As we stepped into the base, the warm glow of lanterns flickered against the stone walls, casting long, dancing shadows. The rich aroma of roasting meat and freshly baked bread curled through the air, wrapping around us like a comforting embrace. The scent alone made my stomach growl in anticipation.
Miss Annette stood near the entrance, her hands clasped neatly in front of her. She bowed with effortless grace, her smile as radiant as ever. "Welcome back, Sir Kenji, Sir Yushiro, Sir Takahiro. I trust you all enjoyed your flight?"
"We did," I said, unable to keep the excitement from my voice.
The tavern, was quiet as always the huge tavern only had us as we got in. The wooden tables stood in neat rows, chairs pushed in perfectly.
We claimed an empty table near the bright orange stone, the warmth from its light seeping into our travel-weary bodies. Truth leaned back in his chair, his expression amused. "You had fun, huh?"
I nodded enthusiastically. "It was more than I imagined! I can't wait for tomorrow."
Blade and Truth exchanged knowing glances before Blade casually dropped a bombshell. "You're not flying with us tomorrow."
My spoon, laden with a hearty chunk of meat, hovered mid-air. "What?" I blinked at her. "Why not?"
Truth smirked. "We told you this morning, remember? You'll be taking on small missions from the Division. We'll take you on patrol once a week to help you get settled."
Marko leaned back with a grin. "You're basically errand boys for now."
I shot him a halfhearted glare, but any real protest died in my throat. No point in arguing when the decision was already made.
Taka remained uncharacteristically quiet, his brows slightly furrowed in thought. Meanwhile, Yushiro's gaze drifted around the tavern, as if searching for someone.
I followed his line of sight, realizing for the first time that Yoon was missing.
Had she been here earlier? Had she even joined us for dinner?
I shook the thought away, refocusing on my meal.
Truth motioned toward a massive wooden mission board near the bar. "Your assignments will be posted there every morning. Check it first thing after you wake up."
With that, Truth's team finished their meals and excused themselves, heading off for their early border patrol. The atmosphere in the tavern shifted in their absence, the hum of quiet conversation replaced by the steady crackle of firewood and the rhythmic clinking of dishes being cleared away.
I leaned back in my chair, staring at the mission board.
What kind of tasks would we get? Something exciting? Or… something dull? I'm so excited.
The Next Morning
Dawn painted the sky in soft hues of pink and gold as we rose from our bunks, slipping into our crisp Division uniforms. I tied my bandana on my left arm. The air still held the lingering chill of the night, and the scent of morning dew drifted in through the open window.
By the time we descended to the tavern floor, Yushiro was already standing before the mission board, studying it with a sharp intensity. His usual book was nowhere in sight. He must have finally finished his research.
"Morning, Yushiro," I mumbled through a yawn.
He turned with an easy smile. "Morning, Kenji. Morning, Blondie." His teasing tone was unmistakable.
Taka, who had been rubbing the sleep from his eyes, perked up. "Who are you calling Blondie, Snowball?"
Yushiro's grin widened. "My Blondie. Who else would this old man call by such a name?" His calm, amused voice softened any offense.
Their banter carried on, but my attention was drawn to a small parchment pinned neatly to the board. Elegant handwriting read:
Rookie Mission: Gather ingredients (meat) and clean the barracks.
I sighed, crossing my arms. "Looks like we're on cleanup duty."
Taka groaned. "So… do we gather ingredients first and then clean?"
"That's a waste of time," I replied. "We should split up."
Taka frowned. "Why?"
"To save time and—" I hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "It sounds fun."
Taka exhaled, shaking his head, while Yushiro smirked in amusement.
"Alright," I continued. "The hunting team will be—"
"I'll handle the cleaning," Yushiro cut in smoothly.
I shot him a look. He was volunteering? This bastard likes annoying me. He knew I wanted him on the hunting trip.
Still, there was something unreadable in his expression, a flicker of something he wasn't saying. After a moment, I relented with a sigh. "Fine. Taka and I will hunt."
Yushiro's gaze met mine, and his usual easygoing smirk returned.
As if sensing my thoughts, he spoke again—this time, his voice was quiet yet firm.
"Kenji, Blondie…" His eyes gleamed with something unreadable, a mix of amusement and warning. "Be cautious. Things are different here."
He left the statement hanging, his cryptic words lingering in the air.
Different? In what way?
The expectant look in his eyes sent a shiver down my spine.
Whatever he meant… I had the feeling we were about to find out.