Verdell retraced Rosemarie’s steps while balancing two tall cups of hot coffee in her hand. Unsure of what to say, she kept her face straight as they walked, reinforcing her will to keep her chin up and let her confidence show. She felt better with every breath, but it was cut short when she remembered Rosemarie’s words.

Starting from Rosemarie’s back, Verdell’s surroundings seemed to expand, freer than what it looked to be. She had lived amongst these people residing at the bottom of thick towering trees that blanketed the skies with their leaves. The air was sweeter, too, making her look at the bright white flowers at the side of the pavement as she dodged the people’s gazes that they encountered. Rosemarie, on the other hand, greeted every single one of them like she was their best friend, going so far as to shake their hands, to tap their shoulders, and sometimes to pat their heads. It pestered Verdell’s body like a plague, causing her smile to crumble.

Verdell stared at them with a bright smile, her heart wrenching for her every move even as she laughed, secretly begging Rosemarie to take charge. It was cute, at least. She was glad that everyone still seemed to be happy and well despite what happened before, but her distant memory failed her when she caught a glimpse of a dismantled police caravan surrounded by a crowd in the distance.

The cars seemed to have been wrecked by a giant, and the houses that were supposed to wall it was either bent or demolished. People were flooding in. Verdell turned to Rosemarie, trying to save herself from being drowned with worry, but her fear dragged her back in as she saw Rosemarie’s cocky grin falter. A second passed as they saw their reflections in each other’s eyes, and it ended with Rosemarie’s sigh. She turned away and lead the way, quickening her pace as she moved her legs forward.

They moved through the wall of civilians and were welcomed by a display of black body bags laid on the ground. Moving her eyes from the wounded, Verdell found her eyes freezing over to the men that had their limbs cut, their heads crushed in the ice, and some that died after being gutted; they were the bodies that the rest of the police party failed to recover. It took her all not to let her calm demeanor break, but she couldn’t move. She remembered something. It made her step back as she quivered, gritting her teeth to stop herself from breaking. The cups of coffee in her hand wavered and were about to overflow, but Rosemarie pinched her cheek.

“Look, you’re wasting your coffee.” Rosemarie smiled before wrapping her fingers around her forearm. “It’s not your fault. Let’s go.”

“But…” Verdell’s eyes began to water. It was warm. Rosemarie’s smile seemed so cocky, but within it was a deep sense of serenity.

Rosemarie tightened her grasp and tilted her head with a helpless but patient grin. “Fill your lungs with air, grit your teeth, and breathe it out. Like I said, it’s not your fault. We’re not going anywhere unless you’re fine; the last thing that they need is another magus that pities them.”

Verdell did her best to sharpen her gaze. “I’ll do b-better.”

“That’s a start.” Rosemarie chuckled, but she didn’t let Verdell go. “I need you to hold onto that coffee. Once we meet Lt. Higgins and Tom, you’re gonna thank them for their good work and say nothing else. Now, smile for me.”

Verdell followed her instructions, wrenching up a tear that turned into a mocking and ugly grin.

Rosemarie scoffed and patted her head. “You look like an edgy cunt.”

Verdell coughed and thought about what that meant, accidentally letting out the air inside her lungs. The stiffness that constricted her body began to let her go, and there, it was faint, but she felt that even Rosemarie was shivering. Verdell looked straight at Rosemarie’s eyes and saw her wavering reflection, but she said nothing about it.

With a proud grin, Rosemarie let go of her arm and walked forward. Verdell stared at her back once again as they moved like a moth drawn to a flame that reduced the overpowering forest of dead bodies around them to ash.

They found Lt. Higgins and Tom standing in front of a crushed car after a few more minutes of searching. There was a new face beside them. His tired yet sharp gaze complimented the partners’ softhearted and laid back demeanor. He wore the same blue jacket over a black shirt, brown well-fit pants, and a pair of slippers.

“What’s up, my homeboys! What are you up to?” Rosemarie laughed, continuing as she patted Tom and Lt. Higgins’ shoulder.

‘Hey, hey.” Tom smiled back. “Looking good, Miss Rosemarie!”

Rosemarie stopped laughing and stared at Tom for two seconds. She scanned her body and turned back to him, saying, “Don’t push your luck, buddy.”

Verdell walked towards them and handed them their coffee. Tom and Lt. Higgins didn’t find the right words and held their breaths as they took Verdell’s gift. She didn’t even look at them. Her head was hanged low and steady, even as she mouthed shyly, “T-thank you for s-saving me earlier.”

Tom exchanged a nod at Lt. Higgins and turned to Verdell. “No worries, gotta let you know that I regretted it at first, though.” He sipped his coffee and smiled. “Thank you for the chocolate cappuccino.”

Lt. Higgins inspected the cup and caught a whiff of the coffee’s strong scent. He looked at Verdell, too, and breathed out in satisfaction. “Barako. It’s been a while…” He knitted his brows and relaxed it, appreciating its smell that danced on his nose. “Maybe I should stop by at your shop later and pay compliments to the one who made it.”

“‘I’m checking the consent forms of the people that died.” The man looked at Rosemarie while scratching his clean-shaven face. “It’s a shame that you forgot to bring me coffee.”

“Boo-hoo,” Rosemarie replied with a sweeter tone. “I forgot you existed when I got my second case for this day even after my shift ended.”

The man smiled back and turned to Verdell. “So, you’re the new one,” he glanced at Rosemarie and back to her. “I’m sorry for breaking the party. I didn’t even get to go there in time. Call me Hermano. I’m with the Melbrine Tea Shop at the moment; I’m a Necromancer.” He looked at Rosemarie with a smug grin. “So, did Aaron actually manage to throw a nice surprise?”

“Verdell Silbert, Alchemist.” Verdell wanted to pull her head away, but she feigned her confidence to meet his gaze. “It was nice. T-thank you for asking.”

“She kicked Boss’ balls, Hermie.” Rosemarie crossed her arms and gave Hermano a patient smile.

Hermano laughed. “Holy shit. Did you really?”

Verdell stepped back and nodded. “Yeah.”

“Dude bought a bunch of cultist masks from what people wore centuries ago and made the visitors wear it. They dragged her inside and held her down. They forgot to say surprise, though,” Rosemarie added.

“And did you let that happen?” Lt. Higgins asked, sipping his coffee after.

“Well, it’s tradition. Don’t worry about it, I helped him after.” Rosemarie chuckled. “I added something extra, though.”

“Damn, you evil bitch…” Hermano commented with a playful grin.

Rosemarie widened her grin and tilted her head. “Weak words coming from the corpse fucker. Now, tell me what do you need us for?”

Hermano pointed them at a nearby house that they had surrounded. Blood and broken flesh surrounded it, filling the unleveled ground and the discolored grass that dresses its lawns. The wraiths that they had fought earlier were there too, dismantling the bodies of the other mages and policemen that they all failed to recover.

“Well,” Hermano cracked his knuckles. “we managed to corner a rat, but we’re shorthanded.

“You,” Rosemarie scoffed. “shorthanded?”

“Pretty much, but… Hold on,” Hermano held up his finger and opened his mouth as he fished for his words. “I was planning to say something cheesy, so let’s put a pin at that and get back to it later, yeah?”