It had been a few months since Aleodei had gotten to Trinity and during those months she grew even more spiteful around her. She managed to find a little underground library that was on its last legs.
It was so mistreated that there was no librarian or people inside, just books and books dusted with time, neglected by war.
She sat in one of the corners surrounded by books. Fantasy, fiction, but most importantly history of the Drigenife. A race that was above humans in agility, strength, power and all else. They had a greater connection with the earth and thus controlled and possessed more core power than humans could. They had demonic features which made them feared but they were a quiet race, focused on serving the earth and keeping peace. Aleodei noted that the mention of them stopped around nineteen years ago. She knew why too. The organization that had swore to make peace in this growing war took them out, fearing that they would be in charge of the new world, and not her. Aleodei closed her fists tightly but let it go. This was the reason she was fighting, the reason she was to end the war. Tears threatened her eyes, and she shook her head, laughing to herself at the thought of her crying.
After she was done and set the books gently back where they were on the shelves she left to her room, to go speak to her familiar May'Qli who waited for her in the sub space. As she continued to head toward the prison building where her crappy room laid, a hand reached out to grab her arm but Aleodei dodged swiftly.
"Aleodei!" A voice that was Claire's called out to her. Aleodei turned and noted she had been working in something that involved paper and glue. Seeing how she was covered in it. Aleodei only nodded in response and waited for Claire to continue. "I've been looking for you!" She said cheerfully despite the dismissiveness that Aleodei showed her during the morning drills recently. Aleodei only began to walk before Claire walked alongside her. "I know you might not know this, but Trinity holds a yearly ball to motivate the soldiers, Lady Monarch has asked me to formally invite you," she said smiling. Aleodei stopped confused.
"There is going to be a ball...? During war..?" She asked concerned. Claire nodded and shrugged.
"I know it's quite unconventional but it has proven to strengthen the moral of the troops, and we all have fun and look forward to it," she said trying to explain.
"They did this last year as well?" Aleodei asked softly. Claire's eyes glazed with slight sadness and she nodded.
"Correct, though I didn't attend so I wouldn't know what to tell you how it was." She looked down sorrowfully but then rebooted and looked up cheerfully. "Though the year before that was so fun! The theme was magical forest," she said marveling at the memory. Aleodei tilted her head and asked a heavy question.
"And were your morals boosted?" She asked bluntly. Claire gasped softly and realized what happened weeks after. Something that changed how she felt for Trinity that she had tried to shove deep down. She got lost in thought and memory that Aleodei felt bad and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Lieutenant Claire," she said, gently trying to bring her back. Claire blinked and the light came back into her eyes, she looked up at Aleodei and smiled softly.
"I'm sorry I got lost," she said warmly but Aleodei knew she felt a tint of sadness. She wondered what had caused her such distress and scolded herself when she realized she was being caring. Anger and sadness and despair bit at her. She lifted her hand off her shoulder and stuffed into her pockets and looked off quickly.
"So this ball, is there a like a dress code?" she asked trying to redirect the topic. Claire smiled and nodded.
"Dress or suit, of your choice," she said responding, once again excited. Aleodei nodded and looked back at her, towering over her by like five inches.
"And... if I don't have either?" She asked sheepishly. "This is the first ball I'll be attending," she said frustrated that she was being put in this situation of embarrassment. Claire chuckled lightly.
"Belm is around your size, she has an extra suit that is too long for her, I don't think she would mind if you borrowed it. Or I had an extra dress that's too long," she responded thinking. Aleodei narrowed her eyes, she didn't like the idea of borrowing something from sourpuss Belm but she didn't want to wear a dress....
"I'll take the suit if disciple Belm doesn't mind," Aleodei responded hesitantly. Claire nodded and smiled.
"Do you have anything to do? I saw you were heading to your room," Claire asked her eyes sparkling. Aleodei groaned internally. She was in a crossfire, she knew she was heading to her room so she wasn't busy, and she just let her borrow her something so Aleodei owed her something. She frowned and forced herself to shake her head. "Great!! We need someone who's strong to carry things round to set the meeting hall for the ball," she said explaining. "The strategical department is in change of the ball, but most of us aren't very battle efficient." Aleodei frowned and sighed then nodded slowly.
"Yea,"
...
It was a bunch of people Aleodei had never seen before. They must've been except from the morning drills or of lower rank. Perhaps all the higher ups were busy doing something else and Claire was assigned all these lower officers. Some of them were geeks and they fawned over Aleodei and her height, her strength and her strange horns and pointy ears. Aleodei almost ran out of patience when she noticed that kitchen girl was also helping. For some reason she liked the little girl... What was her name? Aleodei racked her brain for the answer. She was like the youngest personal Aleodei had seen around here, though she knew different. The children were located in another base. Being tortured and trained.
The girl glanced up and light up when she saw Aleodei. Aleodei only glanced at her softly and nodded slowly to acknowledge seeing her. The girl walked excitingly to Aleodei with a huge grin.
"Paladin!" She said brightly. "How are you?" She asked sincerely. Aleodei nodded and waved.
"I am doing well, how are you?" Aleodei replied politely. She smiled sheepishly.
"Helping out with the ball committee, the kitchen loaned me to them," she said happy to get out of the kitchen and see some action. Aleodei nodded and gestured toward what she was doing before noticing her.
"Do you need aid?" She asked the girl. The girl nodded and sheepishly scratched the back of her head.
"I've been having a hard time painting it when it's so heavy to pick up," she mentioned the column. Aleodei nodded and raised a hand.
"I will assist," she said gently before walking toward the column on the floor and picking it up so that the girl can reach the hard to reach parts. She kept racking her brain for her name but couldn't remember. It was something along the lines of Dana...? Din...? D...?
"So Paladin, catch any action yet?" She asked curious. Aleodei remembered her curiosity about the front lines, though she knew it was a dangerous thing. Aleodei shook her head.
"Not at the moment... just small missions with disciples," Aleodei replied turning slightly the column. She frowned remembering the babysitting the disciples did, it was annoying, them constantly trying to figure out who she "worked for" or if she was a spy for the Infernals. She didn't even get anything done. The girl stopped and marveled.
"You were hanging out with the disciples??" She said amazed. Aleodei sighed and tiredly nodded. This girl had the wrong notion about the disciples. They were just snakes wanting to please their master, though that comparison is an offense to snakes.
"I've always wanted to meet a disciple, I think disciple Ameno Belm is so cool," she said with stars in her eyes. Aleodei rolled her eyes but nodded.
"Perhaps I could introduce you," she said hesitantly looking at the girl who was about to die of happiness.
DUIN!
THAT WAS HER NAME!
"No way really!! I've always wanted to meet a disciple! They're so cool and powerful." Something turned in her and she quieted down and looked to the floor. "They saved me from the Infernals when they were selling me as a child slave, though those disciples aren't here anymore..." she said softly. Aleodei's heart felt her pain. An orphan, ruined by corruption and war. She hatred it but she felt a kindling to the kid. "But ever since then, I've always wanted to meet one, especially Disciple Belm," she said smiling and looking up at Aleodei. She only nodded and moved a hand to pat Duin's head gently.
"I'll talk to her,"
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