Claire Merigold 

It took me but a few minutes to reach the hospital from my apartment, using my lightning enhanced body to leap from tall building to tall building, from roof to roof. Using my power to flow fast like a killer wasp but flow as gentle as a nano fly. 

As I approached the hospital, I was surprised to see what I hoped, was the entirety of the hospital staff, waiting outside in the front car park meant for patients. All of them standing around and looking incredibly anxious. From what I could hear using my enhanced senses, they believed it it be some kind of terrorist attack on the hospital. 

As I landed above them, I raised my golden rapier above my head, sending loud crackling sparks yo into the air, that caused a few to jump and gasp in shock, but nonetheless, getting the attention of everyone inside. 

“Is everyone here safe? Has everyone evacuated from the facility?” 

I asked, looking around as the huddle is doctors, nurses, cleaners and receptionists all verbally and nonverbally confirmed that they were safe and that everyone had evacuated the building… well, that was until one woman. A mousy looking woman with brown hair, dark eyes and thick circular glasses piped up and came forward 

“D-Dr Smith and his little boy Edward h-haven’t left yet. They went in to retrieve something that Dr. smith had left but… but they hadn’t left before the explosion.” 

She said in a worried tone, her hands covering her mouth, her eyes beginning to drip with tears as she began to ramble. It was almost completely inaudible, so once again, I spoke my senses in order to hear exactly what she was saying… and then I heard it. 

“… that poor boy… beautiful wheat… hair and intelligent… blue eyes… hope they’re okay.” 

As I heard this, my mind immediately flashed to that day almost a year ago. The family of three… with that boy. I wasn’t sure if it was them, after all, blonde hair and blue eyes was very common… however they way she described him. It had to me him. 

“Where did the explosion originate from?” 

I asked hurriedly, my mind racing for countless possibilities on how they could possibly be entangled in this situation. Only one idea coming to mind. 

“The explosion originated from the awakening chamber, located three floors underground. It’s a new model… so maybe there was a malfunction with it or something… it just… suddenly exploded out of nowhere. The explosion also fried all the electronics in the…” 

However, the man’s voice was lost to me, as I was already deep into the hospital, my senses no longer directed towards him, but scouring throughout the entire hospital and searching for any signs of life. Movement, sound, vibrations. Anything and then, I felt them, two Mana signals from beneath the building, one first ring mage and a second ring less one, about three floors down. Right where the man outside had said the awakening chamber was. So, I was right, all this had been caused by that boys awakening… incredible. 

Deducting that the lift would take far too long, I headed towards the stairs, leaping down the small gap between them and free falling momentarily until I spotted the sign that read “3rd floor. Awakening chamber” in big bold black letters. As I did so, I let my body fall passed the floor, before using my left hand, my right still holding onto my rapier just encase a battle ensued, to grab on to the black, metal railing of the stairwell and hoist myself on to the floor. 

As soon as my toes touched the ground I dashed like a bullet through the double doors that led to the passageway towards the chamber, down the long hallway where smoke was slowly billowing out from and through the double doors on the other end, into the chamber itself. 

As I entered, my vision was immediately engulfed by smoke as it clung around the room and tried to seep its way into my lungs. However, by releasing a small pulse of Mana from my body, the smoke around me cleared immediately... granting me full sight of the two Mana signatures that I had sensed.  

A black-haired man, dressed in smart, casual clothing with a clean-shaven face, apart from his rather thick moustache, and intelligent ocean-coloured eyes, that were currently soaked in tears. And in his arms, well... on the floor in the centre of the room with his father draped around him, and it was him. The wheat blonde haired boy with eye’s just like his fathers. What was his name again... ah yes, Edward. Edward Smith. 

Noticing that the two had been staring at me staring at them, their eyes wide with what looked like shock and fear, I smiled warmly at the two, transferring my rapier into my spacial ring located on the middle finger of my right hand. Indicating to them that I meant no harm as I slowly approached 

“Are you two alright? Any injuries?” 

I asked tentatively as I continued to approach, however, as I saw the father, Dr. Smith, grasp a hold of his child tighter, his eye’s filled with fear and guilt at what had happened, I ceased my approach. Getting down low so that we were more eye levelled so that I looked less threatening. A trick I often used with children or small animals. 

“Calm down sir. I’m not here to arrest you or turn you in for what you’ve done.” 

I said reassuringly to the man. At first, he looked at me through narrow, calculating and observing eyes. Similar to what his son beside him was currently doing, before relaxing slightly, his demeanour becoming more confident as he leaned off of his son and sat to face me, legs crossed. Seeing this as an opportunity, I joined him, sitting on the floor, my legs crossed. 

“Why would you do that? I know who you are... your Claire Merigold, the commander of the third division. W-we met once... a year ago at Sky bridge hall... so why would you protect someone who has done something wrong?”