"So you were alive all this ti, huh? Who knew."
It took a lot of convincing just to confirm his identity.
Thankfully, all the information he told him aligned with what the Imperial Army had debriefed. Especially about the informant's information.
There was no reason for him to lie about his identity. For that reason, Bellion had to give him the benefit of the doubt.
"Have the others been found?"
"Yeah, you're the last one. No wonder General Locke was panicking."
"What about General Constantine?"
"She seed out of it. So I decided to let her go."
"I see."
Brandon raised his head, eting Bellion's gaze.
"How long have I been gone for?"
"Seven hours. For the others, they appeared all over the city. It didn't take long to find them since they had trackers before the operation started."
"Oh."
Things were starting to click.
There really was a delay with his teleportation, in comparison to the others.
"Don't worry. I've received all the reports of what went down. Evelyn Cessna is currently being treated as we speak. You can ask your sister for details regarding that. The Imperial Army will soon conduct a raid on the blackmarket. You've done your part.
Good work, Young Cadet."
Bellion flashed him a salute.
"You have made your country proud. I hope to see you in the academy soon. We need more soldiers like you."
"Understood."
Brandon nodded his head in response. He planned on visiting Evelyn soon. However, now that he rembered, what happened to his injuries?
They seed to have disappeared the mont he teleported.
"You're free to go now. But do sothing about your appearance…."
Bellion gave him a disgusted frown.
"I can sense the ominous mana coming from you…."
"Nothing I can do about that. Seems I'm stuck in this form for now."
"Form?"
"Elental Assimilation."
"Oh? No wonder your hair changed. I saw you so ti ago when I visited the academy."
"Really?"
"Yeah, the festival, to be precise."
"So…. you saw…. That?"
"That… yes I did."
A gentlen's agreent.
To not speak any of whatever Reinhard had done during the talent's show.
"He's a couple years too young to match the likes of ."
"You?"
"That kid must've gotten the idea from ."
"....."
No.
"Don't do it—"
"How much does a chimney cost?"
"Please, don't do this to —"
"Nothing, it's on the house. Haha!"
Bellion smacked his thigh and started bursting out laughing.
He was even worse than Reinhard.
At least Reinhard had never laughed at his own jokes.
But this old fart….
"Haha!"
Brandon could only play along.
"Another one. What did—"
"Thank you. Goodbye."
Clank—!
Brandon had to leave before things got worse.
Making his way outside the interrogation hall, a peculiar figure stood by the window with his arms crossed.
"Yo."
It was Raven.
"Yo."
Brandon waved back.
"What do you plan on doing after this?"
Raven asked.
"It might be a shock to the others once they find out your identity. Maybe it's better if you reveal yourself now."
"Nah. I'll be joining the academy soon. It'll be a much better surprise there."
"Oh? When does your sester start?"
"I got a head start. I'm in your class. I'm scheduled to start as soon as I'm ready."
"Really!?"
Raven seed ecstatic. Much too ecstatic that even Brandon found himself exhausted.
"Yeah. I'll go ho for now. I need to sort things out."
"Oh."
A disappointed look spread across Raven's features. Noticing it, Brandon put his hand on Raven's shoulder and assured him.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm here to stay for good. We'll have more chances to catch up."
"You're righ—Ah, that hurts."
"Oh, sorry."
The urges were still there.
But he suppressed it.
An awkward silence filled the surroundings for a while. The two didn't know what to say to each other. However, Raven soon broke that silence and asked.
"Hey, what did you an by 'Can you kill ?'"
"That was nothing."
"Ah."
Just like that, another awkward silence ensued.
Not until Brandon bid his farewells.
"I'll be going now. I'll see you tomorrow."
Just like that, he walked ahead. But he halted in his steps as Raven called out for him.
"Tomorrow? You're attending tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
And Brandon continued walking.
Raven left off so words before he completely left.
"I'm happy you're alive, bud."
Brandon couldn't help but smile hearing those words.
Right.
This Raven was different.
And so, he had to set his priorities straight.
To prevent this Raven from becoming Jin.
"Plop!"
Brandon pursed his lips.
***
Alia sat on the couch, hugging her legs, and burying her face in her arms. Right beside her, was Aurelia, trying to console her.
"Mama, don't cry…."
The entire operation, she felt useless.
Not in the sense that she hadn't done anything, because she did contribute in killing the assailants.
But recalling how frozen she was in front of the Wraith….
"Damn it."
It ate away at her thoughts.
Not just her, but the Imperial Army was frozen as well. They couldn't do a single thing against the Wraith. Only until the last second did they move.
And that last second….
Brandon could've died.
"Damn it. Damn it."
She beat herself up for it.
Even when everyone present were in the A ranks, even one at the S, and Evelyn in the SS- rank, they still couldn't scratch the Wraith.
Just what rank did they need to reach to stop such a monster?
Is it even possible to stop them?
She was at a loss.
Her mind was all jumbled up.
And Brandon….
He was still missing.
He was severely injured as well.
Just where did he teleport off to?
Clank—!
It was only until a few minutes passed when she heard the door close.
"Mmm…?"
"Brandon~!"
Aurelia jumped up from the couch and ran towards the door.
"Brandon…?"
Alia turned her head slightly. There, she could see Brandon who picked Aurelia up.
"Brandon~ Brandon~! What did you do? You made Mama sad."
"Really? Did you help Mama feel better?"
"Un! I did…!"
"Haha. Good job, Aurelia."
"Hehe~"
"Can you help unpack this, Aurelia? I'll go see Mama."
"Aaang…. Oh! Ice cream!?"
"That's right. We're having a celebration. My mom and sister are coming too."
"Ice cream~ Ice cream~"
Aurelia took the bag and ran towards the table, completely engrossed by the ice cream.
Brandon nodded his head and walked towards Alia.
Seeing the mories, all Brandon had felt towards Alia was gratitude.
She had taken his burdens upon herself, even starting a rcenary group to fight against Wraithbounds in his place. In particular, Jin's burdens, and as Ciel herself.
They may have not been the sa person, but Alia was still Alia.
And to sacrifice her own part of the mories, just to give it all back to Jin, even blindly following him henceforth…
"Alia."
He didn't know how to approach her anymore.
Kill her…?
He had those thoughts before.
But knowing where her abilities ca from…
Yeah, he had realized where her connection to the Sovereign ca from.
It was because of him. Or rather, Jin.
But to be precise, Raven.
He had no idea what to call him anymore.
They were all the sa person. And that person was him as well.
"...."
However, Alia remained silent as she buried herself in her arms, hugging her legs.
"I'm back."
".....You could've died."
"But I'm here. I'm right beside you, and I'm not going anywhere."
All of a sudden, Alia embraced him, burying herself in his chest.
Brandon was startled for a brief second, but returned her embrace and gently caressed her hair.
"I'm sorry. I was so useless."
Alia spoke, her voice cracking.
"No. You've done way more than you think."
"You're just saying that. But we both know—"
"No. I know more than you think."
"...."
Alia remained silent at that.
However, she soon pulled away upon realizing sothing.
"Wait, your injuries."
"I'm healed."
Alia scanned his body. Currently, he was wearing a long black sweater. He had to change since his blazer was all torn after all.
"How? You were—"
"Shh…."
Brandon put a finger on her mouth, shushing her.
"I'm here. I'm alive. That's all that matters."
"Okay.... I'm so glad you're safe."
She embraced him once again, pushing him down on the couch as he continued caressing her hair.
She seed really clingy today.
Brandon looked to the side.
"Aurelia can see us."
"She's busy with her ice cream. Let stay like this for a while."
"Okay."
Silence filled the room. The two stayed still. Alia on top of him, as he continued gently caressing the back of her head.
It was peaceful.
The warmth was peaceful, pushing all his thoughts aside as he focused on the girl on top of him.
They had only snapped out of their thoughts when the door was knocked.
To— Tok.
"Ah."
"Looks like they're here."
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