The team finally returned to their headquarters in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. The building was still standing strong, its walls a silent testament to the magic Naurah had woven into the space to create a safe haven for them. The chaos of the Titiwangsa Boarding School mission had left them all exhausted, but their work wasn’t over. Their HQ had become more than just a base for their supernatural investigations—it was now a home for the diverse team of beings who had come together from different realms and backgrounds.
The moment they walked through the door, they were greeted by the familiar scent of old wood mixed with the faint aroma of freshly brewed tea. Naurah closed the door behind them, letting out a sigh of relief. The investigation was over, and the students were safe—but the toll it had taken on them all was evident.
"Finally," Alex said, slinging her bag over her shoulder as she dropped onto the couch. "I think I deserve a nap after that. My siren song was almost too much for that school."
Jian, who had been unusually quiet on the ride back, leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. "I’m with you, Alex. The shadows in that place didn’t feel quite like home. But I’m glad the mission’s over."
Zariel flopped down dramatically onto the armchair, groaning in exhaustion. He slung his legs over the side, his fiery wings drooping slightly. "Ugh, I’m exhausted," he mumbled, rubbing his temples. "That was... intense. I need a break. All that supernatural stuff at the school really took it out of me."
Naurah glanced at Zariel, her brow furrowing with concern. "You’re okay, right? It looked like you were pushing yourself a lot during that mission. You didn’t even shift into your full phoenix form."
Zariel waved a hand dismissively. "I’m fine. I just—" He paused, then groaned again, clearly more tired than he was letting on. "That school case had me running all over the place. And there were so many strange things happening... I need a break, you know?"
The team, having seen Zariel’s usual flair for drama, was already used to his theatrical ways. But this time, his exhaustion was tangible. His usual energy was dulled, and the fire in his wings had dimmed.
Danial, who had been unusually quiet during the trip back, leaned against the counter with a subtle smirk. The team had learned a lot about Danial over the course of their missions—he wasn’t just the quiet, nerdy werewolf that kept to himself. No, Danial had a mischievous side, and it seemed like he was more than ready to unleash it on his teammates, especially Zariel.
Zariel let out a huff of frustration. "Alright, alright. It’s not like I’m scared or anything—" He was cut off by a low growl that seemed to vibrate through the room.
Everyone turned to Danial, who had stepped forward, a glint of mischief in his eyes. His usual nerdy demeanor had shifted, and now, the confident air of the werewolf he truly was was evident. He stretched his arms out slowly, flexing his hands as his claws extended, sharp and menacing.
"I don’t think Zariel’s scared of anything," Danial said with a teasing smirk. "But I do think he’s a little afraid of something else."
Zariel’s eyes widened in surprise. He blinked, then tried to laugh it off. "Pfft. Whatever. I’m not afraid of werewolves."
The growl that emanated from Danial’s chest grew louder, his eyes darkening with a fierce intensity. The hairs on the back of Zariel’s neck stood on end, and his usual confidence faltered. Zariel tried to remain unfazed, but there was a small flicker of nervousness in his eyes.
"Are you sure about that, Zariel?" Danial’s voice was low, almost predatory. His fangs glinted as he flashed a teasing grin.
Zariel stiffened. He leaned back in the chair, his posture defensive. "I’m not afraid of you, Danial. You’re just a nerdy werewolf. What’s the worst you can do?"
Danial’s growl deepened, and his claws flexed. In one swift motion, he moved toward Zariel, his arms reaching out as though he were going to grab him. Zariel’s eyes widened in alarm as Danial loomed over him, his werewolf strength evident in every movement.
"No! No!" Zariel stammered, sweat forming on his forehead. "Don’t—don’t do it, Danial! I wasn’t serious!" His eyes darted nervously toward the others for help, but the team just watched, amused by the rare moment of vulnerability from their usually fiery friend.
"Don’t worry," Danial said in a low growl, his eyes now glowing faintly with the faintest hint of wolfish power. "I don’t bite... unless I’m asked to."
Zariel, now panicking, tried to stand up, but Danial’s hand shot out, grabbing his arm with surprising strength. Zariel froze. The others were watching in silence, clearly intrigued by the transformation in Danial.
"I’m not going to hurt you," Danial said, his voice softening just enough to make Zariel’s nerves settle. But his grip on the fiery phoenix remained tight.
"You were scared," Jian said with a smirk, raising an eyebrow. "I’ve never seen you sweat like that before."
Zariel shot him a glare. "I wasn’t scared. I just wasn’t ready for a werewolf to act like that."
"Well, you’ve got to admit, you’re not used to that kind of power," Alex chimed in, her voice light and teasing. "I don’t think any of us are, really."
Naurah, watching the scene unfold, felt a small smile tug at her lips. This moment—this lighthearted banter between them—was a sign of how far they had come. From strangers thrown together in the name of a mission, they had become a family.
Danial finally let go of Zariel, who quickly scooted back into his chair, still flustered. "I’m telling you, I’m not afraid," Zariel grumbled, though his voice lacked its usual conviction.
"Sure, sure," Danial replied, crossing his arms with a satisfied smirk. "But you sure as hell looked like you were about to turn to ashes again."
Zariel raised an eyebrow, eyes narrowing. "You’re lucky I’m not shifting into my full phoenix form right now."
"Why’s that?" Jian asked, amused by Zariel’s defensiveness.
"Because I’m still tired from everything we’ve been through," Zariel muttered, slumping further into the chair. "That school was no joke."
"We all have our limits," Naurah said gently, walking over to the group. She gave Zariel a soft smile. "But we did it. We’ve saved those students. And we’ve proven that we’re a team that can handle anything."
The team fell silent for a moment, each of them reflecting on the mission, on what they had accomplished together.
"Right," Alex said, breaking the silence. "But now that we’ve got that out of the way, we need a name. We’ve earned it. Our group name."
Naurah tilted her head thoughtfully, her hands clasped in front of her. "You’re right. We’ve been through a lot together, and it’s time we officially name ourselves."
Zariel stood up, stretching his wings before turning to the group with an exaggerated smile. "Well, we could be something dramatic like The Phoenix Flame, or maybe—"
"How about Mystic Watchers?" Jian suggested. "It’s simple, but it has a nice ring to it. We watch over the supernatural world, and we keep things balanced."
The rest of the group seemed to consider it for a moment. Then, one by one, they nodded.
"I like it," Alex said with a smile. "Mystic Watchers. It suits us."
"Agreed," Danial said, his tone quieter now, but there was a genuine warmth in his voice. "Mystic Watchers sounds like a team I can be proud to be a part of."
Zariel grinned, his fiery eyes alight. "Mystic Watchers, huh? I guess it’s fitting. After all, I’m the phoenix of the group."
The group laughed, the sound of their camaraderie filling the room. Naurah, who had been silent until now, looked at each of them, her heart swelling with gratitude. These were her teammates, her family. They had fought together, laughed together, and now, they were a team with a name to carry forward.
"Thank you," Naurah said quietly, her voice filled with emotion. "Thank you for everything. For being here, for sticking with me. I couldn’t ask for better teammates."
The room fell into a comfortable silence, each of them understanding the weight of Naurah’s words. They had become more than just a team. They had become a family—each member contributing their unique strengths, each of them fighting for a common cause.
And as they sat together, resting from the exhausting case and reflecting on their journey, they knew that no matter what the future held, they would always be united. The Mystic Watchers had only just begun their mission to protect the supernatural world.
And nothing could stop them now.