Chapter37
Plunged into the darkness of the room, Georgius could see a bit about Johanna's shape in appearance. Despite the two were rather away of each other and were only shined by a candle, it didn't prevent the leader of the Punishment Squad to see the ominous smirk on the Pope's face.
"...Are you..." Georgius opened up his mouth, completely stunned by what the Pope just said to him. "...is it serious?"
Johanna smirked in reply. "Indeed, Georgius...you heard perfectly well."
"..." Georgiud looked down, unsure about it.
Johanna added. "That's a difficult mission indeed, and I know it. That's why I decided to leave it to you. After all, you have the strongest team in Index."
"..." Georgius closed his eyes. "...Why?"
Johanna took a surprised look by his tone. "...Why?"
"Why...did you do this...?" Georgius knew he shouldn't talk to the Pope like this but...after everything he heard, he had difficulties to understand.
Johanna just shrugged, uncaring. "...you aren't supposed to ask." Nevertheless, she sounded interested by his reaction. "For a better world. To protect the future that God would bless."
"I know but..." Georgius tried to say, but Johanna looked back at him.
"...Are you refusing the mission...?"
That wasn't a threatening tone...but more of persuasive one. However, Georgius could feel he couldn't face it any longer...so he declared.
"Very well...I accept, Great Holy."
Johanna seemed thrilled about this decision, then smirked. "Very good. I knew I could trust you for this. After all, you aren't a saint for nothing."
"..." But Georgius didn't answer much. Johanna then declared.
"...I pray that you shall be blessed in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit."
"Hey...you"
Elaine, who was walking alone in the Index yard, stopped when she heard some noises behind her as well as a voice who called her back. She just turned around to face the girl in long dress who was standing up in front of her. Near her, there were two others girls, who were silently chuckling. Elaine sighed. She already saw them before actually and she already knew what these kind of girls they were.
"...What?"
The first girl replied. "You're the new member in the Punishment Squad aren't you?"
Elaine had arrived there for a week now. But even after having changed of place, she could see that the atmosphere didn't change, no matter where she was. People were still strictly in their religious belief, and they sent people for this in mission. Nevertheless, her leader didn't give her any mission yet. As being a new member , she needed a particular program to be integrated completely. But the thing that she already knew...was the fact that these girls were very unsympathetic toward her.
"Yes...and so what?" She mumbled, with an unfriendly tone.
"You didn't have been present to the mass this morning." The girl answered, with a severe tone. Or a least, Elaine thought that's a severe tone.
"I didn't know that there was a mass." Elaine preferred to stay calm. She needed to keep her strenght for her training. However, while she was about to go, the girl caught her up.
"what again?" Elaine sighed.
"...You could be a bit more friendly." The girl sneered. "Furthermore...you're there for only one week...you should be more cautious."
"...Why should I be cautious?" Elaine tried to leave but the girl stood up in her way.
"You're a member of Holy Office of Index." The girl said, in an unpleasant tone. "Behave like one!"
"And because I didn't go to a mass..." Elaine put her hands on her hips, taking a sarcastic tone. "...I committed a sin?"
The girl just stared at her with a contemptuous look. "...You know...I still wonder how they could accept such an individual like you in."
Elaine didn't dare answer that she had been accepted thanks to Georgius' s request...but if she said this, it would make the situation worse.
But the girl wasn't ready to leave her alone.
"...I heard about your situation..." She began. "...you're an Ophian, aren't you? A snake fanatic."
Elaine frowned. "Yes. And so what?"
"Ah...Index fell very bad..." The girl smirked, mocking. "They can accept anything in, even sinners who venerate the snake who pushed Eve and Adam to eat the forbidden fruit."
"What do you mean?" Elaine just glared at her.
The girl smiled to her "friends". "...Apparently, a lot of rumors came about them...that kind of church. That's more of a sect to me."
"I don't care about what you can think." Elaine just said.
The girl crossed her arms. "They are sinners...all about them is sinned. Their faith, their way of living..."
Elaine just closed her eyes, trying to contain herself.
"I even heard that they were too poor to sleep in their own room." One of friends said. "...so they're forced to sleep near the animals...or near the corpses of people that they killed."
Elaine just looked down. She couldn't say, but that's partially true actually.
"There is more than just this." The other girl said. "...Apparently, they are taught from a very young age to kill...I heard disgusting things about it."
"..."
"Really?" the girl smirked when she watched Elaine's face. "...what for example?"
Elaine was really tempted to say something...but actually she couldn't.
"They were raised up by their preceptor...you know about how these kind of guys are...abusive, perverted...disgusting." she kept on. "...and once the young girls were old enough, they were forced to marry them and making children for them. At least six children..."
Elaine goggled, staring at that kind of girl who was saying all of this.
"Seriously? That's repulsive...I couldn't imagine marrying a guy who is old enough to be my father...eerk."
"And making children for these guys...oh my gosh...Ophians were really savages, weren't they?"
Elaine clenched her teeth...she wanted to say that wasn't true...but that's the case actually. Even if she would have ended her training with her preceptor...this customy actually existed. And seeing how sick her preceptor was...she could imagine everything.
"Hey...Elaine." the girl talked to her. "...you're lucky to be here...at least, you won't have to marry a guy like this...and living happily there."
Elaine just looked up at her back, giving her a murderous eye.
"but just a question about it, Elaine..." the girl still asked, already knowing the answer. "...if you're so grumpy toward us, is that because of these years here? Have you already been raped?"
This time, that's too much...and even Elaine couldn't bear this. So when she took her own sword out...she knew nothing could stop her from beating the stinky crap out of these bitches! Then, without caring about the place where they were, she raised her sword up above her head...
"...Are you satisfied, now?" Georgius was standing up in front of Elaine. He looked calm but actually Elaine could sense how much he was angry there.
Elaine stayed silent to this, but she just didn't care. These girls had it coming...she couldn't help it. People should know that newcomers weren't always as nice as theh guessed.
Samson and Sebastianus had been called up for a mission, but Elaine didn't know if Georgius took that precise time for blaming her. Avoiding the face of this latter, Elaine just watched her leader growling.
"...You took a very great risk by doing this, Elaine.. You are here for only a week and you're already in trouble."
Elaine just sighed. She wanted to hear something that she didn't know yet. But there, she preferred to stay silent and just nodded to this.
"are you aware of it?"
"...Yes, Georgius-sama." Elaine looked down, looking ashamed while she actually wasn't.
Georgius sighed.
"I hope you are, Elaine. That's a bad start for you." Georgius then turned back from her to write something on a piece of paper. Samson, who watched the scene, tried to stand up for her.
"Georgius-sama...maybe you can only let it slide for this very first time..."
"It doesn't thrill me either, Samson." He then stretched the piece of paper to Elaine. "You're excluded for three days. Now leave, and go to give this to the secretary. Index is aware when something is wrong with the members."
Elaine just took it unwillingly, giving just a frown toward her leader. "I don't even know where is the secretary."
Georgius just said, before leaving the room. "Sebastianus will lead you there."
This latter nodded to his order. Nevertheless, Elaine could sense he wasn't as thrilled. He expected receiving a mission there, and not being used like a guide. but he still obeyed then Elaine silently followed him to the secretary. During the way, none of them talked, and this silence made Elaine feeling a bit awkward now...she didn't care much about what Georgius was saying to her but if Sebastianus began to criticize her now, she could put this day as the worst day ever for her.
"...that wasn't a good idea to do this, Elaine."
She goggled, surprised to hear his voice there. Nevertheless, even if she tried to be as kind as possible, her instinct made her replying with an irritated tone. "Yes...I know. Useless to recall this to me."
Sebastianus paused for some minutes, then ended up by asking.
"...What did you do to them?...to these girls?"
Elaine felt ill at ease by this question, as she didn't expect this. Even if they were in the same team, Sebastianus didn't talk to her since their fight. However, she still mumbled, honest.
"...I broke their shoulders with my sword. To these three girls..."
He stayed quiet to this, then ended up by pointing. "so...you're definitely one of them."
Elaine stopped walking, surprised. "One of what?"
"You're definitely the kind of person who prefers beating before talking when something goes wrong for you."
Now, Elaine thought it couldn't be worst...if she came in Index, that was in order to know the one who fought her...And she didn't like the idea that he thought her only as a violent girl.
"Hey! I'm not violent, right?" She said, but seeing Sebastianus's look, she knew he didn't believe a word of it. Then, Elaine sighed loudly, looking away.
"Okay...maybe a little." She muttered, and this time, he nodded in agreement to this. "But these bitches had it coming."
Sebastianus nodded. "I believe you."
Then while they're were coming to the main door, Sebastianus quietly asked her. "...What did they say, for making you attack them?"
Elaine deep down smiled. This situation was embarrassing but for once he seemed to be interested in something about her. However, it didn't mean she will say about her past. She wasn't in mood for it, and Sebastianus wouldn't be interested. So she replied.
"...They said things that they shouldn't have to say..." she rolled her eyes. "...and these girls are supposed to be religious people...let me laugh." she then showed her weapon. "..Bullies deserve these treatments."
Sebastianus stayed silent to this, as if he was pensive about it. Then, Elaine wondered if she made a mistake...maybe he didn't like violent people? However, instead of criticize her, he just responded.
"...Bullies are just worthless people. Why are you caring about what they can say about you?"
Elaine stared at him, a bit confused by this remark. She didn't expect this actually. "...I think they should be punished. In my native place, that's how we dealt with conflicts." She glanced at the piece of paper in her hands, pensive.
"To be honest, I would be tired for nothing if I did the same..." Sebastianus shrugged. "...Then, I won't make anything which would put me in bad situation and would disappoint Georgius-sama."
Elaine took an uncaring look about it. Probably because she expected it...she noticed how much Sebastianus was loyal toward Georgius, maybe more than Samson was. And it beyonded her, to be honest.
"You shouldn't be so loyal to someone, Sebas." She told with a nonchalant tone. "Sometimes...you will do something which will be against your will. I know what I'm talking about..."
Sebastianus turned back to her, taking a surprised tone. "...Sebas?"
Elaine wondered if that sounded good, but finally she just smiled. "I find it nice. Now, I will nickname you like this, as we will work together. That's better if we came to know each other, isn't it?"
Sebastianus just looked away. Then Elaine asked him, cautiously.
"You don't like this?"
"I'm not accustomed...that's all." He just said, and Elaine wondered if it made him awkward. She hoped it in any case.
"Well...you will. Because I will ask to everyone to call you like this..." Elaine teased him, not so awkward anymore now.
Sebastianus stared at her, then sighed. "...You, you look like special."
Elaine raised one eyebrow, not understanding. "...special? In which way?"
He glanced at her sword that she was still holding at hand. "...put it away. You would be able to kill someone out of anger."
Elaine just caressed the metal of her sword. "Aw...but I know how controlling a sword...My mentor was a jerk, but he was good to teach."
"...That's why you only broke their shoulders..." Sebastianus pointed, and Elaine thought it for a hint of tease in his voice. So he thought she was weak and didn't know how using a sword, and she didn't like it. At the end, she stopped.
"...thanks, I know where the secretary is now" Elaine replied with a irritated tone. "...I'm going on by myself."
Sebastianus took a breath. "That's not I wanted to mean." He added, before she could leave. "...But if you aren't able to control your violence, even toward bullies...you will lose, no matter what you can do."
Elaine just turned back to him, a bit surprised. She thought first that he mocked her for fun, but actually he was serious and really wondered about her ability to win in a mission with her temper. That wasn't really the way she originally planned but if it interested him, it was fine for her. So she only asked, with a nonchalant voice. "...and what do you think I should do for dealing with this?"
Sebastianus thought about it during a few minutes. Then before leaving her, he ended up by saying. "...Come to see me, when I would come back from my mission. I may be not good at this, but I could give you one or two tips for maintaining your anger in a battle."
Elaine's frown then turned into a stunned stare. She wanted to say something, but actually she couldn't help but staying clueless and watching him leaving without any other word.
First, she actually had wondered if coming there was such a good idea, as she thought that she won't have any friend there...but while she was heading for the secretary, she realized in smiling that it may worth after all...
"...What's wrong, Scholastica?"
Samson was reading with difficulties one of books that he took out from the bookstore. However he stopped when he saw the little girl coming in the house, and bringing up a little bag that she managed to raise up thanks to her telekinesis, as being a hologram. Then, taking a check in the bag, he smiled, understanding.
"Ah I see. You came to buy what Elaine asked you to take, right?"
Scholastica nodded with a caring smile. She was always ready to help someone, especially in bad situation. While she was putting down the shopping, Samson asked her with a kind voice.
"Do you want me to help you for preparing them?"
But he knew that's useless, as Scholastica knew how cooking. However, while his sister was ready to use the kitchen, Benedictus wasn't as thrilled and pointed out, grumpy.
"Elaine has a nerve, calling us up like that. Why did she ask us to buy strawberries at this hour of the day?"
He glanced back at the clock. 6:00 am. He thought he was right. Who would be sane enough to eat strawberries now? Nevertheless, Samson had his own idea about it.
"...Elaine is like this, Bene. You can't blame her for this." He just said, without detailling it.
But Benedictus wasn't satisfied of this. So he just mumbled, ignoring Samson's glare. "Why didn't Sebas do it by himself? That's the father, I guess. He just gave us some money for making the shopping instead and having the peace in this way." He yawned again. "...I wanted to sleep a bit longer this morning."
Samson sighed. "...that's a bit more difficult than you could think, Bene."
It made two months, now...No, three months actually since the accident happened with Golvas. And things came slightly to normal now...As no attack from Thule had been announced anymore, everyone were allowed to come back at their own home. That was something which was positive, despite missions were still forbidden. Nevertheless, Georgius still told them to be careful and keeping a watch on each other. As it didn't mean that everything was perfectly alright and safe now. And that's why they were there.
Scholastica smiled, proud of herself when she saw the strawberries in the bowl, perfectly filled with sugar and whipped cream too. She then took it, informing the others two that she would bring them to her. While she was leaving the room, Benedictus just put his head on the table.
"...Sheesh. Now she learnt to prepare strawberries...she won't stop making some for my meals."
Samson just smiled, seeming sorry for him.
While she arrived at Elaine's room, Scholastica knocked at the door. But she only heard someone muttering from the other side. Thinking Elaine was awaken, Scholastica opened and came in.
"...who is it?"
Elaine's head was covered by her pillow, but she still could guess that was Scholastica. The little girl just put down the bowl of strawberries on the bedside table. Hearing the noise, Elaine turned back to her, and Scholastica realized how much she looked weak and tired.
"...Why did you bring me these strawberries?"She asked with a grumpy tone when she saw the bowl.
Scholastica took a rather upset look, and pointed her, meaning she was the one who asked her to bring them.
"...Ah yes...it may be true." Elaine just said with a yawn. Actually, she wasn't in mood to eat strawberries anymore now, but as Scholastica brought them there just for her, the least would be eating them. So, giving a weak smile to her, she took the bowl then began to taste. That's when Scholastica realized how much her belly was round now. She didn't look such like this some months ago...and that was also difficult to imagine that she would give birth soon. Elaine, noticing her look, just pointed.
"I know...I look like a planet. No need to point."
Scholastica smiled with a curious look, then she pointed her belly again, as for asking when the baby would come.
Elaine thought about it.
"...Well...I'm in my seventh month now...I ended my second trimester and I'm beginning the last one."
Scholastica smiled to this, apparently excited for this. She then gave her an unusual look, as for asking her if it would be a boy or a girl. Nevertheless, Elaine only shrugged, as if she didn't really care. "I prefer having the surprise."
But deep down, Elaine hoped a boy to be honest. That's not like she preferred this, but in this way she could think that Sebastianus would be more thrilled about with this...
At least, she thought it...
She then took her head into her hands. Looked like she didn't feel as much better as first. Noticing Scholastica's rather concerned look, Elaine smiled while eating the strawberries.
"They are pretty good...thanks..."
Scholastica smiled. She didn't want to point that it was actually Misao who learnt her some things in kitchen...as young as she was, she could see that Elaine didn't get along much with her...but she still hoped that these two would do one day...at least for once.
Suddenly, while they were talking, the two of them heard a loud noise coming from the front door. She sighed. Elaine growled out of frustration to this.
"...Help me to wake up please..." she said, stretching her hand to Scholastica. Now she had a big belly, everything seemed to be a bore to her, and she had some difficulties to stay up without being hit on by laziness. But she could guess she already bothered the others enough, so the least thing to do would be welcoming the new one, secretly hoping it wouldn't be Misao again. Scholastica helped her up then the two left the room to check who came back.
"...Georgius-sama...?"
When they arrived, Scholastica and Elaine were surprised to find their leader standing up in front of them, as they didn't expect it. Since Golvas' s incident, Georgius and the others saints in Index were mobilized to keep Index and its members safe from another potential Thule attack. Despite work came back, they had few things to do actually as coming back in mission was still dangerous. That's the reason why Georgius worked much more than usual, and that wasn't rare that he finished the night, very late. And when he had the time to come there, that was in order to share the situation with the others.
...But seeing his face, Elaine frowned, as it meant that these news weren't good.
"...what's wrong, Georgius?" Samson asked, looking a bit worried as well.
"...Is everyone there?" Georgius said in reply. "...I need talking with you...and that's serious."
Sebastianus, who was in the garden area, caught sight of Georgius too, and came in to check what's happening.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Benedictus muttered to his sister, as surprised as she was.
Then Georgius cleared his throat, ready to begin.
"...I don't know how saying this but...I preferred to declare this in person rather than by letters. But... it looks like we could have to come to leave very soon."
Everyone stayed silent to this. Only Samson responded.
"...For a mission? Will everyone leave?"
His friend nodded in agreement. But it didn't reassure Georgius had this face, it meant it hid something, even behind a thing such as simple as a mission. Nevertheless, Elaine asked, as if she had an idea about it.
"...It is about Golvas again?...about Thule?"
Georgius sounded hesitant but he ended up by nodding. "Yes. But not in the way you could think there." He paused. "Index thinks that Thule did enough. Despite Thule has two members who officially are working in Thule now, as Golvas is gone...We can't prove if some others hidden members who are unknown to Index could exist. Furthermore, it's certain that they still keep in touch with each others, according to what Elaine and Sebastianus witnessed to."
Elaine frowned, but deep down she was agree. According to the book The Other Side of Holy Office of Index, they couldn't underestimate any of them. Even not that dumb of Aenus, as he might be as dangerous as Golvas was.
"...So do you mean we give up?" Benedictus asked, with a hint of irritation in his voice.
Georgius shook his head. "Not really."
"But if you said that they are too strong to us...more than Index could think, that's useless to keep running after them. We could witness it with Golvas." Samson added, as he was agree with Benedictus about this.
Georgius replied with a rather dry tone. "That mission doesn't involve Thule itself...but Index has doubts about one member, that we must clarify."
Elaine stared at her leader, without understanding. "...Which one?"
Georgius turned back to her. "...You already met him. That's Fu Manchu."
Sebastianus shivered to this name. He guessed it...and now, Index noticed the same thing as they did too.
"...Fu Manchu? But didn't he leave Thule? Why do we have to investigate about him?" Benedictus frowned, not understanding much either.
"We have reasons to doubt about him." Samson explained. "After all, he is the one who released Sebastianus and Elaine while Thule members weren't around. We don't know what he has in mind."
Georgius nodded. "That's right. Moreover, he could know where Balor is."
He exchanged a glance with Sebastianus, who already knew what he was about to confess. In front of the surprised faces of the others, Georgius said.
"...I think that would be better if I told you the whole truth about Balor."
Then...Georgius began to explain to others what Sophia learnt to him. What the true connection between Golvas and Balor was, the true powers of the fragment...and the fact that Golvas searched for in Index...was a fake Balor. However, he didn't mention that Sebastianus was already aware of it, as being trapped in this private meeting.
Then, he listened to their reactions.
"...So that's the reason why Golvas crumbled like this at last?" Elaine asked, a bit shocked by everything she learnt.
Georgius nodded. "Yes. They were too away from each other, and that's why Golvas could take back some faint hint of sanity, and was able to understand what Balor truly was." He paused. "But that was too late, as the power which extended his life was already used too much...and once the connection between them was shattered, time caught Golvas up."
Elaine frowned. She felt no pity toward Golvas after everything he did, but if it happened to her, she could guess how much it would be painful.
Georgius kept on. "That's why Balor mustn't be trapped under evil-minded people. And if Fu was smart enough to make a fake, he probably must know where the original is."
"That's certain." Benedictus sneered. "He kept it for himself."
"I think the same." Sebastianus added. "...According to the meeting I heard, he was ready to betray Thule as well."
Georgius nodded. "We can't be as sure. But we need to check it. That's why Index sent us for investigating."
Elaine sighed. Great. They just came back, and now they left for it again. At least, if they were with the others, it may be safer for them.
"...However, Elaine..." Georgius turned back to her, with a severe look. "...You don't go with us."
To this sentence, Elaine goggled. "What?"
Georgius sighed. "You heard very well. You don't go with us."
She stayed open-mouthed, as she didn't expect it from her leader.
"Wait, I don't understand...why?"
Benedictus shrugged. "You're stupid or what? You look like a whale."
Samson gave him a warning glare, as it was hard enough. He didn't need to add it.
"So first BENE..." Elaine began to say."Shut up. I don't need your comments. And then, Georgius-sama, being pregnant won't prevent me to work."
Georgius sighed. "That isn't safe for you. That isn't only a work, but a real mission. I thought a lot about it, but I came to conclusion that you couldn't go on like this."
Elaine clenched her fists. "I know when the baby would come. That isn't for very soon. Then, you forgot Index..." she paused, as she glanced at Sebastianus with a concerned look. "Sebas and I, we could be blamed for this. You didn't forgot that I can go on a Holy trial if I committed another mistake?"
Georgius frowned. "...I know about this. But that would be dangerous for you."
Elaine, without understanding why, began to burn inside. She recalled these angers that she had in past...and it turned like she was about to make another one again. And a lot more dangerous than before...
"I don't let Sebas go on a mission like this which implies Fu. I can still fight myself, without risking to hurt the baby inside me."
Samson glanced back at Sebastianus, as if he waited for him to say something. He frowned to this sentence, then came closer to put a hand on Elaine's shoulder. "Elaine...stop this. Georgius-sama is right. Look at yourself, just by your only shape. You should stay there."
Then Elaine glared at him fiercely. "Are you serious? No way. I go with you."
"..." Georgius stayed silent. He knew Index wouldn't be nice to her if she stayed her...but if this mission implied something dangerous, she couldn't be protected. Furthermore, she would be a burden for the others. There was no way she could go on.
"Just be reasonnable for two minutes. Can you really think fighting in this state?" Georgius pointed her belly. Then, looking at Elaine's angry face, he mumbled. "...You don't want to put your kid in danger either. If Index asks why you didn't leave, I would stand up for you. I will manage to avoid a trial for you, but if you left in mission...there would be no way for you to be protected."
Elaine clenched her fists, resisting to the urge to hit her leader in the face. "...Now do you care for me? You should have had that idea right before sending us into this mission. You just don't care about us or the baby! But you are afraid that I could be on your way. We had risked our lives there just for investigating. And you will do the same for the others again! We're loyal to you but just don't take us for fools." Elaine crossed her arms, ignoring Sebastianus' s warning. "..." Georgius closed his eyes. It looked like Elaine touched a sensitive point. "...you're wrong."
"Elaine...that's enough now. Be careful." Samson glared at her, but she just ignored him. She didn't care for it either, being scolded, or slapped...that was the least for her.
"I'm wrong? I prefer that rather than being apart of my child when I would wait for my trial. What could happen with our child is none of your business. I decided to go on so...I would."
Sebastianus sighed. He knew that there would be a thing to do to convince her and putting her out of danger, but if he did...it would be welcoming an unknown life that he couldn't accept. However, it looked like Elaine was very decided for this, and nobody could convince her to stay there.
"...Elaine...I can't do much about it." Georgius was about to turn to the door when he heard Elaine yelling at him.
"I KNOW. DO YOU THINK I'M WEAK, RIGHT? Everyone must think it, RIGHT?"
Georgius turned toward her, stunned by the tone she took. Elaine never talked to him like this...she never talked to anybody furthermore. Even Sebastianus was shocked by the way she talked.
"...Elaine..."
"Shut up!" Then she turned toward Sebastianus in last, and he could see tears in her eyes, which were about to roll on her feet. "...if you care for it so much, please don't act if you cared for it..."
And before Sebastianus could respond, Elaine turned around calmly to leave the lounge and heading for her room, not even hiding her tears anymore.