Testimony

The team emerged from the dungeon entrance, their gear slightly singed but spirits high after a successful clear. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the grocery store parking lot where the dungeon appeared, the air thick with the scent of ozone and wet pavement.

Ethan wiped sweat from his brow, his expression far from triumphant despite the team's victory. "I still can't believe I couldn't channel anything in there," he muttered, frustration etched into every word.

Penny nudged him with her shoulder, a small smile playing at her lips.The late afternoon sun warmed Penny's skin as she stepped closer to Ethan, the heat of her body radiating against his arm. She could feel the tension coiled in his muscles, see the way his fingers flexed at his sides, restless and uncertain. The scent of charred fabric from their gear mingled with the damp earth beneath their boots, a reminder of the battle they'd just survived.

Penny nudged him with her shoulder, the contact firm enough to ground him, her smile small but genuine. "Come on, don't beat yourself up over this," she said, her voice light despite the gravity of their conversation. The breeze carried the faintest hint of rain, cooling the sweat that still clung to her skin.

Ethan shook his head, his jaw set. "That's just it—it's not something I can rely on if I can't control it. Every second I spend struggling to master this is another chance someone could get hurt because I couldn't perform."

The team fell silent, the weight of Ethan's words hanging heavy in the air. They understood his frustration, shared it even, but none of them wanted to pressure him further.

Alice broke the silence first, her voice gentle but firm. "You've got a point, Ethan. But what you bring to the table is already more than enough."

Ethan shook his head again, more vehement this time. "When we get to C-rank, that won't be enough. We'll need every advantage we can get, and right now, I'm flying blind with this ability."

Mei tilted her head slightly, her eyes thoughtful as she studied Ethan. "Maybe it's tied to how long we've been bonded? Your entire class works around the bond, it's possible we simply haven't been bonded long enough for that ability to manifest consistently."

Ethan considered Mei's words, his expression thoughtful. "That... makes sense. I mean, my other abilities have all been tied to the strength of our bonds. Why would this be any different?"

Penny grinned, her usual enthusiasm returning in full ****. "See? Progress! Now we just need to figure out how to speed up that bonding process. Maybe we need to try using Imbue more than once daily again," she joked while wagging her eyebrows.

Alice rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "Great. So now we're all just going to have to spend even more time with Ethan?"

Ethan laughed, the tension finally breaking. "Don't worry, Alice. I promise not to take up too much of your precious time."

Grace chuckled, shaking her head. "I think we can all manage to spare a little extra time for bonding. Besides, it's not like any of us are complaining about the perks."

The team shared a laugh as they entered the medical station, the mood lightening considerably. The post raid checkup didn't take long and they were back on their way to the Response Station a short time later.

As they exited the locker room, having stored their gear in preparation for another incursion, they found Dr. Kade waiting for them in the common area.

"You're back, good," she said, standing as the team entered the room.

"Did something happen?" Penny asked for the group. "I thought we were supposed to meet after our debrief tomorrow?"

"I received word while you were inside the dungeon, there is a formal hearing being held tomorrow and you're expected to testify." Dr. Kade answered, tapping on her tablet. Each of their phones vibrated as she finished. "I've just shared a list of questions you can expect the investigative committee to ask, we'll be preparing your answers." Her no nonsense tone left it clear that there was no 'maybe' about her plans.

"Okay, but we're doing this in the kitchen," Penny said as she walked towards the doorway. "I'm always starving post raid."

The Guild's central structure loomed upwards against the gray sky, its facade seeming somber under the cloud-covered day, fitting the mood of the team as they arrived. They followed Dr. Kade through the grand entrance, their footsteps echoing in the expansive lobby.

"Through here," Dr. Kade directed, leading them down a series of corridors until they reached a set of double doors. She pushed them open, revealing a modest hearing room. Five committee members sat at council chamber desks on a slightly raised dais, the guild insignia emblazoned on the wall behind them. Several rows of seating filled the rest of the room, already occupied by sharply dressed individuals.

Ethan's eyes scanned the crowd, and his gaze snagged on Tony Hale seated near the front. The man's presence sent a ripple of tension through the team. They exchanged glances, each silently searching for Marcus among the faces. Relief washed over them when they didn't spot him.

Dr. Kade leaned in, her voice low. "I assured he wouldn't be present while you are, though he is in the building."

The lead committee member, a stern-faced woman with silver-streaked hair, called the room to order. She provided a brief summary of why they were gathered—an investigation into Marcus Hale's actions and their impact on Grace and the team.

"Each of you will be called upon to answer a series of questions as we judge," she stated, her voice carrying the weight of authority. "We ask that you keep your answers concise and factual. Today is not the time for speculation unless specifically asked. Do you understand?"

The team nodded in unison, their expressions a mix of determination and apprehension.

"Grace Olsen, please come forward," the lead committee member instructed.

Grace took a deep breath and stepped up to the chair at the front of the room. She adjusted the microphone slightly before beginning her testimony.

"Thank you for being here today. I'd like to start with some background. Could you explain some of the history between yourself and Marcus Hale?"

The overhead lights hummed softly, casting an even glow across the room as Grace shifted in her seat, adjusting the microphone. "It's not a brief tale," she began, her voice steady despite the faint tremble in her hands. The air smelled faintly of polished wood and cleaning agents as she took a deep breath. "We were together for several years," she continued, pausing as the distant murmur of voices from the hallway seeped into the room.

"I don't believe my experience is unique," she admitted, her gaze flickering to the committee members before settling on a spot just beyond them. "We started well, but over time, things changed for the worse." Grace swallowed hard, her throat dry. "Eventually, I felt controlled, as if I was more of an object to him than his girlfriend. There were some incidents near the end that solidified my decision to leave." Outside, a car honked, the sound abrupt and startling in the quiet room.

"Would you mind elaborating?" One of the committee members at the front of the rooms asked.

Grace nodded, thinking for a moment. "I mentioned once that my rent was tight," she started, her voice steady despite the nervous flutter in her stomach. "The next day, he'd 'handled it' with the building manager. I never asked him to. After that, the manager would only talk to Marcus about my lease. When I went to speak to him, it was as if he seemed scared. As if talking to me would make something bad happen."

She paused, letting the weight of her words settle over the room.

"He started showing up at my training sessions," Grace continued, her voice gaining strength. "At my favorite cafe after we had broken up. Once, at a medical appointment, he told the receptionist he was my emergency contact. I never listed him as one. I couldn't get away from him."

The room remained silent, the committee members taking notes and exchanging glances. Grace's testimony painted a clear picture of Marcus's invasive behavior, his need for control disguised as concern.

When she finished, the lead committee member nodded. "Thank you, Ms. Olsen. Your testimony has been noted." She turned to the rest of the team. "We will call upon each of you in turn. Please remain seated until your name is called."

Ethan felt a surge of pride watching Grace return to her seat. She had faced Marcus's father head-on, her voice unwavering. He knew the others would do the same, their bond strengthening with each passing moment.

Tony Hale sat motionless across the room, his face a mask. No flicker of emotion crossed his features as he listened to Grace's testimony.

As the committee member called Penny forward, Ethan reached out, squeezing Grace's hand in silent support. Together, they would see this through.

Alice recounted how Marcus had cornered them at the mall, his voice dripping with possessiveness as he called Grace "my Grace." Penny described the chilling way he'd spoken about bringing her home, as if she were a runaway pet rather than a person. Mei detailed how Marcus had rented out an entire event venue just to keep watch on Grace's apartment, his obsession knowing no bounds.

The room fell silent for a moment before the lead committee member nodded. "Thank you, Ms. Zhou. Your testimony has been noted." She looked at Ethan. "Mr. Anderson, please come forward."

Ethan took a deep breath and stepped up to the microphone. He recounted the double-booked shifts, how they initially didn't think anything of it until Marcus was found following them at the mall. "At first, we thought it was just administrative errors," he explained. "But when we confirmed Marcus was watching Grace's apartment with the help of a Seeker, we knew it was more serious than coincidence."

He moved on to the dungeon, describing the Forge Knight and the ambush of spider constructs. "We were told it was a D-ranked dungeon," Ethan said. "But it wasn't. It was C-ranked. We barely made it out alive." He paused before continuing, "The equipment failed at critical moments. The sensor readings were altered. Someone wanted us to die in there."

A committee member cut him off. "That's speculation, Mr. Anderson. Stick to the facts."

Ethan nodded apologetically. "Understood. We entered the dungeon expecting D-ranked threats. Instead, we faced a Forge Knight and an ambush of spider constructs, the doors closing to trap us inside. The boss was unstable, its core detonated when we defeated it. We barely made it out alive."

A final committee member who had yet to speak challenged Ethan. "How could it possibly have been a C-ranked dungeon if a team of D-ranked Marked were capable of clearing it?"

Ethan met his gaze steadily. "We didn't clear it," he corrected. "We survived it. Barely. And we did it because we're a team. Because we trust each other. Because we fight for each other." He paused, letting his words sink in. "But make no mistake, we were lucky. If that core had detonated a second earlier, none of us would be standing here today."

The room fell silent, the weight of Ethan's words hanging heavy in the air. The committee members exchanged glances before the lead member nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Anderson. Your testimony has been noted." She turned to the rest of the team. "We will now adjourn to deliberate. You will be notified of our decision in due course."