"How many words are on page twelve?"
"Um... a thousand."
"That's over the limit. Avoid padding and double check the credit."
"Sir, someone wants to meet you in the lobby."
When a woman in a dark blue, calf-length dress entered the lobby of the editorial office, Gabriel immediately cut off his conversation with his subordinate.
"Long time no see, Gabriel. Do you perhaps remember me?" asked the woman.
Gabriel nodded modestly, saying, "You were the one who let me save Alveron besides Drey."
The woman, Davina, smiled bitterly for a moment. "Right. It's been a while," she mumbled.
"I'm sorry I couldn't give you a proper welcome. We're working on some advertorials and news that need to be published tonight," Gabriel said, pointing his thumb at his colleagues behind him. "Anyway, how can I help you?"
Davina's gaze shifted to a little girl in a pink dress who was reading a newspaper beside an employee.
"I'm just curious what you think about that young girl joining SURVIVE," she asked.
Gabriel looked doubtfully at Davina. After becoming SURVIVE agents, so many people, including Harris, left his side. He was still troubled by how he had failed to protect Alessia as well.
"Who's your leader?"
Davina smiled at Gabriel's question. "The only daughter of the previous leader. As a senior who has monitored her performance all the time, I can guarantee you that she treats everyone objectively, unlike her father. She also helped Harris and Brissia when the black crows surrounded them."
The two of them glanced at the little girl as she approached Gabriel and handed him a newspaper that had been rolled up. "Uncle Gabriel, this page should not be here," said her innocently.
Gabriel took the newspaper with a small smile, saying, "How thorough you are."
He then told her to look at Davina.
"Ashley, do you want to be a spy?"
The little girl smiled enthusiastically.
"Like my parents, Brother Harris, and Sister Brissia?!"
"Absolutely," Davina said, lowering herself to the level of Ashley's head. "However, in order to avoid being shot and killed, spies must be prepared to engage in combat. Would you do that?"
Gabriel looked at Ashley who was silent for a moment, seemed to think about every word Davina said. Seeing that the girl didn't answer right away, Davina got up and looked at Gabriel.
"Looks like she isn't prepared for—"
"I'm very prepared, ma'am!"
Davina was surprised when Ashley suddenly stood straight in front of her, not even bothering to pay attention to the amused stares and chuckles of the editorial office employees apart from Gabriel. It prompted Gabriel to glanced coldly at them, which instantly silenced them.
"Are you serious?" asked Davina.
"I am! I can even practice the martial techniques my parents taught me in the old house!" Ashley said, taking a stance, then spinning and kicking the air.
Davina snorted softly before looking back at Gabriel. "So, what do you say?"
"I'm fine as long as the Little Princess doesn't mind the strawberry shortcakes might stop coming to her table."
Ashley turn to look at Gabriel in surprise.
"What?!"
"No need to worry, your highness," said Davina, bowed slightly before Ashley. "For the young agents' safety, my leader has set up special lessons and mentors."
Gabriel nodded as he heard Davina's explanation.
"Fine. Ashley, Lucia will help you get ready. Behave while you're there, okay?"
Ashley saluted him with a big grin before walking up to Lucia who had just left a room. The woman greeted her kindly, seemed to talk to her for a moment before escorting Ashley to the second floor.
Feeling something light touch his shoulder, Gabriel turned his head. His brow furrowed as Davina handed him a worn letter with a serious expression.
"I've had this since Alessia left it for me. Now you're allowed to read it."
It blinked Gabriel's eyes for a moment.
Meanwhile, in a spacious room with colorful walls, a red-haired female agent walked toward a group of children in light blue uniforms while carrying a large box.
"Who asked for jumbo sweet buns last night?!" she exclaimed cheerfully.
"Me! Me, Debora!"
Her smile grew bigger as they approached her with a joyful look on their faces. However, suddenly one of the boxes in her hand fell to her side.
"Be careful!"
A man caught the falling box in Debora's hands. She turned to the man with jet black hair and turquoise eyes for a moment, only to widen her eyes in disbelief.
"Aqua... marine?"
***
One night, the employees of the editorial office were amazed by news that came through the main door. Their office won the Archtier best editorial award, bringing joy into the old-fashioned structure.
Gabriel stood by the window of his study, holding a glass of purplish-red drink that was sent directly by his supervisor. Everyone was probably smiling, celebrating the freedom they felt that night, but not him.
The dim light that accompanied him in his study was as dim as his eyes. He turned around, put the glass on his table which was full of papers. He stared at them for a moment with a glazed look. Then he took his coat in the hood, put it on, and walked out.
He stood in front of the River of Flowers guardrail, silently wailing in the distance. His calm was in stark contrast to the joyous of the people behind him. He reached into his coat pocket for a letter folded into four pieces.
Like a river flowing calmly before him, there was hardly any turmoil in Archtier after the battle was over. Everyone was anticipating that, and Gabriel was no different. He was so optimistic that he even imagined a large celebration with Alessia as the center of attention.
"'Dear Gabriel'…," Gabriel read the letter softly.
"...'The happiness that wells up in my chest every time I read your letter makes me wish you live long. Countless nights have passed and the crow that flew aimlessly finally landed on your shoulder. I believe they have brought you a taste of another sky. Therefore'…"
His gaze widened as he looked ahead. On a different side of the river, a familiar dark orange-haired woman and blue-eyed man were walking side by side with their smiles. Before long, their figures disappeared behind the crowd of pedestrians.
"... 'Spread your wings as wide as possible when the crow stops flapping its wings. That way, you can fly it to the higher sky'."
Gabriel let out a shaky breath, lowering his face. His grip on the letter tightened. His gaze on his reflection in the water surrounded by the reflections of the lights became heavier. Pain alighted in his heart when he remembered the day he could see that woman for the last time.
Suddenly, a strong wind blew. The letter in his grip slipped, causing him to turn quickly to his side. The letter flew away and unreached, like his desire to spend more time with the woman whose name was written at the end of the letter.
With a fixated gaze on the direction the letter was drifting in the wind, he shuffled his steps. He stared at the passing pedestrians as he walked away. They were arguing, joking, or leaning on each other's shoulders. Even if he later forgot her face, he wasn't sure he could forget what they had been through.
"Everyone must have their own tragedy," he murmured. "But somehow, your leaving was my greatest tragedy."
As the sun illuminated the day, an employee entered Gabriel's room. He approached Gabriel's desk and frowned when he saw the man was sleep in his arms. A scrap of letter sat on a typewriter beginning with a phrase 'Dear Alessia'.
With concern in his eyes, he took the small note that was next to Gabriel's arm. He then picked up the letter and set it next to Gabriel's desk in a letter box with the same prefix. The employee then left him alone in his room.
"Did he write a letter to that address again?" another employee asked him.
"Yes and I think he wrote it in the early hours of the morning," he said, placing the letter in the post box. That employee glanced briefly at Gabriel's door.
The letters that were strewn across his desk were sent in the hopes that a miracle would occur, just as it had for his old friend. Until the moment he fell asleep, he still believed that her leaving was a delayed return.
In his dream, nineteen year old Alessia came up to him. Young Gabriel read the letter that Alessia gave him, which was nothing but a reply to his letters. He couldn't hold back his tears of emotion, even though he had a great desire to look strong in front of the woman he adored so much. When the woman's arms reached his shoulders and embraced him, it was at that moment that he breathed his last.
Under the soft rays of the sun, amidst the peaceful nuances of the typing room, the man went to catch up with his former lover and former best friend.