Ruler of Beyonders

He opened his eyes on next morning.

His head was filled to heavy. Then he show towards his hand watch. A silver black round watch. A watch clung tightly to his skin. Sleek, compact. A gift from the facility years ago, built with advanced tech that synced to nearly everything around him.

He tapped the screen and show the call logs.

Missed calls.

More than a dozen.

All from the facility.

Than he recalled previous days memories. He realised that he had to released that girl too.

He remembered now. The council meeting. The decision. The girl they chose to release. The girl he was meant to retrieve.

He stood slowly, stretching out the tension in his arms and shoulders. Then, he turned his eyes towards the beautiful calm lake and in a flicker of energy, he vanished from the rocky lakeside and reappeared in his private chamber.

Each elite member had one.

His chamber is typical bedroom type like normal home.His chamber was dim. The walls carried a soft blue glow, mimicking natural light. It was peaceful. Almost too peaceful for a world that was breaking apart.The chamber looked nothing like the training rooms or labs. It was more like a normal home. A bed with soft sheets. A wooden desk. Shelves filled with memory cards, old books, a photo frame with a family portrait tucked upside-down. A tiny kitchen in the corner.

Ren entered the bathroom and turned the water on.

Steam rose.

He stood under the shower for a long time, letting the heat drive the heaviness out of his bones. Then he dried himself, changed into a fresh black uniform, and made breakfast. A simple omelette with bread and hot tea.

He sat by the wide window, sipping slowly.

Outside, the mountains glowed under the morning sun. Their peaks cut into the mist like blades. It was beautiful, untouched. Hard to believe a battle had ever been fought so close.

Seroi rested his elbow on the window frame, eyes fixed on the horizon.

A sharp ringtone echoed through the room.

He raised his wrist and answered the call.

"Operator," he said calmly.

The screen lit up with the face of a lean, sharp-eyed man with circular lenses and slicked-back hair. He wore the standard black coat of the facility's technical division.

"Sir Seroi," the Operator said. "We tried to reach you last night but can't reached you like you didn't answered our calls. Are you okay sir? Also the council sent confirmation. You are to retrieve Subject Elara from containment."

Ren didn't blink.

"I remember. I am okey don't worry about me. Soon reach their."

"All the preparations have been made. But one condition remains her awakening must not be forced like we can't force her. If she must come willingly, than we can implement our plan otherwise not. You know how terrible that girl is!"

Seroi nodded.

"And if she doesn't co-operate with us?"

The Operator paused.

"Then we have plan B too."

Seroi nodded and smiled.

The screen blinked out.

He stood.

His heart beat a little faster than usual. Not from fear.

From something else.

He looked out the window one last time, then walked to the far corner of the chamber. A simple circle etched into the floor glowed faintly.

A teleport sigil.

He stepped on it and whispered, "Containment level."

The light flared.

And he vanished.

★★★

Deep beneath Arkenhall, past Tier Zero, past the sealed halls and forbidden labs, the containment sector breathed like a living heart.

Cold. Silent. Alive.

Seroi appeared at the center of a long black bridge. It stretched between two cliffs of metal, suspended over a pit of glowing crystal veins. The walls pulsed with red light. Dozens of mechanical arms moved through the dark, tending to reactors and shield locks.

At the far end, a door waited.

Tall.

Silent.

And guarded by two armored sentinels.

Seroi approached slowly.

The guards stepped aside without a word.

He placed his hand on the scanner. The metal under his palm grew warm.

"Identity: Commander Seroi. Authorization: Level Black."

The door hissed.

Steam rose.

Inside, the room was still.

A single capsule stood at the center. Glass. Covered in layers of seals. Floating slightly above a circular platform. Thick cables wrapped around it like vines.

Inside the capsule...

A girl.

Silver hair.

Pale skin.

Eyes closed.

Seroi stepped closer.

Her body hadn't changed. She looked exactly as she did the day she was sealed. Peaceful. Frozen.

But he could feel it.

The power hidden inside her.

It wasn't asleep.

Just waiting.

He raised his wrist and opened a control panel.

"Initiate manual release. Prepare psychic bridge."

The screen responded.

"Warning: Subject may resist contact. Proceed?"

He didn't hesitate.

"Proceed."

The capsule lit up.

Inside, her fingers twitched.

A flicker passed behind her closed eyes.

Seroi felt the pulse hit him a second later. Like someone brushing cold fingers across his spine.

And then…

Her eyes opened.

Gold.

Bright.

Alive.

She didn't speak.

She didn't scream.

She simply looked at him.

Then, softly, she said one word.

"Who?"

His breath caught in his throat.

"You're awake," he whispered.

She blinked once. Her face unreadable.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Seroi. Commander Seroi. Young lady !" His voice was quite low. Like he was in fear. Like he was talked with someone who holds immense power.

Then she tilted her head.

"Hmm... Commander Seroi. Why? Why are you awake me?"

"Because I came to get you. They ordered me to bring you back . My lady."

"And if I didn't want to be gotten?"

Seroi met her gaze.

"Then I'd stay until you changed your mind."

Silence.

Then she smiled. Just barely.

"Still stubborn."

"Always."

The containment locks disengaged.

The capsule lowered to the ground with a hiss. The front glass split open like a flower.

She stepped out.

Barefoot. Dressed in the thin white layer of the facility's cryo uniform.

Her feet touched the floor.

The ground vibrated slightly.

Seroi offered her his coat.

She took it without a word.

And together, they turned and walked out.

The guards watched silently. They in feared too. Their hands were shaken.

Far behind them, containment lights dimmed.

But the warmth remained.

Seroi and that girl walked together some moments and then they both used their magic to teleport.

They teleported in Seroi's chamber, Seroi sat on the edge of the bed while girl looked through the books on his shelf. Her expression was calm, curious, but something else hid behind her eyes.

She didn't ask.

Not yet.

The silence between them was easier than the questions.

But in her chest, a feeling grew.

Not hope.

Not fear.

Something deeper.

As if the world had just shifted again.

And this time, there was no going back.

★★★

Far above, in the highest layer of Arkenhall, the Operator watched the footage in silence.

The girl was awake.

The connection had been reestablished.

He turned to his side console and activated a secure line.

"Leader," he said. "Subject Elara has been retrieved. She is currently with Commander Seroi."

"Good," Leader's voice replied.

"Do we move to the next phase?"

There was a pause.

Then leader said,

"Not yet. Let them spend time with eachother. After than we will start our planning."

The line went silent.

The shadows returned.

And somewhere far beyond even Arkenhall's reach…