Emotion Hunter: System Awakening.

[Riven's POV]

Cross was already waiting when they emerged from the Veil.

Not nearby at least.

But was waiting right at the exit point, with a tablet in hand, like he'd been monitoring their progress the entire time.

"Excellent timing, Mr. Duke, Ms. Vasquez," Cross said, his calculating gaze sweeping over their injuries. "How do we feel about today's performance metrics?"

We? Riven sneered at his words but didn't let it show on his face.

Elena immediately stepped away from Riven, her posture becoming more rigid.

The change was subtle but unmistakable ... like watching someone put on armor.

"System malfunctions were within expected parameters," she said in a flat, like a rehearsed tone.

Cross made notes on his tablet. "Indeed. And your adaptive responses were... illuminating."

The way he said 'illuminating' made Riven's skin crawl. Cross had definitely been watching them fight for their lives.

"Now, all that's left is the medical evaluation," Cross continued. "We need to document any physiological stress markers from the suppression events."

As they walked through the facility corridors, Cross maintained a casual conversation about training protocols and system optimization.

But Riven noticed how he positioned himself between Elena and the exit routes, how his eyes tracked every interaction between them.

This wasn't just a mentor checking on trainees. This was like a surveillance.

---

The medical bay at Facility 7 was sterile and efficient...well like a normal hospital.

Elena sat on an examination table while a Guild medic treated the cuts on Riven's back and ribs.

Cross observed from the doorway, occasionally making notes but mostly just...or just watching.

"Elena," Riven said quietly as the medic worked. "Before we went into the Veil, you told me not to try to save you. Why?"

Elena glanced toward the doorway where Cross stood, then back at Riven.

Something flickered in her brown eyes ... fear, maybe, or resignation.

"Those were training protocols," she said carefully. "Individual performance metrics are more important than team coordination."

It was obviously a rehearsed answer, the kind of response designed to satisfy official monitoring. But her eyes were saying something completely different.

"But you were in real danger. That goblin would have killed you." Riven said with a raised brow.

"The system failures are deliberate," Elena said, lowering her voice and making sure the medic couldn't hear clearly. "They want to see how we react when our abilities are cut out."

"React how?"

Elena hesitated, her gaze flicking toward Cross again. He was still there, still watching, still making notes.

"Whether we try to save each other. Whether we panic. Whether we adapt." She pulled out a small bottle of pills from her pocket, showing them to Riven briefly before tucking them away. "These are System stabilizers. They're supposed to help with ability fluctuations."

Riven looked at the medication bottle. "Do they work?"

Elena's laugh was bitter and barely audible. "They make the fluctuations worse. But refusing to take them is considered 'non-compliance.'"

The medic finished with Riven's bandages and moved to check Elena's vitals.

Cross stepped further into the room, his presence immediately making both trainees more tense.

"Elena..." Riven lowered his voice even further. "What happened to your previous training partners?"

Her expression went completely blank, like someone had flipped a switch. She stared at her hands and didn't respond.

"Mr. Duke, Ms. Vasquez," Cross interrupted, approaching with his tablet. "How are we feeling? That was quite a display of protective instinct during today's exercise."

"Elena's system malfunctioned. And I adapted," Riven said carefully.

"Indeed, you did. But your tactical decision-making showed some concerning patterns." Cross made more notes. "Abandoning defensive position to rescue a compromised team member. Emotional decision-making under stress. These are liabilities in real field operations."

Riven wanted to argue that protecting teammates was basic human decency, but something in Cross's expression warned him that would be exactly the wrong thing to say.

"We'll be scheduling daily suppression resistance training starting tomorrow," Cross continued. "It will help you learn proper tactical detachment when systems fail."

"What about Elena's medication?" Riven asked. "If the stabilizers are making her system less reliable, maybe we..."

Cross's smile was sharp. "Ms. Vasquez's medication regimen will be adjusted based on today's performance data. We're always working to optimize our trainees' development."

Elena's face had gone completely pale.

The medic finished his evaluation and left. Cross lingered for another moment, studying both of them with those calculating eyes.

"Rest well tonight. Tomorrow's training will be more... intensive."

After Cross left, Elena turned to Riven with an expression that mixed sadness with something that looked like panic.

"You see?" she whispered. "Questions about my treatment just make them more interested in 'optimizing' things."

"Elena, I need to understand what's happening here. Why did you warn me not to save you?"

She glanced toward the medical bay door, making sure they were truly alone.

"My first partner was David Carl. He had enhanced strength system. We worked well together, we covered each other's weaknesses. like how partners were supposed to" Her voice was barely audible. Then he got 'promoted' to advanced training after six weeks of us are being together. I haven't seen him since."

"And there was a second partner?"

"Her name is.... or at least was Maria Santos. She had a Barrier generation system. She tried to protect me during a suppression exercise like you just did." Elena stared at her hands. "Cross decided she had 'attachment issues' that needed correction."

Riven felt ice forming in his stomach. "What kind of correction?"

"She's in the medical wing now. Sedated. They're doing something to her system, trying to make her less... caring."

The words hit him like a physical blow. "That's why you told me not to try to save you."

"The Guild wants us broken and dependent...Isolated. Because we're easier to control that way." Elena met his eyes. "The training isn't about making us better Hunters. It's about breaking down everything that makes us human."

"Soo you just... give up during exercises?"

"I learned that fighting back gets people I care about hurt, which is worse than letting myself get hurt." Elena slid off the examination table. "It's survival, Riven. For both of us."

They walked back toward the dormitory in silence, but Riven's mind was racing.

Everything Elena had told him painted a picture of systematic psychological warfare designed to isolate trainees and destroy their capacity for human connection.

"Elena," he said as they reached the dormitory corridor. "Is there more? About what they're really doing here?"

She stopped walking and looked around nervously. The other trainees were moving through the corridor, heading to their rooms for mandatory rest.

"We can't talk here," she whispered. "There's too many people listening."

"Then when?"

Elena bit her lip, clearly struggling with some internal conflict. Finally, she leaned closer and spoke so quietly even Riven could barely hear her.

"Tonight. After lights-out. There's something you need to know about your system. Something they don't think you've figured out yet."

Riven felt his pulse quicken. "What about my system?"

But Elena was already walking away, heading toward the women's dormitory section.

"Elena, wai-"

She turned back briefly, and the look in her eyes made his blood run cold.

"They've been watching you since before the Veil incident, Riven. This isn't something random. Your recruitment, your training partner assignments, even Marcus being separated from you. None of it is random."

Before he could ask what she meant, she disappeared around the corner...

Riven stood alone in the corridor, his mind spinning with questions. What did Elena know about my system that I dont?

How long had the Guild been watching him? And what did she mean about his recruitment not being random?

"I've more questions than answers...." he said while looking at the male dorms.