The Final Desperation

Alysha had recently turned 10 this month. On this particular day, she could be seen gazing out the window at the freshly fallen snow just outside her classroom. Her eyes followed the swirling motion of the snowflakes, admiring their beauty while supporting her chin with her left hand. At the same time, she periodically flicked her right hand, twirling a standard pencil around her nimble fingers.

The pencil carved a graceful yellow arc, mesmerizing many with its smooth, rhythmic motion. Her classmates couldn't help but admire her skill and the ease with which she displayed it. A few girls gasped in amazement and gathered around her like little fans.

Alysha gave them a polite smile and explained how to practice the trick. But before she could go into too much detail, the bell rang, and the art teacher stepped into the room. Class had now begun. The teacher gave everyone a moment to settle down before starting the prelude to today's activity.

"Class, as many of you may recall, we visited an art exhibition a few months back. On that day, we met many artists and got a glimpse of their work. Among them, a few stood out from the rest. I am pleased to announce that one of these renowned individuals has taken time out of his busy schedule to visit us as a guest speaker today. Please welcome Mr. Finlosh, a leading expert in the woodcarving scene!"

The class gave a half-hearted but obligatory round of applause as Finlosh entered the room from the hallway. The elderly master waved gently to the class, giving Alysha and Nathan a subtle nod as his gaze passed over them. He then briefly introduced himself and answered a few questions before giving a hands-on demonstration.

But instead of his usual material, he used a freshly wedged block of clay. The class had just finished that unit, so they still had plenty of the material lying around. Another reason was so the children could follow along without needing sharp knives. Kids and knives—that would be a safety nightmare.

Finlosh slowly explained how and where to carve, pausing occasionally to give the class a moment to catch up. In this way, a simple turtle gradually took shape before their eyes. He then began working on the details, stating repeatedly that this step was optional and that they didn't have to follow along if they weren't confident in their skills.

Yet despite his best warnings, many children bravely charged ahead and botched their work. Most had gotten the proportions wrong, transforming their passable sculptures into derpy creations.

Everyone got a good laugh out of it, though, when they compared their pieces. Some chose to keep theirs as mementos of the occasion, while others tossed theirs into the recycling bin without a care in the world.

Among these were Alysha's and Nathan's creations, which were as perfect as they could be. If the others didn't know better, they might think Finlosh's piece had been shrunk down and duplicated here. This was especially true for Alysha's piece, which felt like an exact copy of Finlosh's, down to the very last line.

"You two are very talented at this," their teacher praised them. "Keep working hard. One day, you might even reach master Finlosh's level!"

Finlosh just smiled wryly at the comment.

Meanwhile, in the basement of a government building, two sturdy men dragged a familiar woman into a white room. The room was padded on all sides and resembled one from an insane asylum. The woman was restrained in a straitjacket, but that didn't stop her from resisting fiercely.

"Let me go! Let me go!" she shouted, kicking her captors repeatedly.

However, the two men ignored her pleas and carefully strapped her to a metal chair, ensuring she wouldn't hurt herself.

"I'm normal! Normal! Why are you treating me like I'm a nutcase!?" she shouted again.

The two men exchanged a helpless look and replied, "Please cooperate with the treatment, Miss Rosaline. It'll be over shortly," before promptly leaving the room.

"Treatment?! WHAT TREATMENT!?! I'm not insane!" Her voice echoed as the door shut behind them.

A few minutes later, a bespectacled woman in a white lab coat approached the room. In her left hand, she carried a beige folder containing records on the woman inside. If someone were to open it, they would find the following information:

Name: Rosaline Adams

Employee ID Number: 8009637129

Check-in Date: Jan 25, 2019

Reason for check-in: Subject is suspected to be mentally unstable and has warped cognition.

Activity Log:

February 27, 2018:

Subject, along with two colleagues, is scheduled to monitor "Scythe Manic" following accidental exposure to supernatural information. This team, code-named "Steadfast," will also serve as bodyguards for "Wood Carver" and ensure his/her utmost safety. On rare occasions, the team will be responsible for monitoring and assisting the needs of "Mercenary 126."

Little is known about this mercenary, aside from a fondness for the aforementioned "Wood Carver" and a high threat level. Like most mercenaries, "Mercenary 126" has not displayed any hostility and is generally well-mannered toward civilians. Field Agent #321 has noted, however, that the mercenary demonstrates a tendency to use implied threats as a means of "persuasion."

As of today, one agent has successfully made contact with "Wood Carver." The subject, along with her partner, will now await an opportunity to approach the designated individual.

April 28:

The subject and her partner have successfully made contact with "Wood Carver" and "Mercenary 126." They have also confirmed that the mercenary is an erratic force of nature, taking actions solely for his own amusement and random whims.

While not disruptive, he does make people uncomfortable, as it's never clear whether he's joking or making an open threat. For now, it is best not to test that hypothesis.

"Scythe Manic" has also been observed staring at "Cognito Hazard #2: Way Too Adorable Ferret" for extended periods of time. In hindsight, we suspect she had already been enthralled since the night of the incident.

October 29:

After six long months, "Mercenary 126" finally resurfaced. While the exact reason for his absence remains unclear, it is believed to be related to a "promotion." The mercenary's presence felt more robust upon his return, yet the subject and her colleagues struggled to perceive his existence. They described him as a ghost, appearing where they least expected him.

"Scythe Manic" has also exhibited abnormal behavior toward the aforementioned Cognito Hazard, acting like an obsessed fangirl. The outburst was brief but effectively demonstrated the dangers of the hazard. It is advised to avoid all visible contact with the hazard until further notice.

November 28:

Throughout the past month, "Scythe Manic" behaved relatively normally, as if everything had been a dream. Yet upon the mercenary's return, she began to express signs of deep infatuation for the Cognito Hazard, sneaking numerous glances its way and spacing out for long periods.

It was during this time that the subject locked eyes with the hazard. It was brief, but the subject immediately displayed symptoms worse than "Scythe Manic's." Aside from a lecherous smile and copious amounts of drool, the subject had also taken multiple pictures of the hazard.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

When confronted about the situation afterward, the subject refused to delete those photos and lashed out against her colleagues for "incessant meddling." According to the subject, it was "just a hobby," and "harmless admiration of cuteness."

It was, in fact, not just a hobby.

December 15:

Colleagues have expressed growing concern regarding the subject's behavior. Following review, the board has authorized a leave of absence to allow the subject time to recover from her growing obsession.

However, the subject vehemently declined, citing reasons such as, "He might be back this month. I can't afford to miss him!" and "I'm perfectly fine. Why would I need a break?"

Jan 25, 2019:

The subject continues to insist that she is mentally sound. However, growing tired of her tirade, the board ordered that she be taken into custody and forcibly admitted for psychiatric evaluations at an authorized facility.

The woman entered the room, sat across from Rosaline, and said politely, "I hope you're doing well, Agent Adams. I'm Sierra, the doctor responsible for your treatment."

"Do I look like I'm doing well?" Rosaline asked, irritably tugging at her restraints.

"I understand your frustrations, but you don't give us much of a choice," the doctor replied, pushing up her glasses. "You've been very short-tempered since your admission, and we worry for our safety otherwise. I hope you can understand our concerns."

"I won't resort to violence against colleagues!" Rosaline defended herself. "But this is ridiculous! I'm perfectly healthy! I don't need any treatment!"

"Our records indicate otherwise," the doctor said, holding up the folder. "You know as well as we do the dangers of a cognito hazard. Your behavior before and after the encounter is completely different. Face it, Agent Adams—you've been compromised."

"That's because I finally realized the truth of his cuteness. What's wrong with admiring it? Don't you also have an idol you look up to? Why can't I do the same for my beloved mascot?"

The doctor pinched her forehead and lightly swirled her hand. "That's exactly our problem! Agent, your actions… they're borderline stalkerish, and they're distracting you from your mission."

"I would like to argue the opposite. Wouldn't I be more motivated to do a good job if I had a reward waiting for me? You can't seriously expect me to do something so mundane every day without any incentive, can you?" Rosaline asked with a defiant glare.

The doctor met her gaze for a few moments, realized any further confrontation would only make her more stubborn, and softened her tone. "Yeah, you're right, but the higher-ups won't let you leave until you cool off. So let's make a deal: I'll fudge your reports so you can get out earlier, and you cooperate with my treatment plans. You don't have to be sincere, but you'll have to show some results I can document. Does that sound good?"

Rosaline's gaze grew peculiar, but she decided to hear the doctor out. "Okay. What's the first thing you want me to do?"

"Why don't you temporarily forget about the ferret? It would give the impression—"

But before she could finish, Rosaline cut her off with an anguished cry. "No, I refuse! My beloved! I'll never forget you! Just wait! I'll come find you soon!"

The doctor's eye twitched with exasperation. 'She's a lost cause.'

Then, with a resigned sigh, she pulled out a pen and added a new entry to Rosaline's file.

Jan 29:

The doctor in charge attempted to persuade the subject through gentle means, but she remained persistent in her fixation. Her obsession might run deeper than initially thought. It is recommended that she be allowed to meet with the hazard in the near future, lest she resort to extreme actions. Until then, further observation will be necessary.

A few hours later, Genji's figure could be seen approaching the workshop. Realizing this, the agents' bodies tensed like a drawn bowstring, as if preparing for war. In a way, their response was warranted, as their upcoming test would be even more stressful.

Genji noticed that the strange agent girl was missing from the group, but didn't think much of it. He waved to Helen and Finlosh before going to find Alysha.

Upon seeing him, Alysha immediately ran over and excitedly showed off her social media account, which had reached five digits in followers.

"Look, look! I'm famous now!" She chirped.

"Yes, I see that," Genji responded with a smile. "But don't look at the numbers too much. It'll only affect your state of mind."

"I know. I only found out today myself!" Alysha took a step back and picked up a nearly finished carving. "But you know, Genji, I kind of want to do more with my account than just post pictures every day," she said as she worked. "Carving's fun and all, but I want to be more involved in the community. I want to meet new people, attend special events, and make a name for myself."

"Oh? What sparked the change?"

"Nothing much. I just feel like it's a joy to share what I love with more people."

"I see," Genji said, acknowledging her reason. "But I assume you don't know where to start?"

Alysha answered with nothing but a wide, cheerful smile.

"Alright, you keep working. I'll see what I can manage," Genji said.

"Thanks, Genji!" She called out after him.

Genji smiled faintly and walked back to the main hall. As he approached, he waved over Jeremiah, the last plainclothes agent.

"Yes, sir?" the agent asked nervously, restlessly shifting his weight from one leg to the other and trying to keep Astros out of sight. "Is there anything I can do to help you?"

"I need a social media manager," Genji stated. "I assume you know someone like that?"

"No problem. I'll pass the request along to my superiors," he replied, still keeping his gaze on the floor.

"Sounds good." Genji turned and began walking away. Yet, just as he reached a corner, he paused, looked back at the agent, and said, "I'm available for questions tomorrow morning. Meet me by the oak trees." Then he stepped out of view.

The agent blinked once, twice, until finally, his eyes slowly widened with realization. "Right away, sir!"

Later that night, a fierce competition ensued among the available agents. In the end, Lia, a female operative in her late twenties, won the position and joined Jeremiah the next morning in a sleep-deprived state.

The contest had lasted the entire night, leaving her with faint dark circles under her eyes. Yet despite her appearance, she had no urge to rest, as her veins thrummed with excitement. It's not every day that they receive personal training from a powerful fighter. She would be a fool to miss this opportunity.

Following Genji's directions, they arrived at the outskirts of town, just beside a grove of trees. Genji sat atop a small boulder, tossing a wooden dagger up and down with one hand while eating a breakfast burrito with the other.

Genji looked up at them, smiled, and said, "Come at me with everything you've got. If you can knock this out of my hand, I'll extend your training by another day."

Jeremiah exchanged a glance with his partner before rushing forward with a dagger. They both swung at Genji, but he easily avoided the attacks with a slight tilt of his head. Then, with a twist of the shoulder, he brought his dagger to the Lia's neck, stopping just before contact.

He paused to let her process the movement before pushing her away to simulate her death. Jeremiah tried to kick his arm, but Genji bent his elbow and drove it into Jeremiah's ankle. The kick rebounded, and Genji's dagger sprang toward Jeremiah's neck.

"You're dead now," Genji said, taking another bite as he shoved him away.

He parried another strike from Lia before using an unconventional wrist flick to end her "second" life. Like this, the training continued for another hour until the agents collapsed from exhaustion.

"Not bad," Genji commented, tossing over two bottles of water. "You two fight decently well."

Jeremiah smiled wryly at the compliment. While it might be true by their standards, it felt unconvincing considering that Genji had "killed" them over a hundred times during this session with just one hand.

"Alright, don't look at me like that," Genji said. "I've fought more battles than you've had training. It's only normal that you got crushed."

"..."

"..."

'Thanks. That's so helpful.'

That evening, Aysha ended her carving session early to visit a candy pulling event hosted by a local store. The whole workshop joined her and huddled around one of the outdoor counters. The worker joyfully heated up some molasses and poured the resulting caramel into small ceramic cups for them.

"You want to move quickly," the worker explained, demonstrating with three wooden chopsticks, "and repeatedly stretch and fold the mixture before it cools. This process adds air to the candy, making it chewy."

The taffy grew lighter in color and fluffier in texture under the worker's skillful hands, eventually doubling in size when it solidified in the cold air. The group marveled at the process and eagerly paid to try it themselves.

Genji swirled the syrup to get a feel for its texture before dipping his chopsticks into the mixture. Then, with a blur of his hands, he rapidly spun the candy, catching large drifts of wind and quickly inflating it.

He then stretched it thin and rolled it into a cylindrical shape, composed of thin, glossy walls. Genji made some finishing touches and presented a clean vase. If one didn't know the context, they could easily mistake it for a glass construct.

Everyone around him was so captivated by his display that they forgot about their own blend. By the time they realized it, their candy had already hardened into a dense agglomeration.

"You continue to amaze me every time we meet," Finlosh commented, finally snapping out of his stupor.

"You have some of the most skilled hands I've ever seen," the worker said. "Are you perhaps a candy maker as well?"

"No, I just have some skills that transfer well," Genji courteously replied. "Don't worry, I won't snatch your business."

As this was happening, Kosa couldn't help but notice that something was off about Genji's previous movements. The process was too smooth, almost as if he knew where the wind would flow. The only way this could be possible was if he was either a prophet or… he had been controlling the wind from the very start.

Kosa: "..."

'You're not even trying to hide it anymore!?!'

Kosa wanted to grab him by the collar, shake him vigorously, and ask what he was thinking. It was absurd!

But before she could have a mental breakdown, Alysha's amazed voice cut through the air.

"Wow, that's so cool! When can you teach me to do that?" she asked, her eyes practically full of stars.

"Don't bite off more than you can chew. Focus on your own stuff," Genji responded, lightly knocking on her on the head.

Alysha playfully stuck out her tongue at him and politely asked the worker if he could reheat her candy. Genji just smiled at the scene and passed the candy vase to Astros for nibbling.