Climbing the staircase to the left of the desk where she had been attended, she observed the corridor before her eyes, stretching out like a grand hotel adorned with noble wood ornaments and pure gold vases from the lands of Aija.
The centennial architecture stood out with a glossy pistachio floor, exuding a familiar scent of jacaranda that accompanied her steps, passing several doors until reaching her destination.
When she finally arrived at the room where she would formalize the registration of her pair, she barely needed to knock, for a familiar voice echoed from the other side.
"Come in, Shirasaki!" said a firm female voice, with the tone of a military leader. The maturity in her intonation evoked déjà vu, like a film playing in her mind. A smile formed on her face as anticipation grew to confirm who was on the other side.
Immediately, with some urgency, she opened the door. Her eyes met the woman sitting in the chair, occupying one of the most important positions in the Order, holder of the final word for any exorcist.
"Zuri? I can't believe it! It's really you!"
She barely gave the woman time to respond.
How long had it been since she last saw her? The woman who shaped her, who made her who she is today.
"It's me, yes…" A playful smile on her lips. She was excited to see her too.
"It's been so long. How did you know it was me?"
She asked the beautiful Black woman, dressed in a sable blazer with a central button. Her gaze softened upon seeing her, reflecting the same satisfaction from the reunion.
"How? Oh, didn't you hear?"
She stood from her chair, her curly hair bouncing in a charming black power style. Raising her wrist to her face, she showed the sleeve of her clothes, where two wings in golden thread were embroidered.
"I'm a celestial exorcist now. The fourth to be officially registered in this generation!"
It was like when someone announces they've passed a university exam: something huge, yet delivered simply, as if it were a natural step, as if it had always been part of the path.
"When? I didn't even know you were in Neo Tokyo!"
The girl beamed, almost as if the achievement were her own.
"I got my promotion after all the chaos on Kyoto Island… Before that, I was just a level four exorcist. Amazing, right?"
"That's impressive!" she said, sitting across from her.
"Very! I'm the second woman to reach this position! And I want to see you become the third, since they say you're the best exorcist of your generation, right?" she added with a smile, relaxed and full of familiarity, despite their age difference seeming nearly invisible.
The friendly atmosphere of the reunion also put the girl at ease, enough to get comfortable and rest her elbows on the table.
"Ah, that's what they say, but I'd rather prove it myself… I'm not all that, girl… but I'm pretty badass!"
Still the same — which comforted the woman, who listened with a proud smile.
"But tell me, does the world change, or is it how you perceive it?" As she averted her gaze, her eyes scanned the room while she twirled her hair with a finger.
And she noticed, to her right, Zuri's old service coat, framed with a message written below:
Servus Semper.
The motto all must swear to after receiving their honors or titles from the next generation.
"Well, the world changes, how can I put it? I feel every spark of energy, whether one or a hundred… It's like my spiritual energy radar has unlimited range. If I open my eyes wide, I can see every being on the other side of Crea, and casting spells has become as natural as breathing. I don't know, the astral anatomy we studied so much doesn't seem to make sense anymore. I can cast spells without relying on the three agents; my mind is the emitter, transformer, and ejector… It's insane!" She gave an awkward laugh, realizing how much she had said. Then she looked at her, from her shoulders to her eyes.
"Wow, even I think that's crazy…" she blushed, glancing at the bookshelf to her left, avoiding the vigilant eyes. "What? When you look at me like that, I know. I've changed?"
"You've changed a lot on the outside, and you're beautiful… Sorry, it's just that I feel in you a connection I never had with my daughter… you know…" also a little shy, then composed herself, adjusting her posture. "Anyway, we need to set a date to go out, have coffee, and talk about boys…" While grabbing a paper and a stamp from her drawer.
"True… Well, boys are my weakness. Single at 19… can you believe it?" she said, watching every move.
"I can't believe it! You're so beautiful, Shirasaki! I bet several guys have approached, but you turned them down, didn't you?"
"Yeah, I did, but recently I found my type…"
"I can imagine who… The prodigy they recommended as your potential and best match, right?" With a teasing tone, almost like a mother talking to her daughter.
"Exactly, he's like coffee. Speaking of which…" a silly smile escaped. "I came to formalize our pair!" she had never seen her like this, enthusiastic, letting out a sigh of anticipation.
"Let's see… Yamasaki Yami has a very different record from yours. The only thing you two share is the ease with which you carry out your tasks, but he's seen as a pariah within the order, while you're the pinnacle of duty and composure," she said, marking an X on the document authorizing the two to work together.
"He knows about the negative energy…"
She interrupted, as the other paused and looked at her. She had caught on to something, but no fact would deceive the woman, aware there were interests beyond the duo's relationship.
"Dark energy? That interests you?" while stamping the paper a bit crooked, giving a sheepish smile.
"Also. After all, the thirst for knowledge is what sets people apart! As my father always says…"
"Quoting him, of course, you could only be a Shirasaki descendant…" she joked, looking at her with enthusiasm. "This pair is a little bittersweet, but it might work… Sometimes a man needs a woman to hold the reins…" Her hand checked off each box, defining how their team would operate. "There! It's official!" Then she placed the document in a pile by her right shoulder, where today's paperwork was to be filed and digitized.
Split commissions? Individual reports? Assigned area? Ugh… so much fluff! she thought, glancing from the paper to her face.
"And the justification?" leaning back from the table, surprised to see the line blank.
"Do I need one? Well, Yamasaki has never answered any summons, so the rest is up to you. Knowing you, I'd say the impure one is in for a rough time!"
"Absolutely!"
As the celestial laughed and leaned back in her chair, she seemed thoughtful.
I'll kill that little hellspawn if he lied about being in the hospital! Lazy bastard! Could the rumors be true? One of the greatest prodigies and failures of the Order, Yamasaki Yami… is he really as they say?
At the same time, as her mind fills with doubts, Romero — like a book salesman (ahem, Jehovah's Witness) — arrives at a restaurant in the Katakana district, stepping out of a taxi in front of an establishment serving traditional dishes from the frozen regions of Regnum.
There, a blond young man in a blue suit sits at one of the outdoor tables, waiting as he sips a regional apple juice from a wine glass.
"Sorry for the delay, traffic was awful, as you can see!" he apologized, walking over and sitting face to face with him.
"That's alright. After this morning's chaos, it's no surprise people aren't calm. But shall we get straight to the point? I have three pending jobs today!" His light blue eyes reflected the deserter's face.
"I'll be direct," he said, placing his hands on the table. "I've heard you're different from most exorcists; you don't charge for your services and act more like a real superhero. Is that true?" picking up the menu and skimming it.
"It's true! I don't think it's fair to charge for something I can do to help!" his eyes drifting to the cars suddenly, then returning with a faint smile. "I think that's how all exorcists should think… don't you?"
"Why?"
"Well, I believe resurrection is a blessing from Elum to help us become better. After all, not everyone gets the chance to live two lives, right?"
It was music to his ears.
"Exactly! But few exorcists think that way. The order doesn't allow such thoughts… unfortunately, it plays this cat-and-mouse game that leads nowhere! Look, kid… I also wish for a world like yours, a world without evil, an enlightened world!" he poured out, trying to connect with the boy through his words.
"You wish for a utopia, like the world I dream of… But you didn't call me here just to share our ideals, did you?" His gaze sharpened as he asked.
At that moment, the preacher picked up the glass and took two sips, releasing a soft sigh.
"Right! So, let me build my argument. Do you believe this utopia can really become reality, Arthur?"
He cast the first stone into the abyss.
That's when his ambition became clear in his eyes. He was in search of the six knights who would join his ideal. And would Arthur be one of them?