Tohgi: Cap, how far along are we on the mechanical arm?
Aspen: Oh that? I think the science team should be about done with that
Tohgi: How much would it cost?
Aspen: the person in charge is an extreme nerd that has nothing better to do but obsess on science and books. You might even be offered money for the opportunity you gave to work on it.
Tohgi: (that was way easier than I thought) Alright can I have a week off?
Aspen: I'm really not bothered; you should ask Yuki to know if you're going to be needed.
Tohgi playfully annoyed by the captain's disinterest, turned his interest to Yukimori to discuss taking some time off work.
Tohgi: Alright… captain Yuki can I have the next week off?
Yuki: Ah yes… as the captain of squad five, I grant you permission to leave.
Aspen: This joke is starting to feel threatening
Yuki: Joke?
Aspen: This is mutiny! A punishable offence
Yuki: You have no proof or witness.
Tohgi quickly looked away from the conversation.
Tohgi: Oh the sky is beautiful today; on another note how can I meet the person in charge.
Aspen: That was a very poor attempt at feigning ignorance.
Yuki: Go to the science division and look for the biotech lab, your order is in your name.
Tohgi: I see, Thank you.
Upon arrival at Rydat city Tohgi made his way to the science division and asked for his order, he was greeted by a surprisingly beautiful girl who said she was expecting him.
Tohgi: You're the one handling my order?
Juliet: Yes? You seemed surprised I'm guessing you expected it to be a guy
Tohgi: Well based on the description captain Aspen gave, I definitely expected something different
Juliet: Oh him… I told him to stop calling me a nerd.
Tohgi laughed nervously at the mild nature of her imagination.
Tohgi: (if a nerd was all he said) Do you guys know each other?
Juliet: He's my uncle, an annoying one at that.
Tohgi: Oh I see, well about the arm?
Juliet: there's a small problem.
Tohgi: what is it?
Juliet: I didn't have any specifications for length, width among other things
Tohgi: (that's true, I didn't think of that)
Juliet: So if you can bring the person in I would make the adjustments, the second problem is that this is a very detailed and intricate device, fusing it to the body would cause too much damage on its own, so we are going to need a healer on board.
After hearing the conditions required, Tohgi began whispering to himself, deliberating on the best course of action.
Tohgi: I was planning to take this and visit home but I guess I can bring him with me and send him back home, but journeying from the south might be an inconvenience for him. I would have to inform him about it first.
Juliet overheard Tohgi talking to himself and mentioning the south, she could not contain her excitement at the prospect of going to the southern district.
Juliet: Did you say from the south?
Tohgi: That is not the expected reaction to the south.
Tohgi immediately became suspicious of Juliet
Tohgi: Why the interest?
Juliet cleared her throat and dialled down her emotion after realizing she had shown her too much desire.
Juliet: no reason I guess I wouldn't mind travelling to the south
Tohgi could not even pretend to fall for the act she was putting on.
Juliet: anyway, we need to find a healer that would accompany us, I'll get my things packed
Tohgi: Packed? Does it take more than a day to fix the arm?
Juliet: Seeing as you come from there, I assume you would want to stay a few days with your family.
Tohgi: right…..! And I'm sure you wouldn't be able to come back yourself, you are doing this for me. Well I would be spending a week.
Juliet: Exactly!! You should be grateful.
Tohgi: (honestly I am) There is still the matter of a healer
Juliet: We can head to squad three HQ today and set off tomorrow.
Tohgi: It's late, let's head out tomorrow.
Juliet: Scientists don't need sleep and neither do knights, we shouldn't waste time I am sure this arm is needed.
Tohgi: Are you even trying to hide the fact you have an ulterior motive?
Juliet: What motive?
Tohgi: fine go get your things I'll wait in the lobby
A short while later Juliet returned to the lobby.
Juliet: Alright, let's go
Tohgi: Did you even go home?
Juliet: why would I need to go home?
Tohgi: Cloths?
Juliet: Oh yeah, those, give me a second.
Juliet returned to the lobby with another bag .
Juliet: Ready
Tohgi couldn't decide if he was more baffled by the fact that she forgot she needed cloths or the fact that it took her significantly less time to get them then it should an average person.
Tohgi: just… how?
Juliet: Oh, I always have my cloths in the lab in case I ever need to stay a week or 2
Tohgi nodded to himself affirmatively.
Tohgi: I am starting to see what cap sees
Juliet: where's your carriage?
Tohgi: huh?
Juliet: How are we meant to get there?
Tohgi: I would have suggested a wagon…
Juliet: How does a knight not have a carriage?
Tohgi: I just didn't see the point.
Juliet: fine, we'll use mine, you really should get a draecon at least.
Tohgi: Sure… (when I can afford to)
Juliet and Tohgi travelled to squad three HQ in the north central city and met with the receptionist, upon hearing their request they were met with a resounding rejection from every member present. Tohgi had gotten a reputation and was not liked much.
Juliet: please if anyone would consider meeting up with me for the sake of captain Aspen can you at least direct them to our hotel?
Receptionist: I would, but you shouldn't be too hopeful, even I can recognise that request as unreasonable.
Juliet: Thank you!
They headed to the hotel and Juliet was completely disheartened by the rejection. She couldn't think of any possible way out of their predicament.
Tohgi: I would be lying if I said I expected anything different, you shouldn't let that ruin your appetite.
Juliet: but my arm, it's completely wasted, you should actually be more disheartened than me, your friend still doesn't have an arm.
Tohgi: I have another method that should work (I didn't want people finding out about the vitae just yet, but it can't be helped)
Juliet: I highly doubt it, there is no source of healing that could be effective.
Tohgi: We wouldn't know until we try.
Juliet: Are we still going? A silver lining.
The next morning Tohgi and Juliet were getting ready to head out. Tohgi pointed out the location of Padure village on the map for the driver while Juliet loaded the carriage. A young lady ran towards them shouting for them to wait, it was the receptionist at squad three HQ. She got to them but was severely out of breath
Receptionist: wait… sorry… I'm out of… breath….
She continued panting and wheezing, trying to catch her breath. Juliet handed her some of the water she had kept for the journey.
Juliet: Calm down… take your time
She drank the water and took a deep breath in.
Receptionist: Thank you… A knight agreed to come with you, Dame Yamna Saatchi said I should plead with you not to leave yet that she would get permission to take the week off and join you shortly.
Tohgi: Yamna? Why does that name sound familiar?
Receptionist: She knows you. When she checked in this morning she heard some knights discussing your request and when she heard your name she frantically asked for more information. After I told her she pleaded with me to find a way to stop you from leaving before she gets her permission.
Tohgi: A few more hours wouldn't kill us, we've loaded up, let's have breakfast. Do you care to join us?
Receptionist: Me?
Tohgi: Yeah… I know receptionists aren't usually that busy in the morning, I am sure you'd be fine
Receptionist: oh, that's fine, I am actually supposed to be off now, I worked the night shift
Tohgi: then there's no problem at all
Tohgi became confused, the receptionist bowed her head, embarrassed by her reaction to the offer.
Receptionist: I just didn't expect to be invited to eat with a knight and a noble
The receptionist accepted the offer and they went to the restaurant at the hotel.
Juliet: (but she works for them) If the knights have not been kind to you, why would you go this extra mile for one?
Receptionist: Dame Yamna treats me differently, she's nice to me and I'm technically the only friend she has
Tohgi: Why?
Receptionist: they all think she's pampered and is only a knight because of a technicality, they don't acknowledge her, it's all fake niceties.
Juliet: A technicality?
Tohgi: when did she become a knight?
Receptionist: last year, I don't know the details
Tohgi: (that is why her name rang a bell, I remember being a douche and now she's helping me, this is embarrassing)
Receptionist: She seems grateful to you sir, although I don't know the reason
Tohgi: grateful? (Huh? Am I thinking of a different person?)
Receptionist: I know I have no right to make a request, but please extend the warm treatment you've given me to her, she's not the best knight out there but I am sure there are reasons for her to be acknowledged if people would just look.
Tohgi: First of all, we only offered you a meal, your standard for "warm treatment" is too low. Secondly, I treat people as individuals not extensions of others, her willingness to help me is deserving of gratitude (and I really should apologise)
Receptionist: that's enough, I am confident in her as an individual, this might be her break (her reaction can only mean one thing)
After some time had passed and they finished their meals, Yamna finally arrived on her draecon and met with them.
Yamna: I am very sorry for keeping you waiting.
Juliet: not at all, you saved us.
Yamna: Hi, it's been a while.
Tohgi: Hey, yeah it has been.
Yamna: Can you please return my draecon for me? Thank you so much Chanel, I'll see you next week.
Tohgi: That's true we never asked her name.
They all waved Chanel goodbye.
Yamna: shall we leave then?
Tohgi: You're not carrying anything, you would have to stay a night at least, you know that right?
Yamna: it took too long to get the captain's attention and by the time we were done I was scared you might have already left. So I decided I would buy whatever I need when we get there.
Tohgi: You're the one doing us a favour, not the other way round. Why would we leave?
Yamna: doesn't matter, time is wasting. Go! Go! Go!
Juliet: I agree, off we go!
END!