"In the name of the British crown, with this, I declare this land be the new addition to her vast empire, The Colony of South Britain in the continent of Terra Australis".

'South Britain, Terra Australis.'

-Post-captain Sir Jonathan Jones, Royal Navy, HMS Ripple.

Isuzu sat beside Iowa inside the carriage. As the night started to engulf the continent, lamp streetlights slowly took the place of sunlight, spanning across the colony in perfect symmetry with the smooth stone road. Workers walked home to each of their houses where their families waited. 

The horses of the vendors trotted away as they took their goods with them. Isuzu witnessed the progress the colony has made with its massive buildings and technology she thought ahead of its time.

"It's still a few hours before we get to the capital. You should get some rest." Iowa said as Isuzu looked at the apartments. 

"What am I going to do here?" asked Isuzu, "Since I'm a 'target' or something, am I going to get locked up somewhere safe?" 

"I don't really know, sorry", Iowa answered. 

Isuzu looked at Iowa to see her in a reflective mood. She was kept being reminded by herself about what the scouts told her. 

'I have to distract her somehow, after all, she probably didn't want this as well.' she thought to herself. 

'Maybe I should think about a topic we loved talking about... err what was that again?' she then saw Iowa sigh as her eyes followed the moving lights. 

"Oh no, I'm running out of time! Quick! Lest she starts to think of even worse things." 

Isuzu started to get nervous, sweat travelled down her cheek as she scrambled for an answer in the heat of the moment,

'Screw it! I'll just randomly ask!' she clenched her fist and tried to calm down. 

She faced Iowa with a serious tone. Iowa saw what was happening to Isuzu, "Uhm, are you alright?" she asked, but it was already too late for her.   

Isuzu focused her eyes and attempted to break the ice. Iowa started to feel nervous, wondering what was happening to Isuzu. 'Is she alright?' wondered Iowa but o' so poor Iowa, she did not know what was coming. 

Isuzu looked like she is starting to burst. Her lips quivered, and her mind throbbed as she gathered all her confidence into this one query.

Then Iowa attempted to check if she was alright, "Do you need to pee-" "DO YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND?!" intercepted Isuzu! Iowa was unable to come back with an answer, letting the question anxiously bore into her head. 

Isuzu, exhausted from such a robust execution, calmed down and took a deep breath as she continued to make eye contact with Iowa. 

Eh, what?" Iowa, shocked from such an ambush, looked around with her eyes. Bewildered from the question, she could not answer at all, despite it being so obvious to her. 

"Uhm, no, I don't." Iowa finally answered. Isuzu, despite her not knowing if she still had more strength went at it again, 

"ARE YOU SURE?!" she exclaimed as her head bolted near Iowa's eyes. 

"Yes, what are you doing?" Iowa replied, and then asked again, 

"Do you need to pee?" 

Isuzu paused for a few moments with a blank face and bowed her head, 

"Yes, I need to pee." 

"Of course you do." Iowa uncomfortably laughed.

The carriage stopped at a nearby restaurant, and there Isuzu did her business. She got back up in the carriage afterwards and left, trying to not get spotted. 

"Are you OK?" asked Iowa as Isuzu closed the door. 

"I-I'm sorry! About all the things I keep on saying!" Isuzu bowed her head. 

Iowa laughed, "There's nothing to be sorry about!" 

"No," Isuzu shook her head, "I know what happened about your sister, Sonia." Isuzu added, "I just don't want you to feel lonely as well."     

"It is fine," Iowa said as she looked on the road, "As long as I know what my sister wants, I can be happy", Iowa whispered as her voice started to weaken. 

Her eyes started to feel watery, and eventually, tears began to roll down her eyes. As Iowa was about to wipe her tears, Isuzu took her wrist and pulled her in, hugging her. 

"It's been so long Iowa, let's catch up," she whispered as she let Iowa hug her back. 

As the carriage travelled all night, the two caught up with each other, telling stories about themselves and their experiences.

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Isuzu told Iowa stories about her experiences with Eleya and the orphanage. In contrast, Iowa told her stories about her life in the military academy with Sonia who studied with her.

The two best friends of the past were once again reunited for a more serious cause, more serious than they could imagine. 

The two ended up falling asleep in each other's arms, as the lights in the buildings slowly fade away as people went to sleep. 

By the time they were fast asleep, fireflies were roaming the place, flickering their lights as they pass through the carriage. 

The fireflies gathered around a tall flagpole of the colony, a blue field with a white sash and the union jack as the canton. 

They arrived at the capital, New London. Cavalrymen escorted them through the quiet midnight streets with aristocratic houses and government buildings. 

No more people roamed the area, and the only lights that guided the way were the street lamp which had been constant throughout the trip. 

The sounds of the crickets were as just loud as the horses' hooves as they galloped to their journey. 

Iowa woke up to see they have already arrived at the capital and woke Isuzu up, 

"We're near, get yourself ready." 

The carriage marched towards s large, steel gate with South Britain's flags proudly displayed around the area. The guard was guarded by two guards as well as some field guns behind them that are well polished and smooth in appearance and texture as they aimed in a neutral direction. 

As the carriage got closer, it started to open slowly. The squeezing pieces of metal echoed throughout the desolate streets. 

From there on out, the road became rough cobblestone which further woke the two girls. As the escort beside them entered through the gates, it started to close slowly until the two sides clashed and locked into place.

They marched through a short tunnel to see a sizeable palace-like building. But unfortunately, Iowa and Isuzu were not able to describe it due to their exhaustion. They parked beside a large door where men started to come out and relieve and aid the escort after a long journey. 

The previous angel, Celeste, walked out of the palace and opened the door for them.

"Celeste, good morning." greeted Iowa as she looked at the large clock above the door. 

"Good morning to you too, how would you some pancakes with blueberries?" calmly asked Celeste, like a waitress. 

Iowa dropped the act and gave up, "Stop- I don't want to feel hungry during these hours!" she said. 

Celeste laughed as Iowa got down on the carriage and looked at Isuzu. 

"Come on", said Iowa as she lent her hand. 

"Ah, Miss Harukawa," Celeste said. 

"How is Eleya?" asked Isuzu immediately upon recognising the angel.  

"Relax," said Celeste, "She has been detained but, she'll be given proper treatment, but she's just not feeling well."

"Oh, then I hope I could trust you with her", said Isuzu. 

"No worries! She'll be an Anglophile in no time!" Celeste jokingly said. 

The three smiled easing tensions. 

"Anyway," Celeste looked at Iowa, "Since you had a long journey. We'll start your briefing tomorrow first thing in the morning. The general has provided both of your rooms to stay at, for now. So please, do make yourselves at home." 

"Thank you so much", Isuzu said as she stepped down the carriage. She landed on the cobblestone, which momentarily relieved her feet. 

"How come you always regain your sense of humour so early in the morning?" Iowa asked Celeste. 

"You're just tired." giggled Celeste as she walked back to the palace. The two followed her to the inside of the building. And when they entered, they closed their eyes due to the shimmering lights of the hallways. 

A vast carpet followed a large staircase that covered most of the first floor. Isuzu was in awe from such beauty, soaking in all the paintings and design no other simple villager could witness.

"This is South Britain's government office, Raymond College. It's basically where all the jobs that concern the well-being of the colony are done. But the place had been borrowed by the general for her 'grand plan.'" explained Iowa beside Isuzu. 

"Your room is this way", Celeste said as she walked upstairs as she held the thick railing made out of varnished wood. 

"Wait, room?" asked Iowa. 

"You mean we're sharing rooms?" Isuzu also asked. 

"It's a large room and Iowa could sleep on the floor!" said Celeste. 

"Maybe if you want people to start asking you out, you should start by giving them a bed and not a floor to sleep on c'est ne pas?" Iowa said in a smug tone.

"Oh, using my catchphrase before Ms Harukawa even gets to hear it from myself?" Celeste said in an agitated tone. 

"Ahaha, I'm joking." Iowa apologised. 

"It's too late now, southern rosbif", Celeste answered as she walked down the hallway and took out the keys in her pocket. 

Isuzu quietly laughed at the two, slightly feeling less anxious about the place. Celeste opened the door, and the three of them were greeted with absolute luxury. 

It was a large room, with two large beds and a large window that oversaw a large pond that also had thick golden curtains. 

The two were overwhelmed by the elegance and beauty of it. Iowa entered the room and jumped on the bed, hugging the soft, pulp pillows and the thick blanket. Isuzu slowly entered the room before she did, she looked at Celeste and bowed her head. 

"Thank you so much!" Isuzu said. 

"No problem! Courtesy of the general!" Celeste gave a beautiful smile at Isuzu, which flustered her a little then and left. 

Isuzu closed the door, and as she looked at Iowa, she was already fast asleep. She approached the large window and looked at the large pond. 

She saw her reflection behind the window and placed the palm of her hand on it. 'I wonder what the general tell me.' she wondered as Iowa slept well.

Celeste walked to one of the main offices of the building escorted by no one. As she got to the door, she knocked and opened it afterwards. 

There, the person showed, and a team of scientists watched the captured serviteur lying on a surgery table. The general looked behind her to see Celeste, "Ah, you have to see this, come look." said the person.

Celeste rushed to the table to see a row of sharp crystalline objects. 

"These are Iyalan", said Celeste. 

"Yeah, and they were found in the serviteur's body." 

"Oh really, I wonder what they're for", muttered Celeste. 

"Well, we could always ask the captured angel." 

"Yeah, but she's not feeling well at all. Her temperature has been getting hotter ever since she got here." Celeste said. 

The person sighed and sat on a chair. 

"Is Miss Harukawa in her room with the captain?" asked the person. 

"Yes. I think the two have already settled for the night." 

"Have you gotten any word about Sonia?" asked Celeste. 

The general shook her head, "But whatever those serviteurs did to that fellow there, they'll definitely do again to more people." added the person as she wiped her face. 

"You mean like, weapons?"  

The person softly answered, "Yes." 

"What do they even do anyway?" Celeste asked. 

"We don't know yet, but it's something about an angel's manipulation." The person answered.

"But," the person then took off her cap, revealing her curly gold hair, "I think there's something wrong with these angels."

"What?"

"They're not supposed to be angels."