Ignatius chose not to dwell on the stranger or the unsettling smile that lingered on the boy's face.
He turned instead to the governor, straightening as his authority settled back into place.
"Akira," he said calmly, "would you like to explain what is happening here?"
Under normal circumstances, an unsanctioned arrival like this would have been met with drawn weapons and immediate restraint. But this was not a normal day.
Too many familiar faces stood in the circle. The governor. Selena. Darian. Members of Unit Alpha. Ignatius held his hand up, signaling restraint, and waited.
Akira didn't waste the opportunity. He explained everything, starting with the demon base and Gordon, then the "seven minutes," before finally recounting their return. Ignatius listened in silence as the details grew increasingly unbelievable. When the governor finally revealed the boy's identity as Leon, Ignatius let out a loud, sharp bark of surprise.
"What?"
The word echoed through the bastion.
