Realizing that the source of the quake was coming from the real world, he jolted awake, eyes wide with panic. Seth clung to his seat. An older man stood over him. He had deep brown eyes and tufts of neatly combed, graying hair. He was clean shaven and sported a pair of spectacles, it did little to disguise the deep scars set across his face. Seth noted the white hat tucked under the man's arm before he saw that he was wearing a matching military dress uniform, complete with gloves, though it was clear that his left hand lacked three of his fingers. Two rows of medals hung over the man's heart, none of which Seth could recognize for any particular feat. He had never taken an interest in such things.

"I apologize for the wait," the officer told him. The words came across as a formality. It wouldn't have matter if he had been waiting a few minutes or a few hours, the officer would have said the same line in his empty greeting. "This way."

Seth followed the officer, debating if he should ask for information. He thought better of it. The officer opened a door along the hall, seemingly at random, allowing the captive student to enter first.

"Take a seat," the officer gestured to the chair furthest from the door, placing himself and a sturdy desk between Seth and the exit. Possibly protocol, the student reasoned or a psychological play. Either way it didn't matter, as he walked into the lightly decorated room, he felt the hum of the security shield pass over him. He wouldn't be allowed to leave unless the officer allowed it.

He took his appointed seat, noting that there was nothing that he would be able to use a weapon. The room's decor was simple, designed with comfort in mind, but just barely. It was ultimately an office on loan, very possibly an interrogation room for less combative participants. He noticed that there was no window, adding to the foreboding sense that embodied the office.

"We wish to know of your relationship with one Wallace Rivera," the officer stated taking his seat.

Seth was at a loss for words. Had Wallace gotten into trouble? Was he in trouble by association? "I don't know what to tell you?"

"He was a member of your squad, 2nd in command, according to your records. Is this true?"

"Yeah." What did his record have to do with anything?

"Did you record these result?" The officer accessed the digital interface on the desktop, accessing the records. Did Wallace hack into the system and alter his records? Seth examined the scores; nothing looked unusual, not that he would have committed the information to memory. "He was one of my best squad mates. Strong, resourceful. Smart too. What's this about?" Seth found the courage to ask.

"We are in the process of determining what Mr. Rivera's odds were in surviving the attack on Hallow Haven. He was one of our best." The words hung the air with a hidden intention. The Council's Academy had once been a military school geared toward training an elite core of soldiers. It was one of the reasons why Seth had worked hard into achieving his scholarship for his attendance. There were plenty of decent schools back at the capitol. A handful of schools even had decent clout. He had hoped that the dedicated training program was still in use. It stood to reason that if one of their top students got caught up in a demon raid, they would want to know if he managed to survive it.

"I haven't heard anything, Sir. Not since he resigned in early August." Seth felt as though the floor beneath him had given way. His words felt empty. Wallace hadn't responded because he was dead.

"Is this your report?" the officer asked, pulling up the file of the last game he and Wallace had participated in. Seth nodded.

"I found some of the details rather disturbing. This nonsense about moving shadows. None of our video feeds have caught any of that information. You did take a blood test before and after the event?"

Seth nodded. He saw what he saw. He didn't care that the feeds didn't pickup on it. The shadows were moving with a life of their own. Lurking. Waiting. Both teams were in danger. It was why he had his team carry their unconscious bodies to the goal. It was why the weak hadn't been left behind. It was why his need to seek additional training had become so important. He realized during that last game that he was underprepared for the dangers that lurked in the shadows.

"You will re-write the report to exclude your nerves," the officer ordered.

"But it's true."

"I don't care."

He pulled up another file. A holographic projection of a fourteen-year-old girl slowly spun on the surface of the desk. "Do you know this girl?"

"No, Sir."

"This is Astral Alexandria Daamon."

"Oh her. I've heard of her." She was going to be one of 'those' people; the sort of person who felt that they were entitled to the best just because they had money, influence, whatever.

"Forget what you've heard. She's a survivor. That's all you need to know about her."

"Survivor?" Did he mean that she's survived a demon attack? Is that even possible? Of course it was possible, hunters did it all of the time. "Don't the Red Order recruit survivors?"

"I'm sure they tried. You will do the utmost to recruit her to your squad."

Seth arched a brow. "Doesn't she want to join by default. Isn't that what this is about?" He couldn't help himself, wincing at his outburst.

"No. Yes. She does not want to join, most likely out of spite. Her grandfather sees an opportunity, one that I wholeheartedly agree with."

"Which is?"

"None of your concern. You will be compensated of course."

"I can't be bought."

"I hate to tell you this, Mr. Wright, but everyone has a price. It's not always credits. Let's just say that your story about shifting shadows is not entirely unfamiliar."

"You ordered me to strike it from the record. You called it nonsense."

"I did. That is a discussion that should be shared with someone who may see things in a similar light. You can understand how a survivor would be hesitant in discussing the issue. Getting her to join your squad will give you some common ground."

That wasn't all he wanted, Seth suspected, but it would have to do. He was curious about her. Knowing that she was a survivor changed everything. "She had to pass the trials in order for it to look legit."

The officer nodded and held out his hand for Seth to shake. "I'm happy to see that we could reach an agreement."