She steps from New Reinen's space gate, a large rune-engraved portal that serves as either a beginning or an end for magic travels like this. She steps down from the gate into the center square, glances over three young recruits, two of which who promptly salute and one that just stumbles in shock and confusion, and then she passes the training grounds into the executive office of the Royal Knights of The Old Kingdom of Reinen.

Order stands in the entryway a moment, takes a breath, and waves a hand along her cheek as she speaks words from one of the many magic languages she knows. Suddenly, her dilated pupils sharpen in focus. She finds magic that quickly neutralizes alcoholic influences to be among her favorites

Order passes through the golden halls, each window ridged with flower planters and trophies of crusades long past. She moves across the regal burgundy carpets up to Redemption's office, where the birdsongs coming from the open windows overtake the busy atmosphere of the center headquarters. Sitting in one of the chairs to the side is a hulking, broad knight, a Dragon-Kin: the crossbreed of human and dragon that once threatened the entirety of human civilization. To his side is a mace the size of a person and looking as if it were hewn from the solid rock of the southern canyons.

"Knight Law," Order greets him, bowing her head as she passes. The hulking mass of scales, teeth and muscles nods back.

"Sir... By the way, Lord Knight Captain Redemption told me to wait for you and some third knight," he says, eying the chair next to him. Order stops at the door to Redemption's office.

"I prefer ma’am, if you don’t mind… So, you and I and someone else will be going on an assignment?"

"S'what I've been told, ma’am," he mutters through his bulwark of white teeth.

She raises her brows as she turns about. “Must be really important," Order says, taking a seat next to Law in the rose-scented hall, laying her gaze on the rays of sun gleaming with subdued majesty from the stained-glass windows. Order’s quiet a moment and looks at nothing in particular as Law inspects his boots.

"S'what have you been up to during the war?" Law asks, breaking the silence.

"I've been with the Blue Company up north," Order responds.

"Leading, sir?"

"Yes."

"Ahh- I hear it's been fairly easy for you."

"It has. No matter how advanced the East's technology becomes, magic is realms above it."

"Agreed."

"And yourself?"

"I've been in the Yellow Company," Law says, his words skewed with a sigh. Order raises a brow.

"How is it up front nowadays?"

Law shakes his head. "I have no idea why the D.R.’s office didn't put you there. This war would be over. Your magic can resist any of their cowardly monstrosities of science—you could just walk into camp and kill them all, I reckon."

"I think you overestimate my ability," Order says, staring straight ahead and smirking on the side of her facing away from Law.

"I'm certain you're just being humble, sir."

"Perhaps... but a Dragon-Kin like you wouldn't have a problem with being on the front lines, would you?"

"Not really, my armor s'thick it deflects bullets; only thing I need to look for are the cannon shots."

"Cannon?" Order asks, turning her head to the word. Law shakes his head, his long mail clinking with each change of direction.

"Really big firearms- saw one shoot a Ragnivanian boy's head right off."

"Like magic bolts?"

"Yes."

Order draws back into her seat and raises a brow in intrigue. "Interesting... but to be honest I don't think I would be of as much help there with you."

"Why's that?"

She raises her brows frankly. "I don't kill people if I can prevent it."

He squints an eye. "What do you mean?"

“Personal policy, don’t worry about it.”

“If you’d grant me the leave, I’d be curious to know.”

She smiles, takes a breath, and nods. "I've been around way too long, Law. I lost my taste for killing people quite a while ago- especially innocents who are forced to fight by their rulers. It’s easy to look at them like the enemy, but I’ve seen so many sides of so many wars, I know it’s never just as simple as killing bad guys," Order says calmly. Law snorts out a breath of hot air, staring at the wall alongside her.

"You m-… defeated many dragons in the Extermination Wars. They feel as much pain as a human would; what makes them so different? Are you so averse to killing humans simply because they’re your own kind?" Law asks, turning his gaze to her, though not moving his head to do so. Order pauses in thought. For a moment she considers answering honestly, but thinks better of it.

"I didn't hate the dragons, Rayull," Order says, calling Law by his true name, "but they threatened humanity, the fairies, the orcs, and everyone else," she adds. Law scrapes his boot against the marble floor with an easy motion as he lets out a quick, gentle scoff.

"Call me Law. And then after you removed the dragons, you removed the orcs. After the orcs came anything else you didn’t like the looks of. Only the fairies still have their own land outside of humanity's grasp, and that’s only thanks to their considerations with the W.K.D.R.."

Order raises her brows, still not looking over to Law. "That's not my responsibility, and it's not my fault. They waged war, and you need to remember I'm a soldier, not a ruler. I don’t make the decisions."

"S'why do you suddenly turn away from killing humans?

"I follow my orders. If I'm placed on the front line, I'll do it and I'll take care of it- that's it. I won’t enjoy it, but I’ll do it if I have to. I’d rather send them back home with a warning and a story, rather than on shields," Order says, joining her hands together pensively. Law stares at Order for a few seconds and then turns back to inspect his weapon.

"I suppose that's sensible, ma’am. I just think you could be of more help elsewhere. If you cared s'much about human lives, why don't you just march into the Eastern Capital and threaten to kill him if he doesn't stop the war?"

"You know my real job, Law."

"The ‘Chaos Slayer?’"

"It's the popular title, but I hate it personally."

"Why's that?"

Finally, she glances his way as she lets out a scoff. "It implies that I ever killed him."

There’s a short pause as Law mulls it over. After a few seconds, he nods. "You're right, ma’am; I'm sorry. It must be hard, not being able to leave the Western Kingdoms in the case he should attack," Law says, stealthily eying the lady next to him; it’s hard to blame him, after all. Few knights ever get to talk to Order personally, let alone go on a mission with her.

"It's been a long life to live in one place,” she says. “I've seen much of the world, almost every corner and nook, but sometimes I wonder how much more I would have seen if I weren't waiting for Chaos."

"I suppose it's a job someone needs t'do. Thank you for your service," Law says with a slow, methodical nod.

"And yours," She says with a nod back.

"But unlike you, I'm allowed to go on leave. You sacrifice much more than any of us."

"You're wrong there, I'm still here after almost seven thousand years, in this waiting room we call life. There are people who have given much more than I and have moved on."

Law squints at Order. “Do you seek death?"

"No, I’m happy, I suppose, but I think anyone would get a little bitter about millennia passing once you start forgetting people. You meet someone, shake their hand, fall in love with them, and then the next thing you recall is headstone. It was so strange, being young; it's like a dream now."

"I… I'm sorry if I came off as disrespectful, I didn’t mean to make you sound less than you are." Law says.

Order shakes her head. “Think nothing of it,” she says.

Not a word is spoken for half a minute, as both struggle to find something to talk about that the other would appreciate.

"You're in your eighties now, right?" Order asks turning again to Law.

"Yes. The challenges of being a Dragon-Kin in a society of humans is... unique."

"I'd imagine. How's Meeo been?"

"We haven't talked," Law says. Order hums.

"For how long?"

"A few months. I have no idea what she's doing; probably something petty and childish as usual."

Order crosses her arms with a surprising modicum of sass. "I understand you find her a bit flippant, but that's no reason to say such things about the person who raised you."

"Don't remind me. Her love was smothering. I'm not a human, I can take care of myself."

"I don't doubt you can, but I'd say she did a fairly good job raising you those fifty years."

"Thank you, ma’am."

"My pleasure, Law."

"Yes, I suppose it's just irritating being around her. Still treats me like I'm a hatchling, and a Dragon-Kin finishes adolescence at around sixty. I just hate it that she still gets on my case about things like finding a girlfriend or studying for my knight exams. We've sort of… drifted apart, I suppose."

Order nods in thought just before she feels a very unique presence approaching them. Being magically attuned to a level that most archmagi can only dream of, Order can easily pick out specific people within a kilometer radius based solely on their personal magic signatures. She smirks.

"So, what would you say to her if she were here now?" Order asks, looking down the hall intently.

"I'd tell her to grow up. Adults, let alone adults thousands of years old, should act as if they grew out of being a child. I'd tell her that coloring books are for children, that people grow out of lullabies and bedtime stories, and that people who refuse to become adults refuse to improve themse-"

"Oh, Hosy, Ran! Hello!" coos a friendly, almost motherly voice from behind Law, who cringes and slowly turns his head about.

The two spot the pixie-like hair and dreamy, cloud-set eyes of an old acquaintance. As usual she has a whimsical, aloof smile across her face and carries the overpowering smell of incense. Along her practical side-slit tunic are her usual several satchels, each filled with tricks and magics confounding to all but the most sincere of magicians, and her bow, Worldloss, sitting snuggly without a quiver at her back.

Order smiles and Law promptly scowls.

“You’re kiddi-” Order cuts off Law by shoving him lightly. Law sighs.

“Meeo, hello!” Order greets Love with a nod that is almost long enough to be a bow.

“Good afternoon, Knight Love,” Law grumbles, looking away slowly in disgust.

Meeo Letlind, titled “Love” by The Royal Knights of The Old Kingdom of Reinen Titles Committee, steps up to them, looks about a moment as if there is a ghost flying around in the room, and then focuses in on her two fellow Knights.

“Hiyo! Are you both good this peculiar day?” Love asks.

Law pushes out a breath of hot air as if he were getting ready to cook Love alive. “Have some respect, Knight Love. Call us by our titles unless you intend to discredit yourself,” Law warns with a scowl, showing off his sharp teeth. Love looks at Law with her usual, unchanging smile.

“Oh?” she coos, as she places a hand on her hip, “Okay then, Mister Lord Sergeant Knight Commander of the Royal Knights of the Old Kingdom of Reinen, I.D. number 3,982, Fourth-in-Command in the Yellow Company of the Eastern wars held upon the Gaingr-”

“Funny, just my title,” Law interrupts.

Meeo places her fingers against her lips in mock surprise. “Ohhh~,you must mean Mister Lord Ser-”

“Nice to see you too, Meeo,” Order cuts in with a smirk, hearing another distressed huff from Law. Knight Love hums, moves her head about in thought, and nods.

“Very well,” Love says as she takes a seat next to Law, who groans. She snuggles up to him embarrassingly with a giddy smile.

“So, you didn’t answer my question,” she reminds while delivering a kindly poke.

“Yeah? What’s that?”

“How are you, Law?” she says.

“I’m fine.”

Love grins and hugs Law. The dragon-kin shudders on contact.

“Ohhh! I’m so happy to hear that! You know I’ve been worried about you, all of the other Knights seem so happy to talk, but you never seem to have the time!” Love says as she rubs her soft cheek on Law’s shoulder pauldron. Order grins crassly.

“Let me be, Knight Love. I don’t have time for your childish shenanigans.”

“Oh, what? You were always so playful when you were just a little hatchli-”

“I see you haven’t changed in the past year at all, Knight Love,” Law says, doing his best to defend his image in front of Order before Meeo tarnishes it with an embarrassing story about his childhood, like the time he locked himself in his room for two days and did nothing but play guitar like the moody hatchling bitch he was. Law pushes Love from him and crosses his arms as he turns away.

“Mmm? Fine, if you insist, Hosy-Po-“

“Order, please make her stop! She’s disrespecting the honor of her fellow Knight, yet again,” Law pleads, interrupting Love the moment before she could utter his childhood nickname.

Order leans back as she gets comfortable in her seat, “Love,” Order begins. Love hums and nods to Order, well aware of what she is going to say.

“Alright, Ran’, I’m done. I just miss him so much,” she says with a long, knowing smile as she sits properly with her feet to the ground.

“Thank you, Meeo,” Order says. Love giggles lightly.

“Of course- of course. So how have you been, Order?”

“I’ve been very well, thank you. And yourself?”

“Oh, oh I guess I’m okay, just been reading, various things about various things,” Love says, shuffling about one of her many pockets and in armor compartments to locate a piece of paper, crumpled up and stained with a liquid smelling of chamomile.

“Reading what, might I ask?” Love restores the note to readability by unfolding it and holds it up to Order with both hands.

“This, along with a novel series I’ve been checking out recently using temporal-anomaly object collection. I was only able to find two books in the series, but I’m sure if there’s others I’ll find them soon enough. Really do want to find out what happens to those poor folks,” Love says with a glint in her eye.

“Just like you to use realmancy to find books that haven’t been written yet,” Order says with a smirk as she looks at the piece of paper.

Law squints. “Realmancy is the craft of the insane.”

“And a lot of fun!” Love rebuts with a wink.

Law shakes his head as he just crosses his arms and turns away.

Order takes this moment to read Love’s note. She only needs to glance to recognize the formatting and handwriting.

“A summons, same as mine,” Order says, returning the letter. Love raises a brow in interest.

“Oh? I wonder why…. Might he have something for the three of us?” Love guesses, tilting her head just a bit to the side.

“That’s what Law heard. We were both called from the war too. What were you doing?” Order asks, leaning forward to look across Law to Love. Love hums and lightly pokes her cheek in thought.

“I was spending time with the nice people in black company, actually,” Love says, receiving looks of surprise from Order and Law, sitting at her left.

“No way,” Law says, looking aside.

“Really now? Didn’t think you would be... you know...” Order pauses, trying to come up with the correct words for someone who’s been placed in the most brutal, murderous company, tasked with high-class assassination and espionage missions.

Love nods with a broad smile. “I’ve been getting that a lot, actually. I don’t find much of a problem with it,” she says as she scratches the side of her cheek.

“Yeah, sure. What did they have you do, read the operators bedtime stories?” Law asks with a wry scowl.

“Hmm, I did a thing or two. Nothing very special,” Love says with a smile, “I presume you were read to in your company? Was anyone there to tuck you i-” Love halts her question the moment the doors open to the office. Knight Sensitivity steps out, his raven black hair, smooth Spirakandrin skin, and armor looking as well-groomed as usual. Order’s certain that’s never seen him unkempt, not even during Operation: Void Arm a few centuries back. She’d swear she’s never seen someone run frantically for his life with more grace.

“Dear fellows,” he greets with a smile and a nod as he passes them.

The other three greet him back. Sensitivity disappears into his own office with his new assignment. The three pause expectantly. They can hear the sound of papers rustling.

“Alright; get in here,” a kind though controlling voice instructs from inside the office. The three knights rise from their seats and enter the office of their leader, Lord Knight Captain Redemption, the man most responsible for the safety of the millions who live in the Western Kingdoms.