The city of Averia was a marvel in itself, an endless landscape of steel and glass that touched the sky. The high-rise towers glittered in the sunlight, their sharp angles and futuristic designs cutting through the thick, humid air. From a distance, it looked peaceful—modern, clean, and perfect. But beneath the façade, there was a restlessness. Averia was a city like no other. Every corner hummed with an undercurrent of tension, a quiet but constant reminder that the world had changed irrevocably.
The rifts had torn reality apart, and while the world had learned to adapt, the scars remained. Monsters from the other side spilled out every time a rift exploded. The chaos that followed was always inevitable, and the powers granted to Espers had become the world's last line of defense. Yet, for all their power, the Espers were fragile too. Each use of their abilities strained their bodies and minds, pulling them closer to the brink of madness.
It was Rowan Mercer's job to ensure that the Espers didn't cross that line.
Rowan stood before the entrance to Zarek Technologies, a beacon of hope in the midst of the chaos. It was one of the few places in Averia where the rifts were being studied more systematically—researchers, engineers, and experts working tirelessly to understand the phenomenon, to find a way to stabilize the rifts and the people who wielded their destructive power.
The building was a testament to human ingenuity—sleek, modern, and functional. Zarek Technologies had its fingers in many pies, but its main focus had always been on rift stabilization. Rowan had seen the faces of the people here—the scientists, the workers—and despite the advanced tech surrounding them, he knew they all shared the same fear: that someday, the rifts would overwhelm them, and humanity would be powerless to stop it.
He straightened his tie, adjusted his coat, and entered the building. As he passed through the revolving glass doors, the temperature shifted slightly—colder inside, air-conditioned, sterile, and impersonal. The lobby was minimalist, everything white and polished, with sharp lines and neat angles. It made Rowan feel slightly out of place in his black tailored suit, the only color on him the deep green of his tie and the faint hints of tattoos on his neck, a remnant of his past.
A voice echoed through the lobby, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Mr. Mercer, I'm glad you could make it on such short notice."
Rowan turned to see Evelyn Zarek, the CEO of Zarek Technologies, stepping out from behind a desk with a faint, tired smile on her face. She was tall, with dark, sharp eyes that gave off the impression of someone always thinking, always calculating. Her black hair was swept back into a neat bun, and her professional attire fit her image—intelligent, composed, and unshakable.
"I'm rarely late," Rowan replied coolly, though his voice held a tinge of exhaustion, a weariness that only someone who spent their life calming the worst of humanity's power could understand.
Evelyn's eyes narrowed, noticing the subtle strain beneath his calm exterior. She'd always respected Rowan's restraint, his professionalism, but even she could see how much it cost him. He wasn't a young man anymore, and the weight of his responsibilities as an S-class Guide was wearing on him.
"Please, follow me," she said, leading him down a corridor towards a more private part of the building.
"I wish I didn't have to call you in, but we're reaching a breaking point."
They entered a sleek conference room, one that overlooked the bustling city below. The view of Averia was breathtaking, but Rowan barely noticed it. He focused on the woman in front of him, sensing the urgency in her every movement.
"You're not one for drama, Evelyn. What's going on?" Rowan asked, settling into the seat across from her.
Evelyn sighed deeply, sitting across from him. "I've received disturbing reports about Lucian Vaughn." She paused, watching his face closely, gauging his reaction. "You've heard of him, of course."
Rowan's brow furrowed slightly. Lucian Vaughn was no stranger to the Esper Council or to the underground circles that monitored rift activities. As an SSS-class Esper, Lucian had risen to the top of his class, but not without a history of instability. The kind of power Lucian wielded was known to be… dangerous. He was a force of nature, a man who could bend the world to his will, and that made him unpredictable, volatile.
"I know of him," Rowan said carefully. "But I've never met him."
"I've been tracking his power levels for the last month," Evelyn continued. "It's growing exponentially. His abilities are beyond anything we've seen before—stronger than even the most seasoned Espers. But there's a problem."
Her eyes flickered, as though deciding whether or not to continue. Finally, she spoke. "The power is corrupting him, Rowan. I fear that without intervention, he'll either lose control completely or he'll destroy himself. The rift explosions are only making things worse. I need you to stabilize him."
Rowan paused. The weight of her words sank in. Lucian Vaughn was no ordinary Esper, and if Evelyn was asking him to step in, it meant the situation was dire.
"I understand," Rowan replied, though his mind was already racing. Stabilizing a SSS-class Esper was a delicate task. They were so powerful that their inner turmoil was often hard to control. Guides like him were supposed to be a calming presence—someone who could soothe the instability, remove the corruption that came from overuse—but with Lucian, there was no telling how deep the damage might go.
"You've worked with Espers before," Evelyn said, her voice softening. "But Lucian is different. His powers are dangerous, yes, but there's something else, Rowan. I've seen him fight—he's unpredictable, and I fear he's teetering on the edge of something catastrophic. I need you to help him before he becomes too much of a threat."
Rowan studied Evelyn's face. He could see the fear there, barely masked by her calm exterior. It was rare for Evelyn to show weakness, but she wasn't asking him for help out of convenience—she was desperate.
"I'll do what I can," Rowan said, his voice steady. "But I'll need to see him for myself."
Evelyn nodded, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Thank you. I don't know who else I could turn to. Lucian's apartment is in the Montrose Towers. It's the only place he's been staying for the last few weeks. Go there. He's expecting you."
The next morning, Rowan found himself standing before the imposing glass and steel structure of the Montrose Towers, one of the most prestigious buildings in the city. It looked pristine on the outside, but inside, it was just another high-rise full of people trying to navigate their way through a world of power and uncertainty.
Rowan stepped inside, the elevator doors sliding open to reveal a sleek, minimalist hallway that smelled faintly of cedarwood and luxury. Each step he took toward Lucian's door was deliberate, measured. He couldn't afford to make a mistake. The more he learned about Lucian, the more complex the situation seemed. The man wasn't just another powerful Esper—he was a ticking time bomb.
As Rowan reached Lucian's door, the silence in the hallway grew heavier, thick with the weight of anticipation. He didn't knock—he never did. Instead, he reached for the door handle, sensing Lucian's presence inside before the door even fully opened.
The room was sparse, lit only by the natural light pouring in from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Lucian stood by the window, his back to Rowan, his figure almost blending into the shadows. There was an undeniable intensity about him, something that made the air crackle with energy. Rowan could feel it before he even stepped inside—the sheer power radiating off Lucian was unlike anything he'd felt before.
"You're Rowan Mercer," Lucian's voice cut through the silence, smooth and controlled, yet there was an edge to it. He didn't turn around. "The Guide they send when things are getting out of hand."
Rowan's eyes narrowed slightly, taking in the man before him. Lucian was tall, broad-shouldered, and exuded an aura of authority. His presence alone could command a room, even without the power he wielded. But there was something else—something darker lurking beneath that calm façade.
"I'm here to help," Rowan said simply, stepping into the room. His calm demeanor didn't betray the caution in his mind.
"You've been pushing yourself too hard. The rift explosions are destabilizing your powers."
Lucian turned then, his eyes locking onto Rowan's with a gaze that was both calculating and intense. There was a flicker of amusement in them, as though he were testing Rowan's resolve.
"Do you think you can control me, Guide?" Lucian's tone was playful, but there was an unmistakable edge of danger underneath.
"I've spent my life learning to control myself. I don't need someone like you telling me what I can or cannot do."
Rowan's expression remained neutral, though his senses were alert. He knew what Lucian was doing—testing him, challenging him, pushing him to see if he could break under the weight of his own presence.
"I'm not here to control you," Rowan said softly, his voice even. "I'm here to make sure you don't lose control of yourself."
Lucian studied him for a long moment, as though deciding whether or not to engage. Finally, he spoke again.
"Then I suppose we'll see if you're as good as they say."
And with that, Rowan Mercer knew that this was just the beginning.