Isuzu bowed down like it was her last in front of the South British general. Desperately wanting for at least, just once, be able to say goodbye to what is left of her family.

Iowa and Celeste waited anxiously for the general's response.

Celeste held her cup of tea closer to her chest as the air started to feel heavy. Iowa's heartbeat slowly started to pick up the pace. At the same time, Isuzu clenched her fist as she began to feel her mind throbbing just like her unruly heart.

Her lips quivered as she started to feel the ice-cold sweat trickle down her face.

The general, Matilda, watched as Isuzu pleaded and gently called her on her first name,

"Isuzu, look at me." softly said the general.

Isuzu slowly raised her head as she saw the South British-Australian face of the general, her blue eyes and crimson red lips.

"You're not a prisoner here Isuzu, but I suggest we be cautious with what we do, OK?"

"What do you mean?" asked Isuzu.

"Well," the general then leaned back on her chair, letting the soft leather pull her back. 

"You're a precious piece in this game, you know? I don't even think this is legal!" giggled Matilda, "But," she then followed, "I'll find a way."

Isuzu eyes sparkled as it widened after she heard the general's final words,

"Really?!"

Matilda nodded, "But I don't think the letter will make it that easily."

"Oh, is it because of them?" Isuzu asked.

Celeste placed her cup of tea down a small table at the back and approached Isuzu and patted her on the back.

Isuzu looked behind her to see Celeste nodding, "I'm sorry but, they're looking all over for you." she answered in a blue tone as she closed her eyes in disappointment.

Isuzu suddenly stood up and yelled, "How am I even involved in this?!"

"Isuzu, calm down." Iowa held Isuzu hand. She looked up to see Isuzu's face starting to tear up as she said, "Does that mean the orphanage will be in the middle of this as well?!" She asked as her voice started to crack, and her face raining with tears.

The general shook her head, "We don't know, Isuzu, but rest assured we'll do everything to protect the orphanage." she answered.

Celeste then relaxed Isuzu shoulders as she stroked her hands around them. "We have troops already guarding the place, and we wouldn't want anything to happen to them as much as you do." she giggled.

"Wouldn't that alert the enemy?" Iowa asked.

Matilda shook her head, "All of them are undercover, and they know the enemy very well."

"Oh…"    

"But before anything else though, who are they?" Isuzu asked as the tears finally dried up, leaving Isuzu's face red and dry.

The question made Iowa suddenly look at Isuzu.

"I should at least know who I'm dealing with! The ones who did this to Eleya!" Isuzu added.

Celeste and Matilda looked at each other as they thought of how to answer Isuzu's question.

But then Iowa stepped in, "It's the Divinity, isn't it?"

Celeste sighed, "I suppose we could no longer hide it to ourselves, c'est ne pas?" as she looked at the general.

"I suppose so," Matilda answered.

"Divinity?" Isuzu asked.

"A religion based off on the anomalies we see in this continent, am I not mistaken?" Iowa asked.

Matilda nodded. Iowa's eyes then started to quiver, "Wait, so whatever happened to Sonia, they were the ones responsible?" Iowa slowly asked as cold sweat started to flow down her face as well.

Matilda took a good look on Iowa and slowly nodded.

Iowa fell silent, unable to think of a reaction as she slowly bowed her head and placed her hand on her lap.

"I'm sorry," whispered Celeste as she looked at Iowa. Isuzu saw Iowa's calm expression turn to that of grief as she started to pout as her hands and legs fidget.

Matilda looked at Isuzu, "The Divinity, yes." she answered.

"What did they do exactly?" asked Isuzu.

The general hesitated. She looked at Iowa, knowing she isn't allowed to hear such information. But, she sighed and went on with it anyway.

Isuzu looked at Iowa for a moment. The once optimistic captain had become an anxious one. With her head bowed and face, riddled with confusion and fear as her pupils looked around the room rapidly as she rubbed around her fingers on her hands.

Isuzu felt Iowa's grief as she reached out to Iowa's hand and held it tight. Iowa suddenly looked at Isuzu and slowly smiled as she felt Isuzu's warm hands. On the other hand, Isuzu felt Iowa's heart throbbing as she closed her eyes and smiled at the captain. Isuzu let go of Iowa's hand and looked at Matilda and shook her head at here.

"It's fine, it doesn't matter what they did. All I know is that those people hurt my friends, Eleya, Iowa, and her sister. They might've hurt you as well so…" Isuzu leaned closer to Matilda as Celeste and Iowa looked at each other.

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"Please, how can I be of help?"

Matilda paused and smiled. She looked at Celeste to see her smiling as well, and finally Iowa, to see her yet smile a little.

"OK then, let's begin."

A few hours ago, in the capital of the French colony of Arctica,

People of all classes woke up as the sun slowly rose. They wore presentable clothing with their families and flocked to in mass to the centre of the city. On the town was a large church painted in white and large pathways.

Guarding the two large doors that served as the entrance of the church where unarmed hooded figures. The people in large numbers waited beside a large tower with a large bell inside. As soon as the bell rang repeatedly, the crowd rejoiced as the hooded figures opened the large doors, four times their height.

As the doors stopped opening, the crowds walked inside the church and filled the long rows of pews throughout the broad church.

They looked at the large stained glass rhythmically placed throughout the walls of the church that depicted one of the eight Star Pillars as each star had its own design and symbols.

Above the entrance was a large pipe organ with the pipes as wide as people. The red carpet from the door led to the altar in front of it all.

It had a large table, just enough for the people at the back to see correctly and behind it was a hooded figure, raising both their arms as they looked up above a sphere.

The hooded figures closed its doors as the final families entered the church, and as soon as the doors closed, the organ started to play a melodic song. The people then stood up and clapped as a figure who was hooded in a white cloak, a priest, walked to the altar.

He slowly walked to the table, letting the people trance themselves as the song and the priest bore into their minds. 

The priest then arrived at the table. And just like the chiselled hooded figure behind him, raised the bottom of his arms and looked above the ceiling with paintings of the continent, encircled by the Star Pillars connected by the cosmic string.

As the music stopped, the crowd sat down and did not even bother to say a word as the priest began the sermon.

"Brothers and sisters of the Divine, I thank you all for coming.

Today we once again give our thanks for joining us.

You have taken time-off your duties and obligations to praise and give thanks to those who have truly blessed us with it in the first place."

The priest lowered his hands and placed them on the altar and looked at the crowd. Each one of them and then went back on.

"When our ancestors landed on this place, they saw nothing but a barren continent that was left astray from their God's creation.

With no way back, they were forced to settle here.

Harvests were abysmal, with all the crops turning into duds each and every season.

As rations dwindled. They sent their finest explorers to travel to the mainland to search for food. Ships of possessions from each and every faction, helping each other to feed their peoples.

And there they have found their answer."

The priest raised his hands once more in glee.

"An angel!

Mystical-like beings who could help them fertilise their soil!

After enough persuasion and mercy, the angel accepted and followed them to their land.

And did the unthinkable.

They gave them land, a land they could rely on, land that guides us to this day.

And so, thanks to their mercy, they made the continent suitable for living.

And now we live peacefully in this new world! 

The crowd clapped their hands as the priest exclaimed. The priest looked around the public to see an old man who was not clapping at all. Instead, he just sat there with his head bowed.

The priest then looked at the corner of the nave where hooded men guarded the entrance, and then they nodded. As the sermon ended and the people left. The old man stood up and left his pew. But was stopped by the men and brought to a room inside the church.

"What do you want from me?!" asked the old man as he was told to sit down. The men did not reply. Instead, they just left the room.

The old man was left alone in the room for a few moments, and then the door opened. "Ah, Monsieur Jacobson." said the priest as he entered the door and closed it.

"What do you want?" asked the old man. The priest sat down in front of him.

"What is the matter?" asked the priest.

"Father Christopher, you know what I want! Answered the old man.

"My house, my house!" exclaimed Jacobson.

"Calm down, Monsieur Jacobson. It'll be done soon enough."

"My grandchildren are freezing inside those sheds! What exactly are you doing with my house?"

The priest sighed, "I'm sorry but, I cannot answer that question."

"Well, I need it now, lest I call the government about this!" exclaimed the old man as he stood up and left the room. The men stopped him however but were let go eventually as the priest told them it was alright.

The priest sighed and looked back but was shocked to see a tall hooded figure right behind him.

"S-serviteur Noir!" he said, shockingly as he bowed his head.

"Have you finished the extraction?" he then asked.

"Yes, there were indeed specimens there." answered the Serviteur Noir.

"So could I let the old man come back?" asked the priest.

"You're too nice, Christopher." said the serviteur.

"B-but we must not let our brother be treated with such-" but then his superior intercepted.

"Then our brother will forgive us for our disturbances." said the serviteur as they left the area and went outside.

The priest followed his superior outside to see a carriage filled with sacks of soil. He wanted to ask what they were going to be used for but was too afraid to speak up.

As soon as the serviteur entered the room, the driver immediately drove the carriage away.

A few hours later, as soon after Isuzu accepted Matilda's offer. She followed Celeste to where Eleya was detained.

As the two walked to the facility, Celeste explained, "She had been asleep ever since we locked her up there, we'll try our best to bring her back, but it's going to take a while."

"It's fine, please do." Isuzu thanked.

Meanwhile, in Matilda's office, Iowa and Matilda finally talked about what had happened to her sister.

"What do you mean she's missing?" asked Iowa. "You had an entire battalion dispatched there, how come their commanding officer would just suddenly disappear?!" she added.

"Look Iowa, I'm sorry, that's what all the other officers reported," answered Matilda as she watched Iowa walked around the office nervously.

"Then what do you think what had happened to her, what's your answer?" Iowa then asked the general.

Matilda sighed, but before the general could answer, Iowa suddenly added, "With all due respect ma'am, but your next line is: 'I don't know.'"

Matilda giggled, "You know me pretty well…" Iowa, thinking she was going to get dismissed reacted confusingly at the general.

"Look, I'm sorry, I can't help you with Sonia yet. I understand your frustration, but," Matilda paused, "Before she left, she gave me a set of instructions for us to follow."

"Instructions?" asked Iowa.

"Yes, so please just trust me," answered Matilda.

"OK then, just make sure we find my sister," said Iowa.

Matilda nodded, "But for now, I need you to take care of Isuzu, I need you to teach her the ropes and be like a sister to her, OK? And if you refuse, then I'll just have to order you that."

Iowa sighed as she stood up straight and saluted the general,

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good."

Isuzu and Celeste arrived at a room guarded by two soldiers.

"Over here," Celeste said as the soldiers opened the door. Isuzu followed Celeste and entered the dimmed room.

It was a long hallway with cobblestone floors and ceilings, and beside them were steel doors.

The two walked to the end of the room, "This is where we detain enemy angels, come, Eleya is at the end of the room." said Celeste as she stopped at the last door.

She peeked through a small gap and then looked at Isuzu, "She's asleep." whispered Celeste as she slowly unlocked the thick door.

Isuzu saw her friend wrapped around in a sheet as she slept deep. Isuzu slowly walked to Eleya and held her arm.

She bowed her head and whispered, "It's OK, I'll be back before you know it." as she let go of her hand and covered it with the blanket.

Isuzu stood up and then looked at Celeste, "How are you going to save her?" she asked.

"Don't worry, we've done this countless times before, we've been tracking them down for a long time, so please have faith on us," answered Celeste.

Isuzu nodded then bowed her head,

"I'll be in your care from now on."