The two soon arrived at a nearby staff lounge.
Liz, who had just been appointed as a new student liaison officer, now had access to this area. She brought Hester a set of spare clothes from the storage cabinet. Seeing that the girl was still shivering, Liz also handed her a cup of hot cocoa — but Hester only held it in her hands, not drinking.
"You don't like hot cocoa?" Liz asked gently.
"...I'm just not used to the taste," Hester replied softly, her eyes lowered.
By now, the fire alarm throughout the entire building had finally stopped. Looking out the window, Hester could see a crowd gathering below — people who had all rushed out when the sirens went off.
"Did I cause trouble for everyone?" Hester asked quietly.
"No, you did exactly the right thing." Liz reopened the curtains. "When you're in danger, don't worry about following the rules — the most important thing is to get help in any way you can. You've just arrived, and yet you already understand that — that's really good."
Comforted by Liz's words, Hester gradually began to calm down.
Liz stood by the window, gazing out at the gray sky. "The weather's strange these days. It suddenly got cold again today — that's pretty rare."
Hester didn't reply. Her mind was still replaying the scene from earlier, especially the moment when that man — the one Shawn had called Carl — stepped out of the shadows. The sheer weight of his presence had left her trembling. The suffocating pressure he carried reminded her of that terrifying night at the monastery, when she had faced the Chelation creature.
Liz came back and sat beside her.
"This was my fault," Liz said suddenly.
Hester looked up in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I should have gone out with you today. You're still not familiar with this place, and there are a lot of strange people in Mercury Needle… I should've thought of that," Liz said sincerely. "I'll be more careful next time."
"I don't blame you," Hester shook her head. "I wasn't even thinking about that… I just have another question."
"Go ahead."
"Today, besides Shawn, I also saw someone he called 'Carl.'"
"Oh — that's his older brother, Calvin," Liz said, a bit surprised. "You saw his brother too?"
"Yes…"
"Calvin's a big guy, but he's pretty quiet and steady. Actually, it's not strange that you ran into him — the brothers are almost always together."
"You mean in combat?"
"In combat, and in life," Liz explained. "Since Calvin's calmer, he usually stops Shawn when he's about to do something stupid. That's why the base prefers that the two not be separated."
"I see…" Hester murmured.
"They're from the Hekla Wastelands — in the western part of District 3, near the border of District 4. Have you heard of it?"
Hester shook her head.
"Really? I thought you might have. Hekla's also known as the 'Gate of Hell.' Like Shortnote Alley, it's a place full of killing and crime. It's actually quite infamous — a lot of gray-market mercenary hiring happens there through intermediaries."
"...You really know a lot about this place."
Liz laughed lightly. "If you'd been here three years like I have, you'd know all this too. The Grangewa brothers came here the same year as Turan — they're second-years now. I don't know them very well, though."
"Do they often try to get close to others like they did today?"
"I'm not sure. After Calvin's Second Awakening, I started avoiding them."
"...Why?"
"Because being near him makes me really uncomfortable," Liz admitted. "He's not good at controlling his power, and I'm especially sensitive to the presence of other Mercury Needle users. Whenever I get too close to him, I feel pressure in my chest. Other people don't seem to have the same reaction — maybe they've just gotten used to it."
Hester looked up sharply.
"Mm, you probably can't feel that yet," Liz said with a small smile. "You'll understand what I mean once you go through your Second Awakening."
"But today, I—"
Liz's phone suddenly rang. She raised a finger to her lips, signaling Hester to stay quiet, and then put the call on speaker.
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this Miss Fletcher?" came a cool, clear female voice from the other end.
"Yes, this is she," Liz replied, recognizing the tone. "Is that Miss Morley?"
"It is. Is Miss Hester with you right now?"
"Yes."
"How is her condition?"
"She's fine," Liz said, glancing at Hester. "She's calmed down. Would you like to speak to her directly?"
"No need. I'm calling to inform both of you about how this incident will be handled."
Liz paused — she hadn't expected a decision to come so quickly.
"Alright, please go ahead. We're both listening." Liz turned the phone slightly toward Hester so she could hear more clearly.
"Let me first introduce myself," the woman said briskly. "I'm Sophie Morley, the Base Order Officer. Miss Hester, although what happened to you today was unfortunate, please understand that such incidents are rare. Most of our Mercury Needle cadets — like Miss Fletcher — know how to treat newcomers with care."
Her words came in a rapid flow, almost as fast as Chiba's, yet her tone was utterly cold. Hester could practically hear the downward curve of her lips — she imagined a woman who always wore the same stern expression as Sister Gerden from the convent.
"We've confirmed that Mr. Grangewa has, over the past several days, stolen your personal information. Today's surveillance further verifies that he has been secretly following you. Regardless of motive, such deliberate behavior is unacceptable.
"After discussion, we have reached the following disciplinary decisions regarding Shawn Grangewa's conduct:
"First, his credibility rating will be downgraded from C+ to D, and he will be required to retake Social Conduct and Safety Protocols of District 3.
"Second, the base will deduct 70% of his living stipend for twelve months — from May this year through April next year. Of that amount, 50% will be transferred directly to your account at the start of next month as psychological compensation.
"Third, his movements will be partially restricted. Within or outside the base, he is strictly forbidden from approaching you, speaking to you, or interfering with your daily life in any way. If he violates these terms, we will impose full mobility restrictions immediately.
"Finally, since you are still underage, the duration of this restraining order will be discussed with your guardian, Mr. Masaki Chiba. For now, it will remain in effect at least until after your Second Awakening."
The woman paused briefly before asking, "Do you have any objections or additional requests regarding this decision, Miss Hester?"
Hester was silent for a moment. "No… none for now."
"Understood, Miss Hester." Morley's voice softened slightly. After a short pause, she added, "Please trust that we are both willing and fully capable of ensuring your personal safety."
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Known Information Summary
Shortnote Alley – A wasteland district south of Tanis City, Hester's birthplace. A lawless slum filled with chaos and violence.
Askia – A northern wasteland in District 3, once rich with grasslands and water. Liz Fletcher's hometown.
Hekla – A volcanic wasteland in western District 3, near the border of District 4. Nicknamed the Gate of Hell, it is infamous for crime and mercenary trade. Its central "Oasis Zone" is the relatively peaceful home of the Grangewa brothers.
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( End of Chapter)