It's that smell again.

Gadina slowly opened her eyes. The glow of dawn shone through the half-opened window, lighting up the room entirely.

At last, they did not have to pay one single penny. Steve was never a stingy person, but she just didn't think he would be so kind.

Gadina watched Hanister, who was sleeping soundly. She recalled what happened last night. She knew that she was attracted by her performance on stage. No, it was so much more than that.

Hanister's expression at that moment made her decide to stay on stage. The eyes of longing and yearn. This seemed to be the first time she had completely taken away her facade from her, expressing her true emotions.

It's that smell again.

Gadina took a deep breath, inhaling the scent coming from the girl lying next to her. The pure, natural smell from the field.

She realized that after she had met Hanister, she had been tolerating her stubbornness and self-will. She was forced to teach her how to shoot, convinced by her to fool around during the swimming lesson, and at last planned this trip with her.

If I feel like hanging out with her is distressing, why do I still do it?

Gadina asked herself. She had once again responded to her request the previous night on stage at Yosus's Grave. However, she felt like her attitude was different from before. This time, she wasn't just accommodating to her. She was perfectly happy to have fulfilled her wish.

Gadina realized that she had chosen to respond to those eyes from the bottom of her heart. She had responded to her emotions.

If I don't dislike her, then what is she to me?

Gadina asked herself again. She turned to her side. Hanister's eyes were still shut tightly together like a sleeping baby. The girl's teal-colored hair was spread around the pillow, covering her small, delicate face.

Gadina couldn't help but sit up and pushed her messy hair aside. She didn't know why she did it. Although technically they had slept on the same bed during training, it was still in different positions.

She discovered that she had never looked at her while she was sleeping, and now she was even attracted to that face. When Hanister was awake, she never tended to notice it. However, when she had fallen asleep it would be another case. Once she had stopped being chatty and noisy…

Gadina swallowed hard, then she inched her body closer to that unwary, staid face. She got close to her forehead, the bridge of her nose, her cheeks, and her slightly opened lips.

What am I doing?

She realized suddenly, immediately stopping herself and laid back to where she was.

Their room wasn't big. There was only a double bed. But with the price of not over a hundred Phel per night, this hotel did have decent quality.

No.

Gadina stared at the ceiling for a moment before standing up abruptly.

There's nothing between us.

She told herself. She quietly put on her clothes then took out her cigarettes and lighter.

Gadina walked to the door before turning back to take one last look at the still-sleeping girl. She then walked out. The girl walked along the corridor and arrived at the elevator. She got on it to get to the first floor.

There was only one male receptionist at the counter. He glanced over at her and nodded without saying a word.

Gadina left the main hall and continued forward through a pathway. The end of the path was an emergency exit. It led to the fire escape alley behind the hotel. She walked out and lit a cigarette, leaning against the wall next to the door.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Isn't this the famous Silver Owl Gadina herself?" A tall, slender man suddenly appeared at the corner of the alley.

"Don't call me that, Gordon. I'm no longer in the organization." Gadina glanced at the man who was slowly moving towards her. She did not sound surprised.

The man was wearing a black hooded coat and a pair of pants. He stopped right next to Gadina and pulled out a cigarette as well.

Gadina lifted her lighter, lighting up the cigarette for him. "How did you find me?" She asked after putting away her lighter.

"You really think you'd be able to keep a low profile while running around the city like tourists with a girl?"

Gadina laughed in agreement. "Hanister trains with me. I was only showing her around since we're on our break."

"Showing her around?" Gordon puffed out a string of smoke. "Since when did you start using such sissy words?"

"Don't be like that, Gordon. Life in the S.D.A is much more different that how it is here."

"You know who that girl is, right?"

"You mean Hanister? I just told you, we're in the same term."

Gordon shook his head. "Did you know that her father's a casualty?"

"Yeah." Gadina nodded, recalling what Hanister had told her last night. "And?" She asked.

"Hey. Don't tell me that your brain’s slacking off now 'cause you joined the S.D.A." Gordon expressed his surprise.

"What are you talking about?"

"Her dad's death was related to the S.D.A, and they gave her and her family a big compensation." Gordon turned around and frowned at Gadina. "I thought that's why you brought her to Rodenzel."

"Oh." Gadina finally understood what Gordon meant. She took another drag of her cigarette. "No, I'm not going to extort her. Besides, I'm already in the S.D.A. There's no way I'm doing that."

"You don't need to, Gadina." Gordon's lips curved up cunningly. "Leave her to us, and we'll figure out a way to send you—"

"Shut it, Gordon." Gadina interrupted him. "I'm not interested."

"It's a whole lotta money." Gordon waved his cigarette-holding hand around exaggeratedly. "She and her mother never moved. As far as I know, they never spent the compensation."

"I said I'm not interested." Gadina said, still not budging.

Gordon stayed silent for a second before speaking up again. "You know I can just take the matter into my own hands, right?"

"Don't you dare." Gadina glared at the man.

"You're not one of us anymore, Gadina." Gordon reminded. "You have no rights." His eyes were of a hungry wolf.

"Of course I do." Gadina gritted out every single word, hardly afraid of what was coming. “Do not try anything on her. You hear me?" She warned.

"And what if I insist?"

"Asshole!" Gadina dropped her cigarette on the floor then went ahead and grabbed Gordon by his collar. "You don't listen, do you?" She looked at the man who was almost a head taller than her. Her eyes were murderous.

"Tsk." Gordon stared at the person who grabbed him for a second. At last, he held up his hands in surrender and sulkily backed up against the wall.

He fixed his collar, clearly annoyed, and said, "So what now? You've only joined the S.D.A for a couple of months, and you've completely forgotten about our history?"

"We only worked together, Gordon."

"We've fought together."

"Under conditions where it's beneficial to both of us."

"Do you have to put it like that?"

"Oh, come on, Gordon." Gadina spitted. "You know what it was like there."

The man standing beside her did not respond, but his face did show a certain degree of agreement.

Gordon took a few drags of his cigarette, waiting for the intense atmosphere to die down. "So what’s the relationship between you and that girl?" He looked at the buildings at the other side of the alley. "Are you guys close? Or is she important to you?"

"We—" Gadina stared at the ground, noticing that the cigarette she had tossed down was still lit. "A couple of months later the training session will be over. After that, we'll probably start forgetting about each other and just serve in our own units."

"Then why do you care about her so much?" Gordon's face was malevolent.

Gadina did not immediately give an answer. Instead, she lifted her head and looked at the windows on the wall of the hotel. "Because one day, she'll become a real Chaser." She stated, even though she didn't quite understand why she said it. "Maybe someday, she'll be the one that saves your ass, just like the other Chasers of the S.D.A.'' She turned to Gordon.

The man in the coat stared blankly at her for a second. "Heh. I thought you're gonna bring out some pretentious reasons." He shrugged it off. "Then you better pray that she'd live long, Gadina." He tossed his cigarette bud down on the ground and stepped on it.

"Don't you worry." Gadina gave as good as she got. However, deep in her heart she knew that no one could be certain about something like this. No one knows how many battles a Chaser can survive through.

"Enjoy your little game of friendship, Gadina." Gordon made a sarcastic remark then turned to leave. "At least when both of you are still alive." He added. His figure soon disappeared faraway down the alley.