Carmelo, Jovi, and Saint sit at a table outside the cabin.
"That's how… that's how the people of Huairuro turned on me… on us." Carmelo says quietly.
"And about your mother… I-"
"Enough." Saint interrupts,
He gets up quickly, slamming his hands on the table.
"You went through all of this and still selfishly had a kid? Why? So you could blame everything on me?" Saint says, angered.
"What? Saint, no, listen to me-" Carmelo says, standing up carefully.
"No, you listen to me. I'm done listening to you, or any of your excuses. You and this coward here can keep hiding out while we fight the same enemies you idiots had twenty years ago."
He turns to walk away.
Jovi raises an eyebrow, Carmelo stares at his son in shock.
"Son, please-" Carmelo reaches for Saint's shoulder, but stops just as he's about to touch.
Carmelo takes a step back in genuine terror, his body shaking in a panic.
Saint crouches down by Prince's grave.
"No one was as tough as you."
Jovi stares at his back in silence.
Inside the cabin, Jane watches them from the window.
Saint catches her staring, Jane quickly averts her gaze, then slowly looks back at Saint.
He shakes his head, then turns his attention to Prince's grave.
"You want to go with him, don't you?" Mari asks, sitting herself beside her.
Jane looks at the floor.
"What are we doing, Mari? Is what Saint's saying true? Is Jovi evil?"
For a moment, Mari remains silent.
"To be honest, I don't know anymore."
"I feel like- like you only use me to heal people… I don't want this to be my life, I don't want to live in hiding, all my life…" Jane says, voice shaky,
"And you think going with Saint is going to fix that?" Mari asks.
"I… no… I don't know, okay? I'm just saying, I don't know."
…
In Sangre De Reyes, Hazu opens the door to the training room.
"Hey, you guys, Taiho has something to tell us… wait a second… what are YOU TWO doing together?" he asks.
Ari keeps chewing in awe while Monita keeps feeding him.
"I'm feeding Ari," she says, flatly.
"Y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-you what?!" Hazu blurts. He freezes, thenpasses out, the loud thud knocks Ari out of his bliss.
"Hm? Taiho? Okay… let's go, Monita."
Later, as they all walk toward Taiho's office, Tlen joins in behind them quietly.
"So… are you two dating?" Hazu whispers sillily in Ari's ear.
Ari looks at him blankly, "Dating?"
Hazu nods energetically, then looks at Monita, chuckling goofily.
Ari rolls his eyes,
"Yeah! We are dating!" he says, mocking Hazu's tone.
Monita continues walking silently. They reach Taiho's office and walk in.
As they step inside, they see Taiho and a student standing straight beside him.
He has shoulder-length silver hair that partially covers his face and silver eyes.
"Hello, Black Sigil. Here are your reports for this week's mission. Good job, Tlen." Taiho says, handing them the papers.
"Now, this hasn't been the best week for us. We scored fifty-five points in total. If we'd cleared the mission, we would've earned two hundred and eight."
"Fifty-five points? That has to be some kind of joke! Tlen took out a massive Psychomaner!" Hazu yells.
"That's right. Tlen can walk with his head held high. The rest of you, look at your scores." Taiho says.
Ari looks down at his report. His chest tightens when he sees the number.
'I only got 2 points?!'
"But we'll go again next week," Taiho continues, "This wasn't a bad start. Even though we did get the best scoring mission out of everyone, we still failed miserably." He collects the reports.
Ari clenches his jaw.
'Failed miserably? This guy is an idiot. Does he not realize we all could have lost our lives? That Tanya could potentially be dead?' Ari thinks.
"Anyway," Taiho says, "This here is Ezren. He'll be temporarily taking over Tanya's position in Black Sigil, effective immediately."
Ezren gives a small smile and nods.
"Now, next week's mission for Black Sigil will be a rescue mission. Assuming Tanya is alive, we'll search for her with the help of mana radars. I have assigned special training for four of you. Head to room 364." Taiho says.
They all start to leave, just then Taiho speaks up again.
"Not you, Ari," Taiho says.
"Ezren will be taking your spot this week."
Ari turns, confused.
"Me? What? Why?"
Ezren nods as he walks past Ari.
"Close the door, please," Taiho says.
Ari closes it.
Taiho sits down and folds his hands.
"You know, I have high hopes for you, Ari. That's why I feel let down, you were second in command behind Tanya, and she's not even here now, you left her. And then, you dropped a measly two points. This is laughable. I know you can do better."
Ari lowers his head.
"I-"
"Ah-ah-ah, no excuses… none… I'm telling you this because I see potential in you, Ari. That's why I'm giving you a second chance."
"A second chance?"
"You're going on a solo mission, take a look at these papers." Taiho throws a folder on the table.
Ari opens it carefully.
"You're getting dispatched on a solo mission under the radar to investigate a string of murders in Roxanne, multiple civilians are dead. No known mana traces, no witnesses. HQ suspects a Psychomaner. Your job is to capture, or dispose of them." Taiho says.
Ari nods.
"I understand."
Taiho starts chuckling darkly,
"Don't let me down, Ari."
…
Inside a shopping mall in Shiawase, Unit Zero. Aixa, Beyce, Claire, Kevo, and Plaster, are prepared to evacuate and transport injured civilians to safety.
"Everything clear here." Plaster says, walking out of a clothing store.
"Clear here," Axia says, returning with Claire.
"Where are the others?" Axia asks.
"The others?" Plaster repeats.
"You, Kevo, and Beyce all searched the east wing."
"I didn't see them," Plaster says.
Axia squints her eyes and looks past him.
"That's scary, look, you guys."
Plaster and Claire turn, they see a wave of people calmly walking forward with no expression.
"They are compromised." Claire says neutrally.
"What about Beyce and Kevo?" Plaster asks, getting in position to fight the horde.
"Let's worry about what's in front of us, glitterbug." Axia says,
…