Neus Quarters, the place where agents came to rest, unwind, or spend their scarce leisure time.
Inside one room, two bunk beds were pushed against opposite walls. On the top bunk of one, Adam lay sprawled, lost in thought over the earlier events. His mind drifted constantly, only to be pulled back by the sharp grunts of Bart, standing nearby and hoisting weights.
"Huph! Three!"
Veins bulging along his arms and neck, Bart strained with every upward lift of the heavy iron. After finishing a set, Bart slowly set the weights down.
"You seem lost in thought, Adam," he said, wiping the sweat from across his face.
"Ah… I was just thinking about earlier," Adam replied. "I can't help but feel how weak we are compared to a Bearer."
Bart laughed loudly. "Such useless thoughts! Try lifting weights, it'll help you get back on track. Just be thankful to whoever you believe in that you're still here."
Just then, the door to their room slid open.
"You guys are way too loud. I could hear Bart's every breath from the hallway," Rye said as he stepped inside, a book in one hand and a chocolate bar in the other, munching it as he spoke.
"Oh hey! Rye, welcome back," Bart said.
"Have you guys seen the captain? I've got some important news that everyone needs to hear."
"What? Weren't you with the captain? I thought you were with him."
"I went out to get some snacks. Well, I'll just wait for the captain here. Anyway, what were you two talking about so loudly?"
"Adam's pondering some useless thoughts, talking about being weak, maybe he is, but definitely not me." Bart said.
"You wouldn't be in the Eclipse Squad if you were weak," Rye said proudly, lifting a hand to adjust his glasses, a grin spreading across his face.
Adam sighed and lay back down.
The three of them continued chatting casually, drifting from one topic to another. Bart's booming laughter echoing throughout the hallway.
After a long while, the Eclipse Squad's captain finally arrived and stepped into the room.
"Oh! Captain, we were looking for you!" Bart yelled, then froze. "But… why are you dressed like that?"
Right outside the door stood Karo, the captain, basically naked with only a towel wrapped around his lower half. Water dripped from his hair and down his shoulders, forming small puddles at his feet.
"What? I just got out of the bath," he said, raising an eyebrow as if they were the ones being odd. "We're all men here. Stop acting like you've seen a naked lady."
"This is perfect!" Rye said.
"What's perfect?" Karo asked, still standing half-naked in the doorway.
"Before I got here, Miss Alice asked me to gather everyone. She said she'd be here in a short while."
Just then, a figure casually walked up behind Karo and stopped.
"Oh! speaking of her. The timing couldn't have been more perfect."
The sound of boots tapping deliberately against the hallway floor echoed behind him.
Karo turned and froze. Alice stood there with her arms crossed, her expression stern.
"O-oh. Hello, Miss Alice," Karo said, immediately slipping inside the room, suddenly very motivated to get dressed.
"I'll be quick," Alice said. "No need to rush. The Warden would like to see everyone in the Eclipse Squad."
"He'll be at the training grounds. Well then, I won't take any more of your time. Good work," Alice said before turning away. The sound of her footsteps faded gradually down the hallway.
The moment they were sure no one else was nearby, all four of them burst into laughter.
When they finally calmed down, wiping tears, catching breath, Rye spoke first.
"Haa… What could be the Warden's reason for wanting to meet us? I've never even seen the Warden before."
"I heard he's pretty strong. Haven't you met him, Adam?" Bart asked, looking up at the top bunk.
"Yeah, he's really strong. Stronger than Pix, I'm sure, maybe even the unidentified Bearer earlier combined." Adam replied casually.
The group fell silent for a moment, each of them wondering what the Warden could possibly want.
"No point worrying about it," Karo said as he finished getting dressed. "Let's just go and see what it's about."
"I'm kinda nervous yet excited at the same time," Rye said, practically bouncing with energy. "The Warden himself wants to meet us! One of the strongest people on our side."
Adam exhaled, glancing at his partner, who was practically buzzing with excitement over meeting the Warden.
'I didn't really think about the Warden the first time I saw him… I was too caught up in my own grief back then. I guess it'll be different this time.'
The group stepped out, making their way slowly toward the training grounds.
At the Warden's chamber, Demurc sat at his desk, skimming through the profiles of every Eclipse Squad member.
He already knew Adam's profile quite well, having reviewed it in the past.
Adam was one of the most exceptional new recruits, but his first patrol had been met with nothing but bad luck.
Demurc sighed. "These agents are far better suited to work as a solo. No wonder their team fight synergy is lacking."
"Their feats are most impressive, I must admit," Demurc muttered.
Karo Zovna, the current captain of the Eclipse Squad, had managed to singlehandedly neutralize three Tier 7 devils armed with nothing but a knife and walked away with only minor, non life hreatening injuries.
Bart , Recognized for his incredible physical strength, capable of shattering concrete with his bare hands, even as a non-Bearer.
Rye, Competent in his field, skilled at handling and manipulating technology under pressure, able to adapt devices in the middle of critical operations.
Demurc leaned back in his chair, taking a slow sip of coffee.
"I should probably head out now... they're most likely waiting at the training grounds."
Setting his cup down, he rose and made his way toward the training grounds, leaving his chambers quiet and empty.