The Mission

Both girls returned to their room, watching their backs. They couldn't help but worry if Mickey had followed them. Of all the members of their unit, they were the ones most seen by people during their mission in Omi. Given how everything had ended for both nations, it was safe to say they would receive most of the heat. In fact, one could say they were lucky—most especially Thia.

After all, she had betrayed Eru. Even though it had betrayed them first, it didn't change the fact that she was the reason the entire unit led by Rex had died, except for Zillah Wilde. Now, one of the repercussions of their actions was that they were wanted. They might have been traveling in Wize for two weeks now without anyone recognizing them, but what had happened moments ago was a reminder of why they must not let their guard down and why they needed to be very careful.

Thena sighed once they entered the room.

"That was close," she said.

"Indeed. We must stay on guard from now on," Thia replied.

"You don't need to tell me that. I would've never expected we'd run into someone like that here. They must both be from Omi," Thena said.

"You're right," Thia replied, "and they're both strong too, especially the other guy. I could barely breathe when he was close to me."

"Yes, but I'm sure we could've taken them on," Thena said optimistically.

Thia wasn't sure, though. She might have gained more strength due to her curse, but that didn't make her feel invincible. Somehow, she had grown adept at knowing when a battle was futile. For example, there was the Phoenix Queen—there was no path to victory against her. Whenever Thia thought of fighting her, she could only see one outcome: complete and utter defeat.

Against the Pillars of Eru and General Kyle, she also knew she had no chance of winning. Her curse was stronger, of course, but there was more to winning a fight than sheer strength. Although she might put up a good fight, she was certain she would still lose if they used even a fraction of their power.

It was the same feeling she had when she saw the man earlier. He was someone she would find it difficult to defeat, and she was certain of that.

"I think it's best if we avoid those two," Thia said. "Once Toni returns, we should go somewhere else to stay."

"Yes, your highness," Thena replied mockingly.

Thia simply ignored her, and both girls lapsed into silence. A few minutes later, Toni returned with news. The girls used the opportunity to tell him what had happened.

"Well, that's great," Toni replied. "We were about to leave anyway. I just received a reply from the unit stationed here. We'll meet the handler at this address." Toni held out a piece of paper.

"It's a residential area, so let's make sure to dress accordingly," he added before leaving the room.

Once he left, Thia turned to Thena. "How exactly do people have different clothes for different places and occasions?"

"I don't know," Thena replied. "I grew up close to the Goze Mountain. It was cold most of the time, so we always wore thick clothes. It's obvious the weather affects how people dress."

"You're right. Although, with what I've seen since we came here, I think the people of the desert have the best dresses," Thena said as she picked a suitable outfit.

Thena picked a flowing, ankle-length dress made of lightweight, breathable fabric, complemented by a matching shawl for sun protection. Thia chose a sleeveless, knee-length dress paired with a light scarf and comfortable sandals.

A few minutes later, they were ready and in the city. Toni led them through the streets, but the destination was quite far, so they rented a carriage. Given their cover, they had more than enough funds to afford it. However, traveling with so much money had its downsides, as bandits frequently tried to rob them on their way to Jubai.

Toni, who had initially wondered what made the two girls special, had learned the hard way. He had seen bandits beg for their lives when faced with the two demons riding in the back. He had also learned to stay in his lane and avoid provoking either of them—especially Thia, who gave him an unsettling feeling.

In the carriage, both girls tried to keep a low profile given their apparent unpopularity. They stayed put, enjoying the view of the city through the carriage window. The journey was uneventful until they entered a fairly reputable area of the city.

"Don't tell me we're meeting a noble or something," Thia said.

"I'm not sure either," Thena replied. She opened the small window to speak to Toni. "Are we going to see a noble?"

"No, my lady," Toni answered. "The contact is a rich merchant in the city. That's their cover. Although I don't know the details of their mission, I do know it involves business and trade dealings."

"That's just great," Thena muttered, sitting back down.

They continued their journey until they arrived at a small manor.

The small manor is a modest yet elegant residence surrounded by a low stone wall. It has a well-maintained garden at the front, with neatly trimmed hedges and vibrant flowers. The building itself is made of beige sandstone, with arched windows and a tiled roof. A pair of wrought-iron gates opens to a cobblestone path leading to the entrance, where a wooden door with intricate carvings awaits.

Once inside, Toni ushered the girls out of the carriage. An elderly butler greeted them at the entrance.

"Good day, my ladies," the slightly old man said. "Please allow me to lead you into the house."

"Oh, fancy," Thena remarked with her best fancy smile. 

"I wonder what kind of cutlery they have here," she added, causing everyone to stare at her strangely.

"Oh, I'm sorry, did I say that out loud?" Thena said covering her mouth.