It was early in the morning, and Christine was in utter shock as she reached the main hall.
"W-what the hell?" She shouted. "Can someone explain to me what the hell just happened here?!"
With the rest of the faction members sitting on one of the few unbroken tables, Emily looked back in fear as breakfast was stuffed in her mouth.
"Why is there so much dirt on the ground…?" She said, then peering directly at Emily.
"Huh."
"Umm, hehe… I'll get right to it…" Said Emily as her voice trembled in fear, quickly getting up and grabbing a nearby broom to clean up the dirt.
"So, anyone care to tell me what happened?" Said Christine, approaching the group.
"Emily was fighting one of the newbies." Said Arin.
"Yea, something happened with Jay last night." Said Ben, getting up from his seat.
"Really?"
"He passed out again, but then some malevolence started controlling him, and me and Emily had to stop him."
"Have any idea why this keeps happening to him?"
"I'm assuming it has something to do with Narumi. It happened as soon as she came in, and Jay kept going after her."
"Interesting… also, Narumi, you're back? How are you?" Christine said with enthusiasm as she waved at her. Looking a bit embarrassed as she was put in the spotlight, Narumi waved back.
"I'm fine, Christine."
"So, anyways, what if that same scenario happens again?" Christine asked.
"It won't." Said Jay as he entered the main hall.
"Oh, there you are." Said Christine.
"Are you feeling alright?" Narumi said as she walked up from behind Christine.
Rather surprised from the worry from an unfamiliar person, Jay said, "Yea, I'm okay. Thank you for your concern."
With a deep sigh of relief, Narumi smiled and replied, "You're welcome."
"How do you get along with others so fast?" Said Arin.
"What do you mean? I'd say I get along with everyone fast."
"That's not the issue. You're moving rather too fast." Said Cain.
"Ehh!?" Said Narumi, shocked by his statement.
"Anyways, this is a mess." Christine said as she scanned the room. "Let's all clean and reorganize the place before any visitors show up."
As everyone spent their minutes cleaning up the main hall, Narumi walked over to Jay, who was with Ben.
"Your name is… Jay, right?" She asked.
"Yeah." He replied.
"Do you remember what happened last night?"
After a while of thought, he said, "The last thing I remember was seeing someone by the main entrance. My vision had already gotten too hazy for me to recognize them."
"So it really wasn't you then." Said Narumi, feeling relieved.
After a short while, Narumi asked him another question.
"Uhm, one more thing." She said.
Turning back around to face her, Jay said, "What is it?"
"Do you know who I am?"
"Narumi." He said almost in an instant, but after hearing that name slip out of his mouth, Jay and Narumi were in complete shock.
"Hey guys!" Said Emily, suddenly wrapping one of her arms around Narumi.
"Let's have some fun and get to know each other, yeah?"
"Sure, Emily." Narumi said, still surprised from her sudden appearance.
"We could show ya new guys around the kingdom, too! Right now is the perfect time, let's go!" Said Emily, startling Ben as she grabbed his hand and rushed outside in excitement.
"W-wha…!?" Said Ben.
Looking back at Jay, Narumi shrugged her shoulders and said, "Might as well follow. It'll be fun."
"Alright." Jay replied, preparing to follow after Emily.
After everyone met outside, Emily, thinking out loud, said, "Hmm. Where should we go first..?
"Maybe we can start out-"
"Oh! I know!" Said Emily, interrupting Narumi. Continuing to drag Ben around, she said, "Follow me, guys!"
The first place they went to was a museum, where recovered artifacts and remnants prior to the world's destruction were held. Fascinated, they all looked at automobiles, parts of a plane, guns, and even a miniature model of a metropolis.
Next, they went to a nearby tavern, where the four of them sat at a table and ate, drank and laughed as Emily told jokes. Narumi could barely finish her plate, whereas Emily asked for a third meal. Jay had passed out from barely drinking any alcohol, and Ben, being forcefully offered a drink from Emily, anxiously refused.
Lastly, they went to a theater to watch a play. As they all sat next to each other, Jay looked completely unimpressed at the play as Emily laughed at every humorous scene. The most Narumi did was let out a giggle, and Ben forced himself to laugh everytime Emily did to prevent her from feeling alone. It was now a late evening, and the play had ended. The four had then walked and talked for the time.
Sighing, Emily began to turn around and walk backwards as she put her hands on her head.
"That's it, guys. Sadly, it's already gettin' late." She said.
"Yeah, today went by so fast." Said Ben.
"That means you had fun!" Narumi added. "What about you, Jay?"
"The play was boring." He said.
"No it wasn't…! That play was funny!" Said Emily, pouting at Jay.
"Might be funny to you, but I almost fell asleep." Jay said.
"Hey! Are you making fun of my humor…?"
"The play isn't what matters, what matters is that you had fun with us! Isn't that right, Jay?" Said Narumi, looking rather anxious.
"Yeah, I did."
"Good enough then, I guess." Emily said, slightly blushing as Narumi giggled.
"You know what…?" Said Emily, thinking out loud. "Today was basically a double date!" She said, grinning as she held onto Ben, who was instantly flustered.
Shyly, looking back at Jay, Narumi blushed slightly.
"...Right." She said.
"I've also been wonderin' for a bit now, Jay…" Emily added.
"Hmm?"
"What's up with that necklace? Does it have any meaning? Don't get me wrong, I like the look of that purple gemstone."
As he grew a slight frown, Jay said, "Someone gave it to me."
"Really? Is there like a story behind it?" Asked Emily.
"Didn't you notice, dummy? Clearly it's something Jay would rather not say." Narumi said.
"Oh, sorry for askin', then." Emily said to Jay.
"No, I can tell it to you. I just don't think I'm very good at telling stories." Said Jay. "The necklace was made by a girl who I met recently. She was a good friend. Her name was Lisa"
"Was…?" Emily asked in fright.
"She originally made it for her mother, but because she and Lisa passed away, her father gave me the necklace for me to keep."
"Wow…" Said Ben.
"Jeez." Emily said.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Narumi said, frowning.
And after a while of silence. Jay spoke again.
"Sorry. I ruined the mood."
"Nah… you're fine. I was the one who brought it up anyways." Emily replied.
Right after she had spoken, a soldier from Belenus ran up to her, stopping as he approached her. He bent over and held his knees as he tried to catch his breath. He then quickly got up to salute Narumi and Emily.
"Lady Emily! Lady Narumi!"
"Hmm?" Said Emily as she looked at him.
"The southern region of Belenus is on fire!"
"What?!" Narumi shouted.
"Oh, no…" Ben said as he started to tense up.
"The southern region was showered in fire by a mage! We believe the arsonist is a female in a cloak, and we tried to apprehend her, but most of our men had defeated. Please, be careful!"
"We shouldn't be too far from the south, let's go!" Said Emily, as she summoned her wings and took off. Ben had taken off after her, and Jay summoned his wings, picking up Narumi then ascending into the air, following after the rest.
"Thank you, Jay!" Narumi said, looking forward.
A couple of minutes later, and the four of them descend as they watch in fear and anger of the many houses set in flames.
Terrified of the sight, Narumi summons a magic circle which then ejects a large stream of water.
Aiming it at the burning houses, she says, "I'll stay here! The rest of you need to go on ahead!"
"Okay. Let's find whoever did this!" Emily, beginning to run deeper into the fiery scene, begins searching around for the arsonist as the rest quickly follow after her.
"Who the hell in their right mind would do this…?" Said Emily, looking frustrated.
After a while of searching around, they finally find who they were looking for. However, they found something even more a surprise. The group found Nora tied up and crying in pain as the cloaked woman stood by her.
"Nora…" Said Emily as her voice trembled.
Shortly after noticing their arrival, the mysterious woman quickly lifted Nora on her shoulder and ran.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?!" Said Emily, running after her.
Noticing the symbol of Diabolus on the back of her cloak, Jay, instantly angered, prepared to run after her.
"Stop." Said a familiar voice.
Both Jay and Ben quickly turned around and saw two men as they both took off the hood of their cloaks. One had long, wavy black hair, and the other had short white hair.
"Angels, let's have a little bit of fun." Said the other man as he smirked.
Upon recognizing the face of the man, Jay's eyes widened completely.
"You…" He said, clenching his fists as tight as possible.