[Volume II: Child of the Stars]
Lukas lingered in silence for a moment. Even joining the master, sitting on the bench in the quiet peace. But as Lukas gathered his thoughts, his lips were forced to break the silence.
"You said you wanted to tell me my first assignment personally. So what is it?"
"Oh right, it isn't anything spectacular, mostly something that is needed due to the circumstances. I only really wanted to speak with you, but I suppose that even that is now over. As for your assignment, you are going to be dispatched near Mistfell. Along with Spark of Dawn, her subdivision, and Tempest."
Each time the master... each time Wels spoke, Lukas could feel the authority radiating from him. It almost forced him to sit, stay awhile and listen. He didn't want to ask questions but knew he needed to.
"What about the other special assets?"
"Oh, they shouldn't be there, I can't simply put all of my eggs in the same basket. It isn't wise to put your best pieces in the same place. I am no tactician, but I am no fool. Maybe you'll learn to be a better leader than me."
Silence filled the space between them, letting the words ring out endlessly.
'Maybe I'll be a better leader? Do I want to be a leader?'
Lukas turned to face Wels but did not look him, nor his crows, in the eyes.
"If I were to become a hunter... then could I make my own subdivision?"
Wels' face curled in on itself in confusion.
"Huh?... I... I don't see why you couldn't. All hunters are given the authority to command their own subdivisions. It is why said rank exists in the first place. If you were to become a hunter, it would be up to you who is in that subdivision. If anyone at all."
The master looked Lukas in the eyes, through his crows of course. Although, Lukas did not look back at Wels or his crows.
"But you don't need to limit your ambitions so low as to merely be a hunter. Raise your head and aim a little higher."
Lukas instinctively looked up after hearing those words. But nothing stood before him awaiting his gaze. But there was a sound, that of light footsteps to his right.
As he shot his glance over, he saw a small gate closing. Someone had passed by him without him even noticing. Was it Vesa?
"I am sorry sir, I will be leaving."
"There is no need to apologise for that. And please... I'm not nearly old enough to be called sir."
"...I will be leaving... Wings of Night."
The master smiled at Lukas as he made his leave. Lukas slowly walked away from the master, before quickly stumbling into an awkward run. As he jumped over the small gate, he saw a glimpse of a person rounding a corner.
The only part of them Lukas could see was their light brown hair. Although Lukas couldn't quite remember anyone within the Fortissimo, that he knew, with such hair.
As Lukas continued to follow the person, slowly catching up to them, he realised it was the other special asset present in the meeting. Other than Axel of course. He didn't know her name, her title if any, or really anything about her.
"Hey! Wait up!"
As she turned to face Lukas her face was faintly infused with confusion. But it swiftly led to a neutral resting face, although to Lukas it seemed to have a slight bitterness to it.
"Do you know where Skyla went?"
Now that he was standing in front of her, he finally noticed the details of her appearance, never really bothering to remember them before.
Her eyes were an ocean blue, although they lacked the energy and fire that someone like Vesa had. Close to her eyes were burn marks, as if a flame spread from her eyes. The two of them were about the same height too and similar in age, at least on a surface-level appearance.
"Why are you looking for her?"
"I was ordered to go to Mistfell with her as a part of an assignment. So I'm trying to find her so I can go there as a group."
The subtle bitterness in her face suddenly faded, replaced with a cunning smile.
"I see... in that case, she went that way."
Lukas began to run off in the direction she pointed to, not before thanking her.
'She seems... strange.'