Emmeline was standing in front of a gate of silver bars, belonging to a large and preserved mansion, located in a noble neighborhood. She watched the beautiful garden over the grassy land surrounding the site.
- It's been a while since we visited your mother, right? - asked the girl, facing Rainn next to her, holding hands.
After a few seconds, the gates opened and Rainn fired quickly towards the main door of the house.
- Hey! Take it easy, hurry up!
As they approached the door, another woman opened it. She was old, but her appearance was very well preserved among her curly, white hair. In addition to a blue dress, she also wore some silver necklaces.
— Oh! Little Rainn! How are you? - The lady squatted and hugged the boy strongly, who did not spare time to run to the second floor of the mansion. Soon, the lady stood up and faced the young woman in front of her. - Emmy! How much longing! How are you? Come on, come in!
The lady greeted her with a kiss on her face. Her voice was worn out.
- I'm great, Diana! - replied with a big smile.
Emmeline and Diana walked to the main hall of the mansion, sat on a sofa and began to talk. Even if she had visited the place many times before, the girl was still amazed by all the luxurious items there.
- Diana, I still don't know how to thank you! You know... from everything you did to Slezzy... to Rainn... to me!
— Hey, Emmy! You don't have to thank me for anything! In fact, if Adam were still alive, I'm sure he'd be very proud of all of you. So, from now on, I can only complete your work!
Emmeline was filled with shame.
- What about Zzy? How is he? I haven't seen him in a long time! - You stood up to get a full cup of tea on the table in front of the sofa.
— He is very busy with his new job at the NCC. Ah! Inclusive, he just received a great opportunity this last Friday! It seems to be some kind of internal training of the FMA, which will start next Monday!
- I'm very happy for that! Even though I'm not the real mother of that boy, I'm still very proud.
- What are you talking about, Diana? You've been taking care of Zzy since he came up aimlessly in the city. After all, what really matters is your intention!
— Yeah... sure, Emmy. Speaking of which, to this day I still have doubts about Slezzy's past life. That worries me, you know? - Diana seemed to be scared. - Imagine what it would be like to forget twelve years of your life and, especially..., your own childhood! We don't even know if that boy's real parents are still alive! We don't even know if he really was born in this city!
Emmeline stared at Diana with some pity.
— I know what that feeling's like, Diana. But, try to look at things from a positive side: you and Mr Adam welcomed him, offered him a new life and, on top of that, taught him to deal with...
Diana suddenly hugged the girl, preventing her from completing her words. She shed tears on Emmeline's shoulder as she whispered in her ear:
— Emmeline... listen to me...
— Han? What was it? — The girl was surprised.
— I want you to promise... that you will take care of Harvim when I leave...
— What are you...?
— Just... promise me, Emmy! Please promise you'll... protect those boys.
— I... I promise, Diana.
On the second floor, Harvim and Rainn talked in a room as they moved a computer over a small table.
The room was spacious and well lit due to the strong lights running through the numerous windows, ignoring the light fabric curtains. In addition, there was a large bed in the center, plus several notebooks scattered across the floor.
Harvim had reddish and smooth hair, which fell on his face. His skin tone was white, but not so clear. He wore a white robe. It was remarkable that, under that cloak, he still wore a social shirt, accompanied by a vest and a red tie. His style was, in fact, well differentiated.
— With this new news, it seems that the city was already safe years ago. — said Harvim, eyes glazed on that screen.
— How do you have the patience to keep reading and researching about these news all day long!? Come on, download that new game I showed you earlier.
— For a person who lives in downtown Maple, you're the one who should be more into these things. By the way, are you enjoying living with Zzy?
— Of course! It's so nice to live in the city center!
— How do you stand all the smoke, car noise and the imminent risk of dying!?
— You get used to it — mocked Rainn.
Browsing the internet, Harvim decided to watch a report.
Rainn showed a clear expression of boredom to his friend.
"Police are on full alert for what appears to be one of the worst illegal drugs ever marketed on the streets of Maple! Every day, hospitals receive more and more people. And, strangely, they all always reported the same thing: that they saw spirits... or kinds of demons."
— You believe that kind of thing, Rainn?
— You talk about this drug?
— What if it's not... exactly a drug!?
Harvim lowered the volume of the report, staring at Rainn:
— That drug could just be a journalist's excuse to cover up something supernatural... or something.
— It's a good theory. But it's a shame it's just a silly thing.
— Have you ever wondered about that? About supernatural beings?
— It's obvious! But what's the point of linking that to an illegal drug?
Harvim had a big laugh.
— What are you laughing at? Do you have a theory based on pure achism and want to argue with logic?
The reddish—haired boy took a serious stand:
— A lot of the time... it's not logic that's behind everything, Rainn.
— Then explain your theory to me! Fill my ears with your fantasies!
Harvim ignored the provocation.
— They're using, what they call "drugs," to hide something much bigger. Something dark. You don't have to be smart to notice that they never showed a single pill of that "drug". So maybe this supernatural thing makes some sense. In fact, why would a drug cause such a specific effect... as the sight of demons or spiritual beings?
Harvim paused, but soon resumed:
— Think of other drugs! People are different, Rainn. Each one can have a different vision or hallucination from the others when they consume them. In fact, you know very well, we already saw this when we played those heavy games, hidden from our mother, a few years ago.
Rainn gave a small smile, but soon disguised him to answer it:
— Maybe you're right. So, you also want to ask Santa to stop all the crimes in the city? — He mocked. — Seriously! Christmas is not so far away!
— Oh, yeah? Why don't you also ask for a new brain?
— Calm down! I was just kidding! No need to take all this talk seriously!
— I know that, you fool.
The two remained silent.
When opening a social network, Harvim came across a curious video. It appeared to have been recorded in a distant part of the city, specifically in the Eastern Region.
For the format and quality, Harvim concluded that the filming was a cell phone recording. On the cover of the video were dozens of police cars, as well as several military FMA.
— It was posted just a few minutes ago! — exclaimed Rainn, after observing the description of the video. — Let's see! It's already over a hundred thousand views!
— Are you right? It seems to be quite heavy by the...
— Just click on that! Or are you still a little child? — Rainn interrupted Harvim's speech.
— Technically, we still are both. But unlike you, I'm pretty sure I already have the mentality of an adult.
Harvim started the video with one click.
A huge man in mafia clothes, who before the occasion sounded like a dangerous being, was on the top of the balcony of a simple house. Beside him were other mobsters with guns pointed at the army of policemen positioned on the street ahead.
"Listen, officers, I don't want to get into trouble, but I'm sorry to inform you that you've all overstepped your bounds here. So, what do you say you evacuate all your troops in five minutes!? Before my good old friend Crow has to interfere with this action..."
The people around, full of despair, screamed.
One of the cops yelled at the mobster:
"YOU ARE SURROUNDED, BARON! YOUR BEST CHOICE NOW IS TO SURRENDER! OR ELSE... YOU WILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES!"
The criminal laughed, and that increased the tension of everyone who was armed there.
Baron gave a last drink on a cigar that came to an end, throwing it to the cops soon after.
"So you chose to challenge me?"
The soldiers came to tremble before the actions of the mafioso.
Baron laughed again. His deep voice conveyed an inexplicable fear.
"Right. I think... it was time to remind everyone... how things really work around here..."
As Baron took a position of attack, a shadow suddenly appeared on the side of the balcony. It was similar to a man in a black cloak, who hid the military clothes that tightened his body. His unrecognizable face was barely captured by the video.
In a fraction of a second, over no reaction from those who protected Baron, the mysterious being reached the mobster, slashing his throat violently with a brilliant blade.
While the other mobsters still wielded their weapons in the direction of that man, he activated, with the other hand, a smoke grenade at the same moment that the death of Baron was spiked.
The smoke dominated the top of the balcony amid the bursts of gunfire.
In the end, only gunfire was heard behind shots, both from the police and the mobsters who dominated that balcony until then.
With the end of the video, Harvim and Rainn stopped because they had never seen something so close to the real.
— By chance... that was... a swordsman!? — asked Rainn. — Wow! I did not know that there were swordsmen in the army!
Harvim, still staring at the computer screen, replied:
— I have no idea, but I can only thank him for not being on the side of criminals.
— Did you... know this "Baron" Harvim?
Harvim started searching about that crook in another browser tab.
After a few minutes, more reassured, Harvim commented:
— According to my research, Baron was a major drug dealer. He was one of the most wanted criminals by military troops in recent years, all due to his title of leader of the largest mafia in the city... the Noble Society.
Harvim rose from his chair:
— Apparently, this police operation caught in this video was just an opportunity of the moment. I'm really impressed about that guy. Wow... that scene... it was like a samurai action movie! — The boy returned to face Rainn. — In addition, he used that equipment, as if it were... a hook gun! Did you see just how fast he reached that "Baron"!? Not to mention the absurd accuracy!
— It seems that this guy has conquered a new fan — Rainn smiled.
Emmeline suddenly arrived at the bedroom door, warning Rainn that she was about to leave.
The three went down to the first floor of the house.
When they went to say goodbye, just like Harvim and Rainn, Diana and Emmeline hugged.
— Hey, Emmy, even if you have to drag Zzy with a winch here, but at least bring him next time — asked Diana, laughing.
— Of course, Diana. — replied Emmeline, a little embarrassed.
Soon, Emmeline and Rainn walked to the gate of bars.
As they left that area, they departed for the nearest bus station.
On the way, the boy asked about the reason for the lack of Slezzy on that visit. And Emmy did not take long to answer it subtly:
— You know, Rainn... I think we should give Zzy some time. I have no doubt that this training is the greatest opportunity he has ever had in recent years. So...
— Emmy...
Emmeline noticed that Rainn was crying silently. Immediately, she stopped her steps, kneeling before the boy.
— What was it, Rainn? — Emmy asked, while wiping those tears with her own hands.
— I... I don't want Zzy to die... — Rainn hugged the girl, ashamed of the situation.
Without expressing any more words, Emmy just hugged him strongly. She was surprised that the boy already understood the risks of Slezzy's career progression.
There, on the edge of the sidewalk, on a corner before the bus station, Emmy and Rainn held each other for a long time.