Celes kneeled in the garden, carefully tending to the surviving flowers and plants. The recent battle had left parts of the academy in ruins, and the once-vibrant garden was no exception. Many flowers were damaged, petals scorched, and stems broken—but this small patch had somehow survived.
Amid the chaos, this corner of the garden had been forgotten, overlooked by those too focused on recovery. When Celes discovered it, she couldn’t bring herself to ignore it. Despite her stoic exterior, she harbored a love for flowers, like many girls her age. But more than that, she cherished nurturing life, ensuring even the most delicate things had a chance to thrive.
She handled each flower with care, gently brushing off dirt, watering the roots, and adjusting them so they could soak up the sunlight. As she worked, her usual tension melted away, her thoughts momentarily freed from the weight of her duties as an agent. For just a moment, she allowed herself to enjoy the peaceful task.
“It should be fine in a few days,” Celes thought, a small smile tugging at her lips as she admired the flowers.
But her tranquility was short-lived. She suddenly sensed a presence behind her. Instinctively, she drew her knife, pressing it against the intruder's neck in one swift motion. When she turned to see who it was, her eyes widened in shock.
It was the mysterious man—him. The one who had appeared during the battle and the same figure from the meeting room. Her breath caught in her throat. He stood there, calm, utterly unfazed by the knife at his throat. The unsettling feeling in her chest tightened. She had seen his power firsthand; if it came to a fight, she knew she wouldn’t stand a chance.
Still, something in his gaze disarmed her. There was no hostility, only calm curiosity, as though he knew something about her. The thought that he might be aware of her true identity unnerved her. She hesitated, but slowly lowered her weapon, her hand trembling ever so slightly.
He remained silent, watching her with that same unsettling calm. Celes's mind raced. She had orders from Barran to gather information on this man, and now, with him standing right in front of her, she couldn’t let the opportunity slip away. Steeling herself, she asked, “Why are you here?”
Ren glanced around briefly. “I’m just here to enjoy the view,” he replied evenly. “Why are you here?”
“I’m… training,” Celes lied, trying to keep her voice steady.
“Hmm, for gardening?” Ren said, a faint smile playing on his lips as his eyes flicked to the flowers behind her.
His words hit her with unexpected embarrassment. She had never shown this side of herself to anyone before, and the fact that he was the first to see it made her even more flustered. “How long have you been watching me?” she demanded, her cold eyes attempting to mask her discomfort.
“It was just a coincidence,” Ren said with a slight grin, clearly amused by her reaction. “But I’m glad I found such a beautiful view.” His gaze lingered on her, framed by the flowers behind her.
“W-Wha...?” Celes stammered, completely caught off guard, her face turning bright red.
It was a critical hit—on both sides.
“What the hell did I just say!?” Ren screamed internally, mentally smashing his head against an imaginary wall, utterly embarrassed.
For the first time, his "Perfect Acting" skill seemed to be working against him. Or maybe it was the perfect wingman. Only time would tell.
Celes coughed, trying to regain her composure. “Seriously, who are you? Everything about you is so cryptic.”
For a moment, Ren simply looked at her, then a small smile curved his lips. “Is that you asking,” he said, “or your handler?”
Her heart skipped a beat. He knew. Somehow, he knew. She couldn’t keep pretending. “My handler,” she admitted reluctantly, though she quickly added, “but I’m curious as well.”
Ren’s expression didn’t change. “I’m just a player,” he said.
Celes blinked in confusion. “A… player? What kind of player?”
“A professional one,” he replied with a cryptic smile.
His answer only deepened her confusion. She was trained by the best to detect lies, but his words carried no deceit. That only made it more baffling.
“That… doesn’t make any sense,” Celes said, her bluntness betraying her frustration.
“Don’t worry,” Ren said confidently. “I suspect no one on this continent would understand.”
“That’s a bold statement,” Celes remarked. She was about to press further when he cut her off.
“You know, you don’t have to choose who to be,” Ren said softly. “Just be yourself. That’s enough.”
His words struck her like a bolt of lightning. Her entire life had been about choices—choosing her mission, choosing her disguise, choosing who to be. The idea of just being herself felt foreign and unsettling. Before she could respond, he added, “We’ll meet again,” and, without warning, disappeared.
Celes stood frozen, her mind racing. The knife slipped from her hand, forgotten. She replayed the conversation in her mind, trying to make sense of it, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t. All she knew was that his words had stirred something deep inside her.
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A few minutes after her encounter with the mysterious man, Celes wandered down the hallway, her mind consumed by their conversation. His cryptic words kept replaying in her head, over and over. What did he mean by being a "player"? And why did he claim that no one on the continent would understand him? Yet, it wasn’t his evasive responses that troubled her the most—it was his final remark:
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"Just be yourself"
Those words gnawed at her. For someone who had spent her life adopting roles, concealing her true identity, and following orders, the concept felt foreign, almost impossible. Why had he revealed himself to her? He had appeared only twice before her—once during the battle and again in the meeting room with Principal Valis.
If he only showed up when he was needed, then why now? What did he want? Was he gathering information, or was it simply to deliver those unsettling words?
She sighed, frustrated by the endless questions swirling in her mind. Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud voice coming from a nearby room. It was Class F’s private room. Curious, she paused and listened.
She easily recognized the four distinct voices—Shiro, Liana, Rolan, and Lucius. For a moment, Celes debated whether to join them or continue walking. The idea of sharing her encounter crossed her mind, but she wasn’t sure if she should. Just as she pondered, the door suddenly opened, and Liana stepped out.
Surprised to see Celes standing there, Liana quickly recovered with a warm smile. "Celes, what are you doing here?"
Celes blinked, slightly caught off guard. "I heard a loud noise and thought someone might need help."
Liana giggled. "Oh, that was just Rolan’s scream of defeat. We’re playing a game inside."
Celes nodded, feeling a little awkward. Before she could excuse herself, Liana’s eyes lit up with an idea. "Why don’t you join us?" she suggested cheerfully.
Celes hesitated. But before she could decline, Liana gently nudged her inside, ignoring her protests. Once inside, Celes saw Shiro, Rolan, and Lucius sitting around a table with cards scattered between them. Shiro was the first to notice her and immediately wave.
“Hey, Celes! Come join us!” Shiro said, his voice cheerful. “We could use a new player.”
“Yeah, because Rolan keeps losing,” Lucius teased with a smirk.
“That’s not true!” Rolan shot back, visibly annoyed.
Seeing no easy way out, Celes reluctantly agreed. Liana beamed, excited to have her join. They quickly dealt her in, and the game resumed. As they played, the conversation flowed effortlessly.
Shiro complimented Celes on her performance during the battle, genuinely impressed by her skills. Liana, ever the doting figure, treated her like a big sister, asking questions with a warm smile.
Rolan, still determined to prove himself, suggested a duel with Celes, but Lucius quickly shut him down, saying it wasn’t fair to challenge a girl, especially someone like Rolan. The group burst into laughter at that, Rolan included, though he tried to hide it.
The room’s atmosphere grew warm and relaxed. The tension Celes often felt within the academy seemed to dissolve. She found herself laughing and talking freely, something she hadn’t done in a long time. For the first time since arriving, she felt like she truly belonged. These weren’t just classmates anymore—they were becoming friends.
For the first time in a long while, Celes felt at ease. The walls she had built around herself began to crack, and she let herself enjoy the simple pleasure of being surrounded by friends.
The room was filled with an easy, relaxed atmosphere as the game ended. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, basking in the warmth of companionship. Liana leaned back in her chair, laughing at a joke Lucius had made, while Shiro and Rolan engaged in a playful banter about who had truly won the last round. Celes, sitting quietly among them, felt a sense of belonging that was new to her.
Yet, even in this comfort, Celes couldn’t shake the lingering thoughts about her recent encounter with the mysterious man. His words had left her unsettled, and though she was surrounded by people she was beginning to trust, there was still that distance.
She couldn’t be completely open with them—not with her double life as an agency agent. But maybe she didn’t have to carry this burden alone. Maybe, just maybe, she could share some of it.
She hesitated, debating whether to speak up. What if they thought she was lying or trying to cause unnecessary worry? But they deserved to know something, at least. After all, the man had shown himself to them before; it wasn’t as if he was a complete secret. Taking a deep breath, she decided to take the plunge.
“Hey, everyone,” Celes began, her voice softer than usual, causing the group to turn their attention toward her. She felt a bit of nervousness creeping in but pushed through it. “There’s something I need to tell you all.”
The room fell silent, and the friendly chatter faded as the others looked at her expectantly. Shiro leaned forward slightly, his expression curious, while Liana tilted her head, concern in her eyes. Even Rolan and Lucius quieted, sensing the shift in her tone.
“What is it, Celes?” Shiro asked gently, his voice encouraging.
Celes hesitated for just a moment longer before continuing. “Earlier, when I was in the garden, I… I had an encounter with that mysterious man, the one we met before in the meeting room.”
The room seemed to hold its breath. Liana’s eyes widened in surprise, and Lucius straightened in his chair, his usual laid-back demeanor replaced by focused attention. Rolan, always one to speak his mind, quickly chimed in.
“You saw him? What did he say? Did he threaten you?” Rolan’s voice was a mix of concern and curiosity.
Celes shook her head. “No, he didn’t threaten me. He… he just appeared out of nowhere. At first, I didn’t know what to think—I was on guard, of course. But he didn’t do anything aggressive. He was calm, even… curious.”
“Curious?” Lucius echoed, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes,” Celes confirmed, meeting their gazes. “He seemed to be curious about me.”
“That… a little weird. I wonder why he was curious.” Shiro said with a bit of concern.
“Did you ask him anything, Celes?” Liana asked curiously.
Celes hesitated, careful with her words. “I did, but it’s… complicated. I think he knows more than he’s letting on. He answered my questions, but his answers were cryptic. He called himself a ‘player’—a ‘professional player.’”
“A player?” Shiro repeated, clearly puzzled. “Like in a sport?”
“I’m not sure,” Celes admitted, feeling the same confusion she had felt during the encounter. “That’s what it sounded like, but it didn’t make any sense to me. And there was something else… something about the way he spoke. It’s like he wasn’t just talking to me but… observing.”
The group exchanged glances, each of them processing what Celes had shared. Rolan seemed deep in thought, while Lucius’s expression remained neutral, though his eyes hinted at concern. Liana reached out, placing a comforting hand on Celes arm.
“That must have been unsettling,” Liana said softly. “But you handled it well, Celes. If he didn’t show any hostility, maybe… maybe he’s not our enemy.”
“Or maybe he’s just playing a long game,” Rolan countered, his tone cautious. “We can’t be too sure of anything.”
Shiro, who had been quiet for a while, finally spoke up. “What do you think he wanted, Celes? Did he seem like he had a purpose for showing himself to you?”
Celes thought back to the encounter, to the calm, almost knowing look in the figure’s eyes. “I’m not sure,” she said slowly. “But I don’t think he appeared just by chance. It felt… deliberate. Like he wanted me to know something. But what, exactly, I can’t say.”
A contemplative silence settled over the room. The encounter, as mysterious as it was, only added more questions to the ones they already had. Yet, despite the confusion, Celes felt a sense of relief. Sharing this with them lifted a weight off her shoulders, even if she couldn’t reveal everything.
Shiro finally nodded, determination in his eyes. “We’ll figure this out together. Whoever this figure is, whatever his intentions, we’ll be ready.”
The others nodded in agreement, and the atmosphere in the room shifted once more. There was still uncertainty, but there was also a newfound resolve. They were in this together, and that made all the difference.