Livian pces Alene in a room next to Serafim’s and leaves. On the outside, Victor is sitting on a bench with Niero, still unconscious. He has some bruises, but they are nothing serious compared to the other kids' situation.

  Livian looks at Victor. She has no good news, which she promised to tell him.

  – I’m keeping my part of the deal – Livian says, getting Victor’s attention. – She fought to protect herself and Niero, and based on what I got from that boy’s memories, the kids started. Alene just reacted to save herself and Niero– And what about the girl who got shot?– She might die. Not because of the infection, but because of the explosion. It hit too close to her head and the marble of the structures hit her. The problem is: her power was strong enough to activate the arms and even destroy one of the sealed walls. She is stronger than we expected.

  Victor looks down. It is Alene’s first victim due to a loss of control. She is ten years old and has already killed someone. What may happen in the future?

  – I have something to tell you about Niero. – Livian continues. – Even though they fought the other kids, his power was contained. It didn’t overflow nor affected anything around him, which would lead to the death of the same girl. I’m sure that he is also infected with the Void disease, but somehow, he can contain it better than she can. He is safe to stay out as long as he doesn’t fight anyone.– I will keep an eye on him. It should be safer near me.– That is exactly what I would say. – Livian continues. – Take him with you. And go look for the Void Travelers.

  Victor looks back at her, worried.

  – But we don’t know if they might attack us or not!– After everything that happened today, do you think the others will feel safe with you and Niero around? I’m fine with you all here, but most people here are not Dimension Travelers. They cannot sustain the side effects and will disintegrate in mere seconds after getting infected.

  Victor looks down. She is right, after all, he would not be able to hold himself without her by his side. The scientists and families are all scared of them.

  – Okay. – Victor clenches his fists. – I will do as you say.

  Livian sees his reaction. She is worried.

  – I will get an assistant to guide you. It will be better to keep interactions and your sanity in check. And in case Niero loses control, I will hand them the equipment to be able to contain him.

  Victor isn’t comfortable hearing all that. Lose control, containment. It brings back memories from his past. A tear rolls down his face. Livian understands his sadness, but they all know why she is saying all that. He asked for it.

  – I think Alene just woke up. – Livian turns to the door. – I will take a look at her

  _________________________________________________

  Alene wakes up on a bed in a white room by herself. It is hard to know if there is an end to it or not. It reminds her of her mother’s room. Alene holds the bnket over her body and looks at her hand. They are normal, but she can feel it. The difference in shape and strength she felt when she attacked the other kids. It was a good feeling, but she knows she must avoid it.

  A door opens from the wall and Livian gets inside.

  – How are you feeling? – She gets closer to the bed.– I feel fine. – Alene looks at her, worried. – Am I going to stay here like my mom?– For now, yes. – She stands next to her and pces her hand on her forehead. – I can feel your body warmth, at least– Is Niero okay?– He is sleeping now. There was no problem other than the bruises– And that girl? – Alene looks down. – Is she… dead?

  Livian hesitates for a moment, but there might be no worries in telling her the current state.

  – She isn’t. But the damage you dealt was something we are doing our best to fix.

  Alene sighs in relief and smiles.

  – There is something I’d like to ask you. – Livian continues, getting her attention. – What did you feel at the time?

  Alene ponders for a moment, processing the whole moment in her head.

  – I was angry and… Wanted to get out of there with my brother– You wanted to protect him, right?– Yes

  Livian notices this was the same reason that Serafim lost control, but with Alene, it was something she managed. Even if she destroyed the wall, she didn’t destroy the whole pce.

  – I'm going to be straight with you. – Livian sits on the bed. – Due to what happened, I won't be able to allow you to get out of this room until I’m sure you are under control. Besides, your father and I are going to deal with the whole situation. The parents of the kids are mad, and even if they started it, they got the most damage in the end. I will do my best to minimize the issue, but it won’t be good for you to walk around.– I get it. – Alene grips the bnket. – I am a monster, right?

  Livian stops. She doesn’t think that, but understands that she might feel that way.

  – What is a monster to you? – Livian asks back.– Is someone evil that… Makes others suffer? – She seems unsure.– I don't think you are evil.– But I hurt others!– And you protected someone. – Livian smiles. Alene seems confused. – To me, monsters are those who don’t fit in a pce yet. We never know what a monster truly is. But in the end, what we know is whether they are good or bad. I think you are a good person for protecting your brother. It was just a hard situation to deal with at your age. That’s all.

  Livian looks at her hand. She makes it turn into a pale arm with sharp cws filled with deepless holes.

  – I’m not human either, even if I look like one. What makes us good or bad are our intentions and actions. Not only what we think or feel.

  Alene looks at her own hand. She stares at it until the cws and the armor around it reappear. She gets surprised, but analysing it, it is still her hand.

  – Don't feel like you are something that shouldn’t exist. – Livian pces her human hand on Alene’s head. – It may be a new thing to all of us, but we will find a way to take care of it all.

  Alene remained silent while staring at her hand.

  – Do you think I will become a wolf like dad? – Alene seems more excited than sad now.– It is a possibility. – Livian giggles. – By what I saw, you had the mane, mask and cws. Maybe Victor could help you expin that.– Can he visit me?– You are stable, so it is okay.

  Alene gives a smile and cheers.

  – And what about mom? Can I see her?– Not yet. I need to talk with her first and see how she will react to it– But I’m okay near her, right?– Yes. – Livian smiles.

  Alene seems happier inside the room than outside it. She hugs her pillow and ends up piercing it with her cws. She doesn’t notice it, but it is not an issue.

  – I’m going to talk with you father now. Tell him you are okay. I will bring you dinner ter, okay?– Okay! Tell him I’m fine!

  __________________________________________

  Livian leaves the room. Niero is still asleep fine. Victor turns to her expecting for the worse.

  – How is she?– Incredibly fine. – She smiles. – Other than the fact she still uses the void fragments, she isn’t releasing any void energy. From what I can tell, the reaction was reted to her wolf transformation and the Void energy was just a side effect.

  Victor sighs, he is happy that everything is alright with his daughter.

  – Just to make sure you understand, she will remain contained until we sort out the whole situation with the other families and about her condition. Maybe it will be nice if you expin to her about the whole werewolf bloodline.– Can I go there?– Yes. I will just stay by your side in case anything else happens.

  Victor smiles after hearing something good. Oddly, Niero doesn’t wake up. Livian looks at him, something is odd.

  – Victor, – Livian calls him – did Niero move while I was inside?– He has been like that since I id him on my p. – Victor looks at him, puzzled. – Is something wrong?

  Livian stares at him. She feels like something is wrong, but can’t point out what it is.

  – Let’s wake him up. It won’t be good to leave him here.– Are you sure? – Victor looks back, worried.– I need to check something.

  Victor turns to Niero, moving his hair and shaking him while calling his name. He opens his eyes slowly, confused.

  – Good afternoon – Livian says, getting closer to him. She sees a purple shadow leaving his eyes.

  Niero doesn’t answer. He sits on the bench and scratches his eyes. After a long snore, he finally says something.

  – Good afternoon – He looks down. After noticing the bruises on his arm and legs, he finally remembers what happened. – My sister! – He turns to Livian. – Where is Alene!?– She is contained right now, but everything is alright with her– Is she going to stay like mom?– Not yet. You can visit them.– I want to see her! – He tries to leave the bench, but Victor holds him.– Calm down! We need to take a look at you first.

  Livian gets closer, looks into his green eyes, now normal. The bruises seem to hurt when touched and his body is still warm. Nothing odd.

  – You seem normal. – Livian answers. – I would like to ask you something. It is sensitive, but I need your truthful answer. Can you do that for me?

  Niero at Victor, who is smiling at him, and then back at Livian.

  – Okay. – Niero stares back at her.– What did you feel when the kids were hitting you and your sister?

  Niero thinks, remembering that moment, the pain and agony. He clenches his fists, but answers.

  – I was angry, but worried. I knew we were stronger. They were just Mystics and humans while me and my sister are Travelers. They were angry at us, jealous, the feeling I always felt near them. I had pity, but when they started to hit us, I just held myself back. I always trained with my sister and knew what she could do, so when she decided to strike back, I just tried to convince her to not kill anyone.– You felt they were jealous? – Livian asks back.– Yes.– How are you sure about that?– I always know what others near me are feeling. I don’t know how, but I’m sure that's what they are feeling.– Like what you did yesterday with your mother, right? – Victor asks.– Yes.

  Livian is interested. So he knew that they were weaker, but did his best to hold himself and his sister. The self control Niero has is surprising for a ten year old.

  – You developed a strong sense of empathy. – Livian says, as if taking notes in her head. – Maybe your powers are reacting with it.– Empathy? – Niero repeats.– Empathy is a human thing. The logic to understand what others are feeling and put yourself in their pce.– My sister has it too? – He asks back.– Every rational being has it, but humans have a tendency to develop it a lot stronger. Your sister might not show it directly, she was really worried about you. Her reaction was to protect you instead of putting herself in another pce. It is also empathy, but she had the intent to protect you by any means she could think of.– So she is not a monster?

  Livian stops for a moment. The same question she asked. Victor stares at Livian, waiting for her answer.

  – No, she is not. None of us are.

  Livian looks down. Victor seems puzzled by her putting herself in the answer.

  – I’m gonna leave you now. – Livian continues. – I will talk with Alene again during dinner and check Serafim after that. Since Serafim just got stable, I will avoid telling what happened today.