After the scouting duty is done with, Amara is called to a closed meeting between the board directives composed of elite S-class Espers and Guides. The National Guild declares the state of emergency around the Monoliths are lifted from the time being as there were no notable Sentinel readings from both Remote Town Netzach and Malkuth. The news brought relief to Amara, though the directives informed everyone to keep on being vigilant.

Patrols between the respective Monoliths of Netzach and Malkuth will still commence as usual, though with less concentrated teams. The beacon set up in checkpoints scattered around the Remote Towns will also update the data regularly of monsters reading and Aether concentration, and this data will be available for everyone to access.

Fiona, Livia, and Amara walk back from the meeting room in Guide Center with less-stiff expression. Amara can say they think about the same, ‘finally we can take a breather’ , after a few weeks deep into the grind.

Their conversation is going on about the current issues at hand, how they might have been too cautious, or how the Sentinel appearances in Malkuth is only a localized incident.

“It’s interesting though. Just as you say, Amara, any Scent affinity Espers and Guides began to notice the smell of blood and oil from monsters in Netzach.” Fiona says. Amara hums as she comes into a step with both Livia and Fiona. 

The silver-haired Guide is deep in thought when Fiona mentions it, though the twin-tailed S-class Esper points it out of curiosity rather than suspicion.

“Usually small monsters have no noticeable characteristics, right?” Livia asks. Fiona nods to answer her question. “Then why specifically now?”

“The readings of area, terrain, populations, as well as Aether level don’t show any significant peaking, so perhaps it’s a kind of mutation?” Amara reasons.

Fiona grunts, “Ugh. Not the kind of development I’d want to see. Well, if it’s still manageable for everyone, guess we only have to stay on our toes.”

“Chief Defense, sorry to make you feel harried.” Amara says, half-teasing. Fiona elbows her on her arm while Livia’s stern look melts to a small smile.

It’s one thing to worry about their volatile condition, but there’s no use being so uptight all the time. They also need some rest and be aware of their limits, both as Espers who stand in the front line of duty, or those who support the defense of the Capital.

“Are you free after this, Amara? Let’s grab a hotdog and milk tea, I missed the food truck from near the Capital’s Main Street!” she bemoans. “Being too long on the job between two Monoliths is soooo tiring.”

“Sure,” Amara nods, she looks over to Livia. 

Livia picks on her outer coat’s collar, “I still have my regular Guiding duties after this, so we can split up from here.”

They stand around in the lobby, with Livia already soon to turn around and go to the Guide Center’s service area. Amara pats Fiona on the shoulder then turns to Livia.

“Don’t you want to bid your goodbye to Miss Valendorf? I can wait outside the building.”

Livia smirks, “You’re too kind, Amara. If only Fiona was as considerate as you.”

“Dear Miss Valendorf? I appreciate less sarcasm, please.” Fiona groans. Livia giggles at that, and so is Amara. It’s just fun to tease Fiona and guess to Livia, that feeling is mutual.

To Amara, Fiona and Livia are a loving couple, despite how often they exchanged dry jokes and witty sarcasm. It’s a heartwarming thing to see how they’re trying to catch up despite their respective busy days. 

Not every S-class Espers or Guides are in the group of ‘elite’, but as Fiona becomes the Chief of Defense and Livia is trusted to be one of recommended Guide after the success of Operation Athena, there hardly a day to see them together in one place in one time outside of the Guide Center or National Guild building. Amara only knows Fiona for a good few years as they start off from the same mission group together, and she happens to know how Fiona finds a Pair in Livia.

And, as some may say, not everyone is lucky enough to find a suitable Pair between Guides and Espers, let alone find love and home in the days of where things may take a turn for the worse, so Amara highly hoped that Fiona and Livia could stay together whenever they can.

…Though, when Livia pulls Fiona to a secluded corner of the building, Amara pretends that she doesn’t see that, chuckling to herself.

✥ ✥ ✥

The Capital has a river that splits the area in the middle that leads straight to the sea, about fifty kilometers from the strategic area where the National Guild and Guide Center is located. 

The riverside bay area is designated as ‘Capital’s Main Street’, the heart of Capital’s metropolis as well as where its breathtaking riverside tourist attraction resided. Tall glass buildings and skyscrapers recede when you approach the river that runs along the Capital, leaving the area green and open. Food trucks lined up facing the river, where colorful pedestrian stucco roads separated the main roadblock and green areas.

Twenty minute bus ride from Guide Center is all it needs to reach the spot, though it is advised to come before sundown, or else the place will be jam-packed with people, be it on weekdays or weekends.

Fiona looks like an enthusiastic kid as she runs past Amara, extending both her arms as she smells the crisp air and picks up fallen leaves on her feet.

“Fiona, you may want to put some cologne on, I can smell Miss Valendorf on you.”

“W–What? Heck no, we’re only just—” Fiona sputters, sniffing herself. But then she realizes something, and she points to Amara with an accusation finger “You’re pulling a fast one on me again, don’t you!?”

Amara cackles, “Well.”

“You—ugh. I’ll let it slide this time.”

“I’ll buy you a gelato.” Amara says.

A sight of them, clad in white uniform and blue identification tie, will never fail to draw the passerby’s glance. Espers, especially, have always been regarded as the ‘guardian’ of mankind from Aether monster attacks. By then, Amara can already ignore the curious eyes, though she can’t say that she’s used to it. If only they can get changed first before going there, but, oh well.

They stop by the food truck that sells Fiona’s favorite milk tea. Amara buys Fiona gelato in a cup as promised, and she watches as Fiona wolfs down her hotdog while she is satisfied only having green tea smoothie for herself. They sit by one of open wooden picnic tables under the yellowing birch tree.

These relaxing moments always invite her to reminisce. How far she had gone from losing her hometown, awakening as Espers, then bringing herself to a height with her tactical skill.

The dark-skinned Esper sighs, wistful. Chin on hand, she pauses to look behind her, to the fence and the river beyond. It’s nowhere as clear as the river of her hometown, and the atmosphere is not the same as the crowded town of miner and masonry she always knew.

“Homesick?”

Fiona’s word pulls her back from the reverie.

“You always have that face whenever you think of home.”

Amara smiles softly, “Really now? You’re reading too much into me, Miss Hamelin.”

“Hey I’m not jokin’.” Fiona makes a noise as though she is blowing raspberries. Her round glasses slightly blurring from the chilly gelato. “Food for your thoughts, then, O Tempest?”

The redhead snorts, “Too plenty to discuss.”

“Fine,” Fiona laughs, rubbing her nose. “By the way, how’s your scouting mission? Heard from Via that you’re teaming up with that Guide.”

“Miss Khalida, yes.” Amara rubs her thumbs on the smoothie cup. The image of the enigmatic Guide surfaces in her mind as she speaks the name. “It was alright. We’re able to finish the mission safely and avoid any bad circumstances.”

Fiona blinks, “Nothing else?”

“What do you mean nothing else?”

“You only do Phase 1 Guiding with her?”

What kind of question is that? “Of course, there’s no need to do further unless necessary.”

The twin tailed Esper sighs, “Aww.”

“I’m not like you who’ll pounce over a Guide.”

“Hey, I’m not pouncing—!” Fiona cleared her throat, her face beet red. “I mean, not like that, silly! Ugh!”

“Then speak plainly, I can’t talk in riddles and suggestives.” Amara folds her arms over her chest, smirking.

“Miss Khalida is the only one able to Guide you, right?” Fiona readjusts her glasses from slipping further from her nose. “You likely don’t want to put her into a troublesome spot, but it’s likely too late for that. Have you talked to her about it?” 

Amara rolls her eyes. She recalled the campsite conversation, how Sara offers Guiding so that Amara doesn’t have to resort to the Restoration Potions. The warm fire, and the equally warm Guiding. 

“We talked about that, or rather … Miss Khalida offers her help because she doesn’t want to see me being reckless.”

Fiona makes a face, “Ah-ha, finally you get someone to say that to you.”

“Oh, zip it, Fiona.” 

As an Esper who’s barely been online for five years, Guiding is new to her. Her work that’s mostly off-site, and the increasing duties with her position also disables her to learn more about Guiding and why Guiding is essential to Esper. ‘Online’ is a term that is largely used for the people who awaken to the power, be it Espers or Guides. Every other term associated with Espers and Guides later follows on connection, such as Zoning and Mental Out, a situation where Espers get a sensory overload or unable to control their power due to mental exhaustion.

“How does it feel when Miss Valendorf is Guiding you?”

“What’s with the sudden question?” Fiona tilts her head.

“You know, I still feel a bit guilty to remember Mrs. Angelo’s expression when she is unable to Guide me,” Amara’s smile is tense. “I wonder if there’s, say, a specific reaction when Guiding is done to an Esper or anything like that?”

Fiona thinks for a bit, “I won’t say there’s something specific about it. Do you, like, ‘sense’ it when a foreign energy comes in contact with yours, then it slowly soothes your feelings… emotions—some sort of detox?”

Amara thinks of when Sara Guides her, exactly when Sara suspects that Amara’s ‘ringing ears’ is not yet dissipated. She then compares it when Mrs. Angelo tries to Guide her.

“So when Guiding is done right, you feel warm? Fuzzy? Safe?” Amara grapples.

“Basically yes. Mrs. Angelo can still Guide me, by the way, but it’s still different than when Livia does it,” Fiona looks up to Amara. “Look, you may think I’m biased but I’m trying to explain to you here–”

“I’m listening, I’m listening.” Amara chuckles when Fiona glares at her.

Fiona opens her both hands upwards. She easily makes out a glass of ice on her palm then places it on the table. She pulls out a bottle of water she buys from the milk tea shop to fill the glass, then she takes out an ink pen from her pocket, dropping a few droplets of ink in clear water. 

“The ink is, let’s say, a ‘concentrate’ of filth that accumulates with the use of our Esper powers,” Fiona demonstrates. “When Guide power comes—”

Fiona snaps her fingers, as if she’s doing a magic show. She pulls out the crystalized ink from the glass. “—it neutralizes our filth with their cleansing power but doesn’t get affected by it. However, if it’s not done correctly, there will only be turning to ‘pockets of crystal’ like this.”

“So when it’s not done correctly, it’s only a temporary solution.” Amara concludes.

“As for the warmth or anything, I think it’s the after effects that come from the Guide itself,” Fiona hums. “You know, Via’s Guiding is scalding. Mrs. Angelo is more muted, like standing in a breeze.”

“Wait, scalding?”

“Scalding. She’s hot—I mean not hot, hot … well I won’t deny she is hot. But anyway, it’s because her affinity for fire is nothing to sneeze at. So when she needs to do mass Guiding with her spirit animal, she only does it briefly, or else everyone will notice the burning sensation.”

Suddenly Amara has a lot of questions. If Guide’s elemental affinity is affecting the ‘after effects’ of their Guiding, then why is Sara's Guiding ‘warm’ to her? And why does everyone else always scowl whenever they’re Guided by Sara, aside from her thorny personality?

“But I guess there’s also other factors like compatibility. Your compatibility with Miss Khalida is 96%, I recall?”

“Yes, and we reached conclusions that I can only be Guided with anyone above 90% in compatibility as Mrs. Angelo couldn’t.” Amara nods.

They’re quiet for a bit, with Amara absorbing the new insight that she’s receiving. What she experienced with Guiding is a natural reaction, and that reaction may vary between people because of internal and external factors, so it can’t be generalized. It’s a marvel, yet also quite puzzling.

“Mind if I asked you of … what do you think of Miss Khalida?”

Amara furrows her brows at the question, “I’ve said to you how she’s resourceful and true to herself.”

“Since she’s the only one who can Guide you, have you thought of making her as a Pair?” Fiona asks straight. “You do know not every Pairs have to be involved romantically—for example that Pyrokinesis Gisel with her Guide partner Antonio, or that duo A-class Espers guys that often enlisted in Netzach.”

“I think it’s too early to think of that, Fiona.” Amara dismisses her. Or she just doesn’t want to think of it now . Fiona seems to get the message and nods, sipping her milk tea again and lets the conversation end there.

Sara Khalida for her is a collaborator—a fellow professional. She might have seen a glimpse of more beyond the Guide who won't be afraid to speak up and stand up for herself, and Amara won’t deny if she doesn’t mind their closeness and developing interpersonal relationship.

The question is whether she has to draw the line or continue, or nurture for everything to evolve. Disappointing someone like Sara is not something Amara would want. As for the Pair thing, it’s likely too far fetched, though for now…

—no, she has yet to formulate a concise answer. Not when she’s only basing it from Guiding and a few instances of their mutual duties, their innate chemistry.

Amara closes her eyes. Another memory resurfaces, it is when she talked with Penelope when the soft-spoken Guide after her fight with Shura. She looks up to Fiona as though a realization struck her, like a gust of wind straight to her face.

“I think I like her.” she continues. “Miss Khalida, that is. Even as I don’t know yet if this is merely a shallow thinking or—”

Fiona smiles back at her in knowing, “I guess it’s your chance to bid your time to find things out.”