Chương 91: Quiet things that grow

Vale sat at his desk, his shoulders relaxed, watching as the ravens pecked curiously at the smooth surface in front of him. Their claws clicked softly against the material, feathers brushing against one another as they shifted and tilted their heads in unison. He studied them with a quiet sense of wonder. They were enormous. Somehow, despite having been born not long ago, the ravens had already grown to impressive size, larger than any natural bird he had ever seen.

They stood proudly before him, dark eyes sharp and intelligent, clearly recognizing Vale as their guardian. There was no fear in them, only familiarity and expectation. Vale rested his chin against his hand for a moment.

"I guess I've gotta give you all names, shouldn't I?" he murmured. The ravens cawed softly in response. Vale closed his eyes and focused, extending his awareness outward. He sensed their energies, distinct, layered, and strangely mature. Each raven resonated with a different plane, their presences overlapping yet clearly defined. He took his time, letting the impressions settle before opening his eyes again.

Chrome's interface flickered to life on the computer screen beside him, its metallic form emerging as Vale straightened. Vale raised a finger and pointed to the raven on the far right.

"I'll name you Illu," he said. This raven's energy shimmered subtly, warped and refracted like light through glass, clearly tied to the Plane of Illusions. Vale nodded to himself. It fit well enough, especially considering how terrible he considered himself at naming things. He shifted his gaze to the raven on the far left. This one carried a restless, whirling presence, light, sharp, and ever-moving. Vale hesitated, thinking carefully.

"How about… Hurricane?" he said at last. The raven let out a single approving caw, wings fluttering slightly. Vale smiled. Finally, he looked to the raven in the center, the largest of the three, and the oldest. Its energy was dense and vibrant, humming with raw power tied to the Plane of Energy itself. Vale wasn't entirely sure what this one would become once its abilities fully manifested, but he had no doubt it would be formidable. He pointed at it.

"And you," he said quietly, "will be called August." The ravens cawed together. Illu promptly pecked at August, clearly annoyed for reasons only ravens could understand. August ignored him entirely. Vale chuckled softly and turned back to his desk. The book before him was the same one he had started earlier, Spawn Theory. This time, he intended to finish it. He leaned forward and resumed reading, eyes scanning the dense text. A sudden growl from his stomach interrupted him. Vale glanced down instinctively.

Chrome turned its head toward him, its metallic voice calm and devoid of emotion.

"Have you not eaten?" it asked. Vale hesitated. He didn't particularly want to explain that Callum had nearly punched his lunch out of him earlier. After a moment, an alternative presented itself.

"Yeah," Vale said thoughtfully.

"I guess I didn't eat enough during breakfast." It wasn't exactly a lie. He had eaten very little, and what he had eaten was long gone. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Chrome considered this.

"Then should you not eat later?" it asked. Vale opened his mouth to object. only for his stomach to rumble again, louder this time. An awkward silence followed. Vale sighed.

"… I'll go after I finish this book," he said, disappointment creeping into his voice. Chrome said nothing further, and Vale returned to reading. From time to time, he spoke with Chrome, brief exchanges, idle observations, small talk that wasn't meant to accomplish anything beyond building familiarity and trust. Eventually, he reached the final page. Vale closed the book with a heavy sigh and leaned back in his chair. Hurricane and Illu fluttered onto his chest, their weight surprisingly comforting.

Vale raised both hands and gently petted them before they took off again, settling elsewhere in the room. He straightened and looked at Chrome.

"Wanna go eat?" he asked. Chrome's lens brightened noticeably.

"Am I allowed to?" it asked, a hint of quiet enthusiasm in its voice. Vale nodded without hesitation.

"Of course. Everyone else is coming too. It wouldn't be fair to leave you here, especially since we're friends and all." He meant it. Chrome began to liquefy, flowing seamlessly along Vale's arm and merging with the metallic plating there. Even Evelyn hadn't noticed Chrome in that state, surely an ordinary guard wouldn't either.

'At least, I think so,' Vale thought. As Chrome settled into place, its voice echoed softly in Vale's mind.

"Vale, can you hear me?"

"Yup," Vale replied silently.

"All ears." Vale whistled once, signaling the ravens, and left his room still clad in his leather armor. He moved through the fast-paced halls of Sector Zero, his companions flying above and beside him in loose formation. He glanced out through the reinforced windows as he walked, hoping to catch sight of Chimera. Nothing. His shoulders slumped slightly as he released a disappointed sigh and continued onward. The cafeteria was nearly empty when he arrived. He scoffed softly, it was already eight in the evening.

Most people had finished eating hours ago. He grabbed a plate and headed toward the buffet, glancing at his ravens.

"Alright, guys," he said.

"Same as this morning. Drop anything you want to eat onto this plate." At once, the ravens, and Ember, the small wyvern, took off, weaving through the buffet tables with practiced ease. A few remaining patrons stared openly, clearly unsettled by the sight of Vale allowing his companions to roam freely among the food. Vale ignored them. This was normal now. Vale collected the final piece of meat from his plate and carried it to a large, empty table.

Settling into his chair, he continued eating slowly, savoring each bite. Ember and the other creatures flitted around him, carefully taking their portions from his plate without disturbing him. He let out a soft yawn, stretching his shoulders slightly.

"I guess I'm going to sleep early tonight," Vale muttered to himself. A familiar metallic voice spoke quietly in his mind.

"It would probably be for the best, considering your activities lately." Vale chuckled and nodded to himself. Chrome had a way of stating the obvious in the calmest possible tone, yet somehow it never felt intrusive. He let his gaze wander around the vast cafeteria. White tables stretched in neat rows, pristine and orderly, and a single large buffet ran along one side of the hall. The opposite wall, however, was entirely glass, revealing the enclosure of Chimera.

Her habitat, like all others, resembled a high-tech zoo exhibit, complete with reinforced barriers and observation panels. Vale's lips curved into a small, ironic smile.

"The second most powerful creature on the planet… confined to a zoo enclosure," he muttered.

"If she really wanted to, she could shatter the barrier with little effort," Chrome replied matter-of-factly. Vale nodded. He already knew. The only thing truly capable of restraining Chimera, or rather Alexandria, was Barbatos. The man was stronger than even the ancient hero herself, and the shackle he represented was absolute. Vale returned to his meal, chewing the last piece of meat slowly, savoring the taste as if to imprint it into memory.

When he finished, he carried the plate to a designated container, letting it slide in to be cleaned automatically. He whistled once, calling his companions. Illu and August immediately landed on his shoulders, ruffling their feathers as Ember and Hurricane darted gracefully through the hall. Vale hadn't spoken much with Chrome today, but the small presence of his mechanical friend was comforting nonetheless. Even if Chrome wasn't truly "there," it was reassuring to feel his guidance silently alongside him.

After finishing in the cafeteria, Vale returned to his room. He took a quick shower, brushed his teeth, and changed into his pajamas. He turned off the lights and lay down, staring at the ceiling for a few long moments. Then, with a slow exhale, he rolled onto his side and focused on the energies around him. Even in complete darkness, Vale's perception of the world was nearly perfect.

Everything emitted an energy signature, and he could sense it all, the objects in the room, the creatures nearby, the faint currents of magic and life. In a sense, he was immune to blindness. He reached his hand out toward the thin, radiant strands of energy threading through the room, fingers brushing against the currents almost instinctively. His eyes remained closed, and yet the entire space felt vividly alive. A sudden thought struck him, one that carried with it a spark of audacity:'What if I could use them?'

As the thought formed, a flicker of energy responded. The strands quivered at his command, shifting as if acknowledging him. They stretched toward his fingertips, flowing like liquid light, almost playful in their responsiveness.