Resistance was likely futile, at least in this initial encounter. Leo and Kaelen allowed themselves to be escorted into the unmarked van, the silence inside thick with unspoken tension. The agents were efficient and professional, their movements suggesting extensive training in apprehension and containment.
They were taken to a sterile, windowless facility located beneath the seemingly ordinary cityscape. The air hummed with a low, almost imperceptible energy field, and the walls were constructed from a smooth, dark material that felt strangely inert. They were separated and placed in individual holding cells, the doors hissing shut with an unsettling finality.
Leo's cell was small and sparsely furnished, containing only a cot and a featureless metal toilet. He could sense the subtle energy fields emanating from the walls, likely some form of containment technology designed to suppress or neutralize anomalous abilities. He focused inward, testing the limits of these fields. They felt… restrictive, dampening, but not entirely impenetrable. His connection to the Luminiferous Pocket within him felt like a deep, intrinsic part of his soul, something these external fields couldn't fully sever.
After a period of tense waiting, the door to Leo's cell hissed open, and two agents entered, accompanied by a woman in a white lab coat holding a tablet. Her expression was clinical and detached.
"Subject identified as… unknown," she stated, reading from her tablet. "Possesses reality manipulation abilities, specifically focused on harmonization and restoration. Manifestations appear subtle but effective. Observed stabilizing a rogue energy surge and repairing physical damage. Threat level… pending assessment."
One of the agents addressed Leo directly. "We are with the Foundation. We secure, contain, and protect. Your anomalous abilities have been noted. Cooperation will make this process easier."
Leo remained silent, observing them. He knew enough about the Foundation to understand their procedures. They categorized and contained anything that deviated from their perceived norm. He and Kaelen were now specimens to be studied and controlled.
The woman in the lab coat stepped forward, her gaze analytical. "Your abilities… they don't match any known classifications within our database. It's… intrinsic, you say? Not a learned skill or a manipulation of external forces?"
Leo chose his words carefully. "It is a part of who I am."
The woman made a note on her tablet. "Interesting. We'll need to conduct further testing." She turned to the agents. "Designate Subject Unknown as a preliminary Euclid class. Abilities require further study for safe and reliable containment protocols."
Meanwhile, Kaelen was undergoing a similar assessment. His volatile mana surges registered clearly on the Foundation's sensors. His untrained and emotionally driven abilities were deemed far more unpredictable and potentially dangerous.
"Subject identified as… unknown two," the agent interrogating Kaelen stated. "Possesses volatile and uncontrolled mana manipulation abilities. Observed causing significant energy fluctuations. Threat level… preliminary Keter. Requires immediate and stringent containment protocols."
Kaelen bristled at the classification. "Keter? I'm not some monster! I just… lose control sometimes."
The agent remained impassive. "Your potential for widespread energy release necessitates the highest level of caution."
Back in his cell, Leo could sense Kaelen's distress through the subtle energetic connections they had formed. He focused his own inner calm, trying to project a sense of reassurance across the distance.
Later, Leo was subjected to a series of tests. The Foundation used various devices to measure his energy output, to analyze the nature of his reality manipulations. They attempted to suppress his abilities with specialized restraints and energy dampeners, but while these measures created a noticeable resistance, they didn't entirely nullify his intrinsic connection. He could still subtly influence his immediate surroundings, a faint shimmer appearing around his hands as he focused his intent.
The lead researcher, the woman in the lab coat, seemed both intrigued and frustrated by his unique nature. "It's as if your abilities are woven into your very being," she mused, observing the readings on her equipment. "Unlike typical reality benders, there's no discernible external source, no clear mechanism we can disrupt."
Leo remained guarded, revealing as little as possible about the Luminiferous Pocket within him. He knew that such a revelation would only lead to further scrutiny and attempts at containment.
As the days turned into nights within the sterile facility, Leo and Kaelen remained separated, each facing the Foundation's relentless assessment. Leo's Euclid classification marked him as potentially dangerous but containable with proper procedures. Kaelen's Keter designation painted him as a significant threat, requiring maximum security. However, the Foundation was beginning to realize that Leo's intrinsic nature defied their standard containment protocols. His connection to reality was a fundamental aspect of his being, a quiet, persistent force that their technology could only hope to suppress, not sever. Their understanding of the "travelers" was only just beginning, and the complexities of their unique abilities posed a significant challenge to the Foundation's established order.