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Chapter Text

Argel Tal felt the cooling touch of water running through his skin once again. He raised his face towards the shower head, letting the little rain fall directly upon his dusky features and wetting his hitherto unkempt hair. A grunt of satisfaction left his throat as he relished his ablution. The cold sensation, the humidity, the calmness it brought to his mind...

How long had he abandoned this? One month? Two? As short as the pause had been, it had felt like forever. Though the Change was an invaluable asset in combat, had he been given the choice, Argel Tal doubted that would accept it at the cost of becoming one with his armour.

The Crimson Lord, now stripped bare in Schale's bathroom, smiled at the irony. The First Chaplain's betrayal had brought more boon to him than he could have imagined.

He extended a hand to reach a bar of soap on the holder on the wall's corner. Argel Tal brought it close, and immediately, his nose was met with a pleasant scent. It smelt of the petals of a blooming flower, reminiscent of Vharadesh's renowned grey moon lilies. It reminded him of when he walked the Covenant's lush gardens, and how he wandered about its vicinity like the young and naive boy he was. The City of Grey Flowers, the one place all Colchisians were forever dreaming of, and he was blessed to tread upon its sacred soil and smell its blooming sands. The soap rubbed all over the rough surfaces of his laboratory-wrought body now, eager to suppress the chemical stench of his sweat.

Those pleasant memories of home quickly spiraled into other, less pleasant ones. Argel Tal tried his best to ignore them, but he simply couldn't. How could he? He had sworn he would further the cause of his Legion, yet here he was, a 'teacher' in an isolated world, not even knowing what to teach.

What will happen, now that he was no longer present for the war? What will become of the rebellion? Will the Imperium triumph, continuing to propagate their lies to humanity? Or will the Warmaster, allowing the Pantheon's reign of blood to consume the entire galaxy? Which outcome would he prefer?

Knowing what to believe is the greatest threat we face. That was what he said to Torgal back then. Now, he wanted to know. He needed the clarity. Did he want humanity to stagnate under deceit, or burnt away by the truth of the galaxy's Thirsting Gods?

Thoughts of the past stirred his second soul from its slumber. He could sense Raum's bestial twitch as it squirmed within the warmest depths of his mind. The daemon suddenly jolted, no doubt experiencing the unfamiliar sensation of droplets upon skin.

"Where are we, brother?" it whispered. Argel Tal could sense the uncharacteristic unease in its voice.

"Bathroom. I am cleaning myself." The lord of the Gal Vorbak smiled. "I suppose I should've notified you. Apologies."

Raum settled down now, placated by the mundane circumstance of its awakening. "Maybe you should've. Has the sun risen?"

"Not yet. It was two in the morning when I entered, and not much time has passed."

The daemon swirled in his consciousness. "Can you not slumber?"

The smile on the Word Bearer's face vanished, the tone of his voice becoming severe. "No. I still hear them when I close my eyes."

"Who?"

"Everyone. Xaphen, Aquillon, Cyrene, Khârn... even Aurelian."

"What did they say?"

"Things I wish I could forget."

Raum asked no longer, refraining from lowering its host's spirits.

Argel Tal took the shampoo bottle next, pouring the liquid into his hand. The lotion turned into bubbly foams as he rubbed it all over his head, moisturising the hair stiffened by months of neglect. Normally, he wouldn't pay much attention to his appearance. It would be ruined by the time the next compliance was over, anyway. With nothing to bring to compliance here, however, he supposed he could try to appear presentable to his students.

Well, Abydos needed to be brought to compliance, but he doubted the process would be as intense and chaotic as purging a xenos or heretic empire.

"Yesterday was... amusing, to say the least."

"What do you mean?"

"You, I mean. The way you interacted with those mortals... it was the first time I saw such softness expressed by you." A sound reminiscent of a laughter echoed through Argel Tal's mind. "I find it amusing."

"They are desert dwellers," he answered with a scowl, "just as I was. Allow me this small display of compassion, Raum."

"I'm not saying that you couldn't. I just find it amusing. You, who have the blood of billions of innocents in your hands, showing such kindness to people you've only known for two days. People who are not even your kin."

"They are my kin, if only by shared experience. We didn't go through the same hardships, but the circumstances are similar." The Crimson Lord clenched his fists. "And I never wanted to lay waste to hundreds of human cultures, nor do I take pleasure in them. You of all creatures know that best. Now be silent and let me finish in peace."

"You haven't been in peace for many years. But by your word."

Argel Tal washed off the shampoo from his head. He ran his fingers through his hair, astounded by the softness brought to it by the bottled lotion. Had the thing existed back on the Serrated Sun's flagship, he might have used it from time to time to spare the Blessed Lady his stiff hair.

Turning off the shower, he stepped out and grabbed the towel on the bar just outside of the shower to dry himself as he walked to the sink. He looked at himself through the mirror as he wiped the droplets from himself with the silken cloth. Once that was done, he used it to cover his lower half in lieu of a loincloth. Noting how messy his hair was, he took the comb on the holder on the sink, using it to straighten his long and wavy hair.

It did not take long for him to drop his hand, leaning forward and staring into the sink's drain. Still he struggled to come to terms with his fate. Why was he still alive, and given the chance to look at what he was? He believed his fate was sealed when he accepted the futility of resisting the Gods. He didn't deserve this 'second chance'. Others deserve it more than he did. More honourable Astartes from other legions who might still harbour more humanity in them, or army personnel with more in common with Kivotos' inhabitants. What was the purpose that he was resurrected for a second time here? To atone for his sins? Could becoming a hero to the locals even make up for the hundreds of cultures and billions of souls he had put to the sword?

Shaking his head with a strength powerful enough to make a mortal faint in order to purge his mind of the thought, he ran the comb through his hair again, picking up where he had left. In the end, ifs and whys were questions that were both tantalising and worthless in equal measure. And he had more important questions to ask.

"We have to talk, Raum."

"You ordered me to be silent."

"Still, I have a curiosity that needed to be satisfied."

"Ask it, then."

"You already know what I am about to ask, so spare me asking the question."

Raum made a pause before answering. "Was it the feline's psychic wrath?"

Argel Tal lowered the comb, pleased with how his hair now appeared. Scratching the stubble on his chin, he picked up the razor next, shaving off his beard before it could return in force. He had never been a fan of facial hair.

"The words you use... So it was a psychic phenomenon, then."

"Not in the sense that you and I understand."

"Elaborate."

"The flames that heightened her instincts... I felt the crash, just as you did. It was so familiar, like I was swimming through the Sea of Souls again... But alas, it was not born of what Humanity deems as sorcery. Familiar, yet foreign. That would be how I describe it."

"We're on the same page, then," Argel Tal agreed, shaving his moustache next. "Still, you are more versed in this matter than I. Surely there is more to it that you were able to parse out?"

Raum took an uncharacteristically long pause. "You have enough in your mind already. I doubt you would want another to burden it."

"I will be the judge of that. Besides, nothing is more tiring than having a second voice in your head that is able to converse with you."

The daemon laughed off its host's slander. "Very well. It is her halo."

Argel Tal froze when he heard his suspicion confirmed. "Her halo?"

"Indeed. I always felt something faint emanating from those conspicuous rings, but I never paid it much heed. These Humans possess souls, just like the denizens of the Imperium you once served. I assumed that it might simply be the weak psychic radiation playing tricks on me. Tonight's encounter had disproved my assumption."

The Word Bearer returned the razor to its holder. "Her halo."

"This may sound ridiculous to you, but from what I gathered, I came to the conclusion that their haloes are, in some way, their souls." Raum swam through his mind, searching for a comfortable spot deep in his consciousness. "Sorcerers as we know them, be they of Human blood or profane Aeldari breed, channel the energies of the Empyrean with their mind. They use their souls as lures to attract what powers exist beyond the Veil before isolating and utilising them as they saw fit, using their varying willpower as conduit. That is how, to some extent, I am able to tell whether someone taps into the Gods' Realm for their powers or not. I sense them, for I am born of them."

"The mortals we serve here... Their powers came from within. Not from any unseen dimension of raw energies, but from the very essence of their being. Their haloes are, from what I could sense, a concentration of said essence."

Argel Tal stared blankly into the mirror, not knowing what expression he should make in light of this revelation.

"That is... a fascinating conjecture. But how does that work, exactly?"

"I cannot say for certain. Perhaps they possess some mutations that embedded the arcane into their very genetics. Maybe their haloes are remnants of your kind's glorified Age of Technology. The possibilities are endless. We only need to unveil them."

"Unveil them..." Argel Tal sounded his discomfort at the suggestion with the tone of his psychic voice. "And what would this 'unveiling' entail?"

"Everything done by your Chaplains to decipher the Empyrean. Heathen rituals, runic branding, bloodletting... Xaphen should've revealed the methods to you."

Argel Tal felt the sudden urge to thrash the room he was in. The knuckles on his palms whitened as he clenched them so tightly. The willpower it took him to rein in his fury was enough for him to move the Heavens themselves.

"No. I am done committing atrocities in the name of some vague, metaphysical truth. If I must shed blood, it will be done in the name of a righteous crusade. Not in pursuit of nebulous mysteries better left untouched."

"I am merely offering you a course of actions, should you wish to research it. If you do not, then very well. You could ignore it."

"Right..." The marine took a deep breath, recomposing himself. "Right... Forgive me a moment's anger, brother. I am unfocused."

"I know. The War and the sudden transition to this... circumstance must've taken a toll on your psyche."

Argel Tal removed his towel and threw it aside. He took and wore the trousers he had found in his quarter's wardrobe. The fact that he found an Astartes-sized piece of attire was rather baffling, but beggars cannot be choosers. As far as he is concerned, it was less conspicuous than using a bodyglove in his downtime. There's still the matter of a missing upper clothing, but covering his lower half would be enough for the moment. There should be some places for him to have a set of outfit commissioned, anyway.

"You should meditate if your humours are unbalanced, brother."

"I must decline. I have other affairs to attend to."

"Such as?"

The Word Bearer finally stepped out of the bathroom as he spoke. "In spite of the GSC's dysfunctionality, they should, at the very least, possess some information regarding machinations surrounding the Abydos district. If they truly have nothing to work with, thus proving their utter disinterest in a segment of their city that they are mandated to protect, then I am not above breaking my oath to them."

"A very bold proposition. Even for you, someone who is unquestionably loyal to his Legion."

Argel Tal genuinely laughed at Raum's jab, the sound echoing through the corridor in unison with his footfalls. "Those glorified politicians are not the Seventeenth. My genetic loyalty does not lie in them."

Chinatsu felt a burden in her feet as she walked the Prefect Team's headquarters. She passed by several rank and file personnel, all of them inclining their head in respect as she did. It made her nervous, in some way. Being the head of the Prefect's Medical Division granted her seniority over a majority of those serving in Gehenna's enforcement body, in spite of the fact that she was but a first year.

Oh, how she wished that it was the only thing bothering her.

In her bag were merely the essentials she usually brought: Emergency medical kits, a notebook, spare magazines, and the other basic necessities of a battlefield medic. Yet today, it felt as if she was carrying a library worth of reports as she made her way to the Head Prefect's office. Her encounter with Sensei the day before was brief, but the implication it carried was enough to put the future of the Prefect Team's operation into question.

Knowing the extent of Hina's responsibilities, she didn't envy her position in the slightest. Whatever decision she must make, it cannot be made lightly. If anything, she began to doubt if she wanted to forward the information at all.

A hand quickly covered her mouth as she yawned. The Prefect Team's workload was never below excessive by any reasonable metrics, but Chinatsu felt exceptionally exhausted today. Never had she expected that becoming a double agent would be this tiring, but she knew what she signed up for. Still, perhaps a cup of coffee before coming to school might've been a good idea...

The crowd density in the building grew exponentially the deeper she marched. As a result, it was inevitable that she overheard some conversations along the way. And they only served to further aggravate her anxiety.

"Hey, did you hear? That Sensei came to Abydos some times ago."

"The Helmet Gang in Abydos' territory went suspiciously silent."

"They say that artillery fires were heard from the direction of the desert."

"Someone said something about getting her bones eviscerated?"

If every one of those rumours were related to Sensei's arrival at Abydos, then the plan's outlook was looking grim. Not one person in Kivotos should be able to operate at such a terrifyingly brutal efficiency, after all.

Except for Hina. It was impossible to not be in awe of her combat and administrative proficiency.

Chinatsu finally arrived at the Head Prefect's office's entrance. She had came in and out of it many times already, but on this particular day, she felt incredibly reluctant to enter. It was due to my insufficient sleep, she tried to convince herself, but that couldn't be further from the truth. With a sigh and an arm heavier than steel, the Chief of the Medical Division managed three knocks on the office's door.

"Enter," said the voice within.

To her surprise, she didn't hear the Head Prefect's exasperated noise this time. Heeding the voice's invitation, she placed her hand on the handle and pushed it down, opening the door with a loud click and stepping inside as it slid forward.

Inside was the Senior Administrator, seemingly busying herself with a coffee maker. The loud hissing of the machine's expulsion of steam seemed to had obscured the sound of the door opening. When Chinatsu closed the door behind her, Ako finally heard the noise and glanced over her shoulder.

"Ah, fancy meeting you here, Medical Officer," she greeted before returning her attention back on the brewing machine.

"Likewise, Senior Administrator," Chinatsu replied. She walked towards Hina's desk before depositing her bag on the floor in front of it. Unable to bear the soreness on her right arm, she did some light stretches to alleviate it.

Ako turned around and placed a mug on the table before pouring some thick, black coffee into it. The ceramic cup filled up quickly, leaving behind quite a sizeable volume behind. Something must have reflected in Chinatsu's face, for the administrator was quick to offer her some.

"You don't look very well," she said. "Would you like a cup as well?"

A yawn answered the question before she could. "That would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance, Ako-senpai."

The blue-haired officer raised her eyebrows in surprise. It was rare to see Chinatsu use anything but formal titles to refer to her seniors. A smile quickly adorned her face as she turned around again, grabbing two additional mugs and placing them upon the desk. She poured the same amount of brew into both, finally emptying the coffee maker's container. Lifting one of them, she handed it over to her junior.

"Here you go, Chinatsu."

The medic accepted it with both of her hands, her gloves protecting her palms from the piping hot beverage. "My thanks."

Chinatsu blew the coffee several times to cool it down. Once it was safe to drink, she took a long sip, wetting her dry throat with the caffeinated drink. She felt some energy flowing into her veins as it gave her the much needed kick to start the day. Still, being very much aware of the side effects of caffeine, she made a note to set aside some time for actual rest later in the day.

"So what brought you here so early in the morning?" Ako asked, breaking the brief silence between them.

Chinatsu took several moments before answering. "I planned to forward some information regarding Sensei to the Head Prefect, as she had requested of me."

"Huh. We've the same reason, then." The administrator took a sip as she continued. "I have some updated intel regarding Abydos that I'm sure she would appreciate."

The way Ako referred to the desert district by name brought a discomfort crawling down her spine. Chinatsu still couldn't accept the fact that they were putting in serious efforts in capturing Sensei. Even by the Head Prefect's standard, it was imprudent at best, and downright idiotic at worst. Staring down into the cup, she wished that her report could dissuade Hina from executing it.

She glanced around the room wearily. The office was neatly furnished. The natural ambience it had provided a sorely needed refreshment for its overworked resident. Sadly, it had no effect whatsoever on this particular day.

"Where is Captain Iori? Is she not reporting in as well?"

"Iori is rigorously drilling the girls under her command as we speak," Ako stated matter-of-factly. "Actually, I've been receiving several complaints regarding the strict training regime. They have all been duly noted and ignored."

"Are you sure that disregarding everyone's complaint is a wise act?" Chinatsu questioned.

"To be completely honest with you, this drill is long overdue. This isolate-and-capture plan notwithstanding, everyone has been idle for way too long. With the Eden Treaty nearing its finalisation, we will be obliged to assign some of our forces for the signing ceremony's security detail. We cannot rely solely on our counterpart's muscles. And should the worst come to pass, we cannot allow ourselves to become Gehenna's embarrassment, especially with the entirety of Kivotos watching."

Ah, right. The very event Ako used as a justification for this foolhardy plan. Chinatsu had always thought about how much the Senior Administrator stretched the implication of Sensei's presence. Could someone like him really negatively affect the proceeding of the signing? Judging from how exasperated he sounded yesterday, he would be one of the initiative's biggest proponents. All she needed to do was to tell him of the treaty happening in the first place. If he didn't know already, that is.

"So, what information have you gathered from Schale? Anything interesting?"

Chinatsu took a sip to mask her scowl. "I prefer to speak it once the Head Prefect has arrived."

Ako merely shrugged at her refusal. She took a sip herself before continuing. "Tell me your prognosis, at least. Will it be difficult but doable, or next-to-impossible?"

"I've been opposing this plan since its very inception," the medic answered. She forced a smile to rob the refusal of its venom. "I think you already know of my opinion."

"But of course."

Chinatsu opened her bag and took her notebook, looking to busy herself as she waited for the Head Prefect. Just as she straightened herself, however, the door abruptly swung open. The short and unassuming figure of Hina slogged her way inside, staring down upon the floor the entire time. Her uncombed hair, the bags under her eyes, and her disheveled uniform were indicative of her utter lack of rest.

The medic and the administrator dropped what they were doing and saluted their superior. The Head Prefect continued her trudge unperturbed, blind to the presence of her two subordinates. She freed herself of her physical burden, setting aside her oversized machine gun. The way she looked was reminiscent of a zombie; pale as a corpse, her locomotion seemingly autonomous. It was when she was doffing her black overcoat that she finally noticed Ako and Chinatsu.

"Ah!" she exclaimed as she fell to the rear. Her eyes reflected her surprise well; it was as if she had just saw a ghost. Ako reached out an arm to Hina, allowing her to stand back up. "Ah, it's you two," she noted as she tidied her uniform. "Apologies, I haven't had much rest since yesterday."

"I can see that, ma'am," Chinatsu commented.

"Which is why I've made you a cup of coffee," Ako informed her as she gestured at the cup in question. "Please, have a seat."

Hina nodded. Heeding her secretary's advice, she lowered herself upon her office chair and clutched her coffee. "Thanks, Ako," she muttered as she drank it to kick-start herself.

The administrator bowed slightly. "My pleasure, ma'am."

Chinatsu busied herself with her notebook as she waited for Hina to regain her wits. Having only been noting yesterday's information mentally, she wrote it all down, trying to brainstorm a way to break the news to the Head Prefect. Ako, for her part, prepared the documents their superior needed to settle, all stacked into one, imposing tower of parchments. For anyone else, the workload shouldered by the Prefect Team would seem outrageous, and rightfully so. But for them, it was just yet another weekday.

Hina set her mug aside as she finished her coffee with one final chug. She prepared a pen and several sheets of paper before taking the first document for the day. When she noticed Chinatsu again, however, she set that aside for a moment.

"So, what brought you here, Chinatsu?" she asked the brown-haired medic.

Chinatsu closed her notebook before answering. "I'm here to deliver a report from my visit to Schale, ma'am," she answered with an expression that she hoped was neutral enough. "I believe Senior Administrator Ako also wishes to deliver her own report."

"She is right, ma'am," Ako confirmed.

"Hmm... Very well," Hina muttered. "Let's start with yours, Ako."

"As you wish, ma'am." The Senior Administrator took out her work tablet. She fingered it for several seconds, accessing the relevant information she had stored. "Two days ago, we intercepted several members of the Kata-Kata Helmet Gang that had entered Gehenna from our border with Abydos. In particular, the interrogation of one particularly battered squad leader confirmed my initial prediction that Sensei would immediately make for Abydos."

"So soon?" Hina asked. Her lips curled into a frown. "Seems like he isn't one to sit idle. What other information was revealed?"

"The gangster told us about the engagement they had with Abydos that day. She said that she had her underlings bring some heavy weaponry in anticipation of Sensei's presence. Some outmoded rocket launchers from the black market, it was later revealed. Anyway, none of them were able to penetrate Sensei's armour, and the battle was over in less than three minutes."

The Head Prefect recorded all that was said by Ako, making several comments as she did so. "So conventional explosives couldn't hurt him, huh. Anything else from this suspect?"

"Nothing particularly important, but she did tell us about how he almost killed her."

Hina raised her head from her papers, the speed at which could be interpreted as shock. Chinatsu herself cocked her head from her notebook, her mind dreading what could come next. This doesn't bode well.

"Pardon me for repeating, but Sensei almost killed this gangster? Is that true?"

Ako simply nodded. It beggars belief that she managed to maintain her calm as she continued. "Considering the state we found her in, it is very likely that that is the truth, ma'am. She said that Sensei lifted her into the air by the neck. It was only thanks to the intervention of one of Abydos' students that she lived to see another day. Furthermore, Sensei gave her a rather serious threat. Quoting the gangster, she said that if he saw her disturb the peace in Abydos again, then not even her bones would remain for future generations to uncover."

Hina leaned back against her chair's headrest, massaging the gap between her eyes. The weariness that had briefly left her features returned to the fore instantaneously. Chinatsu could only watch in horror as the case against Sensei was building up rapidly.

"I... Argh, I don't even know what to say," said the Head Prefect. The fact that she audibly groaned made the medic shiver. "I don't particularly appreciate gangsters, but what Sensei did was simply excessive."

"This, I am in agreement, ma'am," Ako immediately added. "This is very much the reason that I advocated for this plan. Unfortunately, the forces under Captain Iori's command are not yet ready to execute it. As such, we could only stand back and watch as more criminal groups come and repeat the Helmet Gang's mistake."

"Speaking of other criminal groups, are there any other reports, aside from this one gangster you've interrogated?"

"There are reports of gunfire being heard at night, ma'am." Ako placed her tablet on the desk. At her command, a holographic display of one of Abydos' abandoned urban block materialised, with some red dots blinking on the map. "After further investigation, we have determined that a heavy fighting took place deep within Abydos' residential area. The blinking dots are objects that I have marked down as of special interest."

The Head Prefect pressed her finger on one of them. The satellite display dispersed and was replaced by an image of the ruins of a shelled apartment block.

"Tell me what I am seeing."

"A building damaged in the fighting, ma'am," the administrator reported. "Well, 'damaged' is putting it lightly. Anyway, the reason why I marked this one down is because of the weapon used to bring this down." Ako reverted the display and pressed on another dot. This time, the burning carcass of an armoured vehicle came into view. "We could not do a detailed investigation on this wreck, because sending an agent to analyse it while Abydos is in high alert is too risky, but visuals suggest that this is a light tank chassis modified to mount a military grade Flak 41 anti-air cannon. One decal on the armour's turret indicated that it belonged to the Kata-Kata Helmet Gang."

Hina tilted her head in curiosity. "The Helmet Gang? Even after being so decisively beaten, they still chose to continue fighting?"

"It seems to be one final hurrah before they leave Abydos for good, ma'am. We do not have details regarding the fighting itself, but judging from these two pictures alone, it's safe to say that their days in Abydos are as good as over."

Hina merely nodded as she wrote the intel down on her papers. Ako's report alone had occupied a large portion of an A4-sized paper. Once she was done, Hina wiped the sweat forming on her brow.

"Two days," she commented. "In just two days within his arrival, Abydos secured two decisive victories, repelling the attackers that would see them fall." The Head Prefect nodded. The inflection on her face indicated her genuine impression. "Seems like the old hound will not go quietly into the night." Without delay, she took up her pen again, ready to make further additions to her report. "Your turn Chinatsu. What do you have to report?"

Closing her notebook, the Medical Officer took a deep breath as she prepared to speak against an entrenched opposition.

"May I be very frank with you, ma'am?"

"Speak as you wish, officer."

"Then I will be very clear about this; This plan is suicide, in the truest sense of the word. If we proceed with this, then we must prepare for a total war with Schale."

Hina had barely scratched her paper when she raised her eyes to meet Chinatsu's. Ako could only stare at her in utter bafflement.

"With respect, officer, you are here to make a report, not to speak of your skepticism when the Head Prefect's mind is made up," the administrator rebuked sternly. "And what with this 'total war' you speak of? Fearmongering?"

The medic glared angrily at her senior. "I have not voiced the reason for my opposition."

Ako prepared another censure when Hina raised her hand. The administrator acquiesced, allowing the medic to continue her report.

"You may continue, Chinatsu," Hina spoke aptly.

The Medical Officer merely nodded. "When I arrived at Schale yesterday, Sensei was in the middle of a one-sided argument with Acting President Rin. He spoke repeatedly about how the GSC, in his mind, abandoned Abydos to die off. His mood was foul enough for him to shatter a mug. Not only that. When Hayase Yuuka of Millennium's Seminar who accompanied me yesterday admonished Sensei for his spending, he went into an outburst and revealed that he spent tens of thousands of yen to resupply Abydos in lieu of GSC's aid, before dismissing her with a phrase that would be inappropriate to be spoken here."

"And?" Ako interrupted. "What does this... Millennium chick have to do with our plan?"

"You still don't get it, did you, Ako-senpai?" Chinatsu snapped. She found the administrator's dismissiveness to be an insidious influence on her mood. "Is the fact that abandoning Abydos could arouse Sensei's wrath to this extent still not enough for you to connect the dots? He was angered enough to berate the Acting President. What do you think will happen to us if we even so much as crossed their border? Forget the Prefect Team, his rage would be directed at the entirety of Gehenna. What would he do, then? Just slap us on the wrist?"

"If anything, you only entrenched my belief that he should be contained as soon as possible," Ako countered. "If he choose to not let bygones be bygones, then we should remove him from the picture. So what if Abydos lost their hero? They're past their prime, anyway."

"For the love of-" Chinatsu forced herself to approach her senior, moving her face close and staring directly into her eyes. "Just how stupendously stubborn are you?! You are proposing that we risk a diplomatic incident! Do you really think the GSC will-"

"Enough!"

The medic and the administrator flinched when the Head Prefect stood up and slammed her hands against the table. Though Hina was considerably smaller in stature compared to them, her domineering presence was enough to cow them into silence. Chinatsu hesitated before distancing herself from Ako.

Hina sat back on her chair, letting out an exaggerated sigh. "You two have brought some very important information to light with your reports. But if you wish to argue regarding our next steps, then I ask that you settle it outside. I... I will need some time to make a decision."

Chinatsu and Ako exchanged a glance. Each one resented the other for their difference in opinion, but Hina's glare was enough for them to bury the hatchet. For the moment, at least.

"By your word, ma'am," they said in unison. Ako pocketed her tablet while Chinatsu stored her notebook in her bag. Both of them left the office soon after, their body language betraying some manner of animosity.

Hina wrote down the medic's intel into her notes. As she did, she couldn't set her mind away from the implications it brought. Once she was done, she reread all the reports she had written down. Then she read it again. And again. And again.

The Head Prefect crashed her head against the desk. She could only groan in agony as her sweat wetted her document.

"Hah... I could really use some sleep..."

Utaha felt as though her wrist was about to shatter, and disengaged.

Just before she could catch her breath, she had to leap backward to evade the blow aimed at her hip. That allowed her two seconds of respite before her opponent launched a flurry of strikes that targeted her front. Holding her pole with both hands, she parried three blows that connected in a single second. The last of the strikes knocked her to the rear, the sudden sliding twisting her ankle and bringing her down to the floor. She repressed a scream as she forced herself up again, holding her weapon en garde even as she struggled to remain standing. Utaha gritted her teeth. She wasn't done just yet.

Her collapse seemed to had sent her opponent into a lull. She wasn't sure if he considered her to be of no threat or was suddenly being soft on her. Just the thought of either irritated her enough that she began to calculate her next moves.

Striking his head to fall him in one fell swoop was out of the question. Aside from being potentially lethal, her opponent was about two and a half heads taller than her. Even with her being armed with a long, metal pole, such an attack would require a great deal of skill to even try. And she hadn't sparred in three years.

With that off the table, Utaha set her sight on his legs. Yes, the knees. Regardless of how tough you are, a sudden blow to the joints that allow you to remain standing will always make you fall. Her mind began to analyse the way forward. Her opponent had a very quick reaction time, so quick that it bordered on the split-seconds. Delivering only one attack wouldn't be enough as he could parry it with ease. Feigned strikes, then; aim for the hip, then evade and hit the kneecaps. It was risky, but it was her only option.

Utaha yelled as she broke into a lame charge, her wounded ankle inhibiting her ability to move quickly. That impairment was enough for her opponent to defend against her attack. She engaged as planned, swinging her pole against his hip. When a loud clang resounded in the shooting range as he effortlessly parried her blow, Utaha spun on her feet, pulling her pole away and delivering a strike directly at his right knee. She was relieved when her attack connected, and she finally hit home for the first time since the spar had begun.

That relief quickly turned into horror as the attack seemingly had no effect on her opponent. Rather than falling over as she had hoped, he simply leapt away, unbothered by the blow. Before she could react, he charged forward with his pole held aloft. Utaha had barely any moment to mount a parry when the strike came, and she was thrown away by the collision as she suffered a blow to the abdomen.

The meister cried out in pain as she landed on her back. Her weapon fled her grip and skidded on the floor, its loud clang on the flooring torturing her hearing as pain overwhelmed her senses. Cringing as she grasped her stomach, Utaha forced herself to rise in spite of the stinging pain. In the end, she could only manage to sit upright on the cold floor.

Argel Tal had simply walked past her as if nothing had happened. Utaha winced as she turned to him, watching how he took her pole before turning around and approaching her. He had paused before speaking, and she could barely notice the consternation in his eyes; he didn't mean to do that. Utaha had quickly averted her gaze. Not because she was ashamed by her performance - though that did play a part - but because Sensei was unnaturally tall, and it hurt her neck to stare upwards.

"Utaha," he finally spoke. Two voices left his throat as he did. The meister had inquired about that, and he had told her about how he had a mechanical replacement for his vocal cords. She had believed it for a while, but a doubt haunted her as she listened to him now. His softer voice was enriched with apology, but his harsher one somehow implied amusement. "Are you alright?"

Utaha stared at him in disbelief for several moments. Soon, she broke into a low chuckle.

"You twisted my ankle," she began. "You hit me right in the stomach, and you ask if I am alright?"

Argel Tal maintained his gaze, but Utaha noticed the tension in the muscles of his face. He was putting in effort to not look away. Sighing, she nodded her head.

"Yes. I'm alright, all things considered. Was that finisher really necessary?"

"No. Forgive me, I am unfocused."

"Yeah, I can tell." Utaha tried to rise again, failing as straightening herself seemed to hurt her abdomen. She glanced at Argel Tal. "Well? Will you help me up, or what?"

The Word Bearer offered the pole that belonged to his student. Holding her sparring weapon, Utaha rose to her feet as Argel Tal pulled her up with it. He released his grip once she was back to full height, allowing her to use it as a walking cane. With no more words uttered, he walked out of the shooting range they had used as an impromptu sparring cage. The meister shook her head. Her teacher was uncharacteristically ruthless today.

With a grimace, Utaha released the grip on her stomach to assess her wound. Her eyes widened as a purplish bruise formed on her abdomen right next to the scar she sustained from a particularly severe wound half a decade ago. Looking at her phone, a sense of humiliation overtook her as she realised that not even one minute had passed since they began. She knew that years of idleness had rusted her edge, but Lord in Heaven, to this extent? Where was the Shiraishi Utaha that could stand her ground against a death squad that would see her join her fallen sisters?

Then again, she might've bitten more than she could chew. After all, she had challenged the absolute unit of a man that had saved the city from itself. A small laugh left her throat as the thought came. Maybe a spar with Neru would be more manageable.

With a limp and her metal pole as support, Utaha walked slowly to where Argel Tal rested just behind the shooting range's booths. He was leaning against the wall, the bench right next to him too feeble to hold his weight. The Word Bearer, noticing her approach, lobbed her the towel on the bench's headrest. Utaha caught it with her left hand, using it to wipe the sweat on her collar and down her spine.

The meister crashed herself against the bench, eager to rest her overworked muscles. Argel Tal frowned as he saw the wound he had inflicted on her.

"Your wounds are quite severe," he observed. "Should I bring you to the infirmary?"

Utaha shook her head. "Nay," she replied. "I've suffered worse. I'll bide."

Argel Tal briefly raised his eyebrows before turning his gaze away. In his hand, his sparring weapon cut through the air with consummate grace as he sought to distract himself.

Utaha couldn't help but stare at him as she wiped her sweat. She wasn't sure what to think of him now. Judging from the durability of his armour alone, she had been right in the guess that Argel Tal was hiding a large mass of muscles underneath it. Such a protection wouldn't come without weight, after all. But what she hadn't been expecting was the many, many cylindrical connection ports dotting the surfaces of his body. On the chest, on the back, on the neck, on the forearm, on the shoulders... Heavens above. Were it not for the fact that he breathes, she would've truly assumed that he was a mechanical being. The reason why he had them was no less ridiculous. So I could interface with my armour, he had answered when asked. That reply had her more disturbed than impressed. There was ingenuity, and there was madness. And implanting a bundle of cables underneath someone's torso belonged to the latter.

That was why she was unable to look away. It was fascinating in its own morbid way. Then there's the matter of the muscles themselves. They possess some beauty that could be expected from a bodybuilder, but that seemed to be an afterthought in Argel Tal. In fact, she'd go as far as to assume that even Sumire, though barely, would be more repulsed than entranced by his rough and uneven musculature, for they were formed with strength in mind. Strength, and strength alone. Not beauty or any other vainglorious factors.

"I went too far in our spar," Argel Tal broke the silence, bringing Utaha back from her musings. "I shouldn't have struck you that powerfully. Forgive me."

"It's fine, Sensei," she reassured him. "I'm the one who challenged you, after all."

Utaha drank from her water bottle. Their spar might have been brief, but facing off against a much, much stronger opponent had left her drained. Three years of living a sedentary lifestyle had taken a toll on her endurance. Being on the run had its perks, it appeared.

"Well, if you're really sorry, I suppose you could answer a question for me," she continued, smiling through the words to disarm the tension.

"Then ask," Sensei allowed, still using his weapon to distract himself.

"You know... What's been bothering you? You seemed very restless since I came here. Something the matter?"

Argel Tal didn't answer right away. Instead, he plunged his pole to the floor, before glancing at Utaha. The regretful look on his face faded and rearranged itself into the cold, seething anger that had greeted her when she first met him in his office. Suddenly, she felt as if she had rattled the hornets' nest.

"You were here yesterday, were you not?" he asked in return.

"Uh, yes. I mean, you commissioned me for that armour storage, after all."

"Then you know what's 'bothering' me. Do not ask for answers you can shape yourself."

Her stomach dropped when she was reminded of the argument she and her companions had walked into the day earlier. She mustered the courage to speak, knowing that it was likely to aggravate him further.

"Is it... Is it Abydos?"

"Abydos."

Argel Tal had simply repeated the name. There was a pause between that and his elaboration. Utaha couldn't ignore the tension building up in the air at that very moment.

"Abydos. The Abydos that is currently, slowly, turning into an inhospitable wasteland. The Abydos that had cried for help for years on end. The Abydos whose cries had been ignored by the GSC and every damned district in this blasted city." He turned to meet the meister in the eyes. "That Abydos?"

Utaha averted her gaze, not answering the rhetorical question. After yesterday, she knew better than to speak out of turn.

"Yes. That Abydos. When others are enjoying their lives in this city of plenty, they, and they alone, laboured like slaves to keep the lives in that dying district breathing." With a heavy sigh, Argel Tal dropped himself to the floor, the rage burning in his mind rerouting the energy from his legs. "I would be lying if I say that I am not angry, Utaha. I've seen how tightly they clung to the place they call their home, and how much they are willing to pay to not lose it. And to think that no one bothered to help them..."

Utaha wasn't sure if she shared his anger, but she did understand him. To watch a group of people endure through endless suffering, to watch no one deigning to aid them, and to watch, knowing that she possessed no capacity to help... It reminded her too much of the place she hailed from.

"Sometimes," Sensei continued, "I wonder if the rulers of other districts feel any sense of remorse whatsoever."

Yuuka did, Utaha thought. She remembered how she returned alongside her kouhais after wrapping up Sensei's commission yesterday. Noa had waited for her in her workshop. It seemed that Argel Tal's outburst stung deeper than she could have imagined. Worried for her friend's well being, the secretary of Seminar had asked of what transpired back at Schale, and Utaha had told her the truth. Then, just this morning, as she prepared for another visit, Yuuka had come personally to the workshop. Not to berate the Engineering Department's expenditure as she was wont to do, but to ask her to deliver her apology. It was the first time that the meister saw genuine regret in the treasurer's eyes.

"Yuuka does," she finally spoke, answering the implied question. "She spoke to me just this morning. She said she's sorry for meddling in your operations."

Her words didn't seem to had the intended effect. Argel Tal slowly turned his head, his expression one of confusion.

"She apologised to me?"

"Yes," Utaha repeated. "She apologised to you."

Argel Tal said nothing, staring at her several long seconds. Then, when she was about to break the silence, he broke into a laughter. His laughter was loud enough to breach the shooting range's soundproofed walls, but Utaha could tell that there was no relish in it.

"What's so funny, Sensei?" she asked.

Argel Tal had barely finished his laugh when he spoke again. "To me," he repeated, as if the phrase was the most hilarious thing in existence. "She apologised to me. Not to Abydos or the Foreclosure Task Force, but to me."

Utaha, realising what she had done, could do nothing as Sensei went into a lengthy tirade. She remained silent, knowing that Yuuka will become a subject of vitriolic criticism. Guilt went its incising way through her heart as he did just that.

His laughter abating somewhat, Argel Tal said something that incited her anger.

"Right now, I am wondering on whether or not should I march to Millennium and slit that insolent bastard's throat right this moment."

The meister tried her best to maintain her composure, but she clenched her fist, suddenly wishing that her firearm was at her side. The treasurer was one annoying girl, but she was still her friend, and a lovely junior when she wasn't in her pestering persona. And hearing Argel Tal contemplating on murdering her risked igniting her own outrage. The fact that he had effortlessly beaten her was the only thing that kept her from retaliating.

"Five girls, Utaha. As we speak, five girls who call the desert their home are whoring away their lives to resist the inevitable coming of the end and the death. Lives that should be spent in anticipation of the supposedly bright tomorrow. Instead, they are being wasted to banish the encroaching darkness. Just last night, one of them was kidnapped for the sin of defying their fate." Argel Tal straightened himself. Staring at Utaha, he continued his rant with ever mounting anger. "She was fortunate that I was there to save her. But could you imagine had that not been the case? Had they continued to receive no help? At best, she'd be held hostage to be ransomed. At worst, she'd be sold to slavery, paying off her school's debt in indentured labour."

Slavery. Hearing that word now, Utaha felt her anger being subverted into terror. Abydos struggling to stand on their feet was old news to Kivotos, though she wasn't cognisant of the details. But now, in his rage, Argel Tal had revealed a truth that shouldn't have existed outside of the home she had fled from many years ago. To keep fighting, knowing that their lives and freedom might be forfeit... Had that always been the risk Abydos faced?

"All of these..." Argel Tal took a deep breath. His fury was threatening to boil over right this moment, and he sought to temper it. "All of these hardships wouldn't have come to pass had one, just one, foreign organisation gave them assistance. By withholding aid, the GSC and every single district in Kivotos are complicit in the fate that they suffer now. That includes Yuuka, and whatever colleagues she has."

Utaha was well and truly silent now. Just moments earlier, Argel Tal's outrage had seemed to be insultingly patronising. But now, his indignation needed no more justification.

"I will not accept her apology, for she hadn't affronted me. But if she truly couldn't assist Abydos from this day onward, then I demand that she send a formal apology to the Foreclosure Task Force on the behalf of Millennium. If she cannot do that, then tell her to peel the skin off her face, for she is not worthy of the moniker 'Human'." Suddenly, Argel Tal relaxed and slumped his back against the wall again, as if his outburst had drained him of vitality. "Well? Did that satisfy your question?"

"Yes," Utaha answered at once. "Very much so."

"Good."

Argel Tal stared blankly into the shooting range proper. He formed his signature double-headed eagle symbol over his chest, mouthing wordless syllables that Utaha could only assume to be prayers or mantras in order to balance his humours. It seemed to had been a useless endeavour, for he suddenly raised his voice, cursing in a language she did not recognise.

"I have a question myself, girl."

"Ask away," Utaha replied, unable to look at him. "Ask what you want."

Argel Tal shuffled on the floor, trying to make himself comfortable. "What compelled you to challenge me in a duel?"

The meister turned her head, surprised that the question only came out now. "Pardon?"

"Forgive me if this sounds arrogant, but whenever I have to fight in this city, my foes tend to... Well, my presence alone seemed to be enough to terrify them. And by that, I mean, shaking-your-entire-body terrified." The Word Bearer met her gaze, genuine curiosity gleaming from his features. "Yet here you are, coming here to face me in single combat. Were it not for the fact that you girls are resilient, I'd have thought that you have a death wish of sorts."

Utaha let out an awkward chuckle. It wasn't exactly that, but with the spar's outcome in mind, she could see why he thought that way.

"Well, you could say that Suzumi compelled me to," she answered, taking a swig from her bottle.

Argel Tal raised his eyebrows. "Suzumi? Did she challenge you?"

"Uh, not exactly." The meister set her bottle aside, leaning forward and using her pole to hold her hands. "You see, Suzumi and I came from a... rather militarised middle school. We parted ways because of our... divergent interests, so to say. I enrolled in Millennium to pursue my passion in engineering, while Suzumi enrolled in Trinity to..." Utaha paused before she could slip up. "I'm sure it's because its closer to her home, but don't quote me on that. Anyways, her sudden visit three days ago, when she accompanied you to retrieve your commissions, was our first time meeting up after middle school."

"And then, you and her disappeared to converse," Argel Tal recalled. "Was it something she said then that compelled you to challenge me?"

"You could say that," Utaha confessed. "She said something along the lines that I must've gotten rusty. My combat skills, I mean. She was my junior, so naturally, I took offense to her statement. That was when I decided to spar with you. I just figured that I could measure myself, then."

"I see," said Argel Tal. "And how skilled you'd say you were?"

"Suzumi was one of our finest, and I could stand my ground against her. So, uh, take from that what you will."

The look on Sensei's face morphed into one of disbelief. "You could stand your ground against Suzumi?"

"Back in the day, yes. What about it?"

Argel Tal's expression turned neutral, though judging from his thin smile, it was a chore to maintain it.

"Her assertion was correct, then. I mean, I know a blind girl that could stand her ground better than you just did."

His comment carved a scowl on Utaha's face. Being compared to a blind person had, frankly, offended her.

"Listen, I know that I lost to you, so stop rubbing it in, will you? You don't need to insult me."

Argel Tal went on the defensive. "What? I'm being truthful. I did know a blind girl with better footwork and posture than you."

"Why don't I believe you?" Utaha snapped, straightening herself.

The student and teacher maintained eye contact for a moment, a standoff taking place between the both of them. The tension was broken when the teacher broke into a laughter at the student's expense.

"Don't act so offended, Utaha," Argel Tal spoke between his laugh. "What I said might be outrageous, but it was true."

Utaha wished that she could maintain her indignation, but she couldn't resist a smile despite herself. She may not appreciate becoming the butt of a joke, but seeing that it brought a break in Argel Tal's foul mood was strangely... comforting.

"If it's true," she interrupted, "then tell me more about her."

"Ah, as you wish." Argel Tal leaned against the wall again as his laughter came to a halt. "Cyrene Valantion of Monarchia was her name. Her retinas were bleached by an oversaturation of light when a bombardment flattened her home city. Since then, she had trained her other senses to a point where you wouldn't notice her handicap. Well, were it not for the fact that she became used to always closing her useless eyes, that is. I had trained her in self-defence once, though admittedly, I was more lenient with her because she was, well, blind."

Utaha listened to his story with unmasked fascination. However, there was one part of it that she couldn't get out of her mind.

"She was... blinded by bombardment?"

"She was."

"Can you... Can you tell me more about that?"

"It would be my pleasure. The more people know of her story, the better."

Argel Tal raised his gaze to the ceiling, seemingly deep in contemplation as he recounted a story that was his as much as it was Cyrene's.

"I still remember the day I found her among the ruins forty-four years ago. The Word Bearers, each one hundred thousand of us, walked the charred earth of what was Monarchia. Our greatest achievement, and our greatest failure. The enemy had came when we were fighting a crusade far away from the Perfect City. We couldn't return in time, and Monarchia paid the price of our failure."

Using the metal pole in his hand, Argel Tal cut through the air, moving down diagonally from above.

"A mass bombardment of the city ensued. Incendiary payloads rained from the heavens, blotting out so much of the skies that you'd think the Day of Judgement had arrived. They fell indiscriminately, destroying everything in their wake. Cathedrals, housing blocks, markets, hospitals, militia bases... Everyone, be they the highest of ecclesiarchs or the lowest of peasants, suffered the same fate. Those who were fortunate enough to survive the barrage were left buried under the rubble, left to die of dehydration and starvation if they were lucky enough to not have their wound infected."

Argel Tal dropped his hand to the floor. When he continued, Utaha noted the shaking in his voice.

"We arrived weeks after the fact. We were too slow. When I walked the ruins alongside my company, I couldn't bear to remove my helmet. I was so ashamed that I couldn't even bear to smell the burning concrete and sandstone. We were about to depart after a lengthy, contemplative penance. That was when I found her. I still remember how she crawled on the blasted soil. She was skin and bones then, almost succumbing to malnutrition. Her legs were blackened by necrosis, and it was a miracle that they escaped amputation. And there were indications that she was tormented by other survivors." Argel Tal glanced at Utaha. "She was not a year older than you when I first found her."

The meister was left speechless by the sheer brutality in his account. Here it was, a mere glimpse into the world her teacher had hailed from.

"She was... She was around my age?"

"Yes. Couldn't have been too long before her coming of age."

"What happened, then?" she asked. "Did you take her in?"

"I did. I brought her to my company's apothecarion. There, they treated her until she was cured of all maladies. Aside for the fact that her sight was robbed from her for good. I had requested for a pair of augmetic replacements for her, but she refused it. She believed that replacing her eyes with artificial ones would prevent her soul from leaving her body should she pass away."

Argel Tal raised his right arm. On his wrist was a wristband made from the teeth of a carnivorous animal. As he stared into the memento, regret and sorrow seemed to clash in his eyes.

"She believed that she owed her life to the Legion, and was very insistent that she join my chapter's retinue. I had told her that I was merely doing my duty, and that she owed me nothing. I wanted to tell her that she could go home once she recovered, but what home could she return to? We had failed to protect it, and she was stuck with the angels that came to her rescue. It was then that my Primarch, my commander, granted her the privilege to serve as a confessor. To her, my brothers and I confessed our sins, and confided when we found our conviction waning."

"You..." Utaha hesitated, seeing how downcast Argel Tal appeared. "You seem to think highly of her, Sensei."

"I did, and I still do. Over the years, she grew to be more than just a priestess in our Legion. She gave us purpose when we were left purposeless. She became a beacon in the dark and shrouded seas, keeping us from going off course as we sailed where no one else had sailed. I owed her as much as she owed me. To others, she might have been just one of many serving the Bearers of the Word. But to us, she was our Blessed Lady. Cyrene Valantion of Monarchia, the living reminder of our Legion's greatest failure."

The revelation came unbidden, but it made sense to her. The plight of Abydos was more than just a crisis that Argel Tal, her teacher, was determined to resolve. It also reminded him of his past failings. The failure to rescue the home of the girl whom he came to see as his guiding light. His fury became more and more understandable, as if it needed more reasons to be. Just the uncertain fate of one girl was enough to torment him. Who knows how much five of them would grieve him?

Argel Tal broke the contemplative silence with a pained laughter. He closed his eyes as he took a deep breath in an effort to compose himself.

"That ended up way longer than I had intended," he said. "Sorry for wasting your time, Utaha."

"No. No, it's nothing." Utaha shifted on the bench. "For what its worth, I found your story to be captivating. I wouldn't have minded if you continued for a few more minutes."

"What's with the enthusiasm?" Argel Tal teased. "You want to become my confessor?"

Utaha shrugged. "I don't know. I'm not a nun, so I am not qualified for that. But I can be your confidant, if you want me to."

"No. Not now. Maybe someday. I don't know myself." Argel Tal rose to his feet, stretching his back right after. "What time is it, by the way?"

Utaha opened her phone to check. "A quarter past eleven."

"Ah, I'm going to be late." Argel Tal began to walk as he continued. "My duty is not yet over."

"Abydos awaits?"

"Abydos awaits."

When he was about to leave the shooting range, Argel Tal turned around, returning the metal pole he had used as sparring weapon to Utaha.

"Thank you for coming here, Utaha. Telling you Cyrene's story had... lifted a weight off my shoulders. I don't know why it did, but know that it did. I appreciate your company. I really do."

The meister smiled as the Word Bearer handed the pole to her. "Glad to be of help, Sensei."

Argel Tal turned to leave, but Utaha chose to interrupt him for a moment longer.

"One last thing, Sensei."

Argel Tal halted when she called him out. "What is it?"

"Do you have any clothes other than your armour? I've been wondering, since you came here shirtless and all."

"Funny you mention that. I don't, actually. The clothes here don't seem to fit me."

"What if I take your measurements? Hibiki is good with a sewing machine. She can make a set or two for you."

The Word Bearer's face gleamed with interest. "She can?"

"I'd go as far as to say that she is Millennium's finest in regards to fashion. Don't worry about the cost, we can settle that at a later date."

Argel Tal maintained his gaze for a moment longer. He lowered his head, letting out an elated chuckle.

"It lifts my heart to know that there are still reliable friends in this city. And I owed you so much already. Thank you, Utaha."

The meister returned the smile he had rarely worn on that particularly melancholic day.

"You're welcome, Sensei."

Rage. Rage, and anger and rage and anger.

In other, more violent circumstances, such as when they were in the midst of a particularly chaotic battle, this would be the moment that Raum was looking forward to the most. Such a time would be the only time when Argel Tal, for all his impeccable discipline, lapse in his self-restrain. When the cascade of emotions threatened to unbalance the state of his mind, Raum would take advantage of it, taking over control of their shared vessel and letting loose, reaving the battlefield of any and all lives that dared to stand in their way. In truth, it was a mutually beneficial arrangement for both. Argel Tal could rest to recompose his mind and still be able to exert some loose control to prevent the daemon from killing indiscriminately, while Raum could reap the harvest of souls like it could never do before.

But now, Raum was left equally hollow by the fury.

Perhaps being bound to such a stubborn host had caused it to, in a way, assimilate the intelligent great ape's capacity for more complex forms of emotions. Perhaps the presence of Argel Tal's consciousness imposed some degree of emotional intelligence on it. Or perhaps its sudden severance from the greater ecosystem of the Immaterium granted it its own agency and autonomy beyond its basest desire to hunt and slaughter. Whatever it was, they now share the same form of anger.

Indignation.

The hallowed being of the Crimson Lord, Blessed and Banished of the Gods, walked with impatient steps up the stairs to the club room of the Foreclosure Task Force. In his hand was a bag filled to the brim with piles of parchments that had incensed him at an exponential rate the more he read them. He had considered to take matters into his own hands, but the voice of reason that was Arona had prevailed in suppressing his more primal desire to mete out justice. After all, you cannot dispense it without the victims' consent.

Argel Tal took a deep breath, trying to bury his rage before entering. Then, with a calm that was hanging on by a thread, he opened the double door of the club room, greeting the students that had waited for him.

"Good afternoon, girls."

The daughters of the desert were overseeing their own affairs. Ayane busied herself with her cogitator, doing whatever work she deemed was of utmost importance. Nonomi scrolled through her cellphone, Serika wrote frantically on her notebook, while Shiroko performed rigorous maintenance on her armaments. Hoshino, for her part, was content to merely take a nap in the busy classroom, placing her head on a pillow the shape of a large aquatic mammal. Argel Tal's arrival had interrupted them.

"Welcome back, Sensei," answered them in unison, though in varying tones.

"What took you so long?" Ayane asked, her impatient tone indicating her disapproval. "We wanted to hold a meeting, but we're waiting for you. It will be our first with you on deck."

Argel Tal slid his bag to where his brothers' Custodian blades lied on the corner. He pulled a large metal box closer to the table, taking his seat together with his students.

"I had a sudden appointment back in Schale," he replied. "I suppose I should've notified you. Apologies."

"You should have," Serika agreed. "If I knew you'd be late, I would've told my boss that I'll be late for work!"

"C'mon now, Serika-chan," Nonomi spoke with a motherly voice. "Sensei's here now, so don't be too mad~."

"What appointment were you having, anyway?" Shiroko asked, looking away from her disassembled autogun.

"A friend from Millennium. She wanted to measure her combat skill, so she challenged me to a duel."

"Someone from Millennium?" Hoshino went from dozing off to fully awake when she heard him. "Duelling with you? And here I thought everyone from there were naught but bookworms. So, who won?"

Argel Tal crossed his arms, content to relish in a small dose of juvenile boastfulness. "Who do you think?"

Serika rolled her eyes. "Oh, great. This violent man is currently drunk in his own glory," she snarkily remarked.

The Word Bearer let out a hearty laughter at her comment. The others laughed alongside him, though with less elation.

"Great to see you back to health, Serika. Were there any complications?"

"Fortunately nothing of the sorts, Sensei," Ayane answered in her stead. "A short rest was enough for her to get back to her daily activities. All thanks to your timely rescue."

Argel Tal waved his hand. "Don't mention it."

Ayane suddenly cleared her throat. "Anyhow, now that you're here, I believe it is time to begin the Foreclosure Task Force's weekly meeting!"

"Finally," Serika groaned.

"Uheh, why do I suddenly feel so sleepy...," Hoshino whined.

The Task Force's operator's eye twitched at her president's remark, but she elected to ignore it.

"However, this meeting is special, because today, we are graced with the presence of Schale's Sensei. Everyone, give him an applause!"

Ayane heeded her own order, clapping her hands as formally as she could. Nonomi and Shiroko joined her immediately, while Serika clapped with much less enthusiasm. Hoshino merely yawned at the formality.

Argel Tal nodded at the welcoming committee. "Thank you for having me."

Ayane stopped her applause, and everyone followed suit. "Now, as we are wont to do, we will discuss the steps and methods we should take to solve our debt. Anyone with a proposal may raise their hand."

Unlike before, no one heeded her words. Instead, as the silence dragged out, everyone turned their gaze to Argel Tal.

Argel Tal looked over his shoulder, seeing nothing. "What?" he asked.

"We are wondering if you have any proposals," Ayane informed. "You know. After being so long alone, I figured it's high time that Abydos receives some fresh perspectives."

Her inquiry caused a scowl to darken the Word Bearer's face, the thin facade of joy he displayed suddenly at threat of falling apart. He glanced at the corner where his meagre possessions now lied. In particular, he set his sight on the bag he brought. Inside was a treasure trove of information that could decide the very fate of Abydos. However, judging from the mood in the room, he decided that it would be best to be brought up last.

"I shall go last," Argel Tal answered at once. "I've spent most of my life on the business end of military service. I doubt my counsel would be of much use in a... civilian setting."

Ayane assessed him for a brief moment. "I... suppose that is fair. Very well, you may speak last. However, please keep in mind that you can provide your input to someone else's proposal." The operator gave him a small smile. "Alright, anyone else want to speak their mind?"

Everyone except Argel Tal raised their hands. Serika was the first to speak.

"Treasurer Kuromi Serika, you may take the floor."

"Thank you," the feline said aptly. "So! As we all know, we are struggling real bad with cash. And I mean, really bad. We are currently servicing our debt at around eight million yen a month, and still we're far away from repaying our principal amount. Sensei coming here might've saved us in the short term, but we need more than that if we are to fix our economy. And I believe that I have found exactly what we need."

With unrivaled exuberance, Serika slammed a leaflet onto the table for all to see. Everyone, intrigued by her proposal, leaned in to see what she had in mind.

"'Ready to become a boss babe billionaire'?" Shiroko read.

"'Get rich quick with'...," Hoshino continued.

"The 'Germanium Granite Bracelet Network'?" Argel Tal finished.

The treasurer snapped her fingers. "Exactly!" Serika rolled up her sleeve, revealing the silvery wrist accessory she had been wearing. "I went downtown sometimes ago, and a bunch of swell guys invited me to a seminar! These bracelets have been scientifically proven to cleanse your soul and supercharge your fortune! And, if you can get three more people to invest, then these bracelets could-"

"Veto."

"Huh?!" Serika glared angrily at Hoshino, the one who denied her proposal. "Why?! This is the best money-making opportunity we'll ever see!"

"Serika," Ayane began, a small and pitiful smile etched onto her face. "Do you know what a pyramid scheme is?"

"It's a scam," Shiroko answered in her stead.

"What?!" The treasurer's face suddenly went pale. "B-but, I've bought two of them! With my lunch money!"

"Aww, Serika can be so gullible!" Nonomi remarked, causing Serika to appear even more downcast.

Argel Tal, not sharing their more... cynical outlook, decided to verify it for himself.

"Serika, may I see that bracelet?"

"Huh? I mean..." The feline bit back her reply. Instead, she succumbed to the words of her peers, removing her wristband and handing it over to him. "Ah, whatever. It's probably worthless anyway..."

Argel Tal brought the accessory closer, inviting Hoshino's scrutiny.

"Sensei?" she interjected. "Surely you don't buy all that 'get rich quick' mumbo jumbo?"

"Only one way to find out," he replied.

At once, Argel Tal donned his helmet, using its scanner to analyse the bracelet's composition. The Mark IV piece of equipment, true to its state-of-the-art quality as was expected of the servants of the Machine God, revealed its intricacies in the blink of an eye. A stream of data flooded his retinal display, revealing that he was looking at...

"...This is a counterfeit," Argel Tal announced. He grabbed the piece of parchment his student had brought. "This leaflet here says that this is made of a mixture of germanium and granite, but my auspex says that this is composed mostly of aluminium-lead alloy."

His report surprised his students. All of them stared at him in awe.

"Wow... You can tell that just by wearing your helmet?" Nonomi asked.

"Aye," he answered as he removed his helmet again. "I was the commander of an elite detachment within the Word Bearers Legion, so I was given priority for the most up-to-date equipment. My helmet, for one, came with a wide array of redundant, frankly useless, functions." Argel Tal gestured to the bracelet on his palm. "Though I certainly didn't expect the 'composition breakdown' feature to be able to reveal a counterfeit."

"Well, you heard it from him," Shiroko said. "Not only is it a pyramid scheme, but it's also false advertising."

"Alright, alright, I get it!" Serika shrieked. The outburst drained her of her remaining energy, and she slumped onto the table. "My money..."

"You know," Argel Tal amended, "counterfeit though it is, it still looks rather... pretty." He returned the bracelet in a last ditch effort to revive the treasurer. "Its dubious functionalities aside, it is still a nice accessory to have."

"You don't have to console me, Sensei...," she grumbled, still sticking her head on the desk.

"Aha... How about we move on to the next proposal?" Ayane took over stage.

"Oh, me, me!" Hoshino declared.

"Very well. President Takanashi Hoshino, what do you have in mind?"

The narcoleptic, much to Argel Tal's pleasant surprise, actually stood up. She cleared her throat to gather everyone's attention.

"Thank you," she began. "Do you know why we're only making enough to keep up with our interests? Because we are experiencing a crippling manpower shortage. Indeed, this entire school is only composed of the five of us. For a district the size of ours, we are stretched far too thin. There are a lot of money-making opportunities here, but we simply don't have the people to tap into them. Even with Sensei here, it's still just a single-digit increment. Now compare this to bigger academies like Gehenna and Trinity, who have an enrollment number in the thousands annually. What we need to do is to catch up with them in this regard."

Murmur of agreement came over the room as the president's logic-driven explanation appealed to their physical exhaution from managing an entire district as a small cadre of survivors.

"And how do we manage that? Simple." Hoshino raised her voice. "We hijack another academy's school bus! Then, we hold them hostage until they agree to enroll in Abydos! That way, we'll have more girls to man the district!"

"Excuse me?!" Ayane cried in surprise.

"Hmm. That is a good idea," Shiroko agreed. "I suggest we go after the Big Three. They're the ones with the largest enrollment."

Argel Tal raised his hand to the air. "Hold it. Both of you."

"What's the matter, boss man?" Hoshino asked.

"Are you insane or what? The other districts are already apathetic towards you, but this proposal will drive them into active hostility. If they ever found out that we are responsible for the raids against them, they'll go out of their way to crucify us."

"So what?" she challenged. "You're on our side. You're strong, your weapons are terrifying, and you can beat up a horde of gangsters single-handedly. They'll have a hard time nailing us on a cross."

"I have to remind you that a professional military is unlike a rabble of miscreants."

"Calling their enforcers a 'military' is a very generous assessment."

"Enough!" Ayane interrupted. "Sensei raised a very good point, and I am vetoing this proposal!"

"Aww man," Hoshino whined.

"Alright... Next one?"

Shiroko raised her arm.

"Field Captain Sunaookami Shiroko?"

The wolf-eared girl stood from her chair. Then, in a very calm tone, she said, "We rob a bank."

"WHAT?!" Ayane shrieked, understandably, in shock.

"It's a surefire plan. And I have picked a perfect target: the First Central Bank downtown. I've already mapped out everything from the location of the vault to the positions of the guards, blind spots for the security cameras, and even the armoured car's transportation route."

"Is that what you've been working so hard on lately?!"

Shiroko nodded. "We can earn one hundred million yen in but a few minutes. I even brought masks."

With that, Shiroko threw a paperbag onto the table, spilling out five face masks that were made out of cloth. They were all numbered from zero to four, with colours that matched their supposed wearers. Such was Shiroko's enthusiasm that she immediately grabbed the blue mask of the number two and wore it to cover her head.

"Whoa! Did you sew these yourself, Shiroko?" Hoshino asked with some measure of excitement.

"Check this out!" Nonomi said, wearing a green mask of the number three. "Don't I look like a luchador?"

Ayane, finally reaching a breaking point, slammed her fist against the table. "VETO!" she cried in exasperation. "I know that we are desperate, but we are not stooping down to crime!"

Unexpectedly, Ayane faced no resistance from Shiroko. The captain removed her mask, revealing an expression of disappointment underneath.

"No, pouting will not change anything," she added breathlessly. "Please, do none of you take this meeting seriously?"

Nonomi, somewhat cowed by the operator's outburst, raised her arm sheepishly.

"Um, I'm supposed to go next," she spoke up.

"Nonomi-senpai," Ayane said, dropping the formality she had clung to so tightly. "You may speak, but no scams or crimes. Please, I beg of you."

"No, of course not!" Nonomi assured her as she stood up. "Actually, I've been thinking that we should become pop idols!"

"Veto," came the rejection. To everyone's surprise, Hoshino was the one who said it.

"What?" Nonomi said in disbelief, displaying a look of genuine betrayal as her idea was shot down the fastest among everyone's. "You don't like that idea either?"

"Why not?" Serika teased. "I'm sure you'll get a lot of fans, Hoshino."

"And by fans, you mean creeps?" Hoshino countered. "Nah, I'll pass."

Argel Tal, left out by the discussion, raised his hand. "Question, what is a 'pop idol'?"

"I'm glad you asked, Sensei!" Nonomi answered, the usual joviality returning to her voice. "It's a complex term, but at its core, a pop idol is an entertainer!"

The word caused Argel Tal to frown. "Entertainer?" he repeated. "And what do they do?"

"You know, the usual. Mostly singing, but also dancing, acting, and so on!"

"So your proposal is to... dance to the masses so they'd give you money?"

The group was taken aback by his line of questioning.

"Um, that's a rather crude interpretation but... essentially?"

"Then I cannot, in good conscience, approve of it," he continued. "I get that you are desperate, but the body is a temple, and I cannot support my students selling away that which is sacred. I'm with Hoshino on this one. Veto."

His steadfast refusal of her idea saddened Nonomi, and she sat back on her chair. His dogged opposition also invited everyone's surprise.

"Wow. Didn't take you for a puritan, Sensei," Hoshino remarked.

Argel Tal snorted. "Puritan is one way to look at it."

Ayane tapped her knuckle against her table, catching her colleagues attention.

"It seems that we have reached an impasse," she announced. "Everyone has spoke of their proposals, and none has been agreed upon. Thus, I believe it is high time that we receive a fresh perspective." The operator gestured at the Word Bearer. "Sensei of Schale, Argel Tal, you may take the podium."

"Here it comes," came Raum's sudden whisper. "The moment when we must reveal to them a truth most bitter."

A scowl darkened Argel Tal's features. With Arona's assistance, he had taken his time to search for clues in the General Student Council's many databases. He had tried to convince himself that the daughters of Abydos were already aware of what he had uncovered, but all firsthand evidence had pointed to the opposite. Raum and he had pondered on this very matter, and neither liked what must be done.

"How should we proceed, brother?"

"Just dwelling on it is enough to sicken me. My only advice is to gird your soul and mind your humours."

Argel Tal heeded his second soul's advice, taking in a deep breath as he prepared to speak damnation.

"What I have is less of a new outlook and more of an information. But before I start, I must ask; To whom do you owe your debt?"

"Huh?" Serika straightened herself. "Haven't we told you that already?"

"No, actually," he amended. "If you have, then I would've remembered."

"Ah, we must've been too busy to actually inform you," Ayane recalled. "Anyways, it is predominantly Kaiser Loans. Is it relevant, somehow?"

Kaiser Loans.

Kaiser. Kaiser. Kaiser. A word synonymous to his new enemy. A word from one of Gothic's many dialects. A word that means 'Emperor'.

That accursed name.

"Blood of the Urizen," Argel Tal cursed in Colchisian. Immediately, he rose to his feet, walking to where he had placed his bag.

"Sensei?" Shiroko called. "What's wrong?"

"Empty the table," he ordered, not even looking back to her.

"What?" Serika asked.

"I said empty the table."

The Task Force, sensing the urgency in his tone, cleared the table as ordered. Ayane moved her cogitator away, Serika set aside her notebook, Shiroko reassembled her autogun, and Hoshino placed her pillow on the floor.

Argel Tal dragged his bag closer, opening it and reaching inside for something. He pulled out a massive diagram of laminated parchment and placed it upon the table, tidying it of any and all wrinkles.

"This is...," Nonomi began.

"...a map of Abydos?" Ayane finished. "Sensei? What is this for?"

Argel Tal amended her statement. "Correction, this is a map of the territories that constituted the District of Abydos." He paused to catch his breath. "Does anyone have a marker?"

Everyone glanced at each other, unsettled by what was unfolding. Ayane handed him what he asked for. With impatience in his body language, Argel Tal seized the marker and began to draw a small circle around the picture of the building they now resided in.

"And this," he continued, "is the territory under the sovereignty of Abydos High School."

His students leaned closer, examining the altered map. Confusion ran through their faces as only a tiny strip of land was within the circle.

"Sensei?" Hoshino asked. "You only circled this very school building."

"I know."

The president narrowed her eyes. "What are you implying here?"

"What I mean to say," he said with raising anger, "is that the place you call home is not even your own."

"WHAT?!" cried all of his students.

"Sensei," Nonomi demanded, "what is the meaning of this?!"

Argel Tal lifted his bag and poured its content onto the table. Sheets upon sheets of parchments flooded the desk, completely covering the map he had brought.

"I forced access into the GSC's databases before coming here," he confessed. "I simply couldn't accept the fact that they were truly oblivious to your predicament, and I discovered that they possess information that not even you were aware of."

Ayane took one of the parchments, reading it slowly and thoroughly. The more she read, the more dread took hold of her.

"This...," she stammered, "T-this is a record of transaction for our land."

"You've got to be kidding me," Serika grumbled. She grabbed a sheet and read it for herself. The contents caused her eyes to widen. "This is for where Master Shiba's shop is! Sold to... Kaiser Construction?!"

"How?" Shiroko asked as she took one herself. "How did this happen?"

"Two years ago."

Everyone turned to Hoshino. The president's heterochromatic eyes hardened to flint, and her arms were crossed over her torso.

"Two years ago, the Student Council sold some of our properties to our creditors in order to lighten our debt. I... I didn't realise that it was to this extent."

Serika slammed her fist against the table. "What were they thinking?! Didn't they realise that they were selling away their homes?!"

"They were desperate to repay our debt," Hoshino quoted. "And desperate people will do anything to alleviate their suffering."

The previously joyous and humorous mood in the room was crushed under the weight of the bitter revelation that was unveiled to them. For so long they fought, in defence of what had already been lost.

"But... What does it mean?" Nonomi asked. "Yes, Kaiser owned almost the entirety of our district. But... does it mean anything?"

"Yes," Argel Tal answered. "They are the ones behind the attacks against your school."

Everyone faced toward his hulking presence. Varying looks of worry, anger, and uncertainty adorned their faces.

"You sound very certain of your accusation, Sensei," Hoshino commented.

"That is the only plausible possibility." The Word Bearer leaned into the table. "They already controlled each and every piece of land outside of this very building. And this is the last remaining bastion of Abydos High School. It's only natural that they lust for this last piece of the puzzle. They would see the seizure of this land, and the beginning of their perpetual reign of greed and avarice."

"What should we do, then?" Shiroko asked.

"Can't you guess?" Argel Tal straightened himself. "We will march, with all our might, to the District of Utnapishtim. We will besiege their headquarters and raze it to the ground. And then, when the deed is done, we shall exterminate each and every blasphemers who even so much as spoke ill of your home."

Although his revelation plunged some sense of righteous fury to his students' hearts, they were taken aback by his proposal. Even Serika, the most furious of them all, glanced at her colleagues in doubt.

"Sensei, please," Nonomi pleaded, "you're not thinking straight-"

"We are thinking straight!"

The table was split in two as Argel Tal crashed his fists against it. His sudden outburst startled everyone, and they jumped from their seat as a result.

"Those whores in the General Student Council might be content to let you be enslaved by those inhuman beasts, but we are not!" He turned around and walked angrily to the corner where his Custodian blades lied. "To arms, all of you! We'll bring the fight to-"

A gunshot resounded in the air, followed by the dull ringing of bullets ricocheting off a metallic surface. Argel Tal halted on his feet, turning around to see a shotgun aimed at him.

Hoshino engaged her firearm's reloading mechanism, ejecting a spent shell and inserting a live one into its chamber.

"I know you're angry," she began, "but you are acting immature. Leave that spear. Get back here."

Everyone was shocked by their senior's nerve to fire a shot at their saviour. Argel Tal himself looked as if he would decapitate the president for her insolence. However, in an act of self-restraint and discipline, the Word Bearer heeded her words, walking back to the middle of the room where their ruined table lied. Once he was back, Hoshino sat back down, and everyone followed her example.

"Sensei," she began, "I thank you for bringing this information to light, but we cannot jump the gun like you just proposed. Kaiser owning the majority of our district is indeed worrying, but it is not a conclusive evidence that they are behind the recent attacks. Ayane," she turned to the operator, "you're still analysing the tank scrap we salvaged last night, right?"

The half-eldar nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

"Then that should be our primary focus for the moment. Once that is done, we can plan our next moves with better clarity."

The group could only watch in awe as Hoshino took control of the discussion and began to captain the ship as she was supposed to do. Then, after taking a deep breath, the president addressed Argel Tal.

"Sensei. I understand your anger at the GSC's neglect, but you must not let it take control of you. After all, you have sworn that you would temper yourself. So please, for all our sake, don't lose yourself."

Argel Tal hesitated. A sense of rage and guilt fought for dominance within him. One part of him believed that Abydos was being too soft on their enemies, but another part of him said that they were right in how he must rein in his anger. His mind tried to settle the argument. Which one would be the right path to take?

"It reminds me of a saying," Hoshino added.

Everyone leaned in to hear what was in the president's mind. Then, when she spoke, the seriousness in her face disappeared.

"You're not you when you're hungry!"

Serika groaned at her sudden diversion of the topic. Ayane and Nonomi glanced at each other in confusion, while Shiroko raised her eyebrows.

"What do you mean, Senpai?"

"Look at him," she gestured at Argel Tal's face. "He's grumpy all day long, and he brought a lot of papers for us to read. Something tells me that he hadn't eaten since yesterday. Serika, you work in a ramen shop, right? Why don't we eat there now?"

The feline suddenly went on the defensive. "Like hell I'll let you!"

"What, you don't want more customers?"

"I'll take anyone who aren't you guys!"

"You know," Ayane spoke, "I think Hoshino-senpai made a good point."

"Yeah," Nonomi agreed. "I've... kinda been craving for ramen since yesterday."

"Mm. That is settled, then." Shiroko stood up from her chair. "Alright, the one who came last will pay for everyone."

Before anyone could object, the canine snatched her autogun and ran out of the club room. Ayane and Nonomi tried to catch up, while Serika yelled at them as she followed.

"Shiroko-chan, you're cheating!" said Nonomi as she took her rotor cannon.

"Hey! Hey! Get back here, damn you!" cried Serika, taking her autogun as she sensed that her seniors wouldn't heed her.

With that, only Argel Tal and Hoshino remained. The president smiled as she took her shield and shotgun, but before she left, she noticed how Sensei still sat on his seat, staring blankly into the table he broke.

"Brother?" Raum whispered, worried for its host's sanity.

"I don't understand," Argel Tal confessed. "They have been wronged by everyone. Everyone. Yet still they remain optimistic. Who is right, Raum? Are they, or are we?"

"Perhaps neither of us are right. Perhaps we only have divergent views in how we must proceed. Either way, the narcoleptic is right. We can chart a path once we know the full truth. Do not be hasty."

"I hope you're right, brother."

Argel Tal felt a hand on his pauldron. He looked over his shoulder and saw Hoshino's warm smile.

"Sensei," she began. "C'mon, let's get some lunch. You must've been tired from taking care of us."

The Word Bearer returned the smile.

"Aye," he replied, standing up from his seat. "I suppose I could indulge in some local culinary delight."