In an office, a tall man with curly black hair and cold, indifferent blue eyes stared at his communicator. The man, Leo, was writing another psychological report. It was a boring job. Not only had he asked the same questions probably a hundred times by now, but he also had to deal with some of them crying, forcing him to pretend he cared while trying to comfort them.
'At least it pays well.'
Oh and how well it paid… He probably would be able to comfortably retire before hitting his fifty, and that was without making good investments.
'What can I say, life is good.' he added silently, giggling a little.
After ending his final report, he stretched his arm, looking at his finished work.
All new Sleepers had been properly interviewed. Like every year, there were the ones who stood out. He tapped at the photo of a girl with white hair and white eyes, this was particularly amazing, even he had to admit. Never in his career he had even heard about someone receiving a True Name in the First Nightmare. If she weren't Nephis of The Immortal Flame, he would never believe it.
'I wonder if it's in the genies.'
Next, he clicked a photo of a boy with brown hair and green gentle eyes. Han Li Caster, this one was also promising. He shared his aspect ability with him, and, well, what can he say… It's amazing, he surely will make the world shake when he awakens.
'Living up to his Clan's name.'
But there were also the ones who stood out for being particularly… Well, let's just say their chances of survival weren't the highest.
Scrolling past many others and reaching the bottom of the list he had made, Leo tapped on two photos at once.
One showed a pale boy with black hair and dark eyes. Sunless.
The other, a girl with blond hair and blue, lost-looking eyes. Cassia.
It has been hard to evaluate the boy, he was too evasive, dodging his question with somewhat ambiguous answers. So he had no choice but to put him close to the bottom, he would be the last one if not for Cassia. Leo felt a little pity for her. Her flaw was especially bad, basically a death sentence in a world like this one.
'Whatever,' he sighed, it wasn't his
problem anymore.
Looking at the clock, he saw that it was almost time for lunch, he had to publish this soon. Getting up, he was getting ready to leave his office when a knock in the door interrupted him.
"Come in," he said.
When the door opened, a girl stepped into the room. She was wearing a dark blue hoodie, the same kind the Academy handed out for free in the winter, along with matching pants and sneakers that had clearly seen better days.
Her dark silk hair tied in a pony tail, matched her olive skin, making her seem like someone trying very hard to blend into the background, and almost succeeding, that was if not for her eyes.
They were hazel… no, they seemed made of gold, the purest it had ever existed. It was hypnotical, for a few moments, Leo forgot all about the list and his task, he only stared at those gold coins. There was something behind them, yet Leo couldn't stop looking at them.
"I am here for the physiological consultation. Am I in the right place?" she asked… Wait, she? Why does her voice sound so masculine?
"Ah, yes." Leo had to use all his years of professionalism to recover. "Are you a Sleeper? I didn't see you in the list…"
"I am," Otto entered the room, making himself at home as he sat in a chair in front of the counselor. "I'm Otto. Now, the reason why I am not on your list… Well, let's just say that my existence is supposed to be a secret, you know."
'Another one of those secret legacies?'
Leo had met one of these in the past.
"Right," he said, sitting back down at his desk. "So, Otto, let's make this quick. You got in during the last hour. I was about to submit a list of the most promising Sleepers."
"Oh, a list?" Otto asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Uh, can I still make it? I'm sure I'd be pretty high up."
"Sure," he giggled, putting on his mask of a good counselor. He ready himself to begin writing. "Then let's begin. Would you mind telling me about the type of Aspect Ability you received, as in combat, sorcery, utility?"
"Hm… I am not sure, I guess it is combat."
"Combat," he mumbled while typing. "Are you able to deal direct damage with your ability?"
"No," Otto shook his head. "My aspect ability lets me heal any injury pretty fast." Then he raised from the chair and pulled up his hoodie, showing his scrawny and battered body, full of white scars. "See?"
There were many. Leo wasn't fond of scars, in fact, he could say that he despised them, but he managed to keep his professional expression.
"That seems like a strong Ability you have there," he said, then typed a bit more before continuing. "How does it work? Are you able to heal from any injury? Does it always leave a scar, or is that only for the ones that were cut open?"
"I don't know," Otto ran his hand through his hair, "Probably any injury, but it takes time, like, a lot of time. These ones took at least two days to mend, that was two days feeling pain and having to rest."
"I see," Leo nodded. "Okay, Otto, one last question. A power like this usually comes with a pretty heavy price, right?" He forced the best smile he could manage. "So, do you want to talk about your Flaw? Maybe the government can help you live with it."
Normally Leo wouldn't ask that question, especially to a legacy like him. But for some reason, he thought that he should. He had a hunch that Otto would tell him.
"My Flaw?" he repeated.
Otto looked cautious for a moment, then a sinister smile flickered across his face. It lasted only an instant, so brief that Leo wasn't even sure it had really been there.
"Sure, my Flaw is a nasty one. I sure welcome some help from the government. You see…" he trailed off, making a dramatic pause, one that didn't escape Leo's years of experience, "I can't tell the truth."
Leo frowned.
'Did I hear it right?' he couldn't. 'Can't tell the truth? Then…'
"You—" but before he could finish it, his communicator started ringing, he had to finish his report and deliver the list. Taking a deep breath, he said: "Ok Otto, you can go now. Thanks for your… contribution. And remember, I will always be here if you ever need more physiological help."
Otto nodded, barely holding back his laughter. He stood up and left the room, closing the door behind him.
Leo could hear him laughing through the door.
'This fucker!' he snapped internally, his expression twisting into pure hate. It was the first time someone had ever dared to lie to his face like that, and worse, to rub it in. 'Let's see who gets the last laugh.'
He opened the list on his communicator and searched for Otto. He couldn't find the boy. It was like he never existed. But that was actually good, if it didn't exist, all Leo had to do is create. It would take a while, probably he would deliver the list a bit late, yet it was worth it.
"Let's see if you will laugh now," he said, a wicked smile spreading across his face.