Beware of Oblivion

As they paid and stepped outside, the four of them sat on a bench outside the store, eating their convenience store lunches in silence. The sandwiches were basic, the drinks lukewarm, but it was better than nothing.

While they ate, Elijah couldn't help but notice the stares of passersby.

Some whispered to one another, their expressions ranging from curiosity to outright contempt.

"This is pathetic," Kieran muttered, tearing into a bag of chips. "We're supposed to be protecting these people, and they treat us like trash."

Visconti shrugged. "It's just how it is. You get used to it."

"Do they ever stop?" Elijah asked quietly.

"No," Markus said bluntly. "But you'll get used to it."

Visconti shook his head. "You shouldn't have to 'get used to it.' This kind of prejudice isn't normal. It's just tolerated."

Kieran snorted. "Yeah, well, good luck changing that."

Markus's pocket buzzed, breaking the tense atmosphere.

[Report of suspicious activity in Sector 12. All teams in the vicinity, proceed with caution.]

Markus stopped in his tracks, reading the same message on his device. "Sector 12 isn't far from here," he said. "We'll check it out."

"Break's over," he said, standing. "There's been a disturbance in the northern street. Let's move."

The group quickly packed up and headed toward the northern part of Sky City.

As they approached, the air grew tense, the lively chatter of the city replaced by distant shouting and the blare of sirens.

When they arrived, they found a chaotic scene.

The Sector 12, the northern part of the Sky City was chaotic.

Several officers were trying to contain a crowd of angry civilians, while a young Esper stood at the center, his hands glowing with unstable energy.

"Stand down!" one officer shouted, aiming a weapon at the boy.

"I didn't do anything!" the boy screamed, his voice filled with panic. "They're lying!"

The boy at the center of it all trembled, his hands glowing faintly with Mana. He looked to be around sixteen, his disheveled appearance suggesting he had been through an ordeal.

Elijah's heart sank as he saw the fear in the boy's eyes.

"Markus, what do we do?" Elijah asked, his voice tense.

Markus surveyed the scene, his jaw tightening. "We intervene. Carefully."

As they stepped forward, Elijah felt a familiar pang of uncertainty.

The line between right and wrong was blurring once again, and he wasn't sure which side he was on.

"I didn't do it!" the boy shouted, tears streaming down his face. "I swear!"

Markus stepped forward, his expression calm but firm. "What's going on here?" he asked one of the officers.

The officer, a middle-aged man with a hardened face, turned to Markus and scowled. "Stay out of this, cadet. This is police business."

Markus didn't back down. "We are corps cadets, and we're tasked with assisting in situations like this. What's the accusation?"

The police officer hesitated before replying, "This boy is accused of stealing valuables from a shop nearby and attacking the owner when confronted. Witnesses saw him fleeing the scene."

The boy's eyes widened in shock. "That's not true! I didn't steal anything! They just saw me using my ability, and they assumed—"

"Enough!" the officer barked.

Markus raised a hand. "Calm down." He turned to the boy. "What's your name?"

"L-Lucas," the boy stammered.

"Lucas, listen to me," Markus said evenly. "If you're innocent, we'll find out. But I need you to cooperate. Can you do that?"

Lucas nodded hesitantly.

Markus then addressed the police officer again. "Do you have any evidence from the scene of the crime?"

The officer frowned but gestured to another corps member, who handed Markus a small pendant. "This was found at the scene. It's supposedly one of the stolen items."

Markus examined the pendant briefly before stepping back. "Good. I'll use a Memory Spell to verify what happened. Everyone stand back."

The crowd murmured as Markus held the pendant in his hand and began chanting softly.

A faint blue glow surrounded him, and the pendant floated in the air. Markus extended his other hand, and a shimmering hologram began to take shape.

"Memory Projection!"

The hologram solidified, displaying the scene at the shop moments before the alleged crime.

In the projection, the shop owner, a portly man with a thick mustache, was arguing with someone—Lucas.

"I told you, I don't want trouble!" the shop owner yelled.

"I'm not causing trouble!" Lucas protested, his hands glowing faintly. "I was just looking at the display!"

The argument escalated as the shop owner grabbed Lucas by the arm.

Lucas flinched, his Mana reacting instinctively and pushing the man back slightly.

The shop owner stumbled into a shelf, knocking over a few items.

"Thief!" someone shouted from outside.

Lucas turned to see a small group gathering, their faces filled with suspicion and fear.

He panicked and ran, leaving the pendant behind.

As the hologram faded, the crowd fell silent.

Markus turned to the shop owner, who was among the bystanders. "Care to explain why you called him a thief when there's no evidence he stole anything?"

The shop owner sputtered. "H-He used his powers! That's suspicious enough!"

"That's not theft," Markus said coldly. He then addressed the officer. "The boy acted in self-defense. The real issue here is the prejudice against Espers. Mister, if you accuse someone again, I'll throw you into a prison."

The officer looked uncomfortable but didn't argue.

The officers lowered their weapons reluctantly, and the crowd began to murmur among themselves.

Markus crouched down to Lucas's level. "You're free to go. But in the future, try to stay calm in situations like this. Losing control of your powers can make things worse."

Lucas nodded, tears still in his eyes. "Thank you… Thank you so much."

As the boy walked away, Markus turned to the crowd. "Remember this: not every Esper is a criminal. Think before you judge."

The crowd dispersed slowly, some looking ashamed, others still skeptical.

As the group walked away from the scene, Visconti broke the silence. "That could've gone a lot worse."

Kieran nodded. "Markus, that was impressive. I didn't know you could cast a Memory Spell."

Markus smirked. "There's a lot you don't know about me".

Elijah, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke. "Why do people hate us so much?"

Markus glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "Because they're afraid of what they don't understand. And fear often turns into hatred."