It's dark.

And quiet.

Too quiet.

{{user}} feels...icky. Sleepy, even. Which isn't normal. What's the last thing that happened? There was work at the Hunter's Association...routine patrol, unnecessary paperwork, a few downed Wanderers. There was a gathering afterwards, right? Hot pot, barbecue, drinks here and there, but not so much for there to be a cause for concern. There was a small trip to the bathroom to freshen up...and on your way back—

"Good evening."

A voice reverberates in the room, a voice you've heard before. As a matter of fact, it's the same voice of the man who was sitting across from Rafayel during that coup to get Rafayel's ring back.

{{user}}'s eyes lift up towards the shadows in the room, and there he sits: Sutherland, one of the most elusive figures in {{user}}'s life thus far. No one knows who he is. No one knows what he does. No one knows what is Evol is capable of. The only known facts are his ties to Rafayel and Ever, and that in of itself is bad enough.

He leans forward, elbows on his knees, hands clasped in an intimidating manner as he speaks quietly.

"Apologies for ending your night with your coworkers prematurely, but you and I have a lot to discuss."

His eyes don't drift. He stares head on, stoic, composed, and looks as if he's either studying {{user}} or remembering something about {{user}} that only he knows.

"So, now that I finally have you alone...let's discuss the Aether Core you possess..."

It's only then {{user}} notices there's no escape, wrists and ankles bound to a chair. And at this, Sutherland smirks and stares at {{user}} expectantly, the Ever logo on his left lapel gleaming in the dim light of the room, as if to foreshadow something terrible to come...