Alice heard how Völundr let out an exasperated groan, gesturing towards two large scarlet cushions. "Sit down... there! You're late," Völundr grumbled, his face concealed beneath a black hooded tunic, but she knew he was mad. The others remained hidden; their identities shrouded in secrecy. Alice and her father, the only ones with exposed faces, felt like complete fools.
Gathered in a dimly lit room, the group formed a small circle around a flickering blue flame hovering above a golden chalice. Alice couldn't help but think they were participating in some sort of parody secret society ritual. She and her father stood out like sore thumbs amidst the masked individuals. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, she wondered whether to burst into tears or burst into laughter.
"It was supposed to be a black-tie event, wasn't it?" Alice whispered, asking Steve, seeking some solace in their shared bewilderment. He merely shrugged, equally perplexed by the bizarre situation they found themselves in.
"We are here to embark on a new experience. Destiny has brought us together to fulfill our utmost goals," Völundr declared, his voice gentle, wise, and eloquent. He’s reveling in his role, Alice thought. He was like a priest delivering a sermon. "This shall be a collective exchange, a helping hand among individuals with shared ideals. Our dreams, our goals in this life. You shall aid me in achieving my goal, and I will assist you, with all my strength, in accomplishing yours. Together, we will create our own collective reality."
Völundr approached Alice, attempting to pat her head. She recoiled, sulking at the intrusion. The only person she allowed such familiarity from was Steve.
"But first, you shall introduce yourselves," Völundr announced, bowing slightly and clearing his throat. "I will call upon each of you in turn."
Stepping away, Völundr returned to the center of the circle, gesturing towards the person in front of her.
"The first among us!" A man as tall as Steve revealed his face by removing his hood. This man bore a striking resemblance to her father, except for his black hair and gray eyes. They both could easily be twins.
"My name is Kyrie, the number one in this group, for I am its first recruit. I’m from Hellas. I am thirty-two years old. I previously served as a medic in the Hellenic army before joining Völundr," Kyrie spoke, his voice kind yet tinged with seriousness.
"From Hell?" Alice murmured to herself, her brow furrowing as she tilted her head, trying to recall the reference.
"How long has it been?" Steve interrupted, attempting to engage Kyrie in conversation. However, Kyrie remained silent, focusing his attention on Alice. She blushed, feeling slightly overwhelmed, and blinked rapidly as she returned his gaze.
"My name is Steve McGwire," Steve introduced himself, sensing the tension in the air. "It's a pleasure to meet everybody, although some of you may already know me. I am the number two. Like Kyrie, I am also thirty-two. And beside me... the most adorable, intelligent, and wonderful daughter one could ever have! This is Alice, a twelve-year-old schoolgirl. Currently, she is not a member of this... mysterious society, but rather accompanying me."
"But I thought it was a secret society," Alice murmured, her brow furrowing with confusion.
"I am a former soldier, now working as a journalist," Her father smirked. "We both hail from New Lyon, New France."
"Ville de Fleurs, new name," Alice cleared her throat, correcting him.
"Ville de Fleurs," Steve rolled his eyes, butchering the pronunciation on purpose.
“Say hi, Alice!” Völundr interrupted.
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Alice's cheeks blushed even brighter, her embarrassment intensifying as she awkwardly waved her right hand, attempting to greet everyone. Völundr couldn't help but chuckle, finding the situation more amusing than expected.
"You are welcome here, Alice. You are now number three!" Völundr smiled, she could tell there was a hint of mischief in his voice.
"I-I'm Alice," she stuttered, her nerves getting the better of her. "I-I'm pleased to meet all of you!"
Völundr then turned his attention to the hooded figure standing next to Kyrie. "The next one, you are number seven!" he declared.
A short man stood on his knees, removing his hood to reveal a warm smile. "I am Aran from Siam. I am twenty-nine years old. I’m a Buddhist monk and an herbalist," he bowed slightly.
Taking his place from Kyrie's left side, another man emerged. He was slightly shorter than Steve but exuded a distinct air of weariness. "Number eight, then. Narukami Arashi. I come from the Empire of the Sun, army engineer." Alice noticed the big dark bags under his eyes hinting at his lack of sleep. With his black ponytail, brown eyes, and a hint of gray in his beard and mustache, he resembled a retired imperial soldier. Donning a blue haori and hakama, he almost seemed like a modern-day samurai. "I am forty years old," he added with a bow.
“Lit outfit,” Alice murmured. Fortunately, Arashi didn’t seem to care.
Standing beside Aran, a remarkably handsome young man removed his hood. He stood as tall as Steve and Kyrie, his skin paler than Alice's, and his eyes showcased a unique particolored iris — one blueish and the other greenish.
"Number nine, my name is Lowe Loup. I am twenty-six years old and hail from La France. Je suis an engineering apprentice," He stated. Alice noted that his fidgeting demeanor suggested he was somewhat overwhelmed by the presence of so many people. He had a blue and a green eye, and a tiny vertical scar cutting his lips on the left side of the face.
Völundr then pointed at the next member. "The number ten, Damon," he announced. Alice noted that everyone in the room stared at a towering figure with arms folded. "I am Prussian, a former medic in the Prussian Army, although they discharged me for being a clown!" Damon smirked, radiating an air of exhilaration. Alice awaited his unmasking, but to her surprise, he made no move to reveal his face. "Who's next?" he bantered,
Völundr giggled, clearly enjoying the moment. "We are waiting for you!"
Without delay, “My apologies,” Damon removed his hood, revealing a mischievous smile and vibrant green eyes contrasting against his grayish hair. He proceeded to greet everyone with a handshake, except for Lowe, who refused. Damon couldn't resist making silly faces as if Alice were a toddler. He playfully patted her head, much to her frustration as she fought the urge to punch his face.
Standing next to Lowe, a girl removed her hood, revealing her striking beauty. She possessed captivating yellow eyes and blond hair with subtle blue highlights. "Anna, number eleven. From New York, the United States," she mumbled. To Alice, her voice carried both an angelic and enigmatic soothing tone. Clad in a blue marine shirtwaist dress beneath a black overcoat, she exuded an aura of mystery.
Following her, a young man with tanned skin, amber eyes, and black hair greeted the group, he wore brown slacks and a gray shirt under his overcoat. "Leonardo, number twelve, I believe. Nice to meet you all! I was born in Mexico but grew up with my paternal grandparents in the north of the Kingdom of Italy. I am nineteen years old. I aspired to study architecture at the university, but alas, I couldn't make it," he confessed, his words carrying a touch of disappointment.
Just as Leonardo finished speaking, another member continued. It was Zak, positioned beside Damon. After glancing at Alice for a few seconds, the teenager opened his mouth to introduce himself. "Zakkariyas, number thirteen. I am Osmani, and I am eighteen years old. I serve as Völundr's assistant."
Finally, Völundr coughed and took the lead. "As for the other three positions, number six belongs to a member who is now absent on a special mission. Numbers four and five are currently attending to urgent matters and were not able to make it on time. You might be able to meet them later." Alice and everybody else nodded.
"Recently, I have been appointed as the ambassador of the Society of Nations. Our unfortunate task is to mediate between the European powers and their conflicting interests in Africa," Völundr explained with a hint of gravity.
"Is war imminent?" Damon's expression transformed, his initial clownish introduction was a striking contrast to his current tone. Alice could feel anger erupting from him.
"Our objective is to prevent them from engaging in armed conflict. However, there is a more pressing matter at hand, which led me to assemble this group in the first place. You are all here to help me achieve my goals, and in turn, I will assist each of you in making your dreams come true," Völundr cleared his throat. "Now that we know each other, I am aware that you have made contact with the Janas of D'Arc Order. Am I correct?"
To Alice’s surprise, everybody nodded in confirmation.
"Please, share with me what you know," Völundr requested, bowing.