"Let's began the training for both of you!"

Zhilan announced with a smile, training the two Fantastic Beasts who turned into their human forms. They were going to be part of the Stardust Express Station management, assisting both of their bosses in their civil service work. Shina was learning how to improve her skills in her job position as a Managing Director in Safety and Security, while Kaisen took his job as a Managing Director in Logistics and Operation Development--while Henriette is keeping an eye on their trainings. "Huh. so these are the new recruits?" she asked, watching both of them began their work in the office. "Yes, so please make sure they were doing their work well and adjusting to the work culture in Stardust Express."

Xingfa reminded her, making Henriette rolling her eyes and sighed. "Fine, fine... not that I'm complaining but, I guess you leave me no choice then..." she grumbled, Zhilan chuckled before her husband hold her hand and kissed it--making her flustered. "We got a lot of work to do, and we really need to keep an eye on them," he said with a smile and his eyes remained closed, making his wife nodded as Zhilan replied. "S-Sure... let's go."

The crew of Stardust Express has been dealing with Husk creatures who were trying to get into the border of Welkin city, the Husk that they were dealing is Merlot Husk--it took a similar form of huge Oriental hornet but the red markings around its' yellow-tan chitinous plates shaped like blood-orange, its abdomen has the orange and lime green stripes and black lance-shaped markings in two straight rows at the sides with extra spike-like structures on its round ventral abdomen.

The shape almost the same as Four Roses Husk; but much smaller to strike faster than the Four Roses Husk. Fortunately, only some of them can fly and the others burrowed underground. Ruka was exhausted that the Husk seems to deflect their attacks and almost nearing to hit the watchtower, she growled as she had to make another ambush but had to avoid the poisonous stings. This Husk was once defeated by Alastair himself, so he want to see if they were properly able to defeat the beast. "My lady, are you okay?" Shintaro asked, watching her nodded as she spat to the side. "Hmph, not that fine..."

Nico had to keep the regeneration sustained through his arrow-like attacks from his Locomotive Gear; Gnossienne No. 2 which took form of prototype zither, his Melodic Scores has been decreased as Alice also unable to regain her energy back. Not even Natsuki, Jilian and Rin who can stop the beast. However, Xingfa and Zhilan weren't there because they have to keep an eye on the new members, as for Henriette--she also unable to join them. "If only Henriette here... she can kill that smelly bug..." Rin grumbled, before she avoided another attack from the giant armored insect.

"What should we do...?"

Jilian heard Alice's question before she began to stand up with a smile, there's something odd that made Ruka glanced at her several times--why is she smiling? What was that for? Wait a minute, it must be because she knows about something. Something odd, mysterious, must be about to crack the secret to help them defeat these bugs as her red eyes glanced at both Natsuki and Jilian, frowning upon hearing their silence--which Henriette often replied to her with her usual sharp retort.

Suddenly, her body is glowing into bright light--it seems different than Sonata's brightened light that surrounds her body--Jilian's light seems to be centered on the halo behind her head. Their eyes widened, even though Jilian is the least strongest than Ruka and Rin--she's strong and enduring... how far can she survive to fight against this creatures? Since when did Jilian had that? Why is this happening just now? "Jill... what are you doing?" Rin asked, watching her walking towards the Husk that was about to ambush them in no time. "This can't be a joke, right?!"

"Everyone, I know this is sudden but... I will be doing this, for all of us."

They froze upon hearing that, making Ruka snapped. "Woah woah woah, hold on there! Are you kidding me, right now?!" she was in utter disbelief, is she using that ability at this critical moment? Also, that orb on her hand--a floating white orb on her hand that took a similar shape of a star was infusing her power, enveloping her completely--this is absolutely a blasphemy or in the least, reckless in the battle. "Where did you... get that artifact?" Nico asked, his eyes widened when the light began to shine brighter that could almost blind their eyes.

Jilian merely smiled as she stepped forward into the beast. "I've been waiting for this, you know? Everyone working together in a team, that's what I like in this crew," she said, Jilian has been the kindest member of the crew--ever since they met for the first time. It is no surprise that Henriette adores the girl despite her rather sarcastic nature, it wasn't only a dream that became true for herself but it was Ruka's dream which has passed onto Jilian since her past life.

"I'm afraid that this power that received by the light... must cost something important; the memories of everything about me."

"Wait, Jillian!" Nico yelled at her, it was too late when she disappeared and now 'resides' within the Marlot Husk--making the creature unable to control itself from attacking them. "Ruka, it's time..." the voice spoke, Ruka was trying not to cry as she had to endure the loss for the first time--she couldn't believe she was doing this. She gripped her weapon for a moment, before she growled. "You insolent insect... dare to lay a finger on my comrade and you will be facing death from my hands!" she yelled, before she aimed her attack from her compound bow--three arrows were glowing in bright light. Their Locomotive Gears clinked on the same sounds as the gears began to turn (like a machine), their gears shining in synchronized position as their weapons began to aim their final blow against the creature.

All of them struck it hard with their all-out attack as the final strike to defeat it, finally destroyed and the light faded--the memories of Jilian were all erased and no one remembered; not even Ruka and the others. Ruka noticed that she was crying without reason, the others also clueless of what's going on and why did she cried. As if, there's nothing happened here... as if, it was a blurry shadow of the past that she can no longer remember. "H-Huh? Why am I crying?" she asked, wiping her tears as Rin sniffled. "Yeah... why did we crying?"

"Do you know that...?"

"No, let's forget about it and report to your superiors."

She felt something was missing, but she couldn't feel the reason anymore... Ruka choose to forget it and she really need a shower so bad, before she saw Zhilan, Xingfa and Henriette are here--did they know something happened? "Where have you been all these time, we were helping that new members during our fight. And, one of them finally have enough courage to face that monster!" Henriette pointed at the pile of dust left by the creature, raising her eyebrow in suspicion.

Shintaro laughed nervously before Ruka snorted, she decided not to tell her about it because this is her own responsibility as the leader for the crew. They went back to the library mansion where the crew of Stardust Express crew lived (except Xingfa and his wife Zhilan since they have their own home), Alice sighed as the twelve-years old girl looking at the calico Persian cat named Victoria cuddling next to her on the couch--before her attendant Nico sat beside her while Jilian stood beside Ruka and Natsuki.

"Shintaro, prepare some towels for me!"

Ruka demanded, the man bowed to his master and immediately walked away, although Ruka had a feeling there's something amiss but she choose to ignore it. Just a short of her memory of Jilian was erased from their minds, Ruka was never care about most of the people before but this time, this girl was special. Her soul seems to bind her through their special bond they had as leaders, even if they cannot be in charge most of the time.

Ruka's memories of losing her friend was still there, but faded to obscurity.

Then, she was showering in the bathroom--washing her soaked hair with a conditioner which was infused with the hydrangea oil and shampoo, while she used the body wash that was spiced with cinnamon extracts to soothe her slightly-prickly senses of touch and smell. "Oh, didn't know you're bathing, are you getting yourself dirty too?" Rin asked, she was in the bathtub while enjoying a warm lukewarm and foamed water in tub--floating some rubber duckies on the surface. "Yeah, I hate dirts all over me," she grumbled as she wash her stomach and arms. "You know I hate it when dirt and monsters are getting into my nerves, those filthy bugs are destroying every tree and crops until the wasteland..."

Ruka sensed a faucet suddenly twisting by itself, she narrowed her eyes to see that no one was there inside the bathroom. She closed her eyes as the water began to pour a water on her head, washing her body before she dries her hair.

Then, Ruka realized that it WASN'T Rin who did that because she's in the bathtub. "Did you hear that?" she asked, upon hearing a sound of clicking as she cleaned herself--both the water and the oil of her purple hydrangea can dye the water as they drained the water away.

"Hear what?"

"It's hard to explain, maybe because I'm too sleepy--"

They witnessed something worse, a moving curtain across the window that seems to be 'played' by someone and made them screamed--grabbing their towels to cover their bodies and ran from the bathroom. On the other hand, the newly-appointed Prime Minister--Aldo Weller heard the scream as he ran from his office in Legal Affairs Bureau towards the library mansion where the crew of Stardust Express lived. He has a dark brown short hair with long bangs, golden-colored eyes and slightly tanned skin. Wearing a formal black suit with maroon necktie and white trenchcoat with chain on it and a red pin on his chest. "What's going on?!" he asked, before he blushed to see Ruka and Rin only in their towels. "W-Why are you two in your towels?!"

Ruka shot him a glare when she noticed the current Prime Minister is here, making her growled. "You have ten seconds to look away or else we'll kill you for real!" Rin snapped, making him covering his eyes--even though Aldo was wearing a glasses but his act was not needed. "We heard a moving curtains and then we hear clicks of faucets, that was creepy as hell!" Ruka yelled, making her guardian Shintaro rushing towards her and covered her with his coat--while Nico also appeared with Alice to put on his coat for Rin. "What happened?!"

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Zhilan yelled, running towards her with her husband Xingfa who heard the scream from outside the mansion while they were staying to fix something. "Long story short..." Shintaro explained, keeping his master Ruka covered with the coat. "Something seems to be happening, is the house being haunted or something?" Nico asked, it's very rare for Ruka and Rin to be terrified of anything. "I have no idea, it might a figment of our imaginations..."

Xingfa loomed towards Aldo as he was staring with a smile and eyes closed, it was terrifying for the Prime Minister to see one of the two leaders of Stardust Express Station giving him a horrifying smiles. "A-Ah! Mr. Hastings! It's not what you think, I just came here because I heard the screams!" he clarified, making the latter leaned back with his arms folded. "It would be the best for you to stay here, make sure that there's no anomaly in this residence... understand?" he stated, Zhilan was comforting both Ruka and Rin who got scared because of suspected ghosts. "Y-Yes, sir..."

Ruka finally getting dressed properly as she returned to the station, doing her job like usual until she encountered Claire who was reading the pamphlet with the recent news. "Urgh, you again!"

Claire look up, glancing at Ruka who was having a bad mood. "Hm? What's wrong?" she asked, before she scowled when Ruka began to snatch the newspaper from the bench and growled. "Don't ask, I'm not in the good mood today... let alone acting!" she was being childish like usual, but able to piss off her rival. The Mail-Hunter stared at her, resting her hand on her hip while watching her. "Good luck on that, I'm going to deliver some letters and you better not act like a snobbish brat right now," Claire responded, being sarcastic like usual towards Ruka before she turn around to leave her alone.

Ruka wanted to lose her temper towards her, but she decided to hold back to prevent any commotion going on. Darn it, she had to endure this whole mess and it might risk her professional attitude in her work. But, there's something off and she doesn't know what it is.

***

Kaisen was enjoying his time in Welkin city as he walked beside Shina, they were adjusting to the human customs after hearing about the environment with the help of Xingfa. He exhaled out the smoke, spreading across his surroundings. "So, uhm... Shina," he addressed the woman, who was adjusting her sleeves before staring at him with a raised brow. "What?" she responded, making the dragon rolled his eyes while smiling--tossing his hair to the back behind his shoulder.

"Well, I heard what happened to humans... the locals still worshipped us even when we have been in hiding for generations. They still go through a harsh struggle; it's time to return them into their old glory days again, even it will be... heart-rending, we have to decide on them," the dragon turned around, facing her before he gave a wink to her. Shina merely responded with an unpleasant gaze, she still not used to how carefree and lackadaisical this man can be.

'This dragon bastard, he always pisses me off sometimes...' Shina thought, before she had a thought of visiting their shrines to pray for them. As if Kaisen heard her, he responded. "Some worshippers still pray to us, but our bodies aren't in the shrines and we're alive. We should visit our shrines and sanctuaries to dedicate to the people for their time of troubled times. But, I'm curious of Solvine and Suiren's shrines... no one can actually go inside since it's protected, but there's already someone in there other than their shrine maidens..."

Shina looked up to the blue sky, the winds blew gently--making her let out a sigh. "So, do you want to go there? It's all up to you," she said and the dragon spun the smoke away before he shrugged in response. "We're gods who brought justice and hope, but why now...? I rather have a challenge instead of waiting to protect the world, well... I just want to make sure if they still worship us. If some can't see us, we need to change."

Shina didn't know what to say, all she could do is to have a deep bond between all deities that will watch over them so nothing would harm Canaria's happiness. The two of them began to walk through the rocky paths in the hill, heading to the Capriccio Gorge where they were walking past the rocks and the stone towers within the sanctuary grounds. Around the perimeter were an array of statues of various Creatures, seemingly to greet them.

Once they arrived at the gates, one of the shrine maidens were startled seeing them. "T-This is--we were never expecting someone coming by to visit. Please, come inside," she insisted and the two gods followed her. Shina looked around in confusion when they arrived, the whole place were destroyed and everything was robbed from the sacred grounds. "Relax, ladies! Why are you so uptight?" Kaisen teased and the two maidens were now frightened by his carefree behavior.

Shina observed her shrine that filled with many locals coming to pray for her guidance, for her flames of courage and burning passion for justice, the gifts and incense offerings were more than what she expected. "These gifts for Autumn Thunderbird..." the maiden said, before Kaisen glanced at his shrine. "I remember they used to worship the Empress, the deity who once admired by many people in Canaria... until she was affiliated with the government and they hated her. So, they choose to worship us instead because they can no longer do anything but to take sides."

The shrine maiden frowned and felt bad, she thought how unjust can this empire be. The Autumn Thunderbird was the deity to watch over and guide, even brought the prosperity into their people and how her great knowledge can bring glory to the country; including having a good influence to their people. Kaisen was happy that some can still cling onto their hope by praying. After all, these people's struggle is long gone. Shina turned to the dragon's shrine, watching the beautiful shrine and her heart dropped, feeling a rush of emotions in her.

"Hello! I came here to offer the incense, please don't scold me..."

Shina and Kaisen immediately turned their head towards a child; it was a five-year-old boy--holding the stick of incense and waving a strange looking doll. He folded his black and red fan for a while, before he kneel down and inspects the kid--he may be looking small, but his clothing was a bit fancy than. "It's okay, this is my first time to see such tiny gentleman; what's your name, little chap?" he asked and the kid answered quietly. "Nagi..."

Kaisen then introduced him, talking in an Albisian tone which relieved the boy. Shina immediately recognized the way he talks which was familiar; it was a language that they learned from their ancestor since the start of the era. Although, she notice the golden earring on his left ear had a rune and symbol of the Summer Dragon and she has a golden helix with a rune on her right ear. Shina and Kaisen played with the boy for awhile and taught him some useful things; although, playing with children was hard because they were mostly energetic.

However, when Kaisen almost 'spill' something to the kid--Shina would throw a glare at him to shut him up. Sometimes, he was too casual while going on with his way. "Shina, can you help me get the flowers out from the courtyard?" The Autumn Thunderbird turned to the boy and nodded as she followed him. When he was left alone to play with his toy animal, Kaisen began to make a thoughtful look--frowning with his fingers pinching his chin.

Now the rest is up to the other Masters about the past, and their history of struggles. Will they tell him? But, they can't--they promised not to tell anyone. Kaisen had an easygoing character but his loyalty has the most qualities of power, in the face of any challenge. He love to pick a fight with Suiren a LOT due to their nature of sparring.

Meanwhile...

"Urgh... I'm sleepy..." Sonata grumbled, she was laying on the couch in the lobby with her other best friends in National Postal Service: Claire and Gabriel. "Tell me about it, this deliveries last until few more days, but still..." Sonata whined, her eyes half-open. "I know, I'm sleepy as heck and my father literally woke the hell up of me..." Claire murmured, her father Alastair did woke her up at four in the morning for coffee; because he was dealing with the preparation for the Festive Season which is Advent. "Not that we're lazy but... we didn't get enough sleep!"

"Damn right," Gabriel added in, feeling too sleepy for doing any work since it's not very usual for National Postal Service Headquarters building going loud and merry even most of the staffs would be asleep by ten at night, but they had to accept this situation due to the Festive Season is the tradition for the people in Canaria to give light, lanterns, sparklers and all special fireworks. Sonata pouted, her white wolf ears pinned back as her wolf tail wagging slowly with heavy movement from left to right. "Yeah, I want to sleep now," she grumbled, her bangs fell on her face covering her eyes.

"Alright you three," Vincent said, approaching the lobby. "As much I hate to say this, you three are free to go home earlier. Besides, today is payday so you won't need to work or deliver mails while the celebrations are ongoing."

After the end of the line (because he doesn't have heart to be cruel, just now) the Emissaries let out a joyous sigh with a content. Emissaries has high-payment which is around millions of Dinar and the highest is the Masters, all because Lloyd is a nobleman of Warren Dukedom while not only a Postmaster-General. He was a tycoon of postal services. The National Postal Service had to rise the price of mail delivery in accordance with inflation of local and international trade and taxation, they make so much profit due to their skilled employees. Their paychecks were around 500 Dinars until the top fifty which is paid a total of 2 million Dinars or if they're willing enough--they'll be promoted and paid well by going on missions.

"Alright, who the hell haven't paid taxes yet?" Mathilda asked before she scanned the list, seeing the Emissaries showing their updated bankbooks and licenses in order for her to deduct the amount of money and taxes due to local and International Taxation Law. "Alright, everyone already paid. I better do my mission." Mathilda finished, she smiled proudly as Senja rolled his eyes. "Mathilda, come on. Where's the lottery tickets that you promised me!?" he asked, his fellow colleague snickered as she walked passed him.

"Next time, if you die." Mathilda replied to him, making Senja growled as he whined. "Oh come on! If you don't tell me where is it, I will tell Master Lloyd that you owe me more money--from last month!" he snapped, causing Mathilda looked back at him annoyed. "Come on, he doesn't need to know that! Just take it from the cash inside the locked drawer on my desk!" she sighed, realizing that there's no option she can lie with Senja.

Meanwhile, Lloyd, Alastair and Solvine were in their office--playing card poker like usual during break time. Although Solvine never played the game before, he managed to pull his luck and skill to trick his opponents into thinking he won't win, and winning the whole rounds in this game of poker.

"Check..." Lloyd said after he stared at the table. His face in complete bewilderment and confusion at the results, and then he glared at Solvine who was surprised with the card in his hand.

The man had never really played anything, he never did play cards before; he knows all these games. After he saw a drawing of suits, he slowly learned how they became the ranks in cards. Alastair remained in his stoic expression, just as his poker face because he doesn't have to understand Solvine's tricks due to his lack of expression. "That's impressive... how did he do that!?" Lloyd asked Solvine, his eyes bulging with bafflement.

"Royal Flush, flush straight draw and one pair."

Solvine spoke, showing the results on his hand--he won the poker game after all. Both Lloyd and Alastair has their jaws dropped, they were completely in awe. 'Hoo boy... no wonder Sonata choose to be close to her father, I mean he's wise and powerful when he's not lying or deceiving anyone. And this is the man that protects his daughter with everything he got as her father, honestly not surprised... Oswald will hate it if he lost to him through this game...' Lloyd thought.

When Solvine was about to drink his cup of tea, he went pale by the bitter taste of it. "Urgh... too bitter," he whimpered, he was used to honey tea. "I apologize, do you want more honey instead of sugar?" Alastair asked him, giving his fellow Master subordinate some hot cup of honey tea--at least it doesn't contain any bitter ingredients except ginger. Solvine's tastes buds suddenly tingled, his tongue tasted sweetness and tender flavor--better than the one he drank last week. "Thank you," he spoke to his fellow colleague who he looked up as someone to learn as a mentorship.