Click. Click. Click. Damn, I hate these shoes.

Click. Click. Click. Why'd they have to make them out of metal?

Click. Click. Click. Don't they know it's freaking uncomfortable?

Click. Click. Click. I swear, one day I'm gonna kill those organization bas-

Wait. Why am I thinking like her?

Tch. You influenced me way too much, Teresa.

5 years since we've last met and I'm still thinking like you. Kind of bothers me, actually…

And why the hell does he keep following me like that?

Restraining myself from running behind him and lodging my sword against his neck, I stopped.

"Let me guess, your childhood aspiration was to be a stalker?"

A black figure emerged from the trees nearby. "Hmph. And they said you have no sense of humour."

"What do you want, Ermita? I don't wish to waste my time talking to you."

Ermita's eyes glinted. "Impatient, aren't you? Your character has always been the opposite of how you look on the surface…"

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at him.

"The organization has some… tasks for you to deal with." Isn't that always the case? "You still miss your best friend, Teresa of the Faint Smile, don't you?"

I've been that obvious?

"We never had a pair of troublemakers like the both of you back then."

Yeah. Right. Whatever.

"I expect you'll be seeing her again soon."

Hmm? You put her in far north and me in far south to keep us away from each other and prevent any more troubles, didn't you? "Seeing her again soon"

"First of all, I have to inform you that you've been relegated to Number Three."

"Why?" I hope I kept my voice neutral. But, Number Three? No way. Teresa's gonna laugh her ass off when she hears this.

"A warrior who has recently received her symbol has risen up the ranks to Number Two. My apologies," Ermita's voice sounded a little amused.

You don't sound so apologetic. You hypocrite.

"Recently received her symbol? She's that strong?"

"Yes, she is. I'd even say she's good enough to fight Teresa of the Faint Smile," Ermita estimated, "More of a monster than Teresa."

Are you trying to say that Teresa's a monster? No, wait…

"'Fight Teresa'? What are you trying to say?"

"Teresa has broken the organisation's rule. She killed a whole group of bandits to save a girl. At her execution site, she wounded the executors and deserted the organization. So that is why we have gathered Number Two through Five, to take her head."

No… no way… I have to kill her? She killed to save a girl? What the hell are you trying to play at, Teresa?

"But before you meet with Number Four and Five, I want you to meet Number Two first. Gauge her power and figure out how to manipulate her strength to kill Teresa. After all, she's a rookie… and you want to see the person who took your rank away from you, don't you?"

Yes, in fact, I do.

"Where?"

"Walk northwest from here for a day. Her name's Priscilla. Just in case you recognize the wrong person." He chuckled.

God, I really want to rip your tongue off.

I turned and walked away.