The next day, Leo didn’t skip his morning training. He woke up earlier than usual, driven by a mix of excitement and nerves. After a brisk bath, he was greeted by his mother with a lavish breakfast spread across the dining table. The aroma of smoked bacon and roasted potatoes filled the air, accompanied by an unfamiliar vegetable that piqued his curiosity. Another platter held a variety of sausages and rich, creamy cheese, while a vibrant salad added a burst of color and freshness to the meal.
Leo was still taking in the sight and smell of the feast when Rosie shuffled in, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"Mom, why did you wake—" she started to protest, but stopped short, her eyes widening at the sight of the table. “Wow,” she said, turning to her mother. “Why?”
Lisa smiled warmly. “We won't see your brother for the next six days, so I thought we should have a special meal together.”
Rosie plopped down at the table, overwhelmed by the choices in front of her, not knowing where to start.
“Thank you, Mom,” Leo said, taking his seat and grinning at his sister's reaction.
Lisa joined them, and they all began to eat, savoring each dish. Leo found it amusing to watch Rosie enjoy her food so enthusiastically, her plate quickly piling up with a little bit of everything. After the meal, Leo thanked his mother again, donned his coat, and headed for the door with Lisa by his side. Rosie remained at the table, too full and content to move.
At the door, Leo turned to his mother. “Well, Mom, I’ll see you in six days.”
Lisa hugged him tightly. “Take care, sweetie. Be careful and try to enjoy yourself. Just because it's a work trip doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun.”
Leo nodded. “I will.” He looked back at Rosie. “Goodbye, Rosie. Take care of Mom while I’m gone.”
Rosie waved lazily from her chair, a sleepy smile on her face. “I will. Bye-bye.”
Leo stepped outside into the quiet morning, taking a deep breath of the crisp air. He glanced at Rorin’s house next door, knowing he was still asleep at this hour. Rorin, a B-rank Paladin, was the reason Leo felt at ease leaving his family behind. Confident in his protection, Leo set off, his footsteps echoing in the stillness. It took him only five minutes to reach the association.
Eating the delicious breakfast his mother made took Leo longer than he expected, but he savored every bite, knowing he wouldn't have a home-cooked meal for the next six days. With a sense of urgency, he rushed to the storage room to get ready. As he put on his armor, he could feel the weight of the day ahead, both literally and figuratively. The excitement and nervousness of the upcoming mission was building inside him.
When he made it to the main hall, Liamond was already there, standing with his usual calm, relaxed expression. Leo checked his watch—he was five minutes early, but somehow, Liamond had still beaten him there.
“Good morning,” Leo said, trying to keep his voice steady.
“Good morning. You look well-rested. Did you sleep enough?” Liamond asked with his usual friendly smile.
“Yeah, I did,” Leo replied, moving to stand next to him.
Leo noticed their armor as they stood side by side. Liamond’s looked lighter, more flexible, while Leo's was heavier and built for protection. It was a small reminder of how different their approaches were—Liamond focused on speed and precision, while Leo relied more on brute strength and defense.
After a few minutes, Wina entered the hall in an outfit that made Leo's jaw drop slightly. She was dressed in a long black robe with a large hat, giving her an almost mystical appearance. The robe was open around her neck and the top of her chest in an inverted triangle shape, which Leo tried not to stare at, feeling a bit flustered. Her iron gloves, mostly hidden under her robe, had sharp fingers, making her look like a character from a storybook.
“Good morning,” Wina greeted, her voice steady and confident.
“Good morning,” Leo and Liamond responded in unison.
Liamond then added, “Shall we go?”
“Where are we going?” Leo asked, feeling a bit lost.
“To Captain Cirnath Tahroman’s headquarters. You didn’t expect him to come here, did you?” Liamond replied with a smile.
Leo nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed for not knowing. He started following Wina and Liamond outside the HQ, where a carriage awaited them. his stomach twisting with unease as he gripped the edge of the seat. Liamond tapped the wall of the carriage, and it started moving. After a minute, Leo’s curiosity got the better of him.
“Where is the other headquarters?” he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
“It’s at the end of Main Street, in Elbridge Square,” Liamond replied.
“Elbridge Square?” Leo repeated, feeling a bit anxious.
“Yes, it’s the biggest square in the city, connected to the main gate. It’s always crowded.”
Leo looked outside. They were still within their association’s territory, which gave him a small sense of comfort.
“Why are we collaborating with another headquarters? And where is our captain anyway?” Leo inquired, his voice tinged with concern.
“This kind of mission isn’t rare. There aren’t always enough forces in one headquarters. Captain and Lara went to a meeting with Captain Gerhard Schuster,” Liamond explained, his tone reassuring.
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Leo nodded, taking a deep breath to steady himself. he felt a bit more prepared to face whatever challenges awaited them.
After ten minutes, they reached Elbridge Square. Leo peered out the window, taking in the bustling scene. Elbridge Square was enormous, with numerous large carriages coming and going through the main city gate. Across the square, Leo noticed a truly massive building.
Liamond leaned closer, looking out as well. “Isn’t it impressive?”
“Yes, what is that?” Leo asked, his curiosity piqued.
“It’s the grand cathedral, where Bishop Oryu resides.”
The grand cathedral stood majestically in the heart of the city, its towering spires reaching towards the heavens. The entrance was flanked by massive white stone pillars, each intricately carved with ancient runes. The enormous metal door at the front was a work of art, adorned with exquisite carvings depicting legendary battles and celestial beings. Stained glass windows, depicting scenes of heroic deeds and divine miracles, lined the walls, casting vibrant hues of light onto the polished marble floor. The roof was adorned with golden statues of winged guardians, their eyes seemingly watching over all who approached.
“But where we’re going is over there,” Liamond said, pointing.
Leo followed his finger and saw another building that looked strikingly similar to their own paladin association. The structure was solid and imposing, with sturdy stone walls. Uniformed paladins moved purposefully around the grounds, adding to the sense of disciplined activity. Though it lacked the grandeur of the cathedral, the building exuded a sense of strength and readiness. Unlike theirs, this HQ was connected to the main street.
The carriage stopped in front of the headquarters. Leo followed Liamond and Wina out of the carriage, taking in the imposing building before them. They walked inside, passing through a door and a corridor before reaching the main hall. Though the layout was familiar, there were noticeable differences. This headquarters had larger windows that let in more light, and the far side of the hall was lined with numerous doors leading to unknown rooms.
In the center of the hall sat a woman at a table, much like Lara's in their own HQ. Behind her was a door, which Leo guessed led to Captain Cirnath’s office. Aside from the woman, three other people were in the hall. One of them, a man as tall as Liamond with short black curly hair and black eyes, began walking toward them. His features were unremarkable but exuded a quiet confidence.
"Liamond," he said, raising his hand in greeting. "It's been a long time."
Liamond shook his hand and smiled warmly. "Carter, how have you been?" He then gestured towards Wina and Leo. "You know Wina, and this is Leo Mantine."
As they spoke, the other two individuals approached, joining the group.
“Leo, this is Carter Paddley, Adam Rylan, and Evelyn Hampton,” Liamond introduced.
Carter nodded in acknowledgment, his black eyes assessing Leo briefly before returning to Liamond. Adam, a burly man with a friendly demeanor, smiled and gave a small wave. He also had short black hair, but his green eyes were larger than Carter's, and his overall features were more striking. Evelyn, a petite woman with sharp, observant eyes, nodded politely. She had a small nose, big black eyes, and long black hair tied in a ponytail.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all," Leo said, feeling a bit more at ease with the introductions.
“Welcome,” Carter replied. “We’ve heard good things about you. Let’s head inside and get started.”
They all proceeded to the door behind the woman at the table. As Leo had suspected, it led to Cirnath’s office. Following Liamond and Wina inside, Leo placed his fist on his chest in salute. Despite having seen Cirnath before, Leo couldn’t help but be struck by his commanding presence. Cirnath’s eyes were a dark blue, more intense than Liamond's, and his hair was longer, cascading past his shoulders. He had an aura of authority that demanded respect.
Cirnath nodded, and they all lowered their hands.
“Captain Cirnath, Captain Edmond asked me to give this to you,” Liamond said, handing over a letter.
Cirnath opened the letter and read it carefully. The room was silent, the tension palpable as they waited for his response. After a moment, he set it down and addressed the group with a serious expression.
“Everyone, pay attention. I want to brief you on the details of the mission. We need to deliver an item to Niver. This task is fraught with potential dangers. The item in question is an A-rank harp with a unique and dangerous negative effect. The harp has a mind of its own and will play itself if not actively used. Its range of influence is approximately one kilometer, and its effects are unpredictable.”
Leo felt a shiver run down his spine at the thought of an item so powerful and volatile. He glanced at Wina, who looked equally concerned.
“So we have to keep it from playing itself?” Wina asked, her voice tinged with apprehension.
“Not exactly,” Cirnath replied. “The harp’s negative effect is that it takes control of those who play it if they lack sufficient concentration and control. Even for an A-rank, it’s a challenge to handle.”
“So what should we do?” Carter asked, his brow furrowing as he tried to comprehend the gravity of the situation.
“There is a magic circle we can use to compel the harp to play calming music, but it requires constant activation. We need two people to maintain the circle at all times, rotating every six hours. If the spell lapses, the harp will regain control. Also, we have five minutes between each group change.”
“Why don’t you activate the spell Captain?” Evelyn asked, her voice steady but her eyes reflecting a flicker of concern.
“First, I need to remain vigilant and monitor our surroundings. Second, I will use a protective spell on your minds to shield you from the harp’s corruptive influence.”
Cirnath continued, his gaze sweeping over each of them, “Our teams will be as follows: Adam and Liamond, Evelyn and Wina, and Leo, you’ll be with Carter. Carter has excellent mana control and can assist you if you struggle with the spell. Captain Edmond speaks highly of your abilities, Leo, but this mission will test your experience, so caution is paramount.”
Leo felt a surge of both pride and anxiety. The responsibility was immense, but he was determined to prove himself. He placed his fist on his chest again, his voice steady despite the nerves. “Understood. Thank you, Captain.”
Cirnath nodded. “Good. Let’s move out.”
As they turned to leave, Leo caught a reassuring smile from Liamond and a determined nod from Wina.
They followed Him outside, anticipation hanging in the air.
"Mina, is everything ready?” Cirnath asked.
The woman behind the desk, already standing, adjusted her glasses and replied, "Yes, Captain. The item is being transferred to the front of the cathedral."
Cirnath nodded and started walking again, the six others trailing behind him. They headed straight for the cathedral. After a ten-minute walk, they reached their destination, where a large carriage awaited them.
"Alright, we’ll start with Liamond and Adam’s group," Cirnath said, his tone firm and businesslike.
He opened the door of the carriage and stepped inside, followed closely by Liamond and Adam. Leo managed a quick glance inside, spotting a large golden harp and two seats before Cirnath came back out and shut the door.
“Let’s go,” Cirnath commanded, his voice carrying a note of urgency.
He started walking, the carriage rolling behind him. Wina and Evelyn flanked the sides of the carriage, while Carter guided Leo to walk at the rear.
As they approached the main gate of the city, Leo's eyes kept darting to the carriage, knowing Liamond and Adam were inside, performing the spell amidst the jostling movement. His nerves tightened with every step.
Carter noticed and gave Leo a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, we’ve got this.”
Leo nodded, appreciating Carter's confidence. As they passed through the city gates, he took a deep breath and glanced back, taking in the towering structure. It would be his first time outside the city, and the unknown stretched out before him, both thrilling and daunting.