Giliath demands your power stones!
Enjoy a double post O:
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Tio was soon greeted by the appearance of Renne. Someone who she hasn't come across since the happenings back on Nemeth Island to where they raided Paradise alongside her friends, and Naoto of course. Naoto brought his group back on board the Glorious after undergoing a joint operation with them for that Paradise raid.
Both Tio and Renne were part of that group.
They haven't seen each other since after Naoto used the Glorious to drop Tio off back at Remiferia, to which she quickly realized she no longer belonged there, and was soon scouted by the Epstein Foundation. For the path Renne took while onboard the Glorious, Naoto tasked her with becoming Enforcer XV, the Angel of Slaughter. She had finally succeeded in doing so. Campanella had rewarded Renne for having Naoto complete his first mission as part of Ouroboros, by being able to now stay by his side.
And now, a couple years later, both Tio and Renne have come across each other here in Grancel City. Tio being alongside one of the leading figures of the Epstein Foundation, one of Epstein's disciples no less, Professor Schmidt, while Renne was accompanying a new friend of hers, a rival to Professor Schmidt. The Russell Family.
A hidden spark started to streak across the two as Renne and Tio stayed quiet for a moment. It appeared Tita was quick to take notice of this though, and worry reached her eyes.
"U-Umm...", Tita tried to say, feeling the air around them turn tense for a brief moment. Renne ignored Tita though and only revealed a smile as she looked at Tio.
"You seem to be in good health. Much more than last time.", Renne happily said, seeing Tio sporting a much healthier skin tone. Tio still had trouble expressing her emotions sometimes, but thanks to Naoto's persistence, Tio was already looking a lot better than she had seen previously. It was harder to see on screen when Naoto saw her during the network test, but now that she's here in person, it was definitely clearer.
"I could say the same to you.", Tio also happily responded, but still kept a somewhat deadpan expression. Hearing that, Tita blinked her eyes, as she saw it appeared that both Renne and Tio knew each other somehow. Professor Schmidt also became interested in seeing Tio respond like this.
"A friend of yours, disciple candidate?", Professor Schmidt asked as interest appeared in his eyes.
"Yes. Renne is a very similar-minded individual, comparable to my own.", Tio said, nodding her head.
"A similar intellect to your own?", Professor Schmidt wondered with growing interest as he looked back toward Renne, and got a good look at her.
"My disciple candidate here doesn't praise others much, so if your mind is as she says, you are more than welcome to join the Epstein Foundation.", Professor Schmidt said, still keeping a calm demeanor.
"Hehe, I'll keep that in mind, but I already have a prior date with Tita here.", Renne said with a grin, only to look back at Tita. Tita became a bit flustered after Renne said that. And as she became flustered, Erika couldn't help but go into her own thoughts again.
"That's a shame then, but the two will be in Grancel for a short while. If you do change your mind, you know where to come find us.", Professor Schmidt said after hearing Renne say that. After Professor Schmidt said that, Erika quickly snapped out of it, and decided to ask him a question.
"That reminds me, why exactly are you here anyways, you old coot?", Erika asked Professor Schmidt.
"I merely came to make sure that a Russell didn't mess up MY model after saying you have completed it.", Professor Schmidt said as he squinted his eyes a bit at Erika.
"Of course you did...", Erika said, only to place her hand over the bridge of her eyes, shaking it a bit as if she had expected this kind of answer from him. "Still, since you decided to make your way here, have a look at this will you?", Erika decided to say, which caused Professor Schmidt to look at her. With the master quartz given to her as a reward previously by the prince, with a swift motion of her hand, she tossed it to Professor Schmidt.
Professor Schmidt could immediately tell what it was and his gaze turned serious the moment the master quartz landed in his hand.
"This is definitely a master quartz. I'm pretty sure I only gave you the blueprints to create the Enigma II, and not any supporting documents related to these quartz.", Professor Schmidt said, revealing a frown. Seeing him do that, Erika revealed a playful grin.
"You see, that's where the fun part lies. You never did.", Erika responded with a grin.
"Then how in Aidios's name did you manage to acquire an ornament like this that isn't even in production yet? Despite coming from the Russells, I know your line isn't a family of thieves.", Professor Schmidt, wondering how Erika obtained a master quartz that was now resting in his palm.
"Courtesy of His Highness. Somehow he managed to acquire a master quartz, though the sources I do not know.", Erika said, lying about how she got it. She didn't want to describe the reward boxes to Professor Schmidt, otherwise he would probably start firing question after question. "Perhaps with luck, His Highness will be able to send one your way too.", Erika said with a playful grin. "But give that one back will you? His Highness specifically gave this one to me as a gift. I only sent it your way to have a look at it.", Erika continued to say.
"Tch. It already has a Russell's hands on it, so there's no way I would use one like that.", Professor Schmidt said, only to toss it back at Erika, letting her catch it as she stuck her tongue out at him. His gaze then wandered back down toward Tio, who was making light conversation with Renne. "Come now, do not tarry, disciple candidate. If it is as anything as she said, I am most curious to see the model created for this prince.", Professor Schmidt said to Tio.
Still not showing much emotion, Tio still tried to smile at Renne, which caused her to blink at Tio.
"Guess we'll be seeing you around then.", Tio happily said to Renne.
"Likewise. I am sure Big Brother will be happy to see you.", Renne also happily responded, which caused Tio to nod her head. After Renne said that, she urged Tita, who was still dazed at hearing the two converse like friends, to come along. She panicked for a brief moment but then became recollected after that. Seeing Tita panic like that, Erika revealed another playful smile before the three of them slowly vanished from sight. Renne dragged Tita along, wanting to explore Grancel City to their heart's content, and held onto her hand again, with Erika supervising them.
As for Professor Schmidt and Tio, the couple of guards became surprised as the two approached the gates when they just finished dismissing Professor Erika. They couldn't help but blink their eyes as it took a good moment to realize who it was that was now standing in front of them. One of the guards quickly hurried inside the gate to inform this new arrival.
Meanwhile, as for the rest of us, we quickly got cleaned up despite it being early afternoon now and decided to share a meal back down on the first floor. It was pretty quiet and not many meetings were currently happening in the facilities here. The new secretary, Jayna, has yet to arrive, so no doubt it will get busy soon, but as of now, there was a little lull.
However, as Ennea, Angelica, Kloe and I were enjoying a midday meal with Her Majesty the Queen, we quickly heard a sole sound of shuffling feet who appeared to be in a panic to reach the entrance of our large dining hall.
"Y-Your Highnesses, my utmost apologies for interrupting, but it appears there is an urgent matter for you to attend to.", One of the Palace Guards said, seeing the presence of the royal family.
"Oh? Please do tell.", I said, seeing the guard act frantically. Seeing the guard like this only grew my interest.
"R-Right.", The guard responded, giving everyone a salute. "It appears the chief of orbal technology development is now standing outside of the castle gate.", The guard declared, which caused a couple of us to come to a sudden halt.
"C-Come again?", I asked again, not sure if what I had just heard correctly from him.
"Hmph, it is as your soldiers says. Their presence bored me, so I went ahead and came in. Now show me that completed Enigma II model she created. Those Russells better not have damaged my design.", Professor Schmidt's voice said as we saw a figure approach beside the guard, who could only blink his eyes seeing Professor Schmidt now standing in the entrance of our dining hall.
However, that wasn't the only thing I saw either. I saw the second figure quickly dash their way, only for me to quickly see them have bright blue hair, and was rather petite.
This figure ignored the others and quickly made my way. Despite me still being seated, this figure did a large tackle, quickly giving me a hug. Once it became clear, I quickly noticed who this person was, and I could only blink my eyes.
"Tio?", I said in surprise. The petite figure who was now hugging me was none other than Tio.
"Mmm.", Tio said as she happily tried to smile back at me, giving me a big hug in the process.