"Good evening," celestine said, her voice steady but firm. "We need to report what we witnessed last night."
She stood at the entrance of the Novara Investigation Center, her long black hair falling down her back as her sharp brown eyes scanned the room. She stepped inside calmly, her dark coat moving lightly, while Milo followed silently, clutching his pendant.
Across the room, the investigators looked up. The Chief Investigator, a man with glasses and neatly combed brown hair, watched them while sipping his coffee.
Beside him, the Digital Specialist typed quickly on his laptop, while the Veteran Field Investigator studied Milo and Celestine carefully.
The New Trainee wrote notes nervously, and the Records Officer paused his work to look at them.
The Chief Investigator adjusted his glasses and gave Celestine a small, polite smile.
"Oh, Miss Celestine, welcome," he said, his voice calm but carrying a hint of nostalgia. "It's been a while… since I last saw you."
Celestine looked at Chief Investigator Garrick Holt calmly.
"Indeed, it has been some time, Mr. Holt," she said.
Holt gave a faint smile. "What brings you here so suddenly, Miss Celestine?"
"I'm here to report last night's events," she replied steadily. "Everything about the green-haired boy and his gang."
Holt leaned forward, listening as she continued,
"Last night, the Novara police were attacked by that green-haired boy. My assistant and I investigated and discovered it was part of a conspiracy by the gang in the poor districtthe Troublemakers to harm Novara."
As she spoke, Celestine gently placed a hand on Milo's head. Milo looked up in surprise, realizing she was covering for him.
"So… she's really protecting me?" he whispered to himself.
Holt remained calm. "And what proof do you have?"
Celestine nodded slightly. "We have evidence. My assistant recorded their conversation."
Milo stepped forward, took out his phone, and placed it on the desk.
"Here… listen."
He started the recording, and the voices of the four men filled the room.
"...this way we'll make everyone fight each other in Novara, exploit the chaos to get into the old church in the wealthy district..."
"...there we take what we want and strike at the Church's credibility..."
"...the timing is perfect no one will expect an inside assault..."
Milo watched the investigators as the recording played. The Chief Investigator leaned forward, listening closely while the others stopped their work, exchanging shocked and worried looks.
After a moment, the chief adjusted his glasses and said seriously,
"This is bigger than I expected. If this is organized, then it's not just chaos it's a plan that could threaten the Church and the stability of Novara."
Celestine met his gaze calmly.
"You should inform the Church. We need their orders to act."
The chief nodded, then looked at Milo.
"But the boy beside you… I saw him on the cameras last night. What was he doing before you arrived, Miss Celestine?"
Milo felt the pressure as everyone looked at him. He glanced at Celestine, who gave him a small nod, silently telling him to stay calm and tell the truth.
The chief spoke calmly, his voice smooth but probing, as if trying to catch Milo off guard.
"You were seen fighting someone in the wealthy district," he said, his gaze sharp. "(I mean Raiza.) Why did you do that?"
Milo felt the tension in the room as the chief's question hung in the air. He glanced at Celestine for reassurance.
The Chief Investigator spoke calmly, watching him closely.
"You even fought Miss Celestine," he said. "That makes me wonder if you truly consider her your ally. As far as I know, she prefers working alone."
Milo tried to stay composed, but his hands trembled slightly and he struggled to answer while the investigators watched him.
Celestine suddenly exhaled softly, drawing everyone's attention. Her gaze moved across the room before she spoke with a faint hint of amusement.
"As usual, sir… you haven't changed," she said. "Still doubting every new source."
The President looked at her, his expression unreadable.
"It's part of my job, Miss Celi," he replied calmly.
Celestine stepped in before Milo could answer.
"Last night, my assistant noticed someone following him," she said firmly. "He contacted me, so we set a trap. It turned out the girl really was pursuing him."
Milo watched in silence, realizing how skillfully Celestine was hiding the truth while still explaining the situation.
She continued calmly,
"The girl provoked Milo, which led to the fight you saw on the cameras. And that girl… everyone here knows who she really is and who her leader is."
Her gaze hardened slightly as she looked at the chief.
"So don't describe her as just someone from the wealthy district," she said firmly. "Tell us who she truly is. I believe you already know her identity and her goal."
Milo remained silent, impressed by how smoothly Celestine steered the conversation and subtly pressured the chief without revealing more than necessary.
The chief fell silent for a moment, his expression unreadable.
"Alright… alright," he finally said, his voice calm but firm. "I have nothing else… I will inform the Church about what we have obtained…"
Celestine nodded calmly.
"Good. I'll ask Lady Ravena to send a report to the Church so we can plan the next steps. Thank you for your cooperation, Chief."
The room stayed tense for a moment as the investigators watched quietly, while Milo felt a small relief at how smoothly she handled everything.
The chief spoke evenly,
"Very well… you may leave now."
As Milo and Celestine turned to go, the investigators returned to their work, murmuring softly among themselves. The chief stayed seated, his gaze lingering on them, a faint frown betraying a subtle unease.
Milo walked beside Celestine, a small smile on his lips, feeling relieved at how smoothly she had handled the situation. His eyes were alert, showing both admiration and gratitude.
Celestine moved with calm confidence, her steps deliberate and assured. Unshaken by the tense investigation, she guided Milo effortlessly as they left the building.
Celestine stopped and extended her hand to Milo, smiling warmly.
"It was a pleasure working with you, Arthur's son," she said.
Milo smiled back, shaking her hand firmly. As he lowered his hand, he quickly looked away, a hint of shyness coloring his face.
"Thank you… for helping me back there. Without you, things could have gone really badly," he admitted softly.
Celestine watched his reaction with a subtle smile.
"It's nothing… it's my duty. Now, leave the rest to me. We'll handle the Troublemakers," she said confidently.
Milo felt a small weight in his chest, a mix of relief and worry. What will happen with Toxivar? he wondered silently.
Celestine began walking slowly, her steps measured and calm.
"I have to leave now… I have work with the Guild Agency. Goodbye," she said over her shoulder.
Milo watched her leave, his mind filled with questions he hadn't asked and thoughts he couldn't quite voice. The corridor was quiet, but his thoughts buzzed with uncertainty and anticipation.
He made his way home through the streets of Novara, the afternoon sun casting long shadows over the cobblestones. The city was alive with the sounds of carts, chatter, and street vendors, and the smell of food mixed with the faint scent of the river.
Near his neighborhood, Milo spotted a familiar figure in the distance, who raised a hand in greeting.
"Miloooo!"
It was him Hirax.
Herax rushed toward Milo, his brown eyes full of worry and relief. Before Milo could react, Herax hugged him tightly, the warmth washing away Milo's tension.
After setting him down, Herax placed his hands on Milo's shoulders, his gaze serious.
"Where have you been, man?" he asked, concern and frustration in his voice.
Milo frowned. "What do you mean? We've both disappeared from each other's radar."
"You look really worn out… has something happened these past few days?" Herax pressed.
Milo shook his head. "Don't worry… it's nothing too serious."
Herax stared intently. "You fought one of the Talented… and lost, didn't you? Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you ask for my help?"
Milo lowered his head, exhausted. "It happened suddenly… I couldn't ask anyone. But don't worry, I've mostly dealt with their trouble."
Herax nodded, understanding. "Alright… but what about that green-haired boy from this morning? You know him, right?"
Milo's voice grew serious. "Yes… I know him well. He's part of a gang that wants to destroy Novara. I'm pretty sure they're preparing to make a move."
Herax's eyes widened. "Destroy Novara?! How do they plan to do that?"
Milo shrugged, tired. "I don't know everything… but the Church will handle them. They'll be stopped before they can act."
As he spoke, Milo's eyes drifted upward, catching a tiny creature. He reacted instantly, grabbing it.
Herax blinks in confusion.
"What is that?"
Milo looks at it in his hand.
"It's a spider… still attached to its web."
He follows the thin thread with his eyes and notices Lilithia sitting on a high beam, legs crossed, quietly reading.
She lifts her gaze at them.
"Yo, you two," she says, closing her book and jumping down gracefully, landing softly beside them.
Her long dark hair frames her face, and her black oversized sweater with sleeves covering half her hands, slim pants tucked into boots, and a few silver rings give her a calm, mysterious presence.
"I heard what you two were talking about," she says softly, intrigued. "That was… kind of exciting."
Milo smiles. "Lilithia…" He notices how well her outfit suits her, emphasizing her effortless balance and beauty.
Herax adds, "Oh, Lilithia… we meet again."
Lilithia walks ahead a few steps, inviting them to follow.
"Come on, you two boring guys. Let's walk and talk."
Herax, slightly surprised, remarks, "She seems energetic today… what's up with her?"
Milo shrugs casually. "Maybe the book she's reading is interesting?"
Milo and Herax followed Lilithia, keeping a short distance behind as she moved with calm grace, her dark hair swaying lightly. The quiet streets of Novara were dimly lit by lamps, their footsteps echoing on the cobblestones, shadows stretching long behind them in the evening breeze.
As they reached Orion Square, the space opened up: scattered stone benches, a small fountain catching the sunlight, and short trees casting gentle shadows. The soft sound of water and distant birds filled the air.
Lilithia approached a bench, paused to breathe, and then looked at them.
"Come on, sit down, let's talk."
Milo smiled, and Herax glanced around, admiring the calm scene. Lilithia sat, opening her book but occasionally glancing at them before speaking
"What have you been doing all this time…?" she asked curiously. "Milo, you… were fighting gang members, weren't you?"
Milo nodded slightly, a bit embarrassed, and replied in a low voice:
"N… no, not exactly like that…"
Lilithia smiled lightly, her face still serious, then turned to Herax:
"And you, Herax… you were helping your family carry goods, along with a part-time job, right?"
Herax responded confidently but understandingly:
"Yes… it was necessary, but everything is fine."
Milo looked at Lilithia and asked,
"And what about you?"
Lilithia smiled calmly, her eyes still on the pages of her book, though she glanced up slightly to answer:
"I've been researching the history of Novara."
Both Milo and Herax looked at her with interest, captivated by what she said.
Herax commented in surprise,
"History of Novara? Didn't we study that?"
Milo nodded and replied,
"We only studied simple things about it, but…"
Lilithia raised her eyebrows with a small smile, responding:
"You're not looking for trivialities, Milo."
Milo smiled lightly, curiosity in his voice:
"Yes, yes… honestly, the history of Novara was…"
But before Lilithia could continue, Milo interrupted,
"Distorted, right?"
A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, and the soft murmur of the Orion Square fountain created a calm, focused atmosphere as they all listened to one another.
Lilithia looked at Milo with a serious gaze, a faint smile on her lips:
"Yes… very much so!"
During the calm of Orion Square, another figure suddenly appeared.
It was Ryo.
Milo and Herax turned to him in surprise, while Lilithia gave a slight, polite nod.
Suddenly, Ryo appeared in Orion Square, his black hair with streaks of blond glinting in the sunlight, and his brown eyes shining with his usual confident expression.
He smiled flirtatiously as he approached the group.
Milo grabbed Ryo by the collar, forcing him to stop.
Milo was surprised by Ryo's actions, and Herax looked sharply at him:
"Ryo, what are you doing?"
Tears welled up in Ryo's eyes as he shouted angrily:
"How dare you get involved with such a beautiful woman?"
Milo looked at him, trying to clarify the misunderstanding:
"Wait, that's not…"
But Ryo cut him off sharply:
"You're lying! I saw you leaving your house with her! You bastard, Milo!"
Herax and Lilithia exchanged glances filled with suspicion toward Milo, who looked completely shocked.
"Wait, wait! Let me explain, this is a misunderstanding!"
After explaining the situation to Ryo, the four spent time together, talking and laughing, even if their discussion about Novara's past had to wait. As the sun set in shades of orange and gold, they each headed home.
Milo walked the quiet street, the cool evening air carrying the scent of earth and blooming flowers. Street lamps flickered softly, and trees cast long shadows over the stone walls.
He reached his front door, paused, and felt the day's weight lift slightly from his shoulders. Slowly opening it, the soft creak welcomed him into the calm of home, filled with the warm scent of aged wood and lingering lunch aromas.
Sinking onto the couch and removing his shoes, Milo savored the peaceful atmosphere.
He smiled softly. "I'm back, sister."
She returned his smile, her eyes warm with affection.
"Welcome back, little brother…"