The morning passed without a hitch. The sun looked at Henwales and its people from above, as everyone gathered for lunch. After a light walk on the district, Mido and Wiz were called to the restaurant the group frequent on.

“D-7, prepare to eat for lunch together. See you at the usual.” The voice that emanated from both of their comms was a familiar, commanding one.

“Got it, captain. We’ll be there shortly.”

Wiz sighed relief as she put the phone back into her pocket.

“He must’ve figured something out, considering what happened yesterday.” Mido pointed out as Wiz waved for him to come.

“I only hope so. The captain always kept his cool on times like this, but that meant he also comes out as dense. We can only predict his shortcomings once he speaks his mind out.” Replied Wiz.

Mido recalled the time Gris and Fein came with him to be appraised at the monastery. Contrary to what she said, the captain’s personality was more lighthearted than usual at that time.

“…But he does seem to be goofy at times.” He chuckled, and Wiz stopped to see the scenery beside them. The usual distant mountain ranges and the sea of trees below Henwales.

“Yeah! Sometimes, that side of his surfaces. I remember my first winter, together with the team…” She paused, before sighing and pushing Mido to walk.

“Ah, but I won’t let you get jealous of it!” She giggled.

“Why would I? I had my fair share of snow back at… Mido.” His face slowly saddened, remembering the event etched in his memory, and what made it all blank. He was about to fall to the dark abyss that was his mind again when Wizbette held his hand that gripped hard at the railing.

“I’m sorry, Mido.” She assured, holding his hand tight as she looked at him with gleaming emerald eyes.

“Let’s walk now, shall we?”

The two trailed along the pathways between the buildings. People had their fair share of time together during this moment, and they just had theirs.

Winding up to a few more stalls, and after seeing the wisteria tree at the park, the two eventually came to the front door of the restaurant.

For the first time, Mido looked at the sign above the stylized doors.

“Mountain… Spices, huh…”

“Most officers frequent this place.” The door swung open as the chimes rung, and Sora came out. He wore a neutral face as he looked at Mido and Wiz.

“Welcome, you two.” He greeted, and swung the door fully, waving them to come inside.

“Please excuse us.”

Mido came here before, but feeling the smooth aroma of spices from the kitchen, seeing the currently-sparse patrons sitting and eating on the tables, and the overall welcoming look of the ochre-painted walls wholeheartedly made him feel like it was his first time entering the place.

“The others are upstairs.”

“Okay. Thanks, Sora.” Wiz said.

“No problem.” Sora climbed the wooden stairway a few steps from the counter. The two soon followed.

The three were greeted to a view. A lone, long table dominated the center, sitting above a warm brown carpet. Ornate décor dotted the place, and the windows were arched the same way as the windows from below. To the right of the stairs was a door that led to the other partitions of this floor.

Enna, Gris, Gen, and Stera were occupied with talking to each other. Enna clung to the latter two, her mouth not refraining from speaking. Judging from Gen’s smug expression, they were talking about their new dark-haired companion, Stera. Wearing a beige cardigan, the change in her shape became more noticeable, as her body regained its health after being saved from that establishment. She gave off a friendly ambiance, considering she now had new acquaintances, and out of that abusive noble cesspool she once settled to.

The two sat beside the others, and Enna took glances at them.

“Oh, these two… I have to say, the group became livelier when Mido and Stera came.” Brushing her shoulder-length hair to its tips, she sighed and leaned on the chair she sat on.

“Ahh~ I’m itching to see more of you four!” She exclaimed, her sudden yell even turned the head of Gris, who was leisurely smoking by himself on the balcony.

Gen stood up and slowly approached Enna’s space.

“You know…” She squeezed and slapped Enna on her cheek as her hands were stretched out behind her.

“If you were that thirsty, get a man already!” He suddenly revved up his hand and pinched Enna on her cheek painfully. She squirmed and flailed around, but Gen already locked her arms with his own, preventing her to break from his clutch without tumbling the chair itself.

“Ow! I prefer to be third-person than first-person!” She lashed out, nearly ruining the meticulous table dressing in front of her.

“Gen, aren’t you hurting her a bit too much?” Luckily, the confused Stera pulled the skirting before she could touch it with her legs.

“Ah… Gods.” Gris cursed, but eventually chuckled, and turned back to his own business. Leaning at the balcony, he dipped the cigarette and set it aside.

‘They sure are goofballs, but I’m glad they know how to do their jobs seriously. Laughter does help much, considering that we live in this world.’

“Guys, stop it already. If captain Fein sees you like this, I’m sure he’ll reprimand you again with paying for the food.” Sora placed his hands on the table. He advised, but no one from the two listened. Not a moment too soon, they already made half of the room their battlefield, throwing insults at each other with not a care for their surroundings.

“Are these two naturally full of energy like that?” Mido asked, in all seriousness, but Wizbette was too busy chuckling.

“They’re like cat and dog… how amusing…” Stera trailed Gen and Enna from her seat.

“Well, Enna and Gen were the first members to get along with each other, according to Gris. When their bond became too inseparable from both work and leisure, the two eventually acted like that.”

“Hmm… That brings me to the question: what is your history? This group, D-7?” Mido pondered as he and Stera looked at Sora. He was appalled at the sight of two people inquiring him, but he poured water into a cup, drank it, cleared his throat, and began to answer.

“You see, captain Fein was once a member of D-5. For personal reasons, he was transferred to a new designation, which is D-7. Us. Gris, Enna, and Gen were the first batch of members the captain took the responsibility of. Both me and Wiz came in at roughly the same time, and then you, Mido. That recon task we took that coincidentally saved your life was my sixth job with them. Good times, but in all seriousness, work is hard to deal with. You investigate, get past a roadblock, get injured, healed, recover, conclude, and report. One way or another, that is an Apprehension Group’s work cycle.”

Sora was oddly captivating when he spoke. From the looks of it, he made for a good speaker, as he, albeit indirectly, swayed the two from noticing the chaos that ensued around them, courtesy of the usual troublemakers.

“The other groups… why can’t we see them as often?”

“The world is an incredibly huge place, and our work often extends to other regions as well. I can go out and say that Reiss might be the nearest job we did yet, but then again, I don’t necessarily keep track of the distance that much. D-5, the one we encountered when our group took the job at Reiss were investigating near Anvil, a desert city. It’s pretty far away, so naturally, I’ve gone against taking that job.”

“Vassal United, huh…” Stera pondered. “You are a continental organization, right?”

Sora nodded. “Yes, and there are more branches active in the continent. We aren’t exchanging information as much at the moment, as tension is rising between countries; it became harder for the branches to keep in touch with each other, so we’re stuck to where our hands could reach. For now.”

Sora paused before speaking.

“But back to our topic at hand. A word of advice: I’d go against digging deep into the past life of our colleagues. Everyone in here came from many angles of life, each different from your scenarios. I’m sure you understand that, Mido. But if you ask me, a little lay of the land wouldn’t hurt to divulge.” He sipped on the cup again.

“Thank you for that advice, Sora.” The two said, which ushered him into a confused look. To refrain from staring at the two, Sora lifted the cup and stared at the water through its glossy glass.

“Eh, I wouldn’t call it an ‘advice.’ It’s just a precaution. But yeah, don’t mention it.”

As the three leaned back on their seats, footsteps coming from the stairs slowly reverberated.

“Oi. You’re like rabid dogs. Staff said your footsteps are being heard from the kitchen below.” Fein looked at Gen and Enna, who immediately behaved themselves.

“Good noon, captain!” Everyone acknowledged his presence. He waved gently with his arm, signaling to ease themselves.

“I’ve already ordered the usual. If you want any desserts, just call for the waiters.” He sat on a vacant chair, setting aside a bag he carried on his side.

Stretching from his seat, Fein looked at everyone before opening his mouth. “Oh, and they have a discount on the weekend, so we might be here for a while.” He smiled.

“Ha~ captain, what’s with the charm, all of a sudden?” Enna asked.

“Yeah, where did the grumpy look gone off to, Fein?” Gen followed.

“I’ve talked with the Secretary. Said she’s going to help us ‘personally,’ in a sense.”

“Hmm, true.” Gris took a chair and sat. Now, they were all sitting around the table, with only the food missing.

“If we’re up against a Void Vassal with an organized group, we may need more heads than ourselves.”

“Peram and Vivace’s group. We haven’t seen them in action yet, but they might be of help…” Wiz noted.

“Sure, their potential cannot go unnoticed, but the Secretary herself said that she’ll help us. So how then, captain?” Sora looked at Fein, who sat straight as if some dignified noble possessed him.

“Our vehicle is still under repairs, so we can’t travel back to Reiss for a few days. However, she entrusted us with a reserve op to scout the place. They’re capable, but she had to pull some strings to permit assistance, so we have to thank her.”

“Why can’t we use other vehicles, or borrow them?” Mido asked.

Gris sighed. “I know kid, but Vassal United ruled out that we can only use the registered vehicles we are serviced too, and we only have the Beaver. It’s reasonable though since damages are tough to keep track off of R&D, as they procure materials from other sources, which in of itself, a rough operation at the moment.”

“Oh…”

“Right.” Fein continued. “We haven’t got any information about the enemy yet, but the Secretary assured that the scouts will do their utmost best to observe and extract any suspicious movements in Reiss. They will also be patched to both mine and her comms, so their readings will be recorded on both sides.”

“Good. Finally, things aren’t looking so grim, huh.” Gris laughed.

“Ahh~ I wish I did not leave that door open… All of this would be so much easier…” Enna looked at her bandaged arm, the one where Woodcarver dug splinters into and healed by Wiz.

“Oh. So, is that why you were so gloomy, Enna?” Wiz leaned her head. Enna looked down.

“No one’s at fault here. I also should’ve just interrogated her immediately, but I didn’t. Still, we need to move forward. It’s the one thing we must remember as Vassals.” Said Fein.

“I thought… you were mad at me, captain.” Enna whimpered, clasping her hands together between her thighs.

Fein looked at her and scoffed. “Bah, I’ve had a fair share of your and Gen’s mischief. I’m not mad, Enna. I never was.”

“Really?” Enna blushed, but Gen invited himself to snap her out of it.

“He is not. You’re just dumb, now stop that creepy stare.”

“Ahh~ alright then.” She pleasured to use the table as a headrest.

Finally, the sound of a bell dinging permeated their ears. After a while, the sweet, sour, and tasty aroma of different meals captivated their noses and aroused their taste buds.

The platters were arranged one by one, and the curtains were half-closed. The still-hot food enveloped its scent in the room, making everyone’s stomach grumble in unison. The waiters waved after sending all of their orders neatly.

Arranging themselves into a single-file, the waiters warmly greeted D-7/

“Enjoy the food, officers!”

“Thank you for the food!”

“Hahh… *burp*”

“Enna. Just… eugh. Right in my face, too.”

They were like soldiers after a victory, eating much of the food until to their capacities. Wiz and Mido were staring blankly at their emptied plates, the food it held went straight to their stomachs. Gris dabbed his lips on the rim of a glass filled with alcohol, being cautious about his drinking volume.

As Fein, who ate as a noble would, was finishing his last bites, he glanced at Stera, who was smiling. She was like a surgeon, dissecting much of the unfamiliar food using her arms in a way that her elbows almost reached the others on her sides, before shooting it down into her mouth. Needless to say, however, she genuinely enjoyed her little endeavor.

After she settled down her utensils, Fein leaned on the table.

“Ahem. So, Stera. How do you like D-7 so far?”

“Eh? Eh?” Enna was startled while tracing the rim of the glass cup. Her head was way up in the skies, still imagining the view from the monastery she and Gen looked at.

“Hmm… Is she still drowsy? Or maybe it was the food...”

“Stera slept soundly last night, so—”

“Gen.” Enna turned her head dramatically to him.

“Did you let Stera… sleep in your room?”

“Yeah. Is that bad—gah!” She punched him in the shoulder repeatedly and getting faster by the second.

“No wonder she’s clueless~”

“Oi! Stop it! You’re gonna punch a hole through my arm!”

“Ah, Gen! Moving your way up, now, aren’t we?!” Looking around the room, it seemed like Enna was the only one that was genuinely excited about this fact. Stera was blushing, Wiz was her typical self, snickering, and the rest were confused.

“Alright, we have to dismiss that matter to them. So, I’ll ask again, now that I have your attention: How do you like us so far?”

Stera stammered a bit before regaining her composure. The two tucked in, waiting to hear her answer.

“I guess you are nice people… I mean, you saved me and others from that forest, and even invited me to this city!”

“Meh, it was Gen’s idea,” Sora whispered.

“So, I’m happy. I’m happy that I followed you all here. I’m glad I did not have to come back to the nobles.”

“Again, Gen’s idea.”

Fein closed his eyes before staring back at her.

“But how will you continue your life from now on? You have no connections, no real home, and there’s that case of your ability…”

“Gen and sir Gris helped me in finding a possible solution. We came to a monastery earlier and sought help. And, in time, I think I can be of help to you people.”

‘So they sought Watcher Enzo for help… Good initiative, I have to say.’

“In time, huh…” Fein touched his chin. “We don’t exactly have that liberty, not now. We have pressing matters to deal with, and I fear that bringing you along back to Reiss is a bad idea.”

Before finishing his last shot, Gris pointed a finger upwards. “Fein, doesn’t command hire interns for the lobby? They had a shortage of staff for weeks now, as many moved up to the offices.”

Suddenly, a possibility passed by Fein’s mind. “Hmm… Say, are you interested in staying here?” He asked. Stera vigorously nodded.

“You might need to step up your social skills, but the least you can go for is a job in our offices. The lobby, specifically.”

“Eheh… I’m sorry, sir, but I’m more of a hunter…” She scratched her head.

“Ah well, Vassal United isn’t actually hiring hunters at the moment. We have the locals for that. And besides, being a worker vouched by an officer could yield you a good reputation, not mentioning a room of your own.” Sora detailed.

“R-Really?” She stammered, and the possibility of a permanent home etched into Stera’s mind. She had gone far enough with unfair treatment; she thought of this as a way her hardships reward her.

“The offices give you your room after the internship, and you’ll also have a salary for personal use. You’ll also have the liberty to move to other departments if necessary, and fellow personnel will formally teach you. It’s too good to be true, but believe me: Vassal United is that generous to people like us.” Fein emphasized, and this seemed to captivate her interest more.

“Well… How can I join in?” She asked, like a child, innocently.

“For starters, you need document identity validity, but Henwales is a condensed place; there are some people I know that are willing to help.”

“So, what do you say?” Gris leaned on the chair.

Stera’s expression was full of pent-up emotions. She looked like she was about to hug the captain tightly, but that would be unreasonable of her. Instead, she cleared her throat and said the deciding words.

“Uhm… of course, I guess. You offer me a new life here, so I have no choice but to take it, for the sake of my late family, and to repay your kindness.” She exhaled and smiled at Fein.

“Good, that sure brings a smile to my face. Say thanks to Gen. He went out of his way to convince me to help you.”

“Oi… capt—” Gen’s mouth was sealed shut by Enna.

“Idiot. Captain’s helping you. He knows.” She whispered as Gen grabbed her hand and put it away.

“Heh. So, you really went so much, huh?” Stera asked, lining up her eyes against Gen.

“I… I guess so. It’s for your good, so why wouldn’t I?” He played along.

Stera giggled and covered her mouth, but the tips of her lips came into view from her small hand; her smile was intense enough that her cheeks went red.

“Thank you, Gen.”

It was an hour and a half when they finally left the restaurant. They decided to go on a leisure walk together, as there was not much to do. While others were busy entertaining Stera, Gen stuck into Fein’s side.

“Fein. What the hell? I did not do anything!”

“I’ll admit, I went with that proposal without your knowledge…” Fein sighed and looked at the bright afternoon sky, with the healthy clouds shading its blue shades.

“You saw something in that girl, didn’t you?”

“Huh. What made you think of it?”

“it’s all laid out in front of us. Just don’t be dense, and see for yourself.”

“Ah, fine!” Gen thrashed his hands and supported his head with them. “I do like her. It’s just that… it’s not the right time. And you know that, Fein.”

“Right. It’s not the right time. But you lost family, and she lost hers. I believe one can fill the gap of the other.”

Gen scoffed. “It’s not that simple.”

“It may be, but we can’t say for sure, Gen. Deny it if you will, but you yearn love from someone. Everyone does. Even me, a man even denser than you.” He chuckled, gripping the weaved handle of his bag tightly.

“Have you ever looked at our princess and Mido, Fein? How did they become so close?” The two looked at Mido and Wiz. They were also bundled up with the others a few meters in front of them, but the two were noticeably closer to each other.

“Wizbette personally saved him. Since she used a part of her to heal his wounds, Mido must’ve thought that he owes his life to her. That’s why it’s in his mind; he’s predisposed to stay at her side, as a way to repay it. You, however, must work from square one. But you were the one to see and listen to her pleas and saved her. That’s enough to bridge trust among a fellow person.”

“Huh… That’s a mouthful. Thanks for the ‘enlightenment,’ I guess, but I bet ol’ sis would’ve spat out a piece of more understandable advice. I’ll go on ahead then, captain!” He put both hands into his pocket and joined the others.

Fein was left alone behind them. He sighed, hearing the word ‘sister’ from Gen.

‘You’ve always kept her tight. I’m glad I talked to you at that time.’

As they walked through the beautiful park, Fein’s position gave him the full view of his colleagues. Seeing them fooling around and smiling together made him remember his old days.

‘D-5. Nico and the others. We took a picture here together during our first years. It was a fun experience.’ He slowly walked on the pavement, tracing every step as he went.

‘Now these people. I never had a picture with them. I guess I was too dense back then.’

“Oii~ Captain, someone’s here to take a shot of us!”

“Captain, captain! A picture! We haven’t had one for so long!”

Wiz and Enna jumped as a man positioned a tripod in front of them.

‘Ah, there they are.’

“Quickly! You’re too slow!”

He jogged with his jacket on and took to the side of the bunch. Gris, with his big hand, pushed Fein to the center of the frame, right in the middle of them all.

“You should be here.”

“Ah—right.”

Everyone positioned themselves in front of the wisteria tree, the sun highlighting their shapes on the man’s camera.

“Alright, one, two, three!”

“Give your best smiles, everyone!”

The camera snapped. It took more burst shots before finally registering into the synthetic film.

The group promptly thanked and paid the man, with Fein giving a little bit extra for a duplicate.

“Ah, look! We should have one in our rooms!” Enna said in awe as the others slipped their heads in to see.

Designation Seven. They might be Vassals, often considered as dangerous by most, and respected with dignity by others, but no matter how much they deny it, they are still people. They still need bonds, even more so during these trying times.

Alto is a cruel world, where death is taken for granted, and chaos happens everywhere, be it silent or one that can topple mountains. But even in the hardest of times, even if your line of work consists of apprehending your kind, which unfortunately almost always leads to slaughter, you might just need a genuine smile, coming from genuine friends, to negate all the heavy burden’s you might face.

Alto is a cruel, tumultuous world. Nonetheless, even facing that fact, the people who live in it manage to smile.

On the side, Fein carefully slipped his duplicate into his jacket.

Live, as always, D-7.