"Please tell me you'll accept the position-"

Kyrian shot a scathing look at the man beside him in the hospital room. If looks could kill, Kyrian wholly wished this was the moment to prove it. 

Bright yellow eyes crinkled in return as the man innocently smiled. 

"Well?"

"..."

"Even if he is an Esper, he doesn’t have a secondary gender, so I don’t believe there would be a problem that you’re an Alpha."

Pausing, Kyrian sat unmoved as he pondered the words. What he was referring to was the second gender that people began to manifest once the rifts were opened to the Other Side. It was a dimension full of mana and strange anomalies, nearly impossible to traverse unless it was an Esper or a Guide.

Along with the people presenting as Espers and Guides, others also began developing the genders Alphas and Omegas after several years of exposure. Alphas typically exhibited enhanced physical strength, hormonal resilience, and a biological drive to protect or claim their bonded partner. Omegas on the other hand, had high emotional resonance, intense sensitivity to pheromonal stimuli, and a biological capacity for pregnancy regardless of their primary gender.

They weren’t overly welcomed by society, solely because of the conflicts that arose during Omega’s heats and Alpha’s ruts. Though merely a hormonal cycle that determined a time of fertility, secondary gendered individuals tended to lose all reason when in heat or rut.

Generally, it was harder for Omega’s to regulate their heats than it was for Alpha’s with their ruts, but it wasn’t impossible for them to live normal lives.

Thus, having an Esper or Guide that also had a secondary gender was not entirely uncommon, but it was best not to pair the two unless the circumstances called for it, and if both parties were familiar with each other and consented. Their bonds were much deeper than just the normal lockstep or tethering that Espers and Guides generally experienced, due to the mating aspect.

Huff. Kyrian sighed in defeat.

"I don't know, Seok. That thought honestly had not even crossed my mind as a concern in this… I just. Politics…"

Kyrian trailed off, trying to sort his racing thoughts. Why was he opposed to the proposal if his secondary gender wasn’t an issue? 

He was concerned about getting caught up in unnecessary political drama between the two leading organizations in the country. 

Aegis Division, the organization for which he was employed as a Guide, was a far less prominent figure compared to the legacy of Cerberus. They had risen in power only in recent years, coinciding with the social war for Esper rights, but the difference between them and the founding rift-defense department of Cerberus made them merely nouveau riche.

"You know this would be a perfect chance to rub shoulders with some elites at Cerberus, right? Make a name for yourself."

Seok's brow creased as he gave Kyrian a pleading look. 

Resisting yet another sigh, Kyrian lowered his head, announcing that he was done fighting. 

"Must you harass me even at work, Seok?"

Elated to see his resolve wavering, Seok clapped his hands together happily, the sharp sound ringing in Kyrian’s ears.

Before he could say anything further, a nurse came into the room with a clipboard in hand. She wore a startling white robe, rubber gloves disappeared under her wrist length sleeves, and a mask covered her lower face. Her grey eyes seemed tired, bored of the surroundings and the everyday mess of dealing with rampaging Espers.

"Are you ready for your next patient, Mr. Averin?"

"Er- Yes. I am."

Kyrian nodded, rising to his feet from the chair he had been resting in. Seok had hunted him down during his Guiding shift at the hospital, and insisted that he had time to chat for a moment. 

Being an S-Class Guide meant that he could effectively guide any Esper under B-Class with mere physical contact, so Aegis Division rented him out to their hospitals for Espers returning from rift missions.

The bastard has taken years off of my life at this point.

Exasperated, he swallowed his complaints and followed the nurse without a sound, leaving Seok in the empty hospital room.

***

Aegis Division, though newer, was adamant that Espers and individuals with second genders received better care and rights. Years prior, when the second genders and other anomalies first began presenting, Espers immediately took charge of the situation. Some abused their strength to overpower Guides, those with second genders committing even more heinous offenses, causing nearly as much damage to civilization as the ruptured rifts spewing mana and monsters.

The result was an overcompensation on government official’s and leader's part. They wanted to put Espers in line, but went even further by forcing them to submit through rather inhumane ways. What better way to control a person with strength like a wild animal, than to tame them like a wild animal.

Public opinion in recent years had changed drastically, but it wasn't entirely enough. Espers proved they could behave, but there was still a large margin of them that were mistreated and oppressed.

Kyrian mulled over his thoughts as slowly stirred his dinner around his canteen tray. He knew that Cerberus had made a public declaration several years ago claiming peace for Espers. They also had one of the highest Esper employment rates in the country.

Working with them would most likely be beneficial for Aegis Division's desire to change the way the world viewed Espers, as they seemed to have a common goal.

But an S-Class Esper? Really?

Despite the doubts and hesitation, Kyrian knew deep down that he would ultimately accept the proposal. There was no good reason not to, outside of his inherent dislike of getting involved with the messy politics and power games. 

If there was ever going to be a positive change though, he needed to be willing to put himself out of his comfort zone. Better to start now as a willing party, than truly be forced into it someday.

Shoulders heavy, he took his tray, disinterested in its churned contents, and disposed of it at the trash bin.

Food was the last thing he felt he needed at the moment. The only way he could go through with accepting Cerberus’ generous offer was with a good night’s rest.