Though as much as Sara doesn’t want to think about what had happened previously, her sleep was disturbed the night after the incident.

Such harrowing exposures aren't new to her. As a survivor of Capital’s breach, a horror of loss and powerlessness is ever-present at the back of her mind. Seeing corpses, piles of monster remains, fires engulfing once peaceful neighborhoods, then the state of disarray that follows … she doesn’t even remember if she ever had a parent. 

The traumatic experience likely makes her more sensitive when it is about Sentinel attacking, even though she can stand up for herself now. Sara thought she was over it, but guess when she’s being at the heart of the matter, it is different.

She tries to carry on, somehow still able to submit an incident report when she’s back to the Guide Center. The injured and the fallen were transported straight to the hospital and care centers, while she, a handful of Guides that survived, and a few Espers who were defending the line, were to report to the team leader. But then Sara only senses the all-familiar sinking feeling when she’s alone, when she’s back to the confines of her apartment.

Though sleep evades her and recollection of past nightmares haunts, Sara doesn’t take a day off. She can only think it won’t do any better for her to be alone in silence for now.

After her morning duty is done, Sara brings herself to the hospital. A short walk from the Guide Center, she plans to visit Penelope, whom she knows should be receiving treatment there. Guides might not be prone to having Mental Out or Zone situations like Espers, but when they’re exposed to high level Aether, there’s no telling how fast the corruption goes for them. Penelope is also brave enough to rescue the researcher group despite everything, although mostly it is the Espers who take the credit from the postmortem report.

Sara bites her thumb, suppressing an urge to curse.

She steps into the reception area, inquiring where the patient named Penelope Ardan might be. Sara is later then led to the special ward for outpatients Espers and Guides. She tries to school her expression, thinking that Penelope is doing well, and not fearing for the worst.

Sara pauses before the last door of the corridor, hearing that someone is talking inside the room, but it sounded like a mumbling monologue rather than two people conversing. She knocks on the door before entering, to find that there’s already someone inside the patient room.

Red hair that reflects the pouring light of midday sun, the dark skin that glows in a faint golden hue. White shirt, dark blue tie, an Esper.

Sara never knows that anyone will bother to visit a Guide, especially someone who’s likely partnered with each other for the first time.

Penelope is still sound asleep. The monitor beside her bed shows that she is in stable condition. Her hand is hooked with a few drips, blood transfusion and saline. The black-haired woman looks frail, but otherwise better than the time Sara sees her after the first Acceleration Wave. She lets out a sigh of relief. 

“Miss Khalida.”

Right, she almost forgot that she’s not the only one there.

“I’ve never … seen an Esper who’ll come by to a Guide’s patient room before.” Sara says frankly as she crosses her arms. “Unless you’re Paired with Miss Penelope?”

Because you’re not the type to look like to hit on any Guides you find, unlike some cheeky Espers.

Amara shakes her head, “I just want to know her condition, and while I’m at the hospital, I’ve decided to pay a visit.”

Sara remembers when she does her Guiding to Amara. Usually, Sara won’t really care, or someone will already demand her to Guide rather than she volunteers to do it. She recalls Amara’s darkened eyes, not in dire strait yet, but it can be worse. There doesn’t seem to be any sign of visible wound, except for the plaster on her cheek.

We did our best— Sara finds her hands clenching when she thinks back about the Raid, and she is feeling helpless again.

She already gets what she comes here for, there’s no need for her to stay longer with an Esper there. Maybe she’ll return tomorrow or the day after, hoping Penelope is awake.

But Amara moves first, stopping her by the arm.

“I haven’t thanked you properly for yesterday, and I’m sorry I have yet to be able to return your handkerchief.”

“... And?” Sara breaks free. Her eyes are on attention, though she isn’t sure what Amara’s angle is.

Amara’s smile widens as her shoulders relax. “It’s about lunchtime soon, how about we go together for lunch? My treat.”

Sara rolls her eyes, then pushes her glasses back up, “Sorry, I should return to the Guide Center soon.”

She never wants to be too involved with any Espers, and she simply does her usual dodging. Amara doesn’t pursue, though her expression belies in disappointment, “I see. Apologize for having bothered you during your duties.”

Sara gives a mute nod before she marches away from the room, sighing when she’s out of the earshot from Penelope’s room and Amara.

That was awkward.

Two weeks after that Raid, more Raids and Defensive Skirmishes are reported to take place on-site of Remote Town Malkuth.

It seems that they’re trying to root out the cause of the rise of Aether level around Monolith 7889, and perhaps subjugate the increasing number of monsters sighted near the Capital’s first wall.

The influx of Espers coming for Guiding to the Center has Sara on her toes most of the time nowadays. Most of them are quiet, as they also suffer from injuries that Physician Guides like her can handle, but also there are those who’re in severe condition. Either their eyes close to glow, or they experienced tremors that’s close to Zoning. Mentalist Guides are overwhelmed by Mental Out Espers that afternoon that Sara had to work an extra shift to help. 

They said that the condition will improve soon and the enemies are diminishing, though they still have to extensively guard the Monolith for the time being.

The Capital has walls made with an improved Aether alloy materials like Monolith that surround them, separating them from Remote Towns. The breach that happened twenty years ago was said to be ‘Sentinel Invasion’ as the rising Aether level and the overwhelming monsters storm the walls. One may also say that it is a ‘natural disaster’ rather than ‘man made phenomenon’, but rumors that excessive Aether mining outside the Capital is also serving as a problem of such unrest.

No one really knows—no one cried over spilt milk, and what she could do now as one with powers, is to do what she can to not repeat the tragedy.

Fortunately for her, though, as she is a Physician type, most of her duties lie in Phase 1 Guiding. Then again, making contact with a lot of people a day, then caring for their injuries while at it before they’re moved to the care unit, is quite tiring. Not to mention that sometimes Physician types like Sara will be called to be the first response team for the current Raid run, as their skills are more useful when on-field.

Penelope joins Sara in the first response team today. She is already recovered enough to get back to her work, but Sara can’t help but to ask the meek woman sometimes.

They’re taking their break together in the corner of the makeshift tent right after the first aid round finishes. Espers needing intensive care are already taken care of, and the ones doing Phase 2 Guiding are doing their job in private chambers.

“I-I may look like this, but I’m stronger than I look.” she says with a cute huff.

Sara chuckles, “It’s not that I doubt you, you’re a Mentalist.”

“Miss Angkara often asks me too whenever we happen to meet,” Penelope sighs. The mention of that name raises Sara’s brow.

“Miss Angkara?”

Penelope beams, “Yes. I happen to see her meeting up with the S-Class Espers group for a briefing on Defense duty.”

It is what makes Amara known as ‘The Tempest’. Despite being an A-Class, her tactical prowess makes her to be called as advisor to fellow A or S-Class Espers. Is it why she does not often do Guiding, as she is rarely in vanguard duty? Sara wonders.

“You … seem to trust her, Miss Penelope.” 

“E, Eh? Ah, well. You do remember when she tried to draw fire when we rescued the researchers back then, right?”

“It’s all you, Miss Penelope.”

“B-But, if not for her, the Sentinel will already attack the researcher … or us.”

Penelope isn’t wrong, though Sara feels that something doesn’t sit right with her. Or is it her being biased?

“Guides! Ready for next first aid duty!” someone outside the tent yells. 

Blaring sirens approach the tent from all sides, a sign that another transport is coming for them, Penelope and Sara return to their position, and they’re quickly handling any Espers in need of Guiding there. Ones who don't need Guiding or chose not to take Guiding will go for the medical aid or relief station for replenishment or minor scrapes.

“H-Hey, be gentle~” the Esper stutters when Sara tries to heal their broken bone.

“I’m gentle enough,” Sara shrugs. She watches as the Esper is about to touch her side. “Don’t try to do anything funny as I take care of your arm.”

“Aww, bummer.”

Sara glares at them, and they are quiet for the remainder of treatment.

The brown-haired Guide moves in autopilot, as there is a lot to care for and she doesn’t stay for one Esper for too long. Healing sprains, broken bone, or a gash isn’t too hard as long as it doesn’t fester. There’s only so much an A-Class Esper can do, and it is better to leave the injury treatment to medical aid and preserve their stamina for Guiding.

Guiding is not necessarily ‘absorbing’ accumulation from Esper to Guide. To put it simply, Guides act as a ‘natural antidote’ who can neutralize the ‘negatives’ and turn the accumulation from Espers power buildup to ‘positives’. Though for Physicians like Sara, she can also help to promote physical healing abilities from said Esper, sometimes even healing the wound quickly.

“Ugh, Bond Breaker?”

“Do you want to be treated or not?” Sara scowls as the next patient faces her on that chair. She already offers her hand, but Esper seems reluctant.

“... Fine, just make it quick.”

It ends up more as a handshake where Sara positions herself to nullify the negative energy to a certain level, then she finally lets go.

Sara doesn’t bother to look over her shoulder when the Esper stomps away, somehow irritated. It’s not the first time she got to be dismissed like that just because she openly detest anyone trying to exploit her.

She feels her hand shaking slightly. Maybe she’s soon hitting her limit. She adjusted her glasses, taking a few deep breaths, then receiving another Esper.

Focus on the negative energy, dispel it, move on. Focus. Focus.

The line thins, only two more people on her palate and the first aid round will soon end.

“Excuse me!”

Someone interrupts Sara’s line, an Esper lady with round glasses and purple hair tied in twin tails. She seems apologetic as she waves her hand to the line, making a few gestures with her arms, then turns to Sara. Sara only notices a bit later that she’s out of breath and flustered. She is also not in a good shape, with her sleeve in tatters, and there’s a sign of blisters and scars on her hand, as she is fresh out of the battlefield.

“It’s—an emergency,” she speaks fast as she takes Sara’s hand in a hurry. “You have to come with me, quick!”

“H-Huh?” Penelope, who’s stationed not far from Sara, also perks up. Though as the Esper said, ‘critical’, Sara can’t help but to follow suit. People around them begin to whisper around as the Esper pulls Sara out of the tent then straight to a transport vehicle.

There’s a Guide in the van, her black shirt caked in blood, but she looks unfazed. Her snow white hair that grows past her back, sharp red eyes with a permanent scar that runs on its right side—Sara is familiar with this S-Class Guide. Or to be exact, no one in Guide Center won’t know about the prodigy Guide Livia Valendorf.

The van roars through the road, taking them from the first aid point somewhere in Malkuth. 

“Is this the Guide?” she says in a cold tone when the bespectacled Esper drags Sara with her.

“The record says so, she’s the last person to be in contact with her—giving her Guiding, nonetheless!” the Esper answers the Guide.

Sara’s eyes go wide. She can only dare to imagine what situation she is getting into at first, but now—

“Loath to admit, my Guiding powers somehow can’t work on her, and neither do others who’re available in the critical point …” the snow-haired maiden clenches her fist on her lap. “So we have to search for you, Miss—Sara Khalida, is it?”

“Is this about Miss Angkara?” her throat feels dry, somehow. She tries not to think too much of blood on Livia’s shirt, but it seems like asking for a moon.

“Oh, you’re quick on uptake, save us from explaining—ugh, sorry, I was a bit panicked.” the bespectacled Esper scratches her cheek. When her hand trembles, Livia holds her. 

Her eyes, bloodshot, try to focus. “We’re having a bit of a situation on Monolith 7889, and … we’re still fighting, but if not because of Amara, we were likely doomed.”

“She’s treated for her bigger wound, but she must be Guided ASAP.” Livia finishes for her.

Sara feels her heart sinking, and her hands suddenly run cold.