CHAPTER 115: NORMALLY
In a building office in Zerzura City in Africa, Aurora held up her phone.
“Mother, will you be back from your vacation?” Aurora asked curiously.
Holographic clocks these days were the norm and phones were generally out of fashion, even for those not so good at technology.
Still, when she needed to talk to her mother, she needed a phone.
“No. Your father wants to enjoy the vacations more. He liked the gourmet food in the area,” replied the voice on the other end with a sincere, calm tone.
“Honey, stop lying to her. You’re the one who wants to stay...”
Her father’s voice rang from the background and there was silence, followed by some noises from what Aurora assumed was her father, running away from that woman’s fury at being ratted out.
“So...” Aurora muttered, not knowing how to react.
They both gave the impression that they were having fun and her father readily accepted the decisions from her mother, which meant that she was the one who decided.
“If you are in danger or find yourself in a difficult situation that requires help, I will come back,” Said the voice from the phone and after a minute of silence, she asked. “However, do you find yourself in that situation, or do you want me to come back for another reason?”
“...”
Aurora was silent.
She had already explained what Alice had informed her and her mother’s response was a simple ‘oh’, even though the situation seemed somehow alarming.
The information she had was superficial, and she didn’t know what would happen, practically being blind.
Still, just because it was a worrisome situation didn’t mean it was dangerous or that she needed help.
“You never needed my help. When you were a child, you would sneak out at night with your sister and your father always followed you, but you never asked for help. Never mind if you faced some scary creatures or some horrible monster,” said the voice on the other end of the phone and with a sigh, she commented. “I’m sure it will stay the same now.”
A comment Aurora couldn’t deny.
Mostly, instead of counting on her parents for support, Aurora always moved forward with her sister’s support.
Rarely did she end up asking for help from her parents, who not only had the strength but the ability and tools to help her with whatever she needed or wanted.
It was the same when she was a ten-year-old girl or a fifteen-year-old teenager, whether it was a school assignment or when she faced a creature at risk that overcame her or fell to the lowest point in her life.
Though they helped her when needed or in silence, but otherwise respected her desire to be independent.
“If you want us to go back because of what will happen, then I don’t want to go back.” Her mother said in an indifferent voice.
This was a big enough event for two individuals with high strength to help and that woman, instead of caring, didn’t even flinch.
Aurora had different principles and values from her mother, with Alice, who was indifferent to strangers, being the person who most closely resembled her mother.
A woman who, even if she had the tools, would not help.
“Having said all that, I’ll come back if that’s what you want.” Her mother added, with a slightly fond sigh.
Like Alice, her mother was weak to her loved ones and could accept whatever it was they asked for.
“It’s unnecessary,” Aurora replied, and after a few seconds, she added. “I wanted to know what you and father would do.”
The approaching event was enormous, big enough for the Falion Empire, the Church, or the nations to worry about, and what caused the most stress was the uncertainty.
And while the uncertainty generated some worry because of the unknown, that was all.
Having her parents by her side might be helpful and as helpful as it would be, Aurora would not force them to come back from retirement, and more so when they deserved a break for all they had done over the years.
In her eyes, they had already made their contribution to the Earth.
“Take care of yourself, sweetheart. If you need anything, you can call. Remember, your family is here for you. Don’t carry responsibilities that aren’t yours and if you do, remember you can count on us,” her mother said, saying goodbye with a certain loving tone before cutting off.
Aurora sighed as she heard that goodbye and, putting down the phone, she plopped down on the couch.
—You don’t need to be nervous. Humanity is more prepared than ever.
The text popped into her mind and as simple as it looked, Aurora felt it carried a bit of comfort.
“How do you know?” Aurora asked in a simple tone.
How did he know humanity was ready?
—If it wasn’t, they wouldn’t be here.
A rather short and simple answer, that, as strange as it sounded, carried some serious analysis.
Mankind had overcome calamities, cataclysms, lunatics, and demons... How could they not be prepared?
Maybe she was overthinking it, or maybe she was too pessimistic about what was to come.
In the end, the only thing Aurora was sure of was that while humanity was prepared to face new opponents, she doubted about the unity they could show.
Aurora projected the news that made her doubt about the union of the earthlings.
“Tensions on the American continent. The South American empire has entered the borders in the Panamanian region of ‘The United States of North America’ to stop a drug cartel, without the authorization of its neighbors. The North American state repudiates this violation of its border zones, claiming that cooperation should have been requested.”
“A show of power? Or just tyranny?”
A week ago, a shipment of drugs entered the South American Empire and was discovered to have come from their neighbors to the north.
The problem was that the mafia had bribed several of the empire’s officials and authorities, leading the South American Emperor, who disliked that kind of action, to show his tyrannical side again.
The former South American nations that were now part of the empire lived under corruption for years and it was only when the Emperor came to power that the acts of corruption diminished.
It was normal to hate corruption, when it was the emperor with its politics, who managed to reduce corruption and unify the empire under its power.
Although he had good intentions, the way he acted was excessive and this time it was the same when he ordered a group of military to sweep away all the mafia headquarters in the Panamanian region.
Without notifying the authorities in the north or asking permission for the operation.
There were no civilian casualties, and the destruction caused was minimal, however, that he gave those orders without thinking about politics and minor issues, was not pleasant at all and what could have been a simple matter, escalated involving both nations in its entirety.
The Giant of the North and the Giant of the South did not get along very well and always had tensions, and more so when both were the only dominant powers on the American continent.
However, these two giants received the same news that she received and the problem was that they didn’t seem to show any sense of togetherness, as if they didn’t care about what was coming.
And it made her wonder if she wasn’t overreacting too much and making a bigger deal out of it than she should have.
Aurora sighed and, leaving the office, headed for the living room.
She was in Africa and as the academy was about to close enrollment for the academy; she used the excuse of ascending the ranks to take the day off.
Oliver had been approaching Alice to prepare her as if she was the ‘hidden’ weapon of the academy.
He was very confident in Alice’s abilities, perhaps because she had beaten the crap out of him when they first met.
The point was that he had also been approaching her to invite her to join the tournament, trying to get an experienced mercenary.
Those reasons were secondary and her main reason for advancing in rank, even though she knew she would be given a title she didn’t like, was that she believed she would be useful in the future.
Depending on how those ‘turbulent times’ went, officially being a registered A-rank would be more useful than just being a B-rank unknown.
“Sorry, I’m late,” Aurora commented when she arrived in the room.
“No worries. I was just talking to your partner, who was offering his services,” Cithrel replied with a calm smile.
Cithrel was the only one who had accompanied her, as Alice and Venali had to train.
Still hearing that answer, Aurora looked at her ‘partner’.
“Boss, she’s a princess! I’m trying to widen the contact network of my information network,” Liam said with a half-smile.
Princess equaled being rich... That thought was common and Liam trying to earn extra money by offering his services was common to him.
Since it helped during practice and he was trying hard at work, Aurora let it be.
It was likely that a normal person would try to woo the beautiful princess and to Aurora; it was likely that Liam wanted to get more money to buy drones than trying to get Cithrel to like him.
“By the way, have you found out anything?” Aurora asked curiously.
She had asked Liam to look into Alice’s information, about what was coming up, wanting to clear up some doubts she had.
It was a big deal, and the major problem was figuring out when it might happen.
She had also passed the information on to Akira so that she would be careful on her side.
“No, there is no leak in the networks, nor is there any strange news. However, the Church of Time and Space seems to prepare to release a statement with the Church of Order. They will probably reveal it to the world soon,” Liam replied with a solemn expression.
Inevitably, the two great churches of Primordial Gods would give a world-wide communique on the subject, since they were the two most powerful churches on earth.
And as a world-level matter, it was impossible to hide only in the upper echelons.
“I understand. I’ll see if Cardinal Brousseau can give me some information,” Aurora murmured with a sigh.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
She had an excellent relationship with the church, specifically Cardinal Brousseau, and although she didn’t know if that woman could help her get information, she could try.
Even if it was classified, Cardinal Brousseau would probably reveal it because of her connection to Zerzura.
“I’ve been working with the church and Cardinal Brousseau has informed me that when she has a decent report, she will share it for you to see,” Liam said with a half-smile.
It wasn’t a surprise, and Aurora nodded with a smile.
Cardinal Brousseau was a heavyweight in both the city and the church, and that woman was always helpful.
And while the promise helped to relax her, the problem was that even a Cardinal of the Church of Time and Space was unaware at the moment of what was going on, at least not all of it.
Putting the subject out of her mind, Aurora met the gaze of Cithrel, who was smiling with her hand on her chin.
“Shall we?” Aurora asked her companion, not wanting to know what was on that princess’s mind.
The only thing she needed to concentrate on at the moment was moving up the ranks.
******
Driving one of her cars toward the mercenary guild’s headquarters, Aurora noticed that Cithrel’s gaze was on her
“You are more than you seem,” Cithrel murmured, and seeing Aurora give a simple smile, she added. “That mystery makes you look more attractive.”
What if a lovely young princess performed a compliment with a completely sincere tone?
Aurora gave an embarrassed smile; the problem was that reaction got Cithrel’s eyes to sparkle with a mischievous look.
Some reactions stimulated the ‘predator’ within Cithrel... Such a fact Aurora could discern while driving, and she felt that some of his actions made her an easy prey.
What caused her shame was that Cithrel was a great beauty with a powerful charm, doing even she doubted her sexuality.
It was inevitable, at that level, was Cithrel.
Alice was also a unique type of beauty and the only problem was that her sister generated a peculiar atmosphere compared to Cithrel, whose charisma and charm were visible.
Cithrel let out a soft chuckle as she saw that Aurora remained silent.
“Speaking seriously about the topic you conversed with your companion, do you need any help?” Cithrel asked with a serious tone.
Aurora looked at her with a hint of surprise, not only at her offer of help.
“Do you know what this is about?” Aurora asked with sincere curiosity.
“No, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help you. I have confidence in my ability.” Cithrel replied with a shrug.
The heiress of a powerful empire and an Archimage with outstanding talent.
Her words were not arrogant, it was a confidence that had a firm foundation.
Aurora could sense that it wasn’t simple cordiality, and she was offering her help sincerely.
“And what if I said I want to conquer this world? Would you help me?” Aurora asked with a slightly amused tone.
She didn’t know about the topic she had discussed with Liam and that meant she was offering her help without knowing what it was about.
“It’s tricky. I would have to gather archmages to open a portal to this world and bring my army. The God of Time and Space took over this world. It will be troublesome,” Cithrel replied and calmly she explained. “You know, mages try to understand the laws of the world, however, that God creates them, he may intervene.”
Aurora stopped at the traffic light and looked at her carefully.
Although she said it would be difficult, she didn’t deny that she could help her and thought about the possibility with all the drawbacks.
“If you’re trying to improve our friendship, this is a significant act, but if you’re trying to score points with me, I’m not that easy,” Aurora commented with the most serious expression she could give.
Cithrel was a little surprised, and then, realizing that she was joking, she smiled charmingly and cheerfully.
“Then I’ll keep trying,” Cithrel replied with a sad yet hopeful tone.
The way she gave feelings to her tone made it hard for Aurora to tell if she was joking or being serious.
“Anyway, I don’t need help yet. I don’t know what will happen and I don’t know where to look. Now it’s like walking blind.” Aurora replied with a half sigh and looking at Cithrel, she couldn’t help but give a smile and added. “Still, I appreciate your help.”
That was the undeniable truth.
Thanks to Alice, she had information on the issue and to her regret; it was too superficial to be sure what it would be about.
She needed to wait for the Church to share what she knew so she could understand more of the matter.
Cithrel just nodded without being too insistent.
Getting back to driving it didn’t take them too long to reach their destination.
“It’s a magnificent building,” Cithrel commented as she looked at the headquarters of the city’s mercenary guild.
A building in a hectic area, the architecture and size stood out compared to nearby buildings.
“Mercenaries are very common in these lands. From the beginning, they influenced the founding of Zerzura and nowadays the mercenary guild has some concessions.” Aurora explained after leaving the car parked in the parking lot.
The mercenary guild was in charge of registering and managing mercenaries but also distributed different missions for those affiliated with their guild.
While in the first days of the city, the mercenaries came to work because the company Apicius paid him; it was undeniable that they helped.
In the present day, although Africa was not as chaotic and the city Zerzura was in perfect condition, there was still a lot of work going on around.
Not only did the natural dungeons have to be cleared periodically, but temporary dungeons also appeared frequently.
The mercenary guild had quests available and could also recommend mercenaries to work in the protection system, allowing them to use the portals and perform the frequent quests that were available in the system.
Aurora and Cithrel walked into the building.
The reception area was spacious, decorated elegantly and pleasantly.
Several mercenaries and workers were going down and up, down the elevator heading to other floors and, although it was large, it wasn’t as crowded as one would expect.
“Looks respectable,” Cithrel murmured, and as she met her gaze, she explained. “In some realms of my world, the mercenary guild consists of a tavern, where they meet and get missions.”
It sounded like a cozy and not so strange place to Aurora and more so when she remembered that in some cities, that style of luges was the norm.
“Using the holographic watch, it is possible to take missions without coming. As well as to do some paperwork,” Aurora replied, and smiling, added. “As for bars and taverns, leaving similar places around some cities in Africa, in Zerzura there are several affiliated bars where they hang out.”
Cithrel nodded calmly.
For someone coming from another world for the first time, Cithrel was not one to be easily surprised and was quick to adapt.
Nowadays, it was quicker and easier to conduct business through holographic watches than it was to frequent the guild directly.
There were a few exceptions to visiting the guild headquarters and one of them was rank promotion.
“How can I help you?” The receptionist asked after greeting.
“I am here for a Rank A promotion test,” replied Aurora, giving her name to the receptionist to look up in her record.
The receptionist, instead of looking in the system, gave her a look of acknowledgment and nodded.
“Please wait in the lounge. I will call my supervisor.” Replied the receptionist, before quickly retreating.
Aurora signaled Cithrel and sat down on one couch in the lounge, waiting as she sighed.
“Is this normal?” Cithrel asked and, with a touch of curiosity, murmured. “I thought they would send us to a training area and then test your abilities to see if you have everything you need to advance in rank. By then, they’ll check your background to see if you’re trustworthy.”
Cithrel’s words sounded like standard procedure, and Aurora’s expression quivered subtly.
In reality, the standard procedure was that when she asked for a turn, the authorities would review the mission history, check the reliability and find out the background, before calling and citing her in a training area to just test her capabilities.
Once she passed the entire process, they would either accept her promotion or reject her, giving reasons.
Although the Mercenary Guild was not as rigorous as other international organizations, they checked the mercenaries’ capabilities and verified if they were trustworthy.
The guild was the middleman for those who wanted a job and the people who carried it out, to maintain this business, they needed the mercenaries to be reliable, reliable enough to carry out the missions.
The problem was that she was an exception.
“I’m slightly known here,” Aurora muttered in response and, in a way, in an excuse.
She worked for the Zerzura Mercenary Guild and at this point; it was hard for her to deny that she was known here.
—To say that you are only ‘known’ is too humble.
Aurora ignored her system and Cithrel’s curious look and turned her gaze to the supervisor, who came to attend her.
A thin, middle-aged, brown-haired man approached with a smile on his face.
“Welcome. I apologize on behalf of the guild leader. Unfortunately, he cannot receive you,” the man said and calmly advised. “He is currently taking care of some business in Kenya.”
He was pointing out that if the Guild Leader was there, he would have received her, and Aurora’s expression subtly quivered at the attention being paid to her.
It was impossible not to recognize the man when she had worked with him several times before.
“No need to be so attentive, it’s just a simple promotion,” Aurora replied diplomatically and after introducing Cithrel by name, she turned her gaze to the man and asked. “How are matters going in Kenya?”
Nicholas Cowie, vice leader of the Zerzura City mercenary guild, was one mercenary who was at the top of authority.
Aurora had worked with him and the current guild leader when they were both mercenaries and she was younger.
It was inevitable that she wasn’t curious about the mercenary leader and the work they were doing in Kenya.
“It’s nothing to worry about. The boss is in Kenya with several mercenaries to secure a headquarters and work clearing Kenya of the wild creatures,” Nicholas commented. and as he led the way, he reported. “The Lord of Mombasa has already cleared out the weeds and remnants of the Somali Terror. The current job is about protecting the people from the creatures and we, the mercenaries, are the best for the job.”
Aurora agreed.
While the adventurer’s guilds could handle the task of protecting the lands, giving her enough profit, mercenaries were temporary workers and if an area needed to be cleared quickly, it was best to hire them.
She was getting reports of what was going on in Kenya, but it was interesting to hear it from someone else because of the difference in perspective.
“From what I hear, it is expected that by next year the area will be stabilized and the Lord of Mombasa will begin to lay the groundwork for his state,” Nicholas said and with a smile, added. “I am sure that soon the quality of life in the area will improve and once it does, it will attract people from the surrounding areas.”
Although some of the Lord of Mombasa’s actions were slightly questionable, the Zerzura authorities expected him to act for his people.
No one cared if he called himself King, Emperor, or President, as long as the citizens and people of that region were safe, Zerzura would maintain their support.
And it was likely that the King of Madagascar would also want a stable area.
What was needed now was to leave the tyrants who only sought to become rich and have power and needed a ruler who cared about the citizens and guaranteed to give them a good life, or at least protect them.
Seeing that Cithrel was curiously listening to their conversation, Aurora just gave a smile and changed the subject.
“What do I have to do to promote in rank?” Aurora asked curiously as they descended into the elevator.
“Because of protocols we have to perform a test, but we will minimize unnecessary issues,” Nicholas replied and when the elevator door opened revealing a training room, he asked. “Show your combat aura and hit some dummies. The other matters we’ll take care of.”
When he finished, Nicholas used his holographic watch to move some combat dummies to the center of the area and, giving her a signal, got to work on the bureaucratic issues.
Aurora asked Cithrel to wait, and she made her way to the training center while shaking her fists to test her punches.
This was basic procedure and all the guild needed was a sign that she had A-rank strength.
For fighters, the best way to show it was with the combat aura.
Aurora covered her fists with her combat aura and when she received a signal from Nicholas, she lashed out at the dummy, hitting it with full force.
*Boom!*
The impact was intense and destroyed the dummy, generating a blast that pushed the other dummies backwards.
Although it was good, Aurora perceived that there was no resistance from the dummy and it was for such reason that she turned her gaze to Nicholas, who was smiling calmly.
They were letting her have her promotion easily, and it was pretty obvious.
“Perfect. We already have the recording,” Nicholas murmured, nodding softly and seeing Aurora looking at him strangely. His smile grew, and he commented. “As an A-Rank, you have no title. However, you are the leader of your mercenary group in which there are three A-Rank members, enough to move your group up the ranks.”
Without waiting for Aurora to speak, Nicholas continued.
“After a check of your standards and missions, we have given it an honorary name,” Nicholas said and, with a truly contented smile, stated. “Congratulations, Protector of Zerzura, I am proud to see that your efforts are being officially recognized.”
Aurora didn’t know how to react when she saw the look on Nicholas’ face, which gave the impression that the title was the right thing to do, as if he believed that everything was being as it should be.
This reason was the reason why Aurora didn’t want to move up in rank, now everywhere she went her group would be known as the ‘Protectors of Zerzura’, a title that was too extravagant and seemed arrogant.
—It’s a title that your entire group deserves.
The system gave its timely comment, and Aurora simply sighed conspicuously.
“Is this it?” Aurora asked instead of insisting on the name change, which would probably be denied.
The title that for a while, was unofficial, became the official title of their mercenary group and it was likely that in the future it would become their individual title.
“Yes, this is enough. We will change the records according to your rank and you are now officially an-Rank fighter,” replied Nicholas, and meeting her gaze, he added. “Once you ascend to S-Rank and wish to register, we will wait for you. Many want the title to be officially recognized.”
Just as she expected, the idea of making the title of ‘Protector of Zerzura’ official, as her personal title, was present.
Aurora’s expression quivered, feeling that was more of a curse than a favorable comment.
“If that happens, I’ll see if I change locations,” Aurora muttered, getting an amused chuckle from Nicholas at her response.
With a quick goodbye, Aurora grabbed Cithrel and left the building before she could come up with any crazy ideas, like to advertise her group.
Aurora would not like to be listed on the mercenary guild’s website as some of the best mercenary groups, as was frequently the case, though, to her credit, her face did not appear.
“Normally, I’m the one talking about topics that others don’t understand that are high level, but today I felt small,” Cithrel muttered as soon as they exited the building.
She was not only a princess but someone who had significant authority in the empire and it was likely that she was in charge of topics which others could listen to without understanding.
At this moment, she was the one who became the companion.
“I’m sorry,” Aurora muttered as she got into the car and with a sigh, she commented. “I didn’t want you to come, because I knew this would be too simple and would be a waste of time.”
Checking in took less than five minutes and having Cithrel come was a waste of time.
The promotion was prearranged and if it weren’t because it was necessary to follow some rules and comply with some formalities; it was likely that she could get her promotion over the phone.
If Cithrel came to learn about the mercenary guild, it was certainly a waste of time.
“I don’t mind too much. I have to admit that when you talk about work, you look different. More mature and pretty,” Cithrel commented and, with a smile, added. “Besides, the mystery in you increases. That’s charming.”
So much honesty in a charming smile and a bright gaze, which did not leave her and looked at her with a certain mischievousness.
For Aurora, it was a low blow, as she hadn’t expected this kind of comment at this time, and she coughed a little before driving.
“If you want, I can unravel the mystery a bit.” She muttered with a half-smile.
If she unveiled the mystery, the charm would diminish... Such an idea she was expressing and Cithrel, who noticed, gave a charming and mischievous smile.
“That would be great,” Cithrel replied and, smiling at her while winking at her, she commented. “Maybe you’ll fascinate me more if I get to know you better.”
Following her game to defend herself didn’t help much, and Aurora was soundly defeated, feeling like a bunny in the jaws of a predator.
A predator with good flirting skills.