Friday morning. Elysian District.
Inside a navy blue building, in a second-floor office, a hidden class was coming to an end.
Alan Campbell, whose blue eyes looked at the young lady in front of him, closed the hardcover notebook in his hands with a slight pop.
"Not bad. You still misnamed a few constellations, but the most important ones and their meanings are already engraved in your mind. A little more practice and you'll have a good foundation in astrology."
Fors Wall brought a hand to her forehead and barely suppressed a sigh of relief as she complained in a low voice, "I didn't think it would be so difficult... Why do stars have to have such complicated names..."
"The path to abandoning ignorance is never easy, Miss Storm." The corners of Alan's lips rose slightly, and the old man chuckled a little, "But let me tell you, it gets easier with time, hehe, I would even say it can be fun."
'What's so fun about reading books with over 300 chapters every five days?! Old man!' Swallowing that poisonous comment, Fors's head drooped a little.
She enjoyed reading adventure or mystery books. Not about constellations!
At least it was interesting, and even though she wanted to cry from exhaustion sometimes, the results couldn't be denied.
Before, she could barely perform pendulum divination, and the results she got were, to put it mildly, difficult to understand. But now Fors felt that she would get better results if she used astrology to divine. Something she never even thought possible.
It had been more than three weeks since she began studying under her new teacher, and during that time, her studies had varied in various types of divination as well as knowledge of the spirit world.
Noticing how tired his student was, Alan rose from his seat, letting out a small grunt.
"Grrr... These old bones aren't what they used to be..." Muttering to himself, he turned and walked to the side of the room. "I'll make some tea. How much sugar do you want?"
"Two spoonfuls, please," Fors replied simply.
After several classes, she knew it was useless to refuse the offer; a cup would be served whether she wanted it or not.
There would be a tea break. No exceptions.
While her teacher prepared the tea in a teapot on the side, she reviewed what they had covered that day, her eyes slightly narrowed in interest.
'The name of the next sequence on my path is Astrologer. Abilities related to the study of stars and constellations must come with it, judging by the name... These classes and the materials Teacher Alan gives me to study must be to give me a good foundation for when I advance to Sequence 7...' Fors could see what the Abraham was doing, but she didn't express her discovery.
'I'm still far from digesting my Trickmaster potion. Besides, my current priority is to improve my relationship with Teacher, not digest the potion...' Fors sighed silently, resting her cheek against her palm.
She still had one last event in the evening, but luckily, she could at least sleep until it was time to leave for the 'theater'.
'That lunatic has a strange way of naming things. Vecchio Pomodoro, Tauk Millennium, Rapture... And now cinema?'
Fors took one last look at her notes before closing her notebook along with the book she was using, marking the page she had left off.
At that moment, Alan returned with two steaming cups, offering one to Fors. She took it and calmly drank her tea with two spoonfuls of sugar, enjoying the company and relaxation of doing nothing.
This seemed to be something her teacher shared, because once he sat back down, he sank into his chair and drank from his own cup with his eyes closed.
Watching the man who almost seemed to fall asleep at times, Fors glanced around the office. A pair of dark blue sofas rested in a corner with a small table between them. A few simple paintings of the starry sky adorned the walls, and the white curtains gave the place an official but mysterious air.
It was quite comfortable, and to her critical eye, the perfect place to laze around without her best friend finding out. Several excuses were already forming in her mind in case Xio asked if she had an office like this at home.
With that thought, Fors felt enlightened and looked at the Abraham with hidden admiration.
'Sitting in a private office on a quiet street. Comfortable sofas to lie down and seek inspiration in dreams, snacks, and tea to drink at my convenience... Teacher, you have shown me the way to paradise.'
Smiling a little, the experienced writer took a sip of her tea and imitated her teacher, sinking into her seat and letting the pillows to cover her in a soft embrace.
'If I survive to Teacher's age, I wouldn't mind this being my future...' Amid her thoughts of the future, a funny mental image popped into her mind.
'Hmm, I wonder if Xio will keep her height or shrink...'
By now, she should be finishing her shift, if she wasn't mistaken.
...
Meanwhile, in the Nexus District.
Achu!
Wiping her nose with a handkerchief she took out of her pocket, Xio Derecha, who was in her police uniform, sighed in exasperation. A dark blue windbreaker protected her from the light rain that was falling.
This kind of weather always made her sneeze.
A pathetic grunt reached her ears, followed by a small struggle at her feet. This made her look down a little, reminding her of what she was doing.
At her feet, a man was lying on the ground. His lip was broken, bleeding a little, and staining his dark tunic. One of his eyes was closed, the mark of a fist outlined around it.
"Urghh... Damn dwarf..." The man grunted again, his pronunciation slurred by the pain in his jaw.
Already feeling her mood rising a little, she raised her leg slightly and stepped down with some force.
Thud!
The man's face hit the floor again, a pathetic grunt escaping from his mouth, somewhat muffled by the puddles.
"The more you resist, the more I'll be compelled to use force," Xio said casually, simply pulling a pair of handcuffs from her vest.
Despite his previous attempt, the man made no effort to prevent her from handcuffing him. His gaze did not stray from the floor and the puddle that soaked him, his body trembling.
He didn't seem to be cold, as he was quite warmly dressed, but rather nervous.
With her aura of majesty enhanced after advancing on Sherrif, Xio made sure the man wouldn't try anything and, after checking that he had no hidden weapons, handcuffed him and lifted him off the floor.
Standing at the entrance of a home goods store, sheltered from the falling rain, a woman in a light blue dress blinked twice, finding it difficult to believe what she was seeing just nine steps away from her.
A man who was not only a head taller than the officer, but easily twice her weight. He was being treated like a naughty child whose mother had had enough of his mischief!
It was a ridiculous sight, no matter how she looked at it!
The handcuffed man, who now didn't even look up while standing, had tried to rob her store with a knife just moments ago.
People passing by on the street shared the same expression at the display of strength and skill by the short officer. Some even walked a little more correctly and in order. Not wanting to be the next ones in handcuffs.
"Ma'am?"
Blinking, realizing she was being spoken to, she looked down and was greeted by a round young face with bright green eyes.
It was the officer, who had one eyebrow raised.
Realizing she was talking to her, the woman quickly straightened up.
"Uh, yes? Is something wrong, officer?"
The eyebrow on the young face rose even higher. She extended her free hand toward her again.
"Your money."
"Uh?" The store employee blinked a couple of times before looking more closely at the outstretched hand. Finally, she noticed several bills in it.
"Oh..."
That was the money that had been stolen from her.
"What's all that noise?!"
At that moment, a loud shout came from the back of the store, and an elderly man, the owner of the store that had just been robbed, came out. A simple brown cap covered his thinning hair, and his deep gaze pierced her soul.
That gaze was completely focused on her.
"I leave you alone for a few minutes, and chaos ensues! Haylin!
"You really have bad luck!" The old man complained bitterly, but his gaze was nothing but resignation.
"I'm sorry, Grandpa…" The woman felt a little ashamed.
Seeing the older man, Xio nodded in recognition, "Mr Swind. Good afternoon."
Finally reaching the entrance and seeing who was in front of her, her deep eyes sparkled in recognition.
"Mmm? Oh, Miss Owens. Good afternoon."
Pausing for a moment, the owner took in the situation and, understanding what was happening, couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Looking at the thief, Swind laughed even harder when he saw his battered face.
"Ohohoho! Must be your first time here, huh?
"It must be! Otherwise, you wouldn't have tried it, you poor fool! Hohohoho!"
The thief hunched over even more, his already dead pride being trampled on even further.
Haylin looked confused, not understanding what was happening.
She had only come to help her grandfather open the shop. He had barely left her alone for a few moments when the debacle happened.
Seeing her confusion, Swind sighed and took off his hat, scratching his shiny head. "Oh, I forgot to tell you.
"This is the new officer who has been in charge of the area for some time now, Miss Marie Owens."
"I'm just doing my job, Mr Swind." Xio nodded slightly, not giving much importance to the compliments.
However, that didn't stop the corners of her lips from curving slightly.
"Very good work. This area hasn't been this quiet since the 15s.
"Those were good times. I remember when there were only a few houses out here, everything else was countryside..." Swind began to recount without stopping, the group around him not knowing whether to stop him or not.
'What 15s is he talking about? 1315 or 1215...' Xio's mind wandered a little, curious about the answer but not asking the question.
It was honestly interesting...
After a story that could easily have belonged to the previous Epoch because of how strange it was, Xio was finally on her way to the police station. With an embarrassed thief in one hand and a bag of hot sandwiches in the other.
'I was just getting hungry...' The sheriff smiled slightly, quite satisfied with her work.
Her shift would be over soon, so she could enjoy her food while it was still warm if she hurried.
Of course, she didn't show it; her pace didn't quicken.
The detainee, on the other hand, wished they would walk faster. The looks he was getting from people made him consider all the decisions he had made in his life that had led him to be brutally beaten by someone who could pass as his younger sister.
As he passed the few people on the street, Xio could see and feel the respect and slight amazement coming from their glances. Several of them gave a short greeting.
Inside her, something was melting at a rapid pace.
The Sheriff's potion was quite direct in the acting she needed to do to digest it.
A sheriff not only had to have a deep understanding of the law, communication skills, and leadership, but also had to have a good relationship with the people in the area they protected. The latter was deeply related to several of her abilities as a sheriff.
How could she protect and uphold the law in a place if she didn't know the people who lived there?
'In a way, I am a reflection of the community. Of its order. I must be not only an example, but a role model for others...' Xio felt that this was the true core of the potion.
To be the example and up held what is just.
A small smile formed on her lips, a sudden memory passing through her mind with a warm wind of familiarity.
'Father always said that I had to be an example to Rio. That as his older sister, I had to watch over him...'
Unconsciously, her fingers brushed the triangular sword hidden in her windbreaker...
She would avenge her father and bring justice to her family.
The thief, for his part, bit the inside of his cheek hard, almost tasting copper. Among the rain that wet his face, tears hid among the drops.
Suddenly, the officer's already majestic aura became terrifying and oppressive, making his heart leap with fear. The only thing that stopped him was the terror of disobeying the woman's order not to resist.
'Oh Wisdom! Someone get me away from this crazy woman! Please!' He began to pray deep in his heart for a miracle to save him from this situation.
But, of course, nothing happened. And he had to continue the suffocating walk to the police station, where he would spend the night in a cell. Wet, cold, and with his pride still dead.
---
---
Always late, damn it!
Don't lynch me yet!
I have something for you!!!!
Here is my sacrificial offering for the lack of chapters...
The official reference sheet for Adryan Kenway!
The artist is @MikasanB on Twitter! As always, give her love!
There's another image on my Twitter account; you can go check it out, but it's a spoiler for the future, so view at your own risk. As always, is @TheWitnessFoD
It's black, by the way.