The team stepped through the shimmering portal back into the Oldest House, the familiar hum of reality settling around them. Relief was palpable in the air, but Darling's mind remained preoccupied. Something about the mission nagged at him, an unshakable feeling that they had only delayed the inevitable.
Marshall was waiting at the portal's exit, flanked by two Rangers. Her sharp gaze swept over the returning group before settling on Darling. "Welcome back. Status?"
"Containment was successful," Darling reported. "For now. The entity is sealed within the Convergence Nexus, but the energy signature is still active. It's dormant, not neutralized."
Marshall frowned. "So it's not over."
"No," Darling said quietly. "It's far from over."
Trench entered the room, his expression unreadable. His eyes met Darling's, and for a moment, there was a silent exchange—one of trust, concern, and something unspoken.
"Good work, Darling," Trench said at last. "You bought us time. Now, let's use it wisely."
Darling nodded. "I'll begin analyzing the data immediately. We need to understand what we're dealing with before it wakes up again."
Trench's jaw tightened. "Make it your top priority. The Board won't wait forever."
As Darling and his team dispersed, Trench lingered, lighting another cigarette. The smoke curled around him, a tangible reminder of the tension hanging over the Bureau.
He exhaled slowly, watching the wisps fade into the air. They had survived the first encounter, but the echoes of the Astral Plane would continue to ripple through their world.
And next time, they might not be so lucky.