Chapter 25
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“…Ensign?”
“Thank you.”
Samuel’s eyes welled up, as if one more word would push him over the edge.
Adrien was truly at a loss. She had never known how to console someone in tears—ever since childhood, it had always been her greatest weakness.
And now, of all people, it was a junior guide crying over a gift. It drove her mad.
“…Shall I put it on you?”
She knew all too well that telling someone not to cry only made the tears worse. She even held back from asking if he didn’t like the necklace—because even if he did, admitting it in front of her would be impossible.
That was the option she chose after ruling out all the others.
Maybe it worked. Samuel’s eyes widened, but the tears didn’t spill over.
“Give it here.”
Before he could break down again, Adrien quickly took the necklace and leaned in toward him. She propped one knee on the sofa to get closer, so that when she looped the chain around his neck, their posture looked almost like an embrace.
She was never the delicate type, and even fastening a clasp took her some time.
“Mmh, tricky… lower your head a little more, Ensign.”
Samuel’s forehead pressed into the space between her shoulder and chest. Only after quite a struggle did Adrien manage to secure the clasp.
“Let’s check the reading.”
The once-clear gem slowly shifted in color, clouding into a green tinged with impurities. Not bad.
Her gaze drifted up to Samuel’s neck. The skin beneath his loosened collar was flushed red.
“Ensign Samuel, are you alright?”
“…I’m fine.”
“You feel feverish. Did you push yourself too hard?”
“Really, I’m fine.”
Samuel jumped up and waved his hands insistently. Adrien frowned, but in the end she relented.
“If you feel unwell, don’t hide it. Go to the medic—that’s an order.”
“Thank you for your concern, Commander.”
“Your next drill was guiding practice, wasn’t it? If you can’t manage, take the day off.”
“I’ll make sure there’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“Come to think of it, I heard you’re the best among the new recruits at controlling your guiding.”
“Would you like me to show you?”
Adrien nodded. Samuel, a little too eager now, opened his palm. Soon a gentle warmth flowed straight into her chest.
“Ah, this.”
“Do you feel it?”
“Yes. It goes right to the heart. You learned this from Linton, didn’t you?”
“…Yes.”
“Captain Linton Vionne’s specialty. He’s saved quite a few espers on the battlefield with it.”
“….”
“It’s an important skill. Keep honing it.”
“Understood.”
Linton had spent many years at her side, it was not in vain. Adrien knew his talents as well as his habits.
Samuel’s voice grew faintly somber, but Adrien failed to notice.
A knock suddenly sounded.
“Come in.”
“Commander, a report just came in—there’s been a sighting of a beast in the capital.”
“A beast?”
Adrien’s brow furrowed at Lieutenant Michelle’s words.
The beasts were the very reason she’d been ground down on battlefields for so long. They had appeared suddenly seven years ago and multiplied beyond control, overwhelming ordinary military forces until esper units had to be deployed.
But never before had a beast shown up in the capital.
What’s more, Michelle didn’t look particularly alarmed, only slightly awkward.
“Sometimes false alarms come in. Not intentional—just mistakes. People often misidentify things.”
“Mistook a rabid dog for a beast?”
“Something like that. Sometimes it’s just a drunk mis-seeing things. But whenever a beast is reported, procedure says I report to you first…”
“You did well. Keep it that way.”
Adrien got up and grabbed her uniform jacket. She glanced down at Samuel.
“Gather the new recruits. We’re heading to the reported site.”
* * *
Normally, the capital security guard led an easy life. Esper-related crimes tended to erupt in rare, large incidents; otherwise, things were quiet.
The four new recruits had never seen real action beyond patrol duty.
For Adrien—who always worried whether she could bring recruits back alive—it was an oddly unfamiliar scene.
‘Even if it’s just a false beast, the exercise will do them good.’
Peace never lasted. At some point, they would have to face real combat. Adrien brought the recruits along to prepare them for that day.
She hadn’t expected Linton to tag along as well.
“Not busy these days, Captain Linton?”
Adrien turned to Linton and asked.
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