Tsuki and Geo entered one after another, immediately spotting Hatori leaning against a pillar. His arms were crossed, and eyes down. Tona was slouched in a nearby chair. His coat draped over one shoulder, with his arms pillowing his head. At the head table in the center, Maro sat with a sharp gaze.
The room quieted as the two entered. There was a faint smell of dust, but it was quickly drowned by a lavender scented candle—Maro's favorite. A single beam held sturdy above the center table, and a lone lantern casts its light on the war map.
"Mornin'," Tona said, breaking the silence.
Tsuki chuckled, "It's two in the afternoon."
He offered a lazy smile. "Whoops."
Hatori raised his head, looking at Tsuki, then moving to Geo. "You guys seen Azumi and the loudmouth?"
"We have not," Geo responded, smoothing out his hair.
Hatori just lowered his head again. His disappointment creeped through his face. "Figures."
"I'm sure they'll show u-"
Suddenly, the door swung open with a bang. Azumi stormed in, dragging Knoxx by the collar.
"Someone get this idiot before I murder him. I'm serious," she said, her grip tightening in frustration.
Knoxx stuck out his bottom lip in an exaggerated pout. "You wouldn't…"
Azumi tightened her grip even more. Her eyes were like flares.
Maro cleared his throat with a loud, pointed cough. The tension instantly deflated. Azumi dropped Knoxx's collar with a huff, and the rascal fell to the ground.
"Good, everyone's here. Let's get this briefing started," Maro said, folding his arms over the table.
Tona raised a hand and gave a sarcastic cheer.
"Shut it Tona," Maro responded.
Tona shut it accordingly, giving a grin as he closed his eyes. The others snickered behind him.
Maro stood now, placing his hands on the edge of the wartable. A map of Alden's coastlines with each district carved out lay below him. The lanterns in the room were dimmed, but still gave enough light to see Maro's determination on his face.
"As you all know," he began, "just a few weeks ago, we defended Zimala. And now, the four districts aligned with Memento face the true brutality of this war."
He paused for a moment. His eyes remained on the map, but his finger now traced each border.
"The APC is now getting desperate," he continued. "Their attacks are increasing. They're losing ground, and they know it. Which means, they're looking for momentum."
The squad leaned in as Maro stuck a marker in the northern region of Riche.
Maro rubbed his chin, "We're spread thin defensively. Which is why I'm trusting Judgment with something sensitive: overriding Riche's neutrality in this war."
"The portside capital?" Tsuki asked.
Maro nodded firmly. His eyes now rose to the squad around him. "Exactly. It's prosperous, and its people don't do war. That's exactly why we'll get their allegiance through diplomacy."
"Any idea how?" Geo responded. His arms were crossed, but he listened intently.
Maro leaned over the table, folding his hands together. "You'll seek out the Riche district's representative to the council. Don't have a name for you, unfortunately. He's a slippery one—very noncommittal. But if we shift his allegiance, we cut a vein straight through Central's heart."
Hatori spoke next. His eyes didn't open, and his posture remained relaxed. "And if we don't?"
"Then we stay on the backfoot. If the APC wins the full support of Riche, any resources and trade we have with them would be out the window. It'd devastate Persetta and the other districts with us." Maro looked at each one of them, his brown eyes reflected in the lighting. A fiery passion to see the job through.
"There is to be no combat," he ordered. "We don't need to look like we're scheming right under the APC's nose. As far as we know, they have no military deployed in the district, but it's best to be prepared."
Knoxx scratched the inside of his ear. He wasn't pleased with the 'no combat' rule.
"So, we're diplomats now. Great."
Maro ignored him. "Danzo will accompany you. Ringo will act as your lifeline. Sending him to Jon with you has come in handy. Orders and updates will come from him."
"Ah, Ringo! It's been a while!" Tsuki exclaimed, looking around for him.
"It's still a while," Maro muttered. "He's not here right now. Don't ask me where he went."
Tsuki shrugged, rubbing her head. That's not embarrassing at all.
Geo broke the brief silence. "Got it. When do we move?"
"As soon as you're packed. Carriage is prepped already," Maro replied.
Knoxx let out a soft groan. "Carriage? Can't Tona just gate us there?"
Maro shook his head. A little chuckle escaped his lips before he spoke. "He's heading the other direction. Would be counter productive."
Tona opened one eye. A puzzled look crossed his face. "Galion?"
Maro nodded while returning to his seat. The easy air left the room. His smile had faded, and instead, Maro carried a serious expression. "We've had confirmed sightings. Huge targets of the Stalker Core—three of 'em. Memento patrols in northern Galion have gone missing. I need you to scout it. Quietly."
The room shifted into a tense atmosphere. Nobody spoke except for Memento's leader.
"Names you'll recognize. First, Pia the Slayer—manipulates enemy momentum. Highly dangerous."
Azumi, who had been awfully quiet since she entered, shifted uncomfortably.
"Second, Yodoma, the Hellsinger. Her voice fractures willpower. She can induce terror, distort perception and so on. Very high on our danger list."
"And the third?" Tona asked. He still lounged on his seat, but his smile was gone. His body was still, and his mouth calm.
Maro continued, "Erodima. Bow of Seeking."
Tona chuckled. "That one's pretty self explanatory."
"Tona, I want to reiterate. No engagement unless absolutely necessary. The risk isn't worth the reward," Maro said, fiddling with his thumbs. He tried to mask his obvious concern behind a calm eyes-closed expression.
Tona stood, his coat still draped over his muscular frame like wind-borne silk. His scarf hung neatly from his neck. The mask he proudly wore now was lowered, revealing his sharp jawline, the calm mouth, and his violet eyes that never lost their glow. A quiet confidence that followed him everywhere.
"Please be careful," Tsuki asked. The others nodded silently as Tona stepped toward the entrance. He paused as he hit the doorway. One foot over the threshold, he turned slightly. One eye was visible from his dark hair.
"Don't worry about me," Tona said softly. He flashed a subtle grin. The signature smile. "You all stay safe out there. Good luck."
And just like that, he was gone. Azumi's lips curled into a smirk. "That grin, I know it."
"Yeah, he'll be 'scouting' all right," Geo responded.
Even Hatori chuckled. "Just first hand, of course."
Maro didn't smile, instead, he shook his head. He told him the orders, and yet, he knew what the outcome would be.
"That boy, I swear," he muttered.
Tona now trudged outside the entrance to Memento's headquarters. The sun still beamed down casting a beautiful glow over Persetta. He stepped with no urgency, and his hands rested within his pockets.
"Messing with Memento forces in Galion, eh?" Tona whispered to himself. A quiet chuckle escaped his lips. "Three Stalkers… three graves."
He stepped through a Solena gate, the light swallowing him whole.