After some time, Rey finally saw it.
A gigantic gray metal facility stood before him.
The place gave off a suffocating feeling.
Cold.
Inhuman.
As if it hadn't been built for people…
But for machines.
— This is the Euphrates branch in Berlin — Lennon commented.
Rey stared at the structure.
— It's… huge.
Compared to that thing, he felt like an ant.
— Let's go.
Lennon walked forward as if it were completely normal.
As if that massive structure wasn't anything special.
The building resembled a dome.
Or perhaps a hill made of steel.
As soon as they entered, Lennon simply waved at the receptionist.
He didn't even need to explain who Rey was.
Rey frowned.
— Didn't you say you became a bearer three months ago?
— How do you already know everything here?
Lennon replied without looking back:
— I'm the son of a bearer.
— I grew up in this place.
To him, it was normal.
They started walking through long corridors.
Empty.
Without any real human presence.
Only the constant hum of the air conditioning.
Cold.
Mechanical.
It felt more like a metal labyrinth than a building.
After a few minutes, Rey had no idea how to get back.
— You're going to undergo medical exams — Lennon said. — Tell me your age, height, and weight.
Rey scratched his head, a bit embarrassed.
— I'm 16…
— I don't know my height.
— Or my weight.
Lennon sighed.
— Do you at least know your blood type?
Rey lowered his head slightly.
— No…
His ears turned slightly red.
Then Lennon asked, with a hint of sarcasm:
— You at least know your full name, right?
— Reine Natch — Rey replied.
— Do you have family?
Rey hesitated for a second.
— I have a sister.
— Sther.
— She's 14.
— Just her? — Lennon asked.
— Just her.
After that, they arrived at a door with a sign:
Medical Wing
As soon as they entered, they saw a woman.
Brown hair tied in a bun.
Deep dark circles marked her face.
Her brown eyes looked tired.
— Lennon… you look like hell — she said.
— Just a few scratches — he replied.
She then looked at Rey.
— And this one?
— Newbie — Lennon said. — Needs exams.
Akira analyzed Rey for a few seconds.
Before she could ask anything, Lennon interrupted:
— Don't bother asking.
— He doesn't know anything beyond his name.
Akira sighed, clearly exhausted.
— You always give me more work…
She gestured with her hand.
— Come here.
Rey stepped forward.
She positioned him next to a measuring scale.
— Name?
— Reine Natch.
Akira wrote it down.
— Strange name…
She yawned.
Then told Rey to step onto a scale.
She collected a small blood sample.
— Wait there.
Meanwhile, she approached Lennon with a medical kit.
— What happened to you?
— I had to deal with senior Ruben.
Akira raised an eyebrow.
— That grumpy guy?
— So he really betrayed Euphrates…
She opened the kit and took out a needle and suturing tools.
— Take off your shirt.
Lennon obeyed.
His defined abdomen revealed years of training.
Akira began stitching his wounds calmly.
— And that kid? — she asked while working. — Where did you get him?
— Ruben was trying to kill him.
— And I needed help.
— So I forced his awakening.
Akira let out a faint nasal chuckle.
— That's cruel.
— The situation demanded it — Lennon replied.
After that, silence filled the room.
Only the sound of the needle piercing skin.
And the low hum of medical equipment.
Until…
Beep.
The machine analyzing Rey's blood made a sound.
The sound echoed through the room.
Beep.
The machine displayed the result:
Blood type: O positive.
Akira turned without much surprise.
She walked to a shelf filled with medication.
There were all kinds of pills.
Some with heavy warning labels.
Others more common.
The strong smell of disinfectant filled the room.
It was uncomfortable.
For Rey, all of this was completely new.
It was the first time he had ever stepped into a real medical facility.
The closest thing he had known before…
Was a pharmacy.
Akira returned with a small pack of pills and handed it to him.
Rey took it, still a bit confused.
— What are these for? — he asked.
Akira answered directly:
— They treat the symptoms of angelic flu.
She paused briefly.
— But they don't cure it.
Rey tightened his grip on the package.
— They only reduce the effects.
Akira looked away for a moment before continuing:
— And… unfortunately, they're not free.
— They reduce your life expectancy.
Silence fell for a moment.
— Take him to fill out the paperwork — Akira said, already returning to her routine.
Lennon nodded.
But before he could move—
— Wait.
Rey stepped forward.
Akira looked at him again.
— What is it?
Rey hesitated for a second.
But then spoke, sincerely:
— I want to ask for something.