s not hers. She closes and opens her hand, the sensation stays with her, like a brand. She never knows Guiding may induce such an effect on her.

She glances at her leather satchel strapped on her lower left foot, it is a place of the reserve for her relieving concoction in case she’s about to drive herself to a brink in the mission. 

There are several ways for Espers to cope with the buildup after their prolonged use of powers beside Guiding, and one of them is through medications. Technology has advanced so well that they are able to create an antidote that serves as a buffer effect similar to Guiding, and there won’t be any adverse effect. Guiding might be still advised most of the time rather than medicine substitute, but Amara finds it easier to find meds rather than rely on Guides. 

And, no, it isn’t because she doesn’t trust Guides. As a tactician, she always believes in the shortest possible shortcut for maximum outcome, stocking on meds is one of them.

Amara pulls out the handkerchief that she got from the same person that introduces her to Guiding, she ends up using it to wipe blood from her nose while she waits her turn to get herself tested. She doesn’t know when or where she will find her—Sara Khalida—again, but Amara will make sure to return the handkerchief someday.

“Amara!” a voice booms through the hallway as it zooms in, coupled with a rush of footsteps before someone glomps to her in a full hug. “Are you okay? You’re okay, right?”

“... It’s rare for you to be clingy, Fiona.” Amara laughs, surrendering to the touch. The twin-tailed young lady grins, though her brow furrows as she gives Amara a once-over.

“Dang, so you’re one of the Espers in the critical point to that C-rank.” Fiona concludes, likely from Amara’s state of unkemptness—as well as the hint of blood on her shirt and the scent of battle clinging on her. The warm blue eyes behind the round spectacles implore her again, then she backs away when Amara literally has to push her face away.

Amara sniffs, “And you smell like you’ve stayed longer to guard the Monolith 7889 this time. Smells like ash and ice.”

Her bosom friend pouts, “Aw, and here I’m trying to be all mysterious.”

Fiona Hamelin, S-Class Esper. An upbeat rich lady by a glance, but only the insider knows that she’s the ‘chief’ of Capital’s defense. If there’s a problem with the Monolith either in Malkuth or Netzach, or when there’s a possible ‘breach’ to Capital’s walls, Fiona will be the first one on the site.

They happen to be friends since long before both of them decided to take upon the duties as Espers, though sometimes Amara will joke around saying that she doesn’t want to stay too long around the ‘young mistress’ of Hamelin Company.

“But hey you haven’t answered me, are you okay?” Fiona asks again. “I heard about the Acceleration Wave, so I quickly looked for you.”

The redhead smiles, “I’m okay, don’t worry,” she adds before Fiona’s doubtful look strikes. “A Guide helps me.”

“A Guide.” Fiona blinks owlishly, as if she didn’t believe her ears, and didn’t believe the words she echoed. “A Guide! Wow! So there finally comes a day when someone Guides you!”

“Why do you say it as if I avoided Guides like plague?” Amara blanches. “You do know that sooner or later when we’re on vanguard duty, we’ll end up having to be Guided …”

Amara trails off. Unlike her, Fiona already has someone—a Pair, so to speak. She clears her throat. “I mean, well, unlike you who have ample experiences with Miss Valendorf.”

Fiona awkwardly coughs to her fist, “And stop saying as if I’m ogling Livia all for myself.”

Amara shoots her best dubious look, “And you say you’re not doing that?”

She doesn’t answer, merely let out a strangled laugh. Amara shrugs and changes the topic. She is not the type to tease too long—especially when they have another matter in hand to be discussed.

“Most of the researchers can’t make it back, likely already turned out to be monsters,” Amara frowns, her eyes cast downward. “It’s … a failure. The mission’s suicide.”

“Don’t say that. There are still some that returned,” Fiona gives Amara’s shoulder a consoling tap. “Don’t sell yourself so short. You know we can’t save everyone.”

Amara squares her shoulder and sighs. What Fiona says is true, there’s no way in such an operation, with the civilians already stranded for a long time inside Remote Towns, the chance of saving them all is high. Amara lifts her head after a while, finding Fiona still looking back at her with bright eyes.

If only she can be so positive like her, sometimes.

“Now then, you better head back. Shouldn’t you rest more?”

“They said so, but I think the Guiding really helps,” Amara says. “Don’t worry, I’ll still take that day off. I won’t risk myself being close to Mental Out.”

“Heh, ‘atta girl.” Fiona grins as she slaps on Amara’s back. She knows that she must’ve made Fiona worried, for usually Amara rarely becomes a vanguard for a situation so dire before. “I’ll see you next time when we have a day off, we better get something nice for all the heavy lifting we’re doing this week!”

Amara waves her goodbye as the spirited lady bounces off, likely about to fill her report card before clocking out. She checks her terminal, taking note of the time of her schedule after she needs to take a day off tomorrow, and glances over at the report from the team leader that’s distributed to everyone right as the Raid team returns back to the Capital.

Her thumb stops scrolling at the ‘members’. She scans the list for two names. Penelope and Sara Khalida.

Penelope has the red label of ‘Out of Commission’, then the description says, ‘Injury’, so likely she will be cared for in the hospital, it puts Amara at ease. And as for the other name, the label is green, meaning she doesn’t need to go for any therapy or be assigned for further care.

Sara Khalida.

Just as Sara is familiar with her despite her cold shoulder treatment, Amara is also aware of an ‘infamous’ Guide who is known as Bond Breaker. She hears about the said Guide to be uncooperative, but when Amara tries to take the lead earlier, Sara is a pretty reasonable person. Amara already factors a challenge if Sara ends up being a liability, but in the end, Sara helps her tremendously.

How can someone whose touch is so warm be regarded as a bad person?

Amara looks over at the handkerchief again, then she slips it in her pants pocket.

If perhaps they meet again in better circumstances next time, Amara must convey her appreciation better.