{Enverna}
Today was Lianna and Enverna's first of many off days.
Knowing that, Enverna took the opportunity to go argue that Lianna should be transferred to her course and that they should be allowed to go on missions together.
It was also a good opportunity to get that kiss on her cheek off her mind.
[I guess... Lianna does see me that way,] Enverna thought, her cheeks reddening as she walked through the halls. [O-Of course. The women here are like that, I suppose. But, it does not matter. I will not treat her differently for it,] Enverna told herself. [Lianna has been nothing but kind to me, so far. I'd rather she be kind to me than anything else, even if there is... that sort of motivation behind it.]
Tucking that thought away, though, the young lady now stood before the Watchful administrator's office.
The hall leading up to this room had been entirely devoid of people, unlike the rest of the building.
[I suppose others do not come here unless they have a reason to,] Enverna thought. [Well, I have a fairly good reason.]
On that note, Enverna knocked on the door.
"Come in."
The voice that just gave that instruction sounded surprisingly young.
Enverna did as she was asked and pushed the door open, walking inside.
It was... An extremely unimpressive office. No, it was almost impressive in just how boring it was. Brown walls, two bookshelves flanking the entrance, a couple of paintings depicting what Enverna guessed were previous administrators, and a simple grey desk.
Behind that desk was the woman to whom that voice belonged.
Sharp, bright, yellow eyes peered at Enverna from behind round glasses. Her hands, clad in white gloves, were interlocked over her mouth, covering half her face. And yet, just from the way she was looking at her, Enverna could tell she was smiling. Taking a second to push emerald green hair away from her eyes, she asked:
"Greetings, Enverna. I hope our facility has held up to your standards."
Enverna stopped, unable to take another step.
"Uhm... You know of me already?"
"I know every single new recruit we get," the lady responded. "I'm sure you can imagine how boring the paperwork must be around here. Well, part of how I pass my time is by reading up on everyone who steps in through our facility's doors. Enverna Alteri, the pride and hope of the Alteri family, owner of an Instinct, and someone with... less than decent potential."
That part nearly made Enverna turn and leave on the spot.
"H-How do you know that!?"
"Meh, let's say sometimes I see people and I get a gut feeling, you know?" She laughed. "I am rooting for you, though. With the war between our nations finally coming to an end some time ago, maybe having a successful, helpful Player in Telvan from Garriden will do some good for international relations."
Her analytical eyes made it difficult for Enverna to keep her confidence up. Thankfully, the intense gaze in the woman's eyes let up as she finally asked:
"Anyway, to what do I owe the pleasure, recruit?"
It was hard to just get back on track after being shocked like that. But, Enverna tried as best as she could.
This was important, after all.
"I'm here to make a request," Enverna said, walking up to the desk.
"What would you like to ask of me?"
"Um, there is a student in the lower-tier courses. I would like to recommend her to the higher-tier courses. And I would like to request permission to have her join me on my missions, as I know that high-rank and low-rank members are usually kept separate."
"Hm..." The administrator's face turned far more serious. "If this student is in the lower-tier courses, it is because our analysts have determined that to be the appropriate placement. I'm afraid I cannot merely raise a recruit's ranking without some sort of precedent."
"I-I understand that, ma'am, but the recruit in question has recently awakened!"
Instantly, the administrator looked far more interested.
Clasping those gloved hands of hers over her mouth again, she leaned back in her chair in a way that let Enverna know she was listening.
"And," Enverna continued, "well... Her awakening has given both of us traits. A trait that requires me to be close to her for it to work."
The administrator considered her words, without taking her eyes off Enverna.
"That's... odd," the administrator stated, a deep skepticism so thick lacing her words that Enverna felt it was a miracle she wasn't being tossed out of the room. "She, this recruit you speak of, has a trait that requires you, another specific Player, to be close in order to work?"
"Yes," Enverna replied, with an apologetic tone.
She sounded like that because she knew how ridiculous this sounded. In her case, Enverna had never heard of two Players being tied together by the System, and, going by her expression, it appeared the administrator hadn't either.
But, she affirmed this fact once again, because it was simply the truth.
"Our trait requires proximity. In exchange-"
"Don't tell me the specifics," the administrator cut her off. "Over-explaining yourself is a bad habit, Enverna. Information is precious to people in our line of work."
"R-Right... I apologize."
"Don't be sorry, be grateful that I'm not a nefarious person," she giggled. "Well, in that case, perhaps I can look into getting this girl re-tested and we'll see if we can do anything about her. But, even if you are not lying, if the boost to her stats and potential from Awakening is not substantial enough, getting her into the higher-tier courses, and worse yet into actual missions with you, will be difficult. We'll see, however," she said, leaning back in her chair. She pulled her phone out and a holographic screen jumped out before she asked, "so, who is this recruit you're talking about?"
"Her name is Lianna Velcross."
"..."
In an instant, something in the room changed.
The administrator went silent.
Upon hearing that name, the administrator's yellow eyes left her phone and fixed themselves onto Enverna, almost burning a hole through her skull.
There was a slight shift in the atmosphere. Enverna couldn't sense whether this shift was positive or negative. But, evidently, that name had caused it.
"Um... yes, the rank 200 recruit," Enverna confirmed further, guessing that this was the cause behind her sudden death stare. "Is there a problem, ma'am? I-I promise, Lianna is an individual with drive and determination. I firmly believe our shared trait makes it so that she would be as useful out in the field as any other Player."
The administrator remained silent for a little while longer.
The only sign that she hadn't entirely frozen was the way she tilted her head, still staring right into Enverna's eyes.
[Perhaps I'm vouching too much for her, but we were literally blessed by a Constellation. Lianna is a valuable person.]
"You think quite highly of her," the administrator noted quietly.
"I do. So, please, ma'am, give her a chance."
"Very well," the administrator finally said. "I will send someone tomorrow to go evaluate Miss Velcross. You mentioned that this trait requires you to be nearby?"
"Yes."
"In that case, you should make sure you're there for the evaluation as well. It should be fairly quickly, though."
"You can just send the evaluator to my room, ma'am. We're roommates."
"... You are? Alright. The evaluator will visit your dorm, then."
"Understood, thank you."
Enverna walked away, feeling the administrator's eyes on her the entire time.
[Is she disappointed in me or something? She probably doesn't like seeing the Rank 3 recruit argue on behalf of the Rank 200 recruit, but, seriously, Lianna should probably be somewhat higher on the list. It is likely quite nebulous that I am asking to bring the lowest-rank recruit on missions as well, but I did not speak a single lie in this office. I need Lianna with me to function at a higher level, and being with me would probably bring Lianna better opportunities as a Player. I stand by my decision to come here.]