They walked along the marble walls, "This place is made of shiny stone!" Asobi poked a pillar with her wand before Jotou pulled her along the corridor.
Upon the entrance was a fragrance of sea dandelions that fluttered the air. The helpdesk sat at the front and wings down the left and right that led to various workspaces.
They walked behind the desk; footsteps clacking against the floor, but theirs did not echo alone. Dozens of people, in suits and in a rush with papers and cases were going about their business.
"The mayor's office is-"
"Third floor, large carved doors with the image of a red serpent. The office overlooks the courtyard and in the distance the city centre," Hotaru spouted before the man guiding them could.
He turned his glance, walking up the steps, "You have been reading up on the building's infrastructure?"
Hotaru gave a light chuckle, ears drooping, "Actually, I used to work here from time to time. You probably never noticed me, me being just another lawyer down the wings," she flapped a hand in front of her face.
The man nodded in thought, passing by colleagues, "Hm… I would have noticed a woman with bright red hair and has skin as radiant as yours."
That radiant skin went as red as her hair, "You've only been the mayor's secretary for eight months, Mr Tenner… ha… I probably was in and out, different work schedules and all that," she gulped.
"Hey!" Fumeko waved her hand in front of Hotaru, grabbing her attention, "You used to work here and you decided to tell us some boring ass information about the building?" she spurned.
"In my defence, when I told you that 'boring ass' information, I said all lawyers under Kria's government come and go here; I technically worked in another building," Hotaru glared.
"Nice work detective, you played yourself," Jotou looked up to see how high the ceilings were, nearly tipping backwards. The one pair of shoes she owned was hidden by the frilly dress that brushed against the polished stairs.
"Pleasant group," Mr Tenner remarked with a cough, making them all fix up their attitude a bit. "In any case, if you worked here previously then there is no need for too many formalities.
You may simply call me Jack. That pleasantry also goes for the rest of your party."
"Of course, Jack. My name is Hotaru Kinoshita, Hotaru will do fine. This is Fumeko Namora, you already know Jotou and this is Asobi," Hotaru turned to the absence of loud exclamations.
Asobi had her mouth agape, enjoying the sunlight beaming through the skylight, seeing lamps connected by wires and switches instead of magical lanterns or ones lit with fire.
"We're all a bit, out of it, to say the least after yesterday. Sorry for the, informalities I guess," Jotou apologized.
"Apologies acknowledged. Still, for all your tiredness Ms Howllett, your appearance rivals the sunlight in brightness," he replied.
Jotou blushed, turning her face away to, look at anything else, "Uh, thank you…" 'Why is this guy so flirty!? And why is my face heating up!?' Her thoughts ran, taking another look at him.
His skin more on the tan side, a five-o'clock shadow kept well and a figure that showed he actively hit the gym even under the suit. Silver eyes and his scent- Jotou started ignoring all her senses and just walked along silently.
"I'm sure the question remains of why I referred to you as Thundering Blade," Jack spoke.
"Exactly what I was thinking," Jotou replied.
"Mayor Gestryle will explain in more detail. However, before we enter his office," they were approaching the doors of bronze with a red sea serpent carved in.
"If there is anything you wish to relay to the mayor in the future, I am at your disposal and can be your messenger between the two parties directly," he offered before reaching the guards at the door.
"Secretary," they saluted, "Thundering Blade," they saluted upon noticing her presence. Jack opened the doors, allowing the four to go in before him.
There stood a man, shorter, on the portly side. His hair in a comb over was greying from black and a dark purple suit he wore. His office within the pristine light of noon.
Upon entering was soft, white carpeting. His desk resided on the far left, sofas were arranged near the window surrounding a coffee table, shelves of books on the right wall. Jazz music filled the room from a radio playing on his desk.
His hands moved from his back, leading into the sound of soft claps, "The Thundering Blade of Kria… The sound she made when slaying the greatest velatos threat this city has faced, still echoes through the foundations of buildings," the mayor of Kria.
He turned around, a bushy moustache that had silvered, a tie with the emblem of Kria, a sailboat in turquoise pinned to his tie and a frilly red flower with three long, red stamen in his blazer pocket.
"I welcome you and your party to Kria Estate. Please, take a seat," the mayor invited whilst the guards closed the door behind them. They sat across from him—Jack stood at the ready by the mayor's side.
Mayor Gestryle unscrewed the cork on a bottle, pouring himself a glass, "Quite the title, isn't it?" his voice was cheery, almost like a salesman's.
"Title?"
"Yes; we have much to discuss Ms Howllett; you and your party. Care for some? Sea-fermented wine, decades old," he offered.
"Oh, yes please!" Fumeko gave a pleasant smile, reaching for the turned over glasses before she was halted by a hand.
"She's seventeen," Hotaru declined with a smile.
"I would like to try some!'' Asobi sat forward. The mayor poured three glasses and was about to pour a fourth.
"If it's all the same to you sir, I will opt out of this one," Jack refused, standing ready.
"Suit yourself," the mayor sat back in his seat.
Jotou swished her glass of wine. 'I didn't really drink much in my world. I drank socially, but I did kinda like the taste of wine.' She pondered before seeing Hotaru take a little sip and place it back politely.
Seeing her drink, Jotou took a sip; the sudden strong taste made Jotou's eyes wince slightly. The burn turned light and like an ocean's salt drifting away, the aftertaste left a sweet residue.
"GHH!" Asobi gulped it down, shivering as she did. She held the arm of the sofa, blinking till it was fully swallowed down, "That, was amazing!" she squinted and beamed.
"You're supposed to take light sips, not drink it whole," Fumeko glared with her back pressed against the sofa and arms crossed.
Jotou placed her glass down, "Excuse us Mayor Gestryle, but I doubt you called us here for some wine tasting," she tried to move on.
"Yes, there was something about a title?" Hotaru joined in whilst Asobi recovered and Fumeko was staring at the bottle of alcohol.
"Indeed, indeed. Just like the striking thunder, you are straight to the point. In light of yesterday's events, I have decided to grant you the title of the Thundering Blade of Kria.
The announcement of your courageous defeat of Kria's most fearsome foe has not reached every home yet. I've received hundreds, thousands of reports of concern for last night's thunder.
I have the press ready for official reports to be released tomorrow and on the headlines will be your name Ms Jotou Howllett.
Returning from the brink of death, only to become Kria's greatest saviour. I can see it now. I wish to support your endeavours for the betterment of Kria," he pitched.
Jack opened up a file, beginning to diligently write down everything they were saying and they would say.
"Support? What kind of support?" Jotou's eyes fluttered for a second. 'Maybe he can find out a way for me to get out of this world.'
He placed his glass down, the wine emptied, "To help you of course. The resources required to continue your vanquishment of Kria's current issues and in turn," he gestured his fingers to Jack.
Jack flipped the pages in the file, handing a set of paperclipped documents over to Jotou, "In around eight to nine weeks will be the beginning of my next campaign.
I wish for you to give a speech; it will be written by Mr Tenner himself and we can revision it as many times as you like. In support and in rallying the voices of Kria together to boost morale," he informed.
'Oh… this is just political bullshit…' Jotou sighed, sitting back a little, thinking of what to reply.
"With all due respect, Mayor Gestryle, why invoke us for this sort of thing? The Lexokodac is much more capable and has been in Kria for much longer. Their recognizability would be better for this situation," Hotaru stated.
"That's not what the people need," his hands moved around in theatrics, "They want something new, something with an impact! And a new lightning that strikes will cause quite the storm," he replied, the bottle of wine sloshing into his glass.
"So, in other words," Fumeko sat up, eyes glazed over, "This isn't for Kria; it's for your own selfish campaign to make sure you win and stay in this place for another decade," she said, the room immediately falling silent to nothing but jazz playing…