In the Enhanced Human world, one principle sat at the foundation of everything: Anchors may be physically weaker than Strikers, but a Striker could never overpower an Anchor. Their strength couldn't be used to coerce, threaten, or intimidate them—no exceptions.
Despite their lower physical stats, Anchors had the potential to override a Striker if their abilities allowed it. Only a Striker could overpower another Striker. That divide was absolute.
Because of this imbalance, Anchors were cherished and fiercely protected. Any act of violence against them brought severe consequences. A Striker caught harming an Anchor could face full legal prosecution, and within the academy, expulsion was almost guaranteed.
Since Anchors were fewer compared to their counterparts, their roles were essential. When a Striker got injured in the field or was in a critical state and at risk of rampaging, an Anchor with high compatibility was immediately dispatched to provide them with necessary Anchoring.
Lucien came back from the A-Rank gate in good shape physically, but since he had to defeat the big boss inside, he lost a lot of energy. His levels were at 40% which wasn't in the red, but wasn't in the green either. He needed some Anchoring. It was the reason Kenneth was called as soon as Lucien came in.
The young man walked into the centre and was directed towards Room B, which was unoccupied. The sight that greeted him made him stop in his tracks.
Lucien was seated on the chair, the top half of his lean, well-built body fully exposed and covered with scratches and bruises. He wore dark tactical pants that fit snugly around his legs, with utility straps and buckles secured around his left thigh.
A sturdy belt sat around his waist. He watched in real time as they began to heal almost instantly. Kenneth was stunned, yet this wasn't the most shocking sight. Lucien was wearing his blindfold on, and his lips were pressed into a thin line, almost in defiance. He had to bite back a laugh. He looked utterly ridiculous.
As if sensing his presence, he lifted his head.
"Has my mystery Anchor arrived?" His voice was gruff, almost strained, but it carried a hint of mockery which Kenneth didn't care for.
"Yes, they are here," Eden said. She then gave Kenneth a look, gesturing to another room within Room B meant for observation.
Once the door was closed, she spoke. "Thank you for coming on such short notice, Kenneth. As you can see, Lucien isn't in the best condition, so Anchoring will be a little longer today."
Kenneth shook his head as he glanced at the black-haired man. "It's fine."
"You'll be performing phase one of Anchoring today, but given the amount of energy he's exerted and his need for more stabilizing, I would recommend using phase two," she said.
His brows knit together in a frown. "What's phase two?"
Eden pursed her lips before answering, "Phase two is mucosal. I'm guessing they didn't cover the phases in Intro to Anchors and Strikers yet," she said as she watched his eyes widened.
"Honestly, we can stick to phase one if you're not comfortable—"
"I'm not." He interjected.
"—Hugging is fine too," she finished.
"I won't be doing anything that goes beyond holding hands," he said, vehemently rejecting the idea.
Eden sighed, feeling tired. She ran a hand through her brown locks, glancing back at Lucien, who looked like he was on the verge of losing it.
"Look, I get you're not a fan of Lucien, trust me, I feel the same way, but in times like this, you need to put your personal feelings aside and be professional. You'll be an in-field Anchor soon enough, and there will be plenty of times when you'll have to Anchor a Striker you don't like. It comes with the job. You don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with, but it is required to perform your best in every phase. Lucien is in the yellow right now. He needs all the juice he can get."
As she said this, Kenneth couldn't help looking at the Striker whose legs bounced up and down, clearly agitated. He sighed.
"Looks like I have no choice."
Eden threw him a sympathetic smile. "The good news is you won't have to do more than two sessions, give or take. Having good compatibility helps in situations like this."
Kenneth nodded, and he left the room, joining Lucien. The two were left alone, and he could feel the oppressive energy coming from the Striker. He took a seat and extended his hand. Lucien didn't wait this time; he grabbed Kenneth's hand, holding it tightly. He felt a cool breeze spread through his body as soon as their skin touched. He almost let out a sigh of relief.
Soon, he found himself wanting more. He let go of the Anchor's hand, wrapping his arms around him and bringing him close. He could feel him resisting the embrace at first before reluctantly accepting it.
What a shame, he thought.
He liked the way the Anchor felt in his arms, as if he was meant for him.
Feels good.
Lucien nuzzled into his neck, inhaling deeply. He was surprised by the lack of scent the Anchor had. He took another whiff. Nothing. How could a person not smell like anything? This made him curious. Who was this Anchor? It was clear by their build and shape that they were a man, though Lucien didn't want to assume. There was something oddly familiar about the way they stiffened, acting as if they'd rather be anywhere but here, hugging the most handsome man in the academy.
Lucien tried to ignore this annoying fact. He focused on the warm, fuzzy sensations swirling through his body.
More.
He wanted more.
Without realizing it, Lucien's grip on the Anchor had gotten tighter. The tip of his nose brushed against his neck, making his way down to his collarbone before placing a feather-light kiss atop his décolleté. The Anchor froze, body going rigid. Lucien felt the caution radiating from his body like a heated lamp. He smiled wryly.
"Sorry, I couldn't help myself." His deep voice, smooth and purposeful, reverberated in the room, causing a shiver to run down Kenneth's spine.
"This fucking—" the Anchor started to say, but stopped themself.
Lucien's smile widened. He pushed further, placing another kiss, then another, hoping to get a reaction out of him, hoping to hear his voice. But the Anchor was stubborn. He kept his composure.
His energy overflowed through him, immediately stabilizing the Striker. Lucien felt clearheaded and refreshed. It was as if he was on a high, a trip he never wanted to end.
I want more, he thought. I want to touch this person, feel their skin beneath my fingers. Make them—
An image flashed through his mind. Kenneth. That Anchor he'd met in the training area. The man he'd keep running into and could never leave his mind whenever he didn't. Lucien sucked everything he possibly could until Kenneth was left feeling lightheaded and dizzy.
That's when Eden called out to them via intercom that Lucien was in the clear and they could stop now that his wavelength had been restored.
Kenneth let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He left the room in a hurry once he was given the clear. His complexion, which contained the warmth of someone who's been in the sun, was flushed red. He looked like he'd just run a marathon. But his fiery eyes fixed Eden with a mean glare, making the older Anchor smile sheepishly.
"So…that was intense," she said lightheartedly.
"You think?"
Eden shrugged in response. "It's to be expected. Lucien worked himself hard today, and because of that, you get to pay the price. It's not an ideal situation since both parties end up suffering sometimes. What can we do?"
Kenneth inhaled sharply, his heartbeat returning to normal. He crossed his arms and looked at her seriously. "What could he have been doing that would require that much energy?"
"Think of it like thermodynamics," Eden said. "The more muscle you have, the more heat you generate because your body burns through energy faster. Strikers work the same way. The stronger you are, the more power your core produces, and the harder it is to regulate on your own. That excess has to go somewhere; that's why high-level Strikers need frequent Anchoring."
"…I guess that makes sense," Kenneth said.
"That's the thing. It doesn't make sense. Not really. But that's not what matters. Your job as an Anchor and as a soldier for this school isn't to understand why we have these abilities, but how you can use these abilities for others. Don't think. Just do. The moment you start letting go of the logic is when you'll be able to perform your duties to the fullest."
Kenneth let her words sink in and didn't know what to make of them. Though they were simple on the surface, it was clear there was an underlying message behind them. Something Eden wanted to say but couldn't say explicitly. Before he could uncover it, Lucien's voice interrupted them.
"Hey, can I get a moment alone with my mystery Anchor?"