In Blaine's office, his sharp gaze settled on Sean, who stood quietly behind him.
"How has Lynn been doing lately?"
The question was less casual than it sounded, aimed at gauging whether there were any signs of Lynn regaining her lost memories.
Sean, aware of Blaine's intent, carefully chose his words. Pushing aside thoughts of Lynn's recent nightmares, he replied with measured neutrality.
"She's adapting quickly to her role in the organization."
"Hah, just as I thought. She's a sharp one."
Blaine's lips curved into a faint smile of approval before his attention shifted to Hwan, Sahan, and Garnet, who stood in perfect alignment before him. Their discipline and composure seemed to satisfy him as he moved on to the real matter at hand.
"We have a new mission."
His tone was calm, almost casual, as he delivered the news. The three senior members remained stoic, showing no reaction.
"Operation Etheria, previously scouted by Garnet, has been elevated to top priority."
A glint of ambition flickered in Blaine's eyes as he continued.
"Only the Hwan, Sahan, and Garnet Units will take part. The target is Etheria's treasure the 'Onyx.' Why waste unnecessary lives when we can rely on our strongest teams?"
Blaine walked to the window, gazing out as he spoke with deliberate care.
"Recovering the 'Onyx' is our highest priority. Use whatever means necessary to deal with anyone who gets in your way."
"…Understood."
"For this mission, the Garnet Unit will take the lead and oversee operations."
"Yes, sir," the three responded in unison, their expressions unreadable.
Blaine stroked his patchy beard, his sharp eyes narrowing as they fixed on Hwan.
"I hear Lynn's swordsmanship has been improving."
Hwan dipped his head slightly.
"Yes, sir. While she hasn't fully recovered, she's steadily regaining her former skills."
"Hah, is that so."
To the side, Sahan gave a subtle nod, quietly confirming Hwan's assessment.
Blaine paused, his expression distant, deep in thought. The silence only heightened Sean's growing unease. He bit his lip nervously, unable to hide his anxiety.
"Lynn will be deployed for this operation."
"What? Blaine, she's not ready for that yet!"
Sean's shock broke through his usual composure. He quickly tried to rein it in, but the weight of Blaine's words was too much to ignore. His worst fear had just become reality.
Lynn was undeniably skilled, but her abilities were still recovering. Missions like this were dangerous potentially fatal.
Blaine's announcement caused a ripple of reaction among the senior members. Garnet let out a quiet "hmm," her lips curling into a faintly amused smile. Meanwhile, Hwan and Sahan exchanged glances before looking up at Blaine, their expressions sharpening.
"Not ready, you say…"
Blaine's graying eyebrows arched slightly at Sean's outburst, a shadow of a smirk playing on his lips.
"Hwan."
"Yes, sir."
"You've been observing her progress. What's your assessment?"
Hwan hesitated briefly, considering his response. He had already made up his mind, there was no point in offering any other answer.
"It's a necessary step for anyone in the organization," he said firmly, his tone calm but resolute.
He avoided Sean's gaze, knowing his words wouldn't be well received. For those in the organization, missions weren't optional, they were a reality of life.
Sean's fists clenched tightly, his frustration clear but unspoken.
Satisfied with Hwan's answer, Blaine picked up his teacup, his expression calm yet pleased. The soft clink of the cup, adorned with emerald beads, was the only sound in the room.
"In due time, Lynn will also take the Senior Qualification Exam once her skills are fully restored."
"The Senior Qualification Exam?"
Sahan couldn't stop himself from repeating the words, his voice laced with surprise. This wasn't just a minor assessment, it was the gateway to becoming a senior member of the organization.
It was a bold and unexpected decision.
Sahan wasn't the only one caught off guard. Garnet nudged Hwan lightly with her elbow, a smirk playing on her lips as though she found the situation amusing.
The Senior Qualification Exam hadn't been held in four years, not since Garnet's promotion. Unlike the annual subgroup tests, the senior exam was rare, conducted only when Blaine personally deemed someone worthy.
"Yes," Blaine announced, his tone deliberate. "This operation will determine if Lynn is fit to take the Senior Qualification Exam."
The room fell silent.
"Well, Sean," Blaine continued with mock sympathy, "it seems we have no choice, even if it is… challenging."
Sean's jaw tightened as he clenched his fist, his knuckles whitening. He said nothing, but his simmering frustration was evident.
"For this operation, Lynn will be assigned to and work under the Hwan Unit."
"Understood, sir," Hwan replied calmly.
"The mission begins in three days. Use the time to reorganize the sub units and conduct final intensive training," Blaine instructed, his voice sharp and commanding.
His expression remained rigid, though the creases deepening around his mouth betrayed a hint of tension. With a slight turn, he made it clear the discussion was over.
"There's a trade with the Byro Kingdom coming up," Blaine added. "It would be wise to settle any unresolved matters before then."
"Understood," came the collective response.
"Complete the mission quickly and efficiently," Blaine ordered, his gaze sweeping over the room.
"Yes, Blaine," the senior members replied in unison, their faces betraying no emotion.
Blaine's lips twisted into a sly smile, his yellowed teeth catching the light. "Shall we begin the hunt?"
***
A white haze clouded my vision, slowly fading as the blurred shapes in front of me started to come into focus.
The scene before her was strange yet oddly familiar. Had she been here before?
Stars dotted the dark sky, their soft glow illuminating a lush garden brimming with vibrant greenery.
Where am I?
Lynn moved cautiously, her wide eyes drinking in the beauty around her. A tranquil pond stretched out before her, its surface adorned with floating red lotus petals that swayed gently with the breeze.
It's beautiful, she thought, captivated by the serene view.
A faint rustling behind her broke the stillness. Startled, she turned quickly to find a man standing in the shadows, his figure blurred and hazy.
Though his face was indistinct, she could tell he was tall, exuding a strong and commanding presence. The details of his clothing eluded her, yet something about the way he carried himself made it seem perfectly suited to him.
Lynn tilted her head slightly, curiosity sparking in her gaze as she studied him. He began to move closer, each step deliberate and unhurried.
She tried to focus, hoping for a clear view of his face, but it remained frustratingly out of reach, shrouded in mystery.
He didn't carry any particular scent, yet the air around him seemed infused with a faint, indescribable fragrance that made her breath hitch.
And then, out of nowhere, a sudden longing struck her, a desire to step forward and feel his arms around her.
What am I thinking?
Her cheeks flushed at the intrusive thought, her face warming as though spring blossoms had bloomed there. A small, unbidden smile tugged at her lips.
"Call me whatever feels right to you," a deep voice said, breaking the quiet.
The sound startled her, her eyes widening in surprise. His tone was low and gentle, the kind that seemed to echo in her mind long after the words were spoken.
What?
She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came. Instead, she watched as he took another step forward. The once wide space between them had vanished, leaving only a small, handspan distance.
"How beautiful," he murmured, his voice soft but clear.
"..."
"This is new for me, too."
Lynn's breath caught as the warmth in his voice settled over her like a calming balm. Without realizing it, her eyes fluttered shut, drawn to the soothing familiarity of his presence.
"I've missed you."
Her heart raced, a strange warmth spreading through her chest, leaving it tingling.
Almost as if in a daze, her lips parted, and she whispered the only words she wanted to say.
"Me too."
As the words left her mouth, she startled awake. The dream vanished, leaving behind only fleeting fragments of that tender moment.
Lynn sat up abruptly, her breathing uneven. She must have pushed herself too hard during training that morning. What she had intended as a quick rest had turned into a deep, all-consuming sleep.
She blinked at the plain white ceiling above her, the dream still clinging to her mind. With a quiet groan, she swung her legs over the side of the bed.
Seriously.
...Who was that man?
The dream had left an impression, his words lingering in her mind as if they were still echoing in her ears.
Shaking her head, Lynn pressed a hand to her temple, trying to shake the unsettling feeling.
It had felt so real, too vivid to dismiss as just another random dream.
Her hand drifted to her chest, resting over her heart.
Thump, thump, thump.
The steady rhythm was gentle but unrelenting, leaving her confused and strangely yearning for something she couldn't quite name.
Lynn frowned as she replayed the dream in her mind, trying to recall the mysterious figure's face.
Before she could linger any longer, a sharp knock broke her thoughts.
"Lynn, are you in there?"
It was Sean.
"Oh, yes!" she replied quickly, trying to sound unaffected as she gathered her thoughts. When Sean stepped into the room, his tense expression surprised her.
"You don't look well. Is everything okay?" she asked, concern clear in her voice.
He sat down on the edge of the small wooden table beside her bed, letting out a long, tired sigh.
"I… I'm just feeling uneasy."
"What's wrong, Father?"
"I have news for you. Blaine's given new orders. A mission starts in three days."
A new mission? Could this be the one Garnet mentioned?
"It's called the 'Etheria Operation.' And Lynn… you'll be joining this mission."
"...I see."
The moment he spoke, she understood why he seemed so troubled.
Hearing she'd be part of the mission stirred up emotions she couldn't quite name, but she pushed them aside quickly. Putting on a smile, she tried to reassure him.
"Is that so? Don't worry about me I'm fine! I even got a compliment today about how much I've improved!"
"...I see. That's good to hear."
"I feel more comfortable with the sword every day. You don't have to worry, Father."
Sean's attempt to hide his worry only made her words more bittersweet.
Without saying anything, he gently took her hand, stroking it in a quiet gesture of comfort.
"But… since my memories aren't fully back, I'm worried I might make a mistake."
Out of nowhere, the vivid memory of her recent dream came rushing back. It felt too real, as if it had actually happened.
Could it be something I experienced before my memories were lost?
If that's true… who was that man?
…Or was it just a meaningless dream? Argh, it's so frustrating!
Still haunted by the man's figure and his words, Lynn swallowed hard, her gaze flickering to Sean.
Her father had once asked her to tell him about any strange dreams she had. But for some reason, she didn't feel comfortable sharing this one. It felt… too personal.
He was already worried about her being part of the mission, and adding to his concerns didn't seem fair.
As she got lost in her tangled thoughts, Sean mistook her serious expression for worry about the upcoming operation. Noticing her unease, he softened his voice.
"I know you'll do great. I believe in you."
"..."
"So, you need to believe in yourself too."
If she couldn't avoid the mission, trusting herself completely was the only way to stay strong.
"The 'black flag' will be raised soon. Once it's up, the units have one hour to gather at the designated spot. That's where we'll get our assignments for the operation."
"Oh. So, I'm supposed to go there too?"
Which unit am I with? They never told me.
Just as her curiosity started to build, Sean added, "For this mission, Lynn, you'll be with the Hwai Unit."
The Hwai Unit?
Without realizing it, Lynn's lips formed a small pout.
I'd feel more comfortable with the Sahan Unit...