Once Arla arrived, she was a bit stunned—the headquarters looked nothing like what she had imagined.
Arla (nervously, in her head):
Is this really the place? Hey, Mr. Broom… are you sure this is it?
Mr. Aegis Broom, unbothered by Arla's tone, replied calmly:
Yeah… this is the place. I know it's far from the glitter and luxury of the others, but this design isn't without meaning. Every corner here reflects the philosophy of the Aegis Squad itself. Now, let me explain—
Before he could continue, Arla focused intently on her surroundings. Her first impression of the Aegis base was that it didn't rise toward the sky—it sank. Built into the side of a small hill, most of it was buried underground. The entrance wasn't some grand gate, but a wide tunnel flanked by thick granite walls, aged and overgrown with moss. Above it, an old carving stood: the Aegis emblem—an unbroken round shield split by a shattered spear. Its message was clear: Here, every strike ends.
Arla (tense, in her head):
This is… incredible. They really went for the dramatic look. I guess this place isn't bad after all. I'll probably learn a lot here—as both a fighter and a protector...
As Arla continued to take everything in, the broom finally stopped talking and gave her one last piece of advice.
Mr. Aegis Broom:
Hey, Arla. You'd better wait here for a bit. The Aegis Squad's still out on a mission right now.
Arla (surprised):
Oh, really? I mean—was it a sudden mission? Or… did you bring me here too late?
The broom sounded mildly offended.
Of course I wasn't late! They're always on missions at this hour. You should be thanking me for bringing you early—now you look like a model recruit who shows up ahead of time!
Then he teased her back:
Besides, don't you already know the Aegis Squad never has a fixed schedule for when—or where—they take on missions?
Arla scratched her head awkwardly.
Haha, my bad, my bad… Yeah, I didn't know. Sorry, Mr. Aegis Broom—and thanks for bringing me here.
The broom then floated away, leaving Arla alone in the quiet, mossy base.
Arla (awkwardly):
So… uh… what do I do now?
A few hours later…
Arla was still waiting.
Should I really just sit here? Am I not allowed to wander around?
Her stomach growled.
Ugh, I'm starving... Maybe I should look for food? There doesn't seem to be any restaurant nearby—guess I'll just hunt something around the base, hehe...
She walked into the woods and spotted something.
There! A rabbit! Well, at least this'll make a decent snack, haha! Come here, little bunny!
(SWING!)
But instead of getting caught, the "rabbit" blocked her strike—then transformed into a human form, pressing a sword to Arla's throat.
The mysterious rabbit snapped:
Who are you?! What are you doing in Aegis territory?! ANSWER ME!
Arla, gasping for breath, could barely speak.
Na...name... wha... what's... your...
The rabbit frowned.
Oh, so you're just gonna stay quiet, huh? No last words? Fine then... Goodbye!
Just as the blade was about to move, Valeria appeared out of nowhere—swift as lightning—and kicked the rabbit away.
She grabbed Arla's arm.
Are you alright?!
Arla, still catching her breath, smiled weakly.
Yeah... I'm fine, Sis Valeria.
The rabbit blinked in confusion.
Sis Valeria? Wait—you helped her? I thought she was an intruder!
Arla quickly stepped in.
Ah—sorry! I'm Arla, the new recruit chosen by Valeria. I attacked you first... I thought you were just a normal animal.
The rabbit stayed silent, waiting for Valeria to confirm.
Valeria spoke clearly:
She's one of us. I didn't expect you to arrive this early, Arla—but it's actually impressive. It shows dedication. Especially considering this base is one of the farthest from the central city.
The rabbit finally relaxed.
Oh… so you're the new member. My bad. My Name's Mane—from the Northern lands.
They shook hands in a friendly greeting.
Arla wanted to ask about the rest of the squad, but before she could—everyone suddenly appeared around her.
Arla (startled):
What the—?! How did you all—?!
Valeria chuckled.
Haha… you'll get used to this kind of thing soon enough.
Then, one by one, they introduced themselves.
"Hey, nice to meet you! I'm Jian!"
"I'm Beni."
"And I'm Hera."
Arla learned about their habits, powers, and where they came from. She was surprised to realize that everyone—except Mane—was from the West. It was the first time she'd seen such a mix within one squad.
Then they asked where she was from.
Arla grinned confidently.
I'm Arla, from the Dusk Region! Haha, it's a bit far, but still part of the West!
The group's expressions subtly shifted—they seemed surprised, almost uneasy—but kept it professional.
Despite the odd reaction, Arla couldn't help but feel fired up. Surrounded by talented warriors, she straightened her posture and said brightly:
I'm looking forward to working with all of you!