The next morning Alice exits her room, still wearing her uniform, and heads down the hall and up the stairs to reach the attic of the manor where Geralds office sat. As Alice approaches the office door she hears voices coming from the room and listens in.
"Well, what did you expect to happen? Krystal is not just going to sit around and let us ruin her monopoly on the slave trade." *Sounds like that Kline guy from yesterday.*
"I know that but sending bandits after my own daughter was not a move I predicted. She won't be safe here." *That's Gerald, he sounds much angrier than he did yesterday.*
"If I may sir, sending your daughter away once again will only make it harder to guard her." *What was that guy's name again? I think it was Franklin* "Besides you two are already so distant. Don't you want to try and resolve that."
"Well yes but-" as Gerald begins to speak, Kline cuts in.
"Miss Howard, you don't just have to stand outside." At these words, a loud thud is heard as Alice walks into the door. Then she opens the door and tries again.
"Sorry I didn't mean just stand outside." Alice walks in rubbing her forehead.
"That's okay, what's important is that you're here now," Franklin says giving a short bow as she enters.
Gerald begins to speak, "I trust that you rested well."
"Uh, yeah. Yes, I did, thank you," Alice trips over her words a little.
"Good. We have to get to work. Starting with you. Did you consider my proposal from last night?" At Gerald's words, Alice begins to tense up before speaking.
"I really don't think I can help you. I'm not a fighter or really have any special skills to speak of." Alice sinks her head as she speaks and avoids eye contact.
After a moment of silence, Kline speaks up. "You clearly have strength on your side after what you did yesterday, why do you deny that? Do you perhaps work for someone else already?"
Alice tries cutting in but can't find the words at first. "I-I just think that you're thinking I'm someone I'm not."
"We wouldn't be sending you straight into a warzone by yourself you know. We simply believe that you may have a power that we can train you to use." Kline responds.
"And it's not like you have anywhere else to go." Gerald chimes in.
Alice thinks for a moment before letting out a long sigh and gives her answer, "I'll take the job."
"Excellent news," Gerald exclaims. "Now we have someone else to call upon when Nishida is not around like he is now."
Kleine speaks up, "Speaking of which, where is the young soldier now, is he still in Ashania?"
"He is still giving us updates on the situation. It's nothing to worry about."
"I get it's the only place that he can walk freely but we need him here as soon as possible. The tension at the border can wait. We need him here and now before Krystal and the rest of the Yeager clan make their next move."
Before Gerald can respond, Franklin chimes in, "I don't blame him for wanting to stay there. It's the closest our kind get to not being on the run."
"He will come when we need him. For now, can we put the Yeager clan to one side as we currently have to deal with the monsters gathering in the area. We can't fight off those savage chimpanzees called a clan if we are overrun. Franklin how goes the extermination, " Gerald responds.
"We could still do with some backup. I would say a dozen men would do."
"I can put in a message with the council to see to getting reinforcements of hunters. However, I won't be able to get any more soldiers. Krystal still has them in the palm of her hand." Gerald pauses for a moment. "When are you going out into the field next?"
"This afternoon. Why do you ask?"
"Take Miss Howard with you. I trust you can keep her safe as she shadows you."
Franklin bows as he responds, "Of course I can sir." He turns to Alice and asks, "Do you have any weapons?"
Alice responds a little flustered, "I have a bow and nine arrows. B-but none of those magic stone arrow things that we were attacked with yesterday. Just normal, straight arrows."
"We can work with that. But just for safety you should also keep a small firearm with you and going out without some kind of close-quarters weapon is just irresponsible."
"R-Right. I gotcha. Um, wh-where can I get some guns and stuff may I ask."
"I'll take you to our armoury first. Once we're done here."
Gerald stands up from his desk, "Well that concludes this mornings meeting. You are all free to go."
And just like that, Kleine leaves the room along with Franklin with Alice close behind. Gerald returns to his seat and begins to sort through a stack of papers before looking at a picture on his desk of a young, blonde woman wearing a white dress.
"I'm trying my best for our daughter, but I'm scared it's not enough. If only you were still here."
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