The next day…
The night went by quite quickly.
Missio slept soundly in his bed, seemingly at peace. Krishna and Henry slept on cold metal chairs right beside him, their heads dropping and arms crossed. The ladies, however, slept on a mattress that Henry had requested from the hospital.
The rain continued its downpour – unending like it had always been. A thick nimbus covered the sky, blocking all sunlight from even touching the surface.
Right then, Krishna woke up with drowsy eyes. He glanced around, seeing the rest of his team asleep. Blinking, he gazed at the digital clock atop the door.
[6:53 AM]
He blinked once again. Then, jolted awake as he realized the time.
'Shit, I'm gonna be late!'
He quickly stood up and jogged out of the room, making sure to not wake up any of his mates. Strolling through the corridor, he found himself in the bathroom where he washed himself off. As the cold water splashed over him, he paused for a moment.
'I haven't even brought my toothbrush or paste…'
With an annoyed groan, he finished his business in the toilet and stepped out of there. Then, after another stroll in the cold hallway, he arrived at the entrance.
Peering at the city shadowed by the never-ending rain, he could only sigh.
"Now, how the hell am I gonna get there without getting wet?"
He mumbled, scratching the back of his head.
Just then, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Surprised, he turned to the side and raised a brow.
"Henry?" He blurted.
His fellow enforcer stood beside him with lazy eyes. Slowly but surely, he pointed at something. Krishna flicked his head in that direction and saw a couple of umbrellas hanging on a rack.
"Ah…" He muttered with a dumbfounded face.
Henry coughed, rubbing his eyes.
"We're in Ashland and you're standing here… like a fool, asking how you're gonna get through the rain?"
Krishna sneered, picking up two umbrellas.
"Give me a break. We just got back from a mission."
He handed one over to his teammate. Henry snatched the umbrella from his hand, opening it at the same time as Krishna. The two stepped into the heavy rain, shielded from the water. They marched through the front gates of the hospital, dirty water splashing against their feet.
Eventually, they reached a bus stop and took a break. Closing their umbrellas, they stood in silence, watching the rain as it fell.
After a few minutes, they stepped on the next bus that arrived, sitting near the exit. The vehicle was utterly quiet, not a single noise aside from bus's engine could be heard. The citizens within were either peacefully watching the rain or surfing the internet – such was the reality of Ashland, the lightless kingdom.
Henry glanced out of the window, gazing at the high-rise building that eclipsed them. As the bus drove through the city, they alone shone like bright gems.
How strange was it not? In Rome, these towers would be the center of attention, shadowing the entire city and making people gasp in awe at their sight.
Yet, here in Kharagen, nobody seemed to care. It was as if nothing really mattered to them anymore or that they had more important things to do then gaze at these skyscrapers in awe.
Henry pressed his head against the glass, the cold air making him sluggish.
'I want to sleep…'
Shifting in his seat, he closed his eyes and tired to drift off. However, he was awoken a few minutes later by a familiar voice.
"Hey, rise and shine, princess. We're here."
The enforcer blinked, adjusting his glasses. Not realizing Krishna's comment, he jolted up. Krishna grinned and stood up as well, exiting the bus alongside his coworker.
They opened their umbrellas and held it above their heads. Then, silently, they strolled through the sidewalk. As they did, the two took in the silence of that moment.
The rain continuously crashing into the surface, the trembling leaves, the rumbling clouds and the tranquil wind, it all felt so… complete yet so, empty at the same time.
Eventually, they arrived at their destination. They entered the courtyard of one of the taller towers of the city, the glass doors sliding open as they entered the main lobby. Closing their umbrellas as the blaring lights assaulted their eyes, they hung them on the nearby rack.
Krishna scanned their surroundings, noticing many individuals wearing the same clothes as them except with the vest.
They all had a lingering Will on them, not as strong as Missio's or Sun's but not weak enough to go unnoticed.
Those same individuals glanced at him, also noticing his presence. Krishna gulped, twisting the black ring on his finger.
'It's still working, good…'
He stepped forward, Henry lagging behind him. The duo ascended the stairs and entered the elevator on the next floor, many eyes trailing them as they did so. After a while of waiting, they arrived at the highest floor, lightning breaking through the clouds as the elevator opened.
They stepped outside as thunder roared, strolling through the hall. Eventually, though, they arrived at their destination.
Halting before a certain door, Krishna paused for a moment, looking at nameplate that hung beside the door.
[Supreme Commander of AEOC]
Heaving a heavy breath, he opened his mouth.
"Sir Christopher, we're here to meet you."
Almost immediately, a voice responded to him.
"Come in."
As those words fell, the steel doors opened and allowed the duo to enter. They stepped in and as they did, Henry furrowed his brows.
He gazed at the Supreme Commander's desk and behind it, the chair which was turned the other way. Wiping cold sweat off his face, his heart began to beat rapidly.
This was authority at the very top of the EOC's food chain, one that controlled the entire AEOC and stood as one of the three pillars of the Enforcers of Chaos.
Even though, he was not a Chaos incarnate, he could feel the pressure exuding off of him. That man was in a league of his own, he was sure of it.
"Krishna and Henry, am I right?"
Chris's sudden call made him freeze. However, Krishna answered almost instantly.
"Yes, sir. Arthur must have informed you about us."
Chris spun around.
"… He certainly did."
Christopher von Ashking, the Supreme Commander of the AEOC seemed like a refined gentleman, wearing a three-piece red and black suit which was tailored specifically for him.
He slid his fingers through his silver hair, flowing with a singular blue stripe. He gazed at them with his crystal-like blue eyes as if he were piercing their very souls.