Afternoon settles over the Headquarters. Jean escorts Lleuad toward the director's office, and as they walk he falls into easy commentary.
"You sure love spending time with kids, Lleuad." There is warmth in his voice, and something close to admiration. "I bet Yona will miss you assisting her with training the cadets. And word of your storytelling has spread across the entire base in just a single day — the nursery was packed today."
"I'm glad everyone enjoyed it," Lleuad replies, his voice carrying a humble warmth.
When they reach the director's office, Baojun is already waiting outside. He notices Lleuad's approach and his expression closes. A sharp "Tsk" escapes him, his frustration radiating through the quiet hallway.
Lleuad smiles awkwardly. "Looks like the director summoned us both."
Baojun offers no reply, turning his gaze back to the door. The silence that follows has a particular texture to it. Jean glances between the two and casts around for something — anything — that might lower the temperature, but before he can find it, the office door opens and Brandur steps through.
"You're here." He takes in the two of them without visible reaction. "Come in and wait inside."
Baojun enters first. Lleuad follows. The two settle on opposite couches, Baojun angling himself deliberately away.
Brandur observes this without comment. Then: "I see the two of you are already acquainted."
"We've crossed paths a few times," Lleuad replies, with a careful smile.
He looks around the room. The only people present are himself, Baojun, Brandur, and the director, who is working steadily through a considerable stack of paperwork at his desk, pausing only occasionally to give a particular document closer attention.
"I've prepared tea," Brandur says, in exactly the same tone he uses for everything else. "Would either of you like some?"
"Please," Lleuad replies.
Brandur looks at Baojun, who gives a single nod without speaking.
— — —
The minutes tick by in silence, measured only by the scratching of Isaac's pen and the quiet clink of Lleuad's teacup. Though he drinks slowly to pass the time, the cup is soon empty.
Then the door opens with some force and a young woman steps through.
Lleuad looks up and immediately recognizes her — the Slayer he glimpsed in the corridor outside the science branch. Up close, she is clearly not yet in her twenties, slight of build, her pale-gold hair slightly disordered from what appears to have been a brisk journey here. Her entrance carries a playful, unself-conscious energy — a wide smile already in place — and yet her glacial-sapphire eyes are doing something different from the smile entirely, moving steadily across the room, taking stock of everything in it.
Despite the clear haste of her arrival, she shows not a single sign of exertion.
Her arrival draws every eye. Baojun's hostility dissolves — not softened, simply gone, replaced by something else entirely. Isaac sets his pen down. Brandur pauses mid-movement.
"Sorry for being late, Director." Her apology is genuine without being heavy.
"It's quite alright." Isaac replies, his voice softening into a gentle tone. "I trust you enjoyed the time with your family?"
"Yes!" The word carries real joy in it. "Thank you for giving me time to see them."
Isaac rolls out from behind his desk and toward the seating area. The young lady moves quickly to the couch beside Lleuad and sits.
"Now that everyone is here," the Director declares, his voice regaining its professional edge, "we can begin. The three of you are going to form a team. Your purpose will be the swift elimination of threats that other Wardens have been unable to handle — the enemy has increased their activity considerably, and the number of Blighted appearing has stretched our resources thin." He looks between them. "Colette will lead. Your first mission has already been identified and you will depart within the hour. I will brief Colette separately on the details. Lleuad, Baojun — you're dismissed."
Both rise and leave the office.
Jean is waiting in the corridor exactly where they left him. Baojun moves off at pace without a word. Lleuad stops by the cadet.
"What happened?" Jean asks.
"I have my orders. We leave in an hour."
"Understood." Jean absorbs this, and something in his expression does not quite manage to stay neutral. "We should get you to your quarters and ready for departure then."
Lleuad glances back toward the closed office door. "The young woman who came in last — Colette. Is she the daughter of the Arcs? The ones who prepared my equipment?"
"Yes!" Jean lights up immediately. "That's her. Remarkable, isn't she?"
"Yes…" Lleuad replies, her unearthly presence still lingering in his mind.
Jean's excitement finds its footing. "She is the student of Keybearer Agnes — and has been identified as her successor for the Fall Maiden powers. It's only a matter of time before she takes the Keybearer rank herself."
"It seems I'll be working under a remarkable person," Lleuad remarks.
"Working with her!?" The correction takes a moment to land, and when it does Jean's composure abandons him entirely.
He is still listing Colette's achievements when they reach Lleuad's quarters.