Seeing Guy and Elie approach the two, their eyes lit up after having gone through another long day.
"Welcome back, Guy, Elie. Here to turn in your report?", Jillian asked as a smile crept over her lips.
"You know it. Nothing much going on right now apart from a rowdy monster or two. The Bracer Guild can handle these for the most part but if we let them do all the hard work, we'll get rusty, haha.", Guy said, letting out a laugh.
"Right? We've mostly been receiving one petty crime after another. I can't help but feel those mafia bastards are up to something no good, but they haven't broken any serious laws in that back alley of theirs, so we can't place any proper arrest on those guys. All they do is just snooze away in jail for one or two days at most before they get released.", Noel said, shrugging her shoulders as she let out a sigh.
"If it's anything to argue about, things are relaxed enough to where we can divert some of our forces to settle disputes beyond Crossbell's Central District, and even support the Bracer Guild from time to time while the newbies continue their studies at the academy. Good work out there today you guys.", Another voice suddenly said, reaching their ears. This voice seemed pretty rough, belonging to that of a man's.
The four's attention were soon drawn to two more figures walking up to them from further inside the CPD, both appearing to be men.
"Oooh, if it isn't Sergei. I thought you already left for the night.", Guy said, welcoming the middle aged man and the figure beside him.
"Nah, decided to use the evening tonight to fill out some of our paperwork. Aside from that though, Dudley here and I are goin' to hit up a restaurant to celebrate the new year. Put your guys' work aside for now, they can do their report later. You guys are comin' with us.", The man said with a firm tone, causing surprise to reach to reach the others' eyes. He was Sergei, who used to be part of the First Division. But earlier this year, thanks to Arios retiring from the CPD to join the Bracers, Sergei was transferred to the Crossbell Police Academy, assuming a role of a teacher. He still comes to the CPD every now and then to help out.
The man beside him was Alex Dudley, who was still part of the First Division. He typically was a stern person, strictly following the CPD's codes, but a relaxed expression could currently be seen in his eyes beyond his glasses. He nodded at Sergei's words.
"It's the least we can do to celebrate the momentary peace we've had, plus it's the coming of the new year. Even I know when to put a stop to things. We won't be taking a no for an answer.", Dudley said with a grin.
"Now that's an attitude to have, Dudley. We got most of the gang here, so might as well hit up a restaurant to celebrate the new year.", Guy responded with a smile.
Despite the three having a falling out work-related, it's not like they didn't lose their friendship.
"Fufu this is shaping up to be a little gathering, isn't it? Care for three more in that case?", A sound of a woman's voice said, which drew their attention once again. Following their eyes, they saw the front door open again, only to have three more figures walk into the CPD. One was a dark blue haired woman sporting glasses dressed in soldier's uniform, one who was a long dark navy haired man with a long bladed sheath kept at his waist, and other middle aged man
dressed in a long collared jacket over his body to protect him from the cold outside.
Going in order, the woman was Sonya Baelz, ex-wife of Sergei. The two had filed for divorce, but it wasn't out of anger or anything. The two's schedules didn't meet eye to eye most of the time so they had little time to spend together. They were quick to notice their feelings growing apart, only to file a divorce earlier in the year. It's not like they don't get together on festive nights like these though. If anything, it was a surprise Sonya had free time to come tonight, as she was quite high up on the ladder in the CGF, overseeing most current operations here in Crossbell.
Together with Sonya was Arios, and a person Elie had come across only once or twice since she had returned to Crossbell. Ian Grimwood. Ian was the go to consultant for any legal worries in Crossbell, whether it was for something petty or on a much larger scale.
In short, Ian was both a lawyer and a consultant. He often helped with managing Crossbell's internal affairs should it ever get backlogged.
"Well look at who the cat dragged in. I didn't think I'd get to see both Arios and Ian in one night.", Guy said with a grin as he welcomed the three.
"I share the same opinion. I did send you the invitation, but I didn't think you'd actually have enough free time tonight, Sonya.", Sergei said, welcoming the three into the CPD.
"It's enough reason to have a celebration, so I tried to squeeze it in my books. Both Arios and Ian here are of a similar line of thinking.", Sonya said, pushing her glasses up a bit as she explained the situation.
"Yes. We have enough time to spare at the Bracer Guild. I would have invited the others but they already parted from the building. So you only got me tonight.", Arios said, keeping his cool demeanor. Arios was a lot busier earlier in the year as he had the Bracer Guild help assist the damage control that was going on in Remiferia and the country was trying to get reigned in by its second prince. It was equivalent to a civil war, but now that most of the infighting was over, Arios had more free time on his hands. So he was able to join the group currently gathering here tonight in the CPD.
"Likewise. I didn't think I'd get to catch the mayor's granddaughter here though. Have you been well?", Ian asked, sporting a smile underneath his glasses.
"Yes, thank you for asking. It's been quite fulfilling as of late. As they say, more the merrier. I can't believe the new year has already come knocking.", Elie said, responding with a smile back at Ian.
"Then why don't we get this show on the road? Hopefully the restaurant of choice isn't far--?", Noel tried to say, drawing the group's attention. Yet before Noel could finish speaking, the group suddenly heard the orbal phone suddenly sound off behind them, causing Noel to frown.
"A message at this time of night? We already closed the office today...", Noel said, revealing a frown as the phone continued to go off. Before she could do anything, the orbal terminal also lit up, which drew everyone's attention to the screen in the back. Noel blinked her eyes seeing the news flash on the orbal terminal.
"An urgent news flash provided directly from the CNS?", Noel questioned, wondering if what she just saw was real.
"An urgent piece of news? We don't get that a lot around here. Most of what we post targets the locals.", Sergei wondered. Hearing that, the group bundled closer toward the receptionist side, with some of them raising their eyes at the photo now on the orbal terminal screen.
"Hey, I think I've seen that guy before. Wasn't this guy the one who gave all of that intel back then?", Guy asked as he looked back at Sergei.
"That seems to be the case. Still, I didn't think they would suddenly flash us with an alliance like this. It looks like things are getting pretty spicy in Erebonia. That's certainly a way to celebrate a new year.", Sergei said, musing to the news before him.
"So that boy we encountered then really was a prince...", Dudley uttered softly, watching the news flash too.
If anyone, it was Elie who remained quiet, as a lot of thoughts began to suddenly stir inside of her head the moment she saw the violet haired boy. She could immediately recognize who he was. Elie's sudden change was quick to be noticed by Ian, causing him to glance her way.
"You alright, Miss Elie? You're acting as if you just saw a ghost.", Ian said, asking to make sure she was alright.
"I-I'm fine, I'm just surprised as you all are. Though if anything, this might be good. Weren't Erebonia and Liberl at war with each other not too long ago?", Elie asked, trying to change the subject a bit. Sonya nodded at Elie's words.
"True. Perhaps this will be considered a blessing for the two countries. It's not every day you get to see an arranged marriage between two royal parties like this.", Sonya mused, wondering how things would turn out from here.
"Heehee, plus it's every man's dream to get engaged to such a pretty girl like this one.", Noel said with a giggle. She proceeded to turn back, only to observe the photo again, letting her eyes wander around to see who else was there beside the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. Noel's eyes couldn't help but land on one particular girl in the back, sporting a light purple dress. Noel's gaze lasted for a moment as she turned silent, even rubbing her eyes a bit at the girl she was observing now.
"Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Maybe I do need to get some rest tonight...", Noel suddenly said, drawing the group's attention again.
"Is something wrong, Noel?", Jillian decided to ask, since it was odd of her to behave like this.
"I'm not sure. There's this girl here in the photo I see that has the exact same hair color tone as you do, Jillian. Your hair is quite a rarity amongst girls, so I just got surprised, that's all.", Noel said, explaining what she had just seen.
"There's a girl in the photo with hair that looks exactly like mine...?", Jillian began to utter, obviously revealing a frown as she said that. "Let me have a look.", Jillian began to say, only to slide chairs in front of Noel to get a good look at the photo that was presented to them. She quickly found Noel's trace, and sure enough, she quickly spotted the girl Noel was referring to.
The moment Jillian saw this girl, she started to feel her heartbeat race increase as she entered a momentary silence. The others eventually saw a look in disbelief in her eyes as Jillian observed this girl, who, with each passing moment, seemed to bear a striking resemblance to her.
"T-There's just no way it's her...right...?", Jillian uttered softly, gulping down a breath of air as she found her composure lost. Even Noel found this sudden change of Jillian a surprise to her.
*
[Insert picture of Sergei Lou here]
[Insert picture of Alex Dudley here]
[Insert picture of Sonya Baelz here]
[Insert picture of Arios Maclaine here]
[Insert picture of Ian Grimwood here]
As always Giliath demands your power stones! Let's try to get over 500!