The inside was tense.

A gloomy air has filled the heart of the temple.

Bob, walking inside, froze in his steps as he saw the emptiness.

"Is no one here?"

He asked, looking my way.

I turned my head back and moved my gaze through the inside of the open hallway.

"No one is allowed here. It's a safe space right now."

I answered back with a small voice.

"Ah, I see."

Bob nodded, his head moving around warily as steps echoed through the empty hallway.

The dark corners had been illuminated by the flowers that had managed to sneak inside, giving a serene yet eerie look.

I looked at them briefly before passing by them. A sense of peace filled me as their fragrance calmed my racing heart. I glanced back and saw Bob walking behind slowly, painfully slowly at that. I raised my brows in confusion.

'Ah, he is wary. After all I kidna—brought him here suddenly.'

I thought and spoke a bit louder this time.

"My team is inside."

"Oh, I see… that helps, I guess."

A nervous laugh came back from Bob as he sped up, understanding the meaning behind my words.

"Good."

My words hung in the air for a moment before we both left the hallways.

A warm light washed over me as I saw the white starlight hung in the air surrounded by the dull rings connected together.

Bob, walking behind, just raised his head and squinted his eyes, not so surprised by the rings.

"Have you visited the temple before?"

Bob nodded his head and looked at me.

"I certainly have… well, just a few months back actually, when this miraculous event had not happened."

"I see… You have been here for a while, after all." I muttered and turned to take a seat at the center of the sanctum under the stars.

Bob stared at me as he turned his gaze; his face stiffened.

I frowned as I saw his sudden change in expression; leaning forward, I followed his gaze.

At the end of the hall, several figures sat silently. They all held a dark look on their faces, as no one seemed to be willing to talk or smile.

Bob licked his lips and then, with a strained smile, asked.

"Why are they looking so… Um, dead from the inside?"

Bob tried to choose his words carefully but couldn't.

I remained silent and bit my lower lip, unsure what to say.

"They are just tired."

"But—"

"Trust me, they are just tired."

I repeated the exact words. Bob shut his mouth but still kept glancing towards them.

He had seen them before and knew of their dynamic. So I could relate to his reactions. They were not known for being quiet and gloomy after all. Summer was the loudest and Anny was the most cheerful of the group. Even then, they both had remained seated without making any noise.

Stolen story; please report.

'They surely didn't like the plan.'

I was sure of that. However, no one has backed down from it as well. It was such a crazy plan that even I had trouble accepting it.

However, I was sure that it would work… probably.

In any case, the search through the dark forest had been enlightening, to say the least. Dangerous but helpful, as it has given us the perfect place to hunt the calamity. The only problem was bringing it there.

I looked at Bob for a while with an expressionless face and raised my hand, indicating for him to take a seat.

Bob followed soon and sat right in front of me.

From the corner of my vision I saw Enzo and Liber looking our way. They didn't come to join us but still stayed attentive.

I nodded and turned to face Bob.

"Bob, let's get down to business. I am sure you understand why I brought you here."

Bob looked confused.

"...Is it for the temple visit?"

I shook my head.

"Remember those missing soldiers? I fear the perpetrator behind that is in your division."

"What?"

Bob's eyes widened, genuine shock replacing his earlier wariness. His gaze darted toward the silent figures at the hall's end—Enzo's jaw tightened, Liber's knuckles whitened against his knee—before snapping back to me. The air thickened with tension, smelling faintly of damp stone and the lingering sweetness of those invasive flowers. He leaned forward, voice dropping to a strained whisper. "That's impossible. My division handles most dangerous tasks without fail. We save lives, not kill them."

I leaned back.

"I never mean the whole division but some of them for sure. I had given the baits for that after all. And the perpetrator took it. Tell me, why have you all come to East Base?"

We had been here for a while now and had heard about many things. However, the second division coming here was unheard of, especially since the war outside was currently over.

The bait was just spreading rumors of our true purpose and making the plague compelled to strike. It couldn't do it in the open, as it wants his existence hidden for now.

"Pft—"

"Huh?"

Hearing my laughter Bob flinched and let out a strange sound.

"Sorry but that was a stupid reason... First of all, those strange monsters have been appearing. mostly near the central base and the mountains, not in eastern Kalista, not in high quantity at least. However, there is one more interesting thing that I found very interesting."

I said, keeping a straight face.

Bob's lips snapped shut; taking a deep breath, he asked cautiously.

"And what is that interesting thing… Captain Asher."

"I have come to find in the last few years 2nd division has recruited the most soldiers. The number only seems to increase with each year passing. That's quite odd even though there are no special benefits and the chances of survival are quite low, don't you agree, Bob?"

Bob's face twisted, contorting into a frown as he was unable to refute my words.

In the end he remained silent for the next few moments before sighing and looking at me with tired eyes.

"What do you want me to do, Sir?"

"I want you to avoid contact with your group for some time, for your own safety, of course." I said, studying his face softening.

"Also tell me everything."

"Everything? What do you mean by that?"

"Everything about the people who came here—don't leave any details. It's a war now, and I am not taking any losses."

***

The surroundings remained still and silent as time passed. The world seems to have held its breath as a large group—consisting of more than 100 awakeners—remained outside the walls.

The people who watched from above also held an expression that couldn't understand the severity of the situation outside.

Those standing outside didn't seem to mind the attention they were getting. They maintained a curious look on their faces, as they also didn't know why they were present there. But everyone had a premonition. They always had; otherwise, such a big number wouldn't make sense.

A conquest was about to happen.

But where? This question passed like a whirlwind before the arrival of a storm.

Amidst the crowd a woman with black hair and a small frame stood silently, her brows raised as she looked at two men standing ahead.

"Where is Bob? He hasn't reported since yesterday."

She asked with a cold voice.

The man with brown hair flinched but then, with a calm smile, answered with a shrug.

"I am sorry but we are not aware of his whereabouts. Last time we had seen him, he had gone to visit the flowers blooming outside the temple. We have not seen him since then."

Sion's eyes narrowed as she heard him speak, then turned to face the other guy.

He avoided her gaze as sweat seemed to trickle down his face.

"Speak." Sion muttered.

"I—I also don't know Madam Sion."

"I see."

Sion nodded and was about to head off but didn't, as from the corner of her eyes she saw two figures walking towards them.

"Hey, that's Bob!"

"Who is beside him?"

The two men spoke one after another in confusion.

Sion squinted her eyes, or at least tried, as she recognized the man with a single glance.

A smile suddenly curled on her lips, taking both men aback in surprise.

"It's Asher…"

Just as he came closer, his silver eyes became clear, shining brightly along with the lights of the surroundings. Under the grey and dull sky he seems to shine brightly, or it was just Sion's imagination.

"Oh, Miss Sion, long time no see." Asher said, looking her way; with a confident smile, his hair swayed along with the wind, as well as his jacket tied to his waist.

Sion returned the smile and took a step forward.

"Madam Sion, I am sorry we—" Bob beside him was ignored as Sion raised one hand, stopping him before he could speak any further.

Bob's eyes shook as he was left with his mouth open before being silenced.

"I hope you are here to join us, Captain Asher?"

Sion muttered, taking another step closer and leaning with her shoulders raised.

Asher raised a brow with a surprised look; his eyes scanned her down briefly before he opened his mouth, a baffled smile curling on his lips.

"Yes, I do hope so as well."

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