บท 5: The Prime Division (4)
"Good morning, madam," Ael and Bella politely greeted the lady sitting behind a wooden desk. She stared at them with her piercing black eyes. She sat there with a great posture, while her silky black hair draped down her shoulders.
"Good morning, Ael and Bella. You may call me Chief Eve. I am the Chief Agent of the Special Corps of the CCC Military Coalition," Eve said with a serious face.
"She is the boss," Aria bent and whispered to them both. This was met with a stern gaze from Eve, causing Aria to straighten her body and look at the ceiling innocently.
"The other Agents are currently on the field, so their introductions must come later," Eve continued.
"Thank you, chief!" Ael and Bella responded.
"You might have expected an ordinary day, but the special corps is always swamped with work, so you will start with a mission. Is that alright?" Eve asked.
"Yes, chief!" both responded with gusto.
"Fantastic. Aria, join them and accomplish Mission 67A-89. Remember, trainees, your evaluation is always ongoing. Dismiss," Eve said before lowering her head and getting back to writing.
"Let us go. I will brief you on the way," Aria said as she walked toward the door.
"What a nice surprise," a man with spiky red hair and blazing red eyes said with a mocking smile. He was just about to enter the room when Aria opened the door for him. Behind him were two boys about the same age as Ael. They were all wearing the same uniform as them, but the SC symbols are CA instead.
"Nothing is nice whenever you are involved, Ethan," Aria said with a sharp stare.
"Jeez, calm down, Aria. It does not fit your gentle personality," teased Ethan.
"Tsk. Just die already," Aria said with an annoyed tone.
"Move along," Eve commanded. Without any further interaction, the two groups moved.
"Who are they, Agent Aria?" Bella asked.
"Ethan is a major from the CCC Army, the two others behind him are probably captains," Bella said. "Do not mind him. All you need to remember is that he is a jerk,"
The two trainees could not help but let out a smile.
"Into our mission. There will be an important trade that will happen three days from now in the Gillard Fort. About a ton of Violet-grade Arcane Crystals will be exchanged,"
"A ton!?" the two trainees could not help but express their shock. Arcane Crystals are divided into grades to signify their value. Ordinary Arcane Crystals range from red through violet following the color scheme of the rainbow, respectively, with violet being the highest grade among ordinary Arcane Crystals.
'Damn! I haven't even touched a Blue-grade Arcane Crystal before, but now, I will be defending a ton of Violet-grade!?' Ael could not help but exclaim in his thoughts.
"Yes. That alone will not constitute an escort from us, though," Aria said.
"It will not?" Bella rhetorically asked in shock.
Her question was met with a look and a smile from Aria, which cause Bella to lower her head. "You must know that we occupy a high position in the CCC Military Coalition. Do not underestimate our powers. I digress. 250 pieces of Violet-grade Awakening Stones will also be shipped along with high-grade pills, talismans, weapons, and of course, the reason why we are tasked to escort the vessel, The maiden's artifact, The Staff of Helene, the goddess of chastity," Aria said.
A look of wonder appeared on the faces of Ael and Bella.
"Oh, right. We are in one of the seven continents, Consonance. One of the Cs in the CCC Alliance. The continent is divided into two factions, the light, and the dark. The light faction has 7 gods which correspond to its 7 regions, Helene: Chastity, Sanctor: Humility, Ami: Gratitude, Therese: Charity, Iskeel: Temperance, Alexander: Diligence, Dolores: Patience. The names of each region correspond to the 7 virtues taught by the light faction. The dark faction similarly has 7 gods for each of its 7 regions, Moloch: Greed, Chelmosh: Envy, Belial: Sloth, Beelzebub: Gluttony, Dagon: Lust, Satan: Pride, Lucifer: Wrath. Each of which also aligns with the 7 virtues of the dark faction. In short, the light faction teaches to take little and give more, while the dark faction teaches to take everything for yourself and kill everyone on the way," Aria explained.
"It seems like the political climate in Consonance is tough," Bella said.
"Yes and no. Yes, because war does not cease to exist. Territories are always contested, and it is more likely for the continent to sink than for these two factions to unite permanently. However, aside from the war, both faction lives in peace, so aside from the borders that separate the light and dark factions, the continent is very peaceful and prosperous. It also helps that the light and dark factions, despite their differences unite whenever an invader comes. There is a treaty between the two factions with only one clause, 'If and only if an outside force launches an attack to any territory or territories under the name of the continent of Consonance, the light faction and dark faction shall spare no effort to help each other repel the invader'. This is why even though the civil war never stops, the other continents can never take advantage of it."
"I assume, the ship we are escorting will go to one of the borders?" Ael asked.
"Correct. We will be heading to the War Zone. This is why in three days, you need to awaken your first Arcane. Don't worry, as your senior, I will treat you nicely," Aria said with a smile.
Her gentle and affectionate smile spread warmth across the hearts of both trainees.
"Thank you, Agent Aria!" Ael and Bella said in glee.
"Don't mind it. There will be an auction an hour from now. We will get supplies from it before we head out to the ship tomorrow.
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