I Brought You Home

"Ah… the weather's amazing, isn't it~"

Under the shade of trees at midday, Captain Jell, dressed in a cool short-sleeved shirt and shorts, looked up at the dappled blue sky peeking through the rustling leaves, sighing contentedly,

"This is the best thing about Manila in April—so many sunny days, barely any rain. Wait till May or June, then you'll know what real storms are like! Trying to enjoy weather like this then? Hahaha, Anna, you'll be waiting at least half a year!"

Captain Jell looked at the newcomer by her side with a smile, reminding her to cherish these peaceful, beautiful moments.

"Actually, with everything I've seen and been through since I got here, I've already had my fill of 'wind and rain'," Anna chuckled wryly, keeping pace with the captain's leisurely stroll.

"The humidity alone has been… intense."

"If this is still considered 'barely any,' I can't even imagine what 'a lot' would be like…"

"Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough."

Jell glanced at her, smiling. "Just don't come crying to me, begging for a transfer when you can't take it anymore, okay?"

"Captain, stop teasing me. I'm a fighter too, an A-Rank Valkyrie just like you. I can handle a little hardship."

Anna shook her head, speaking seriously. "Besides, this isn't even hardship, is it? At least, I'm already starting to get used to the climate here."

Realizing she might have made things too serious, Anna felt a little awkward, and quickly changed the subject,

"Speaking of which, Captain, you should totally add sunglasses to that outfit. Really nail that summer vibe."

"Nah, pass!"

Jell waved her hand dismissively. "Manila's basically summer all year round here. You're saying I should wear sunglasses 24/7? Hard pass on that!"

As they talked, they walked out of the tree-lined path – the Snow Lotus Squad's HQ area, scenic, quiet, and shielded from the city's hustle and bustle – and stepped into the noisy traffic.

Cars streamed by, pedestrians bustled along the sidewalks, weaving through the city like endless streams of life in a jungle of skyscrapers.

"Every time I walk out onto this street, I like to just stop and take in this lively scene for a bit. It's really captivating. Seeing all this orderly prosperity always makes me feel like all our fighting and sacrifices… they actually mean something…"

After pausing for a moment, Jell sighed softly. Then, she asked curiously,

"Hey, Anna, you mind telling me a bit about what your life was like before? Sorry, we've been together this long, and we still haven't really gotten to know each other. Not exactly how partners should be, huh?"

"Huh? Me?"

Anna was caught off guard by the question, looking down, a little embarrassed.

"My life before… it was really simple, not sure there's much to say… If I had to… I was born a Valkyrie, studied and trained as a Valkyrie, took promotion exams, then more studying, more training, more exams… Don't laugh, Captain, but it wasn't until I passed the A-Rank Valkyrie exam that I got my official Valkyrie assignment."

Remembering herself standing under the Schicksal banner, taking her oath, Anna's mind drifted.

I was so naive back then, she thought. Actually thinking vows and missions were something beautiful and noble.

"Looking back now, it's like I never really experienced the world at all. Shouldn't have been like that."

"It's okay, people always grow. You've got plenty of time, no rush. Take it slow, see the world at your own pace."

Jell smiled, comforting her.

"Take it slow, see the world at your own pace…" Anna repeated to herself, feeling a little stunned. She'd just heard someone else say something similar not long ago.

Then, a smile bloomed on her face, bright as a flower.

"Thanks for the blessing, Captain. I will."

Jell waved casually, then tapped a few times on her wrist-mounted terminal.

Soon, a powerful-looking motorcycle roared around the street corner, heading towards them, then screeched to a stop beside Jell, creating a scene straight out of "Beauty and the Beast."

Jell grinned, hopped on the bike with a flourish, expertly revved the engine, enjoying the rising and falling rumble of the engine. She then waved at Anna.

"Come on, hop on, let's go for a spin!"

Anna obediently got on, sitting quietly on the spacious back seat, maintaining a polite but not distant space from the captain.

"Hold tight!"

Jell laughed, revving the engine. With a roar, the motorcycle reared up like a stallion, then plunged forward with a whine, shooting off like an arrow.

"Captain, be careful not to speed…"

Although Anna was inexperienced in many aspects of life, she was no stranger to thrilling situations. She wasn't scared at all, just slightly exasperated, shouting to remind her captain,

"We'll get a ticket and that won't be pretty!"

"..."

Jell seemed slightly disappointed, twisting the throttle harder, picking up even more speed, weaving through the heavy traffic with skillful elegance, overtaking car after car, then pulling up at a red light.

When drivers rolled down their windows to say hi, Jell would return a polite greeting and wave, then blast off the moment the light turned green, leaving them far behind in a burst of speed.

"Whoa, that's pretty cool…"

The driver watched the two figures disappear in the distance through his window, sighing in admiration. He could feel the unrestrained passion, the sheer energy of life radiating from them, and couldn't help but envy it.

Anna was also a little surprised. It was the first time she'd seen this unrestrained, wild side of her captain, beyond her usual composure and coldness (or so she thought?).

Is this really the same captain who was just debating dessert recipes with me?

Anna mused silently.

The motorcycle sped along the highway beside the Pasig River, steady and fast.

Anna saw the bustling city on her right, and the wide, calm river on her left. Across the river was another equally expansive city – this was Manila, built along both banks of the river, embracing it.

Anna watched water birds skim across the river, splashing long streaks of white water, snatching struggling fish from the water, then rising to fly towards the horizon – Anna imagined that must be where their homes were.

The motorcycle continued, the river widening, a huge bridge spanning across it. Looking further ahead, she could see the vast expanse of the sea – Anna knew they were approaching Manila Bay.

The river flowed into the ocean, and the straight road seemed to reach its end.

Captain Jell didn't slow down, leaning the bike sharply, the rear tire screeching as it slid onto the seaside highway, continuing onwards.

Anna remained perfectly still on the back seat. A Valkyrie's core strength meant she didn't need to worry about being thrown off by sudden movements.

Though she was a bit helpless about it, she decided not to try and rein in her captain anymore. She could tell Jell was enjoying this moment.

So, she decided to try and enjoy it too.

The sea was calm and vast. Anna saw crowds of tourists gathered along the shore, and countless seagulls crying and circling overhead, waiting for people to feed them. She thought, I should come here sometime.

There were more pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles on the seaside highway. Compared to the roar of traffic on the riverside highway, this was filled with the lively buzz of human voices, showing a different kind of worldly vibrancy than before.

As if to blend in, Jell slowed down even more.

Anna saw many pedestrians strolling along the sidewalks under the shade of trees. She noticed that all the roadside trees were tall coconut palms. The shade under the sunlight might not be large, but the coconuts hanging on the trees were unbelievably huge.

"Aren't they worried about getting hit by those?"

Anna was a little worried, thinking from her own perspective. Getting hit on the head by one of those would definitely hurt, right?

The motorcycle moved on. Anna gradually began to truly enjoy this moment, enjoying everything she saw.

Jell took Anna along the seaside highway, across the entire Manila Bay, then across the bridge, into the other half of the city across the river, roaring into the downtown area.

Along the way, they saw a dazzling array of shops, and office workers in suits hurrying across intersections. They walked quickly, few people looking up at the goods in the shop windows, each preoccupied with their own urgency, brushing past each other in the crowd.

Too rushed. Anna thought with a touch of regret as they passed by.

…

And so they continued, neither speaking, but neither feeling awkward. They rode with the vibration of the bike, the growing roar of the engine, weaving through the hustle and bustle of the world, becoming a part of it.

From then on, they themselves became a part of this scene. And then, carrying what they had seen, they moved on.

Just as Anna was starting to feel content and cheerful, she noticed the engine noise gradually quietening, the speed slowing down, until they stopped quietly in a secluded spot.

The bike leaned to one side, Jell extending a long leg to steady it, turning her head to smile at Anna behind her.

"We're here. Let's get off."

Her way of speaking was always concise.

Anna nodded and got off. The familiar quiet atmosphere made her think they were back at base.

Jell smiled, parked and locked the bike, then walked ahead on her own, gesturing for Anna to follow.

"Captain, where are we?"

Anna looked around. Though it was relatively secluded and quiet, the surroundings were different from their squad's HQ. This was somewhere else.

"This used to be a church, now it's an orphanage, funded by Schicksal, been here for ages."

Jell gestured towards an old-fashioned church not far away.

"Come on, let's go have a look."

Naturally, Anna wouldn't refuse, walking closely beside her, side by side.

Leaving tranquility, stepping into bustle, and returning to a quiet place again; the subtle feeling of this experience was deeply satisfying for Anna. She really liked this feeling.

The stone-paved path snaked through a blooming garden. After a few turns, they arrived in front of a building.

Anna saw an old, ornate iron gate, the double doors arched upwards in the middle. It was tightly shut now, along with a smaller door within the gate. Behind the gate, it seemed as quiet as outside.

Jell stood there calmly, waiting, so Anna waited too, knowing that there must be a reason why the captain had brought her here.

It seemed like a long time passed before a slightly shuffling figure came from inside the gate. They fiddled with the gate for a moment, then with a creak, slowly pulled open the large door, and stepped out. Jell quickly went to greet them, Anna politely following.

"Jell, you're here to visit the children again?"

The warm voice sounded a little frail. Anna saw clearly it was a very old woman, wearing a worn but clean nun's habit, her figure hunched and frail, as if a gust of wind could blow her over.

Jell, as if afraid she might fall, quickly stepped forward to support the old woman, saying apologetically,

"Every time I come here, I trouble you to open the gate, Sister. I'm so sorry."

"Nonsense, nonsense. I'm so happy you're here, the children are too…"

Sister patted Jell's hand with her withered hand, a gentle smile on her face.

"I'm old, but I can still walk. Don't worry about me, child."

"This child is your new partner, isn't she? Good, good… very good…"

Saying this, she looked Anna up and down, sighing with a mix of relief and sentimentality, then warmly beckoned them both,

"Don't just stand there, come in, come in!"

"Sister, my name is Anna."

Anna introduced herself respectfully and concisely to the old woman.

"Good name, very lovely… Come in quickly now, don't mind me, hehe… Old people! Walk slow, shouldn't hold up young people's time."

As soon as they stepped inside the gate, the old woman urged them on while turning to close the gate behind them.

Anna looked at Captain Jell, a little hesitant.

Jell smiled helplessly, leading Anna away.

"That's just how Sister is. She hasn't changed a bit over the years… If we keep standing there, we'll only make her unhappy."

Saying so, she shook her head helplessly, smiling wryly.

Captain seems really familiar with this place…

Anna thought, watching her profile.

But she didn't rush to ask, knowing the captain would tell her in her own time.

"Sister Jell! You're here to see us?"

In the distance, a little girl who hadn't quite grown up yet came running over, launching herself into Jell's arms. Five or six other children followed behind her, looking like they'd been playing a game together, swarming over as soon as they saw Jell arrive.

"Wow! Look how big you've gotten! So pretty too… Sister almost didn't recognize you…"

Jell ruffled her hair, playfully teasing her, making the little girl's eyes crinkle with happy laughter. Then she greeted each of the children in turn, introducing Anna to them, and finally said,

"Alright, go play now, we won't bother you. I'm just showing Sister Anna around."

"Okay! Bye Sister Jell, bye Sister Anna!"

The children waved and ran off hand-in-hand, clearly eager to get back to their game.

"Such lively and polite children."

Anna watched the children's retreating figures, speaking softly.

She clearly remembered what the captain had said – this was an orphanage. So, these seemingly cheerful children must all have some hidden, untouchable wounds.

"Yeah, seeing them so full of energy makes me really happy…"

A wistful smile touched Jell's lips, as if lost in memories.

"Taking care of all these little ones, Sister really works hard."

After a long moment, Jell finally sighed softly, as if suppressing some emotion.

"Let's go, come with me somewhere."

Anna nodded gently, her strong empathy picking up on the subtle shift in the captain's mood.

Jell led Anna to the front of the tall, old church. It was spacious and empty inside, but spotlessly clean.

Jell looked up at the church, sighed, then pulled a well-kept photograph out of nowhere. She stroked the small face in the picture with a gentle hand, smiling softly as she murmured,

"Ander, I brought you home!"