In a rare time of good fortune, that day was her off day.

A day where she could take the free time she had to focus on herself and relax.

Ever since that night, she could not get what she and her companions have done out of her mind. It all happened so fast, from the accidental death to them throwing away her body to cremate in that furnace. It was strange.

“Carole, you would believe what happened last night with-”

She did not want to get caught. She nodded her head to the tale-teller showing to them that she wanted to hear the rest of their monotonous story.

Her wings bonded to her back, hidden beneath her shirt amongst her so-called peers. She continued her attempt at a friendly persona. At least as much as she could.

“I dunno about that,” she replied.

Inane, empty responses to inane empty conversations were key to staying inconspicuous. Enough to get her to seem part of a group and normal, but never enough to give away too much and draw attention or socially drain her.

Just like many years ago, among a group, she was an invisible addition to them.

She was something that was there, to copy what she saw and apply her lethargic version. Even while she played that role, all she could honestly hear coming out of their mouths was static.

Of course, she was usually very intoxicated during those times. All to make the conversations less of an existential pain.

Now that she thought about it, ever since that night…

She had no desire to drink.

Her mind wanted to be awake.

Yet... why did her desire after so many failed attempts vanished?

Why?

That... that was not normal.

Eventually, she was physically alone; they all went off to drink at the bars of Ildens without her. She refused their offer, stating, to her internal disgust, she did not drink because of religious reasons.

The thing that got her into this position from the very beginning. Religious beliefs…

An angel with broken wings, with an inability to do much of anything.

Not even an actual one, just artificial, same with the metals and pipes.

With the tippy taps of her cane, she went to check on, as much as she hated to admit, the few people that did not drain her. At least as quickly.

Loukas was an enigma. She had a feeling he was taking 'the incident' the hardest, but there’s nothing she could tangibly do about it. Especially if he was so guarded. It does not help that he only seemed to have time to meet with them late in the evening.

He told them it was because by the end of the year he would take over the company and thus his training has increased in its length and frequency.

....

What training leaves you with injuries like that? Especially with business?

It was still 3 pm, so highly doubtful she would meet him, leaving only the troublesome goat boy for her to contend with. She needed to check how things are on his end. It does not hurt to be careful.

She let out a shiver. They should turn up the heat already, it had gotten colder outside recently.

Around that corner was a place away from cameras and a hallway usually locked away by a key Loukas conveniently made copies of for them. The end of that particular hallway was the balcony.

“Soooo, that’s why you’ve been giving me so much stuff, Voice lady? I couldn’t care less about the climate. I’m not some tree humping loser,” A familiar crass voice said to whoever this was on the other end.

Strange, Loukas would not normally be out around this time for him to talk to. As she got a closer look, she saw the man relaxing in a chair smiling at the laptop screen chatting away blissfully. His fluffy ears flicked in her direction as she approached.

He turned to her with at first annoyance before letting out an excitable smile and a spring in his step, tackling her with a hug. She at this point did nothing to decline said affection.

“Aw Carly, I was so lonely and bored.”

Despite keeping her usual aura of coolness, she sighs and did not push him away. “You are always those two things. And next time specify in your texts about what you want. The only thing I understood was ‘Balcon Time’... and even then..” she explained as Hide looked up at her still smiling.

“Well Carly, I can’t be specific and talk like some plebeian. We don’t know who could be listening,” He let her out of his embrace as he tapped a key on his laptop. Before she could continue their banter, she heard... that voice…

“Well, he’s right, even now I kinda have to be careful. He’s pretty smart,” that nasally voiced chimed before its cheery tone changed to one of shock, “... wait, C-Carole?!,”

The face on the screen was unmistakable despite the clear ageing from teenager to adult. Long brown hair flowing well past her shoulders. Sharp inquisitive green eyes that despite their occasional lethargy were always searching and covered by her wild mane. Tanned, clear skin. The woman in a light loose sweater and wool beanie in her dim bedroom brought Carole back to so many memories.

To think four years ago that sight would be one of the few things to take her breath away….

Now it still does, but Carole hoped for a completely different reason this time.

The woman’s eyes lit up in recognition, yet instead of the usual joy or happiness, it was a simple….. discomfort and nervousness.

This did not surprise Carole. It would have been odder and more painful if there was any genuine joy found between them anymore.

Hide, strangely, seemed to be sensitive to the tension in the air between the two girls as he let out a cough to pry their attention from each other as he fidgets in place. He gestured to Carole, “Yeah, that’s Carly, that’s not her actual name, but screw that.”

He then gestures to Emilia, “Carly, this is Lucky, I don’t care about her real name either or can remember it, screw that too. Also, no need to stare at each other. It's very rude.”

Emilia tilts her head to the side, “Oh um... Hey... Carole... Long time no see,”

“Likewise,” was her only real response.

Emilia stumped onto what to say next before she said, “So I guess you got a boyfriend now, congrats. whoo. I mean, he is a bit of an um... asshole yeah that's the word I'm looking for bu-"

“He’s not my boyfriend,” Carole tilted her head to Hide, who was fidgeting at the awkward reunion but still could make the face of disgust at the assumption.

At least she can at least the obvious repulsion.

“What did you even tell her?” she whispered to him grabbing his arm roughly

Shaking his head he said, “Hey, Hey, don’t put that on me, Nasal mouth made her assumptions by herself. Leave me out of this.”

Emilia with her hand under her chin in thought under bangs seemed to be putting together that she was wrong. She always had an interesting way of thinking with her tongue sticking out at the corner of her mouth.

"soo guess I was wrong, haha, sorry," she said with a snap of her fingers. "yeah, I mean like sorry for being all eye relations."

"well, who cares," Hide interrupted, "I know my charms can get a lot of hot people on my tail so I don't blame you for thinking that."

Carole wondered how long until they figure out he's tiring.

"So you and Carly are like"

"Were friends," Emilia swiftly said a bit faster than how usually spoke.

“Friend, huh? Is that it?” Carole covered her mouth once she realized what she just said. She… did not mean to say anything. But how could she not say anything?

Hide looked between the two women as he probably got a clue on what was going on. Hopefully, he knows to keep his mouth shut.

“Well, Carly looks like we're done with intros and boring shit. But if not friends. I can guess-”

Of course, he does not.

Amilia gave a tense smile, “Carole's... um”

"Ex," Carole finished. She honestly wanted this to end.

Hide gave a melodramatic gasp, even though he probably already figured it out.

“Introductions are not what you're chatting with Hide for," Carole said, still not taking her eyes off the girl on the screen.

“Uh, nooo," Emila replied back looking around as if there was a chance of someone overhearing her. "Yes, I know, dull start. But have any of you noticed the colder temperatures recently?... Ildens used to have some sunlight every week but for the past few months the sky hasn’t cleared up.”

“Is this another one of your conspiracy theories?,” Carole spoke up, gripping her arm, “Of course it's cold, the sun is being blocked by smog for decades now.”

Emilia let out a tired sigh as she looked at the purple-eyed angel who had not tried to hide her glare.

“Carole... Look, I know, I used to say a lot of dumb stuff, but,” She grew oddly serious, “There’s a reason I'm chit-chatting with Fluffy the tiny terror over there.”

"Call me Fluffy again and I blow your brains out Nasal mouth."

"Also they were not that dumb, they were just alternative," She stuck her tongue out lazily.

If lizard men are alternative, Carole did not want to know what crosses her line.

“Urg, Carly, Nasal mouth gave me my laptop and shit because I would owe her a solid in her little conspiracy theory,” Hide asked, not bothered by the tension. He gave that faux innocent smile, “Wow, I thought I was shitty. Very manipulative of a poor enslaved goat boy, if you ask me.”

"Hey, wait.. what. I would have given it to you anyway," Emilia said not even remotely bothered. She pouted, “Jerk… odd changes in temperatures would be normal, but the continuous drop is not. Maybe we were dropping due to no angel. But... Carole is here. The temperature should be more consistent at least."

"And we have probably the best one, at least she's useful," Hide remarked quickly.

Carole leaned on to her cane casually as she gained a bit of confidence from Hide’s odd defense of her. It was odd to hear someone say that. usually, when people hear she's an angel they tend to get.. disappointed, “What are you implying with that statement?”

Emilia looked at her with confusion, "Huh? nothing that's what I'm wondering, it's so weird you know."

The woman's confusion was strangely comforting. At least she can count on Lu- Emilia on not being judgemental on her status.

"Nothing.. and what you want us to do?" Carole asked calmly.

“The two of you to investigate,” Lucky drawled out, “Carole, I’m sorry how things went down between us, but you have to know you might be in danger. Something isn’t right.”

Her hands were on the table as she made her statement with confidence, “I just want you to investigate for yourselves and know what’s going on.”

"And for your curiosity," Carole added.

"Ooooh Carly having Nasal mouth on a hook," said as if he was watching some cheap drama on television.

“well, Yeah," Emelia shrugged.

At least she was honest.

"This may be a story of a lifetime, especially when it involves Ventis smog.” She sits back down and looks towards the two. “You can accept or not and I’ll find someone else. Don’t worry Hide I’m not the evil manipulator here. Just your everyday conspiracy theorist looking to expose evil corporation.”

In all honesty, her theory about the cult was somewhat accurate of a warning. However, if lizard men were real, she will judge the universe itself for validating Lucky's... Emilia's theories.

Hide cocked his head to a side as if in thought. His eyes glanced towards Carole. As if to make it more her choice in whether they will help the girl.

Carole looked at the screen of the brunette as she looked at the two with anticipation.

A petty part of her wanted to dismiss this and turn away. But her more logical and shamefully still infatuated part won out.

Thus she let out a heavy sigh and with her unnatural eyes closed, she finally said to the girls, “Fine, we accept... where and when do we start this ?”