Anomaly
Chapter 179 – When logic escapes [20]

With two curved horns protruding from my head—resembling those of a ram—and, on top of that, a pair of wings covered in soft, white feathers extending gracefully from either side of my tailbone, I honestly wasn’t sure how to define myself.

Half-angel, half-demon? Maybe. At least, that’s the impression my appearance usually gives... or at least, that’s what I imagine anyone would think at first glance.

Either way, setting my thoughts aside, I turned my attention back to the little girl. With a calm movement, I slowly raised my hand and gently rested it on her head. Her hair was a little messy but soft to the touch.

As I carefully patted her, like every gesture was meant to chase away the fear still lingering inside her, I silently conveyed my thoughts: (I’ve taken care of the monsters outside... it’s safe now)

The moment I said that, the little girl simply nodded with a small, shy smile before dashing off toward her parents—probably eager to tell them the news. I watched for a brief moment as she disappeared into the crowd.

Soon after, that strange sensation of heaviness washed over me again, like my body was being pulled downward. And in the next second, everything around me was swallowed by complete, silent darkness.

But it was fine. After all, I’d only come here to deliver a message, and now that it was done, it was time to go home. Or... at least, that’s what I thought. Little did I know, things were about to get a little... out of control.

***

(POV – Emily Parker)

Currently sitting in front of a massive monitor in a dimly lit room, Emily watched the figures appearing on the screen with intense focus. Their faces were hidden by layers of shadow and digital distortion—a security measure designed to keep their identities secret, even from the highest-ranking field agents.

They were the organization’s upper echelon—in short, the real decision-makers shaping every move the institution made. Officially, they were just an advisory committee. In reality, they called all the shots... often to the frustration of those risking their lives out in the field.

Still lost in her own thoughts, Emily was suddenly snapped back to reality by a voice that echoed from the monitor. There was a clear tension in it—its tone edged with irritation, or perhaps impatience—but unmistakably masculine.

On the other side of the screen, the figures remained wrapped in shadow, their identities carefully concealed: “So... is the case closed?” The voice carried undeniable authority.

Regaining focus, Emily turned toward the source of the voice. Recognizing who had asked the question, she nodded with a brief tilt of her head. Her voice came out low, but steady and certain: “Yes... the mist is dissipating quickly” She paused, watching the air in front of her grow thinner little by little.

“In a few more hours, I believe it’ll be completely gone... taking everything that was inside with it”

The next moment, Emily kept her gaze steady, observing as the voices on the screen continued to talk among themselves. For a brief instant, her eyes settled on a figure partially hidden in the shadows—a silhouette that was unmistakably feminine.

Emily had no clue who the woman could be. What she had noticed, however, was impossible to ignore: despite the woman rarely speaking during meetings, her presence was strongly felt by everyone in the room.

There was a subtle kind of tension whenever she was around, as though her mere existence imposed silent authority. On top of that, all the other figures treated her with an almost ceremonial level of respect... which only deepened Emily’s curiosity about the woman’s true identity.

But at the exact moment her eyes landed on the woman, Emily blinked—surprised. Despite the stranger’s face and most of her body being engulfed in shadow, one detail stood out with almost unsettling clarity: her lips. Delicate... yet unmistakably curved in a smile of pure amusement.

Even without being able to make out the woman’s features, Emily had no doubt—she was smiling. But... why? Emily furrowed her brow, uneasy, searching her mind for any plausible reason behind that unexpected expression. Nothing came. Not a single explanation fit that enigmatic smile.

Still lost in thought, Emily was quickly pulled back to the moment when a new voice—also distorted by some kind of modulator—echoed through the room.

This time, it came from another shadow-cloaked figure, just as mysterious as the last: “Since the situation has been contained, you’re authorized to proceed according to established protocol”

The tone was firm, almost impersonal, loaded with an authority that left no room for argument. Emily blinked, momentarily stunned by those words. She knew exactly what it meant—there was no doubt. In the past, she wouldn’t have dared question an order from the top.

She would’ve simply bowed her head and obeyed without hesitation. But now... something had changed. Like an unexpected flash, the image of a provocative smile—etched on an angelic face—surfaced in her mind. It was a smile that seemed to challenge her... one that made her rethink things she once saw as absolute truths.

Emily bit her lower lip slightly, feeling a sharp sting of doubt settle in her chest. For the first time... she wondered: was this really the right thing to do? With those thoughts weighing heavily on her mind, Emily raised her eyes, her voice soft yet firm: “Sir... I don’t have any solid evidence to back up what I’m about to say, but... I don’t think it’s a good idea to proceed like this, not this time. I have a gut feeling this could trigger the exact opposite of what we want”

After Emily spoke, absolute silence filled the room—thick and almost tangible. She wasn’t entirely sure why she felt this way, nor did she have any concrete evidence to support her suspicion.

Even so... she couldn’t shake the image of that disturbing smile—the one from the angelic-looking anomaly that kept haunting her thoughts. Something inside her warned that if they kept acting like nothing was wrong, an even bigger disaster was looming just ahead—a cruel irony, considering the chaos that was probably unfolding outside at that very moment.

Yet... the next words from the shadowed figures made it clear they didn’t share her concerns: “Hmm... if you don’t have evidence, then there’s no reason to follow your intuition, Director General of Operations, Emily Parker”

The voice held a restrained tone of disdain, almost mocking, as the shadow behind the desk shifted slightly, as if weighing the impact of that statement. Emily looked up toward the voice, although she had already expected that outcome. Her expression remained calm, but there was a subtle glimmer of apprehension in her eyes.

Shortly after, another voice echoed through the room—steady and reassuring—making her turn back toward its source: “Let’s proceed with the protocols. You shouldn’t be worrying so much” the voice said in a calm, experienced tone: “We’ve been doing this for decades, and so far everything has always gone smoothly. I don’t see any reason why it should be different this time”

Emily tried to find a way to resist the situation, but nothing seemed to fit. Although she claimed her intuition came from something she’d heard about an anomaly, she didn’t believe the higher-ups truly cared about it.

To be honest, most of them seemed oblivious to the real danger an anomaly could pose. After all, reading reports was very different from witnessing the events firsthand—the distance and the paper could never convey the chill down your spine that a real threat brings.

So all Emily could do was nod, silently confirming. Her gaze lifted again toward the shadowed figure before her, whose delicate features could still be made out even in the dim light. That subtle smile lingered on that presence, almost enigmatic, as if hiding untold secrets. At that moment, all Emily could do was pray nothing truly serious would happen.

***

(POV – Protagonist)

A few days had passed since Nyara joined us. Slowly, the family was starting to grow, filling the empty spaces with a faint sense of hope. Yet despite this progress, I couldn’t shake that strange feeling—as if everything I’d been doing so far was following a pre-written script.

Of course, I don’t mean to say someone is manipulating me from outside. If I had to put it that way, I’d say it’s myself—well, the version of me from before I lost my memories—guiding me through these actions.

It’s like some old part of me is pulling the strings, directing my steps without my full control. Plus, the fact that my memories return every time I “absorb” the powers of the [Conceptual Virtues] only reinforces this. Naturally, that process makes me actively seek them out.

Of course, unfortunately, so far I haven’t been able to locate any Virtue—or rather, it’s as if they simply appear out of nowhere, suddenly, like everything was planned to happen exactly this way.

However, if it really was all orchestrated like this, I have no clue who or what set it all up. Still, a part of me insists on the suspicion that I was the one responsible—that it was all meant to unfold like this. But honestly, I can’t remember doing anything like that, so I can’t be sure.

Anyway, I don’t know exactly what happened, but the base has been pretty restless since I got back. I can’t really understand what’s going on, especially since I’ve barely left my room since returning.

Actually, I’ve spent most of my time with my three beautiful little sisters—their laughter and play sometimes echoing down the quiet hallways, bringing a strange sense of home. It still feels odd to think I have sisters since, from my human memories, I was pretty much alone all the time.

Of course, in the most literal sense, we don’t share the same blood… Actually, to be precise, our bodies don’t even have blood to begin with. But if my theory is right, we all come from the same place, the same primal origin.

So, taking that into account, Althea, Nekra, and now Nyara—the newest member of the group—are, in a way, my sisters by full right. Sisters not by blood, but by essence... and maybe that’s an even stronger bond.

Anyway, back to the base—as I mentioned before, it’s been strangely unsettled. I have no idea what really happened, especially since I haven’t bothered to investigate. The truth is, I just didn’t feel like getting involved—I preferred to stay away from the chaos.

But the very moment the door to my room creaked open sharply and Emily appeared, her face tense, eyes wide, and an expression of worry hard to hide, I knew immediately: something serious had happened.

I blinked briefly, trying to focus as Emily hurried closer with quick, erratic steps. Her look was a clear portrait of genuine desperation—dilated pupils and a pale face, like the ground had just given way beneath her feet. Her eyes locked onto Althea with an almost cutting intensity.

“You... what the hell did you do?!” Emily’s voice trembled, filled with disbelief and panic.

I tilted my head slightly, frowning in confusion as I watched Althea, who, with a quick and almost theatrical move, ran to hide behind me. A teasing, amused smile danced on her lips as if she was enjoying the situation.

“Hehe... I don’t remember doing anything” she replied with a light, carefree tone before adding with a look too innocent to be true: “At least... I don’t remember having any reason to do something”

Emily seemed on the verge of losing control. Her gaze flicked from Althea to me, as if searching for some kind of explanation—any tiny spark of logic in that mess. Her voice, when she spoke again, was shaky and desperate, like someone clutching at a thread of hope slipping through her fingers: “This is impossible... this has never happened before! At least... not like this!” She took a deep breath, but the tension in her body only increased: “The situation’s completely out of control... the outcome was the exact opposite of what should’ve happened! You seriously want me to believe you did nothing?!”

Althea, still behind me, just shrugged with disdain. Her smile grew wider, as if every second of chaos was a delicious game.

“As I said...” she spoke slowly, savoring each word: “I didn’t do anything. Besides...” she leaned slightly to the side, appearing at my shoulder like a mocking whisper: “I think I made it clear before... chaos will never let balance prevail. At least... not natural balance”

For some reason, hearing Althea’s words, my gaze instinctively shifted to Nyara, who was just a few steps away from where I stood. I stared at her for a few seconds, not really knowing why I suddenly paid her so much attention.

She, as if sensing the weight of my stare, lifted her eyes toward me. Her beautiful eyes blinked softly, almost hesitantly, as she tilted her head slightly to the side with a doubtful expression, as if silently asking what was wrong.