Chapter 36: Hush Part II
"Speaking of which," the female voice continued, "what's the deal with Noemi? Why hasn't Carla caught her yet? We've been waiting for so long, and she's still slipping through our fingers."
Sevi froze in place, his breath hitching.
'Damn, I knew it.'
The male voice let out a frustrated sigh. "I don't know, but it's getting ridiculous. She's one of the best at what she does, and yet Noemi keeps dodging her."
"Carla's been too careful," the female voice responded, clearly annoyed.
" If she's going to keep being like this, we'll never get the job done."
Sevi pressed himself tighter against the wall, straining to catch every word of the conversation. A flicker of irritation crossed his mind.
'Idiots. Talking about something this sensitive in public? But then again... they seemed to be students here.'
He tilted his head slightly, focusing on their voices as they continued.
The male muttered something under his breath, too low for Sevi to catch. The female's response, however, was clearer.
"Let's not waste time," the female said, her voice hushed but urgent. "We're meeting with the leader tonight, along with Carla. Midnight sharp. Same place as always behind the woods."
"Right," the male replied, his tone firm. "No more excuses. Carla better show results, or she'll answer to them directly."
'Midnight. A meeting. Carla involved.'
[Side Mission Alert!]
_______________________________
Side Mission: Midnight Spy
Description: Spy on the Red Crescent's midnight meeting to uncover their plans regarding Carla and Noemi
Reward: +3 Favorability Points (Noemi), +1 new skill
Penalty: If you fail to uncover their plan, you will lose 20 favorability points with Noemi, and you will have to wait 14 days before you can attempt a mission again.
Time limit: This midnight
_______________________________
Sevi stared at the tab.
'Great! It lines up perfectly with what I need to do.' He mentally removed the tab, and the tab vanished with a soft chime, leaving him once again immersed in the shadows of the quiet corridor.
"Let's go," the female said. "We've lingered here long enough."
Their footsteps echoed faintly as they walked away, leaving Sevi rooted to the spot, his mind racing.
'Midnight, behind the woods... but where exactly behind the woods?' he thought, his heart pounding.
The woods surrounding the academy were vast, and there were so many places where they could meet—how could he pinpoint the exact spot?
His eyes darted to the shadowed trees just beyond the academy grounds. Behind the woods could mean anywhere: by the edge near the training field, closer to the forest's depths near the eastern boundary, or even further along where the trees thickened and the path grew darker.
The meeting location had to be somewhere hidden, but also accessible—probably near a known trail or landmark, away from prying eyes.
'Now, this is my chance to figure out what they're planning.'
'But... I'll just spy on them today, I'm not strong enough to fight with them. Much less with their leader,'
The idea of confronting Noemi flickered in his mind. She was smart, quick-witted, and strong, but involving her might tip off the Red Crescent—or worse, put her in even greater danger.
Sevi shook his head to clear his thoughts, deciding to focus on blending in for now.
'First things first—act normal. I'll deal with this tonight.' With a final glance in the direction the two had gone, he made his way to the cafeteria.
Once there, the lively chatter of students offered a welcome distraction, but Sevi's thoughts remained heavy. He grabbed a simple meal: a piece of bread and a bottle of water. He wasn't that hungry, but he needed to keep his energy up.
After finishing his minimal lunch, Sevi made his way back to the classroom. To his surprise, Noemi was already there, seated at her usual spot. She seemed engrossed in her notes.
Sevi hesitated for a moment, watching her from the doorway. She looked calm and composed, as always, but knowing what he heard earlier made him see her in a different light.
'She had been a target all along, and Carla had played a part in her poisoning.'
'I should tell her,' he thought, stepping into the room.
'But not here. Too many ears. I'll wait until we're on our way back after classes.'
He walked over and sat down in his usual spot beside her. "Back early, huh?" he said casually.
Noemi glanced up, "Had some things to review. What about you?"
Sevi hesitated for a brief moment, then mustered a casual tone. "Oh, nothing much. But hey, I was thinking... After class, let's walk back together. I've got something I want to talk to you about."
Noemi raised an eyebrow, her pen pausing mid-note. "Something to talk about? Sounds serious."
He shrugged, trying to play it off. "Not that serious. Just... something that's been on my mind. It's easier to explain when it's just the two of us."
Her sharp eyes lingered on him for a moment, as if trying to decipher his intentions. Finally, she nodded.
"Alright. We'll walk together after class."
"Cool," Sevi smiled as he leaned back in his chair, feigning nonchalance.
But inside, his mind was anything but calm. He needed to tread carefully. Telling Noemi the truth might be the right call, but how she reacted could change everything.
As the next lesson began, Sevi forced himself to focus.
======================