Grand Ascension-Chapter 71: Report

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Jorg sat in his office behind his desk, his fingers slowly tapping the desk while he was deep in thought.

Zuri had just narrated everything that happened from when she met Makun for the first time to the altercation they had today.

That led to him asking himself many questions. Who were Bol and Cheryl? Why were they after Makun? Who was backing them? And the most important question of all, why Makun?

Zuri had said how she saw chains tight around him, chains that made his life hell and could affect all those around him.

Why could he not tell? He had deduced that maybe that was something only Seers could see. And he wondered if Yime had known it when she spoke about Makun to him.

It was either she knew and did not tell him because she thought of it as confidential, or she had no idea about it.

Jorg thought back to every event related to Makun that had transpired in the last days and that left him speechless.

Makun’s initiation had been a disaster. The people he had contact with, like Zuri, had been in a disaster, and now today he had caused trouble yet again. All of that happened in less than a week.

He really is a walking disaster, Jorg concluded.

They had to keep a close eye on him, else things could go south quick.

Most of his doubts had been satiated. He had information on Zuri, Bol and Cheryl, Zorak. He knew what transpired between them and felt like the MIO would not make things complex for him.

But, how should he report Zack’s death?

Who was Zack and why was he after Makun?

He had no clue, and did not know what to write in the report.

Creeaaaak.

The door to the main office opened. Mark and Celine entered.

"How is their condition?" Jorg asked Celine.

Celine turned to Jorg, her expression tired but measured. "Elias is awake. He took the brunt of the impact but it was mostly fractures, a few broken ribs, nothing I couldn’t handle. I channeled enough spiritual energy to accelerate the bone mending and reduce the inflammation. He’ll be sore for a few days but he’s stable and coherent. Lucky, all things considered."

She paused and her tone shifted, heavier now. "Makun is a different situation entirely. His physical injuries are severe. Everything is torn or broken, but that’s not what concerns me. His Route Core is erratic. I’ve stabilized what I can but honestly I don’t fully understand what’s happening inside him. He needs rest, probably weeks of it."

Jorg nodded.

It was to be expected. An Initiate fighting against two Adepts and losing himself to rage. It was a miracle he was still alive.

"Once Elias’s situation is stable, send him back home."

"Understood, sir." Celine bowed.

Jorg turned his attention by now to Mark. "Have they been allocated a cell?"

Mark stood at attention. He knew this question was coming. "Sir, Zuri and Zorak have been secured. We allocated them to Cell Block Seven, reinforced chamber, the one with the layered spiritual dampeners."

Jorg nodded. He knew that cell was the sturdiest cell they had in Naija City VEB underground dungeon. Only that could contain someone like Zorak. Not that he believed Zorak was going to try anything funny.

"Who is guarding?"

Mark shifted slightly before continuing. "Johnson volunteered for guard duty. Said he wanted to take first watch personally. He’s stationed outside the cell now."

Jorg nodded a third time tonight. Johnson was good enough to stand guard. He was a first-grade Adept Warrior, an excellent combatant.

It seems he was bored of the routine of Naija City, and hoped for Zorak to create some fun.

"S... Sir, may I?" Mark slowly spoke, hoping to get Jorg’s attention.

"Go on," Jorg said.

"It is about Makun," Mark started. "Sir, it has not even been a full day and he went ahead to cause even more trouble."

It was currently 2 AM, and the last time Makun had caused trouble was at 5 AM the day before. Two huge events happening in less than twenty-four hours in a city as quiet as Naija City.

That was something.

Jorg stayed silent, his single eye fixed on Mark, waiting for him to continue.

"I truly believe we should restrain him," Mark said, his voice measured but firm. He looked at Jorg, waiting to see any reaction from him, but there was nothing. "He attracts trouble and might endanger the life of many."

Jorg stayed silent.

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers resuming their slow, deliberate tapping on the desk. Tap. Tap. Tap. The sound filled the quiet office, steady, rhythmic, almost hypnotic.

He knew Mark was still bitter about his loss against Makun. The humiliation of being bested by a five-day-old Initiate in front of his peers had not sat well with him. He knew Mark was proud and had difficulty reigning his emotions in.

But what Mark said made sense.

In the span of a week, Makun had caused more commotions in Naija City than in two whole years.

Jorg could not deny the pattern.

Wherever Makun went, disaster followed.

But Jorg also could not ignore the context.

"The initiation," Jorg said finally, his voice low, calm, "was not something a mystic could control."

Mark opened his mouth to respond, but Jorg continued.

"When an Initiate undergoes their first awakening, the Deep responds. It floods them with Ashe. It tests them, breaks them or forges them. Makun did not choose to attract that many entities. His Route Core did, his resonance with the Deep did. That is not his fault, it is his nature."

"And then came tonight," Jorg said. "He had been attacked first and was just defending himself."

Silence.

Mark knew Jorg was right, and he could not do anything about the current situation.

Celine observed all of this happen, not saying a word. She knew Mark’s personality and just pitied him.

"Tomorrow, make sure the whole team is present. We have a visit from the MIO," Jorg said, skipping over the topic Mark had brought up. "You guys are dismissed."