After a long moment, Rodessa finally spoke, almost reluctantly. “I didn’t ask for your help,” she tutted. Her eye flicked up to Mizuki, before back to her food/ “But…that magic thing...it was…adequate.”
Mizuki raised a brow, both at her words and the fact that Rodessa had even noticed that, in order to catch the arrow before it had flown into her only visible eye that she had used her power to slow the arrow’s momentum. Even so… “Adequate?”
“Well,” Rodessa huffed. “Had you caught it between your fingers and fired it back, instead of your hocus pocus, I would have been impressed.”
In a room full of students when both Rodessa and Mizuki had told those students off for that exact thing? Yeah….no.
Mizuki snorted. Of course, if she had done that, she was willing to bet Rodessa would have found delight in pointing that exact thing out instead of admitting to being impressed.
“Always the critic, it seems,” she huffed instead.
“Yes, yes I am.”
---
Unbeknownst to the people of the mess hall, the situation had not be unobserved. From the private meeting room within the Grandmaster’s residence, a large TV monitor displayed the entire event, focused on the Ex-FBI agent and budding Demon Hunter, witnessed by the Head Monk himself, his chin resting on steepled fingers as he observed his student and temporary pupil.
As the situation came to a close, the picture fizzled out, becoming blank once more, reflecting the room in it’s black surface, including the reflection of two figures entering the room, accompanied by the sound of clicking heels.
“An unexpected outcome,” the young voice of Violet Povell caught the attention of the room’s occupants as the person in question moved into the room itself, shadowed by what appeared to be another Agent, one of an allied organisation, who was eyeing the now inert screen with a thoughtful hum. She absently placed folders that she had been carrying onto the desk with surprising grace for her small stature, her eyes narrowed slightly as she dissected what she had overheard. “Yet a favourable one, to know that despite their issues they can, at least, subconsciously protect one another. After the little ‘talk’ you had with your charge, Sir Monk, I had been…uncertain.”
“Well,” the other agent drawled as he leaned against the table, “They are both protectors, as well as hunters in their own right, Little Ma’am. I’d be shocked it it wasn’t instinctual.”
“Ah, Kota-san, it is good to see you again,” The monk greeted the newcomer fondly. “Doing well, I presume? I admit, I had not expected to see you outside of your clan at such a turbulent time.”
The agent identified as Kota offered toothy smile, his own fondness in amber eyes weighed by a seriousness that his youthful appearance belayed. “With the seal in the young mistress’ eye breaking, the master thought it best for someone to keep watch, just in case. While I might not be as strong as him, should the worse come to worse, I have strength enough to help suppress her nature from a distance.”
The monk hummed, thoughtfully. Yes, he knew Kota had the ability to do so, though from what he knew of the girl’s situation, he knew that Kota still needed some distance, otherwise what he could do would be very limited. Still, the man was no slouch - he was certainly experienced enough to do so without cluing his ‘target’ in that she was essentially being stalked, however necessary it was.
Still, that meant that if he had been watching Rodessa, he would have been watching Mizuki as well. Similarly, as Rodessa’s current direct superior, she, too, would have at least witnessed something of his student…
“I would like to ask for your opinions,” he said finally as he rubbed his chin. “What do you think of my student? Tell me honestly.”
Sitting at the table before the folders, The young woman hummed thoughtfully as she seemed to pull a crystalline vial filled with crimson liquid from somewhere on her person and uncorked it, bringing it to her lips as she swallowed. A few moments later, her form shimmered for a moment, growing from that of a young child into that of an adult. The Monk made sure not to react too much to the change, even if it was strange to see her take on such a form, limited as it was for her.
Unbothered by the other’s change, Kota also took a seat across from him, his eyes resting on the monk for a moment as he put his thoughts in order.
“In terms of ability,” Kota began slowly, “she seems to have come quite a long way. I mean, to be able to sense the little miss’ true nature. Still...she has room for improvement, since she didn’t seem to sense me when you were having your discussion. You might need to focus on sensing those who are cloaked before it becomes a problem. I’d be happy to help...well, when my hands aren’t full with the young mistress, that is.”
The monk’s lips twitched into a smile. “That would be appreciated,” he agreed. If she could learn to sense Kota when he was subduing his presence then it would help her to feel for most suppressed auras. However…his smile faded a little, recalling Mizuki’s near xenophobia of non-humans, however justified. “Still…considering-”
“Considering her little performance earlier,” Violet interrupted, expression stony even as her tone radiated calm authority, “Particularly on the discovery of the girl’s heritage, I am not impressed. I will not stand for prejudice in my team, nor my agency. Considering what my organisation stands for, such hypocrisy cannot be tolerated within its ranks.”
“Quite,” The monk agreed, if a little reluctantly, especially considering he knew that it wasn’t an intentional hypocrisy, considering his student’s trauma. “Still, My lady, do you not feel that it a little harsh? She has reason to distru-”
“I was there, Sir Monk,” Violet interrupted sharply, through her eyes reflected a bitter sorrow at the memory. “I know damned well what happened. If you recall, it was I who brought the child here.” Her fingers curled a little, even as her expression hardened. “Losing Masahiro Masuyo was a loss for us all...none more than that child. STILL, we-”
“Again, I agree, My lady,” The monk stated almost mildly. “Though I do believe your little pup-”
Kota coughed loudly, catching the other’s attention. “Don’t call her that,” the man huffed. “It’s demeaning to our kin.”
“My apologies,” The Grandmaster corrected, before continuing. “Your little...charge...may be a good stepping stone in something those rough edges. Our little moon, after all, did protect her. Had her situation been irredeemable, she would have allowed the arrow to strike, yet she did not.”
“That is true,” Kota hummed as he sat back in his chair, drumming his fingers thoughtfully on the desk. “But was it reflex? Or intentional? Much the same could be said for the young mistress,” he added.
“Hmmm...point taken,” the Head Priest conceded. Though he did have an inkling. After all, he did know his student. But there was a possibility. There was a way to figure out which it was, however. “My suggestion, then, is thus (as much as it does little for my recurrent migraine): We simply do nothing.”
That brought both agents up short, the two looking at the head Priest as if he had gone insane.
“Do…nothing?” Violet parrotted, stunned, before she managed to gather her wits and pursed her lips. “Sir Monk, you do realise that we are running on little time. Your little stage test earlier, by the way, remind me to reward the recruits-”
“Oh, I see,” Kota quipped. “A type of ‘frenemy’ relationship.” he crossed his hands, a wiry grin crossing his lips. “They do both seem to have tsundere tendencies, one more than the other. Like may attract like in the end. Considering the situation ...yeah, that might be a good idea indeed.”
“Hmph. Too risky,” Violet sniffed. “Miss Masuyo herself stated that if Rodessa loses control then she would not hesitate to harm her.”
“Hah! That’s rich, coming from you, night child,” Kota interrupted, lips pulling back into a sneer. “You fully intended to use God Killer poison against her.” His eyes narrowed as he leaned forwards, tone cool. “News travels fast, you know. The other clans aren’t happy with such a stunt, Ma’am.”
Violet tossed her hair. “Just a precaution, nothing more,” she sniffed. “Had you or another of my agents not been able to stabilize her, well-”
Something close to a growl rumbled in the man’s throat, obviously not pleased by her response or the show of hypocrisy after condemning another for a similar outlook.
“I’d think carefully before you finish that sentence, Draculena,” Kota sneered. “My diplomatic waters ran dry the moment you mention harming the heir of the clan. You do not want to make a habit of pissing off my kin, I assure you.” His lips twitched with a gleam of fangs. “It seems hypocrisy runs right to your core, oh blessed godmother.”
Violet pursed her lips a moment, before finally allowing herself to sigh. “My apologies,” she said finally. “It was not meant as offence. Simply a precaution. Besides, that was in the past and I have long been given an alternate solution.” Se closed her eyes. “I have since repented...or at least began to do as such.”
Clearing his throat, the Priest caught the attention of the others. “To bring us back to the topic at hand - we have little time before the girls return. Now, we desire for the two of them to work as a cohesive unit. It is not something that can be legitimately done over the course of a single mission for any team, let alone this one.”
“Then what do you suggest we do?” Violet gritted, a note of frustration entering her voice. “We are on a schedule. Three months before handing the rest of their training to Agent Yin. Three months to get her up to standard of a six month training program condensed to half the time! And office team building exercises are out of the question.”
That, at least, got a huff of laughter from the two men, breaking the frustrated tension in the room at least slightly. Better than nothing, she supposed. Humour was not her strong suit.
Oddly enough, Kota rubbed his chin, a considering look in his eyes. “Saying that, Povell...that might be what they need.”
This time it was Kota being stared at as if he needed his head examining, Violet almost choking that her stab at humour was being taken seriously. What was worse, the monk was beginning to consider it as well, his expression fading into a thoughtful frown.
“Team building exercises…” he murmured. “Considering their current animosity....” his brows furrowed further, catching onto Kota’s train of thought. “Wait, do you mean…? That’s…risky. Very risky…”
“But it could work,” Kota insisted. “And if it got too heated, we would step in.”
Feeling as if she was missing something huge now, Violet interrupted. “If someone wouldn’t mind informing the rest of the class…?
Brow still furrowed, the man considered them for a moment, before speaking slowly, concern colouring his voice. “If I’m not mistaken...Kota-san is suggesting that we ‘up the stakes’. We have witnessed that they will protect each other, as proven by the test. We have witnessed that they can, at least temporarily and begrudgingly, work together. For a short time, they were able to subconsciously mirror each other and, for the nearest seconds seemed to harmoniously sync in their mental processes. However…”
“You’re concerned that putting such a strain on them too quickly would cause that progress to shatter,” Kota finished.
“Exactly.”
“Well, I say different,” Kota contradicted, waving a hand to the folders before Violet. “I’ve read your girl’s file and compared it to the young mistress’. I could work. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting throwing them at a god-tier opponent just yet. I’m just suggesting that we have them face a threat above their current levels if they were to face it alone, thus meaning they must work together to overcome it.”
“Hm…” Violet leaned back in her chair, approval glimmering in her eyes. “That sounds reasonable,” she agreed. “Besides, we will not be far away. It may be a good place to start, once this case is concluded.”
“That be as it may,” the monk said slowly, “I do believe we should consider this a little more carefully…”
“You’re too cautious, Old Man,” Kota waved off the priest’s worries with a flap of a hand. “Let the kids find their way - with a guided hand, of course.” he met the monk’s eyes with a steady gaze. “Have more faith in your pupil.”
[END]
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