Dr. Mira Langston lowered her wrench, though her stance remained defensive.
"You have five minutes," she said sharply, gesturing Elias toward an overturned stool. "Talk fast. Breathe wrong and I'm assuming you're a spy."
Elias sat carefully, hands where she could see them.
The Watch buzzed again, a soft reminder ticking in his wrist.
> Mini-Task Complete:
Gained 5% trust from Dr. Mira Langston.
Bonus Reward: Stealth increased slightly.
--
"I'm Elias Carter," he began.
"All I know is...this Watch keeps giving me tasks. This address came up. I'm just trying to figure out why."
Mira scoffed. "The Watch. Of course."
She rubbed her forehead, muttering under her breath.
"They told me it would start activating soon. I didn't believe them..."
Her voice trailed off into a mixture of anger and sadness.
Elias leaned forward.
"Who is 'they'?"
Mira studied him for a long moment.
Then, finally, she spoke.
Her voice was quieter, almost reluctant.
"About five years ago, I worked for a project funded by a hidden organization — codename Aeon Core."
"They wanted to create a system...a guide...for selected individuals. Something that would 'push' them into shaping the future."
Elias's mouth went dry.
"You mean — the Watch?"
"Exactly."
---
Mira pulled out a crumpled photo from her pocket — a group of scientists smiling stiffly in front of a sleek building.
"They said it was to 'make the world better,'" she said, bitterness heavy in her tone.
"But when I learned the real plans...I ran."
Elias squinted at the picture.
Two faces stood out: one he didn't recognize, and another — a man with the same sharp jawline and intense green eyes as him.
"Who's that?" Elias pointed.
Mira hesitated.
"That...was your father."
The world tilted slightly.
"I...I don't have a father," Elias said hoarsely.
"You did," Mira corrected softly. "And he was one of Aeon Core's founders."
---
Elias slumped back.
All his life, he thought he was just another nameless kid from a poor neighborhood.
No dad. No legacy. No secret organizations.
And now?
Now he was caught in the middle of something way bigger than survival.
The weight of it crushed him.
For a moment, Elias remembered every moment he had begged for normalcy — just food on the table, a roof, a little peace.
Instead, fate handed him this.
---
Character Deepening:
Elias Carter (Updated):
Age: 19
Skin: Olive-toned, slight tan
Hair: Messy dark brown
Eyes: Piercing green
Height: 5'11"
Build: Lean but becoming more athletic thanks to recent Watch rewards
Personality: Witty, stubborn, struggles with trust but loyal to a fault
Flaws: Can be reckless when emotional, hides pain with humor
Background: Grew up with a single mother in low-income housing, multiple part-time jobs to survive
---
"Listen," Mira said dryly, handing him a dented tin mug filled with something hot and suspiciously brown, "if you're gonna cry about your long-lost daddy issues, at least drink this first. It'll hit you less hard."
Elias took a cautious sip — and immediately choked.
It tasted like gasoline mixed with sadness.
"Is this even legal?" he coughed.
"Probably not," Mira said, deadpan. "But welcome to the resistance."
---
Before Elias could recover, Mira handed him a worn envelope.
Inside was a small drive labeled simply:
"For Phase One."
"You want answers?" Mira said.
"Good. You'll need this."
"But be warned —" she added, eyes darkening, "the more you know, the more dangerous it becomes."
"And Elias..."
She smiled grimly.
"They're already hunting you."
---