The Eye of Mikhail
As always, Eve went to Ayanami's office knowing that he has another task for her.
And he did as he said without preamble. "I need you to head to the Barsburg Church on pretense that you are a mere visitor. You are to retrieve the Eye of Mikhail and bring it to me. Now, this mission has the most dangerous of attempts but failure is not an option. I will do what is needed to aid you in retrieving it from those wretched Bishops."
"I have a spy within the Church. His name is Bastien and he serves as Assistant Archbishop. He is of nationalistic character and will do anything to protect Barsburg at all costs. Now, you are to present to him the pass phrase 'God cannot hesitate to punish the guilty' to which he will respond with 'There is no divine protection of God.' He has been keeping an eye on Teito Klein for quite sometime and knows of his movements."
"Do not kill Teito. Do what you want with the other Bishops just bring me the Eye. I need not overstate it's importance. I say to you Eve because you may be the only person I can trust with this is to retrieve the Eye once it has been removed for Barsburg and for me." Ayanami finished and looked at Eve in the eyes.
"I shall leave at once for the church sir. They won't be alarmed when they see me."
"That's the idea." Ayanami replied. "Go Eve and know that my greatest hopes lie in your success."
Eve left the military base and entered the Church. She was welcomed easily and walked around.
Since Eve had done quite a few tasks for the Church prior to joining the Black Hawks, no one would suspect her of being a Warsfeil which she isn't. She did spot Teito Klein and another man which she recognized as Hakuren Oak.
She walked behind them as they were chatting away about the upcoming Bishop's Apprentice Exam.
They finally noticed her and Teito said. "Hello. We're just talking about passing the exams."
Eve nodded. "I've heard. Many apprentices happening this year."
Hakuren commented. "I remembered that members of my family are talking of your classified file and your joining of the military. Did you really do that?"
Eve shrugged and answered. "I did. To this day, I'm still an unknown."
Teito countered. "But you joined the military from what Hakuren said here. What's your business here?"
Eve answered. "I am currently on leave to meet a certain Assistant Archbishop and discuss with him a matter that concerns Barsburg. Do you know where he is?"
Teito answered. "Yeah, he's in the library, reading some books I think."
Eve made a gentle smile. "Thank you. I'll be heading there now." She left their presence.
"Is it me or is that woman up to something? I mean like, do we even know who she is?" Hakuren asked.
Teito shook his head. "I have a feeling that I can trust her. Her outfit doesn't look like Barsburg military."
Hakuren shrugged and they both left.
Eve went to the library and found Bastien walking around. She called out to him. "Excuse me. But are you the Assistant Archbishop?"
He nodded and asked politely. "I am. My name is Bastien. How can I help you my daughter?"
She said the pass phrase. "God cannot hesitate to punish the guilty."
He answered with. "There is no divine protection of God." Then he leaned to whisper Eve's ear. "Ayanami sent you?" Eve nodded then he continued. "We can't talk here. Meet me at my room at the fourth floor tonight. I want to ask a little favor from you before we commence our mission."
He went back to his original position as he spoke gently. "If you need to know which book you will get, just let me know what title you want. Maybe I'll get it for you." He humorously added. "And if there are any porn books you find, be sure to turn them to me."
Eve nodded and replied. "Thank you. I must be going now."
"May God be with you."
Eve left the library where she spotted Teito and Hakuren again.
When she overhead the topic of Mikage Celestine, she stepped in. "Are you two talking about this Mikage?"
Teito nodded. "I'm just wondering how he's doing in the military."
Eve smiled and replied. "Doing well. He's still enlisted there and undergoing an assignment on District 3."
Teito's eyes widened. "You know Mikage? How is he doing? Is he hurt? What happened to him while I was gone?"
"In order? I do not know him personally but I was told that Ayanami interrogated him about your whereabouts but he gave up after he realized that Mikage wasn't giving up anything. He recovered and is declared healthy to serve."
Teito nodded, satisfied with the answer but he asked. "Do you know Ayanami personally?"
Eve decided to tell the truth but omit the fact that she's part of the Black Hawks. "I do. He's the one who granted me leave due to my exemplary service for the military."
Both Hakuren and Teito nodded, seeing as she's been honest so far. Hakuren asked. "May we know your name?"
"Eve." She smiled.
"Teito Klein and this is Hakuren Oak." Teito held out his hand and she shook it despite the fact that she already knew their names thanks to the Black Hawks' intel.
"It's great meeting you guys. See you around." Eve happily said then she left.
"What a nice woman." Teito mused as Hakuren looked at him.
Later at midnight, Eve went to Bastien's room where he said. "I'm glad you're here. I have a small favor I want you to carry out: there's a murderer named Aldo who is in charge of the church grounds. I want you to strike down this criminal before he can corrupt this church further."
He gave Eve a picture of what Aldo looks like.
"Once you're done with this task, just leave the body there. I will handle the rest. Now I realize that this will leave a bad taste in your mouth to kill an unarmed man but I will make sure that you are covered for the murder and not get implicated." Bastien promised her. She nodded.
(With Aldo)
He was working at night's shift by the main gate of the church when he heard someone cry in pain. He quickly opened the gate to see a grey-haired woman sobbing while holding her leg.
Aldo asked out of concern. "Are you okay?"
She sobbed. "I was being chased by robbers and ended up here."
Aldo gently lifted her up. "I'll get you inside and I'll tend to your wound."
"Thank you." She croaked.
He carried her inside and as he was preparing some bandages when he heard a sword being unsheathed. He turned around when he saw another woman.
A brown-haired and green-eyed woman with a sword.
She said with remorse. "I am sorry murderer, but I've been sent to kill you."
"What? Why? I don't understand...I have done nothing to wrong you...please, mercy!"
Before he could even think to run, he found himself impaled on the sword at his stomach. The woman finished him by stabbing him on the back of his neck.
(With Eve)
The deed was done. She disguised herself by wearing a grey wig then pretended to be injured to get Aldo's attention. She felt bad for betraying him but she knew that she'll betray more than one person.
But the task was done and she must prove that she is loyal to the Black Hawks, Ayanami and Barsburg. She met up with Bastien in his room.
"You have my thanks Eve. You have purified the Church of his taint. Let us proceed with the part of the plan: I will lure Teito to a secret passageway hidden in my bookcase. I will attempt to execute Teito for treason against the empire, you will take the Eye and leave the church to give it to Ayanami." He put a hand on Eve's shoulder. "Listen, I may not survive this so you must be the one to take the Eye as Teito doesn't have the best interests of the empire on his mind. We will only have one chance this will work."
"I'm ready. Let's do this."
(Two hours later)
Teito and Hakuren had their Basculus tainted and begin to suspect that Bastien was the Warsfeil. They found the secret passageway using the bookcase and they found Bastien who attacked them and trying to kill Teito.
However, Mikhail took over Teito and fought back. Realizing that he wasn't going to win, Bastien tried to pry the Eye off of Teito's hand. He succeeded but Mikhail made one last defiance by punching Bastien hard in the jaw, making him stumble back.
Teito saw the Eye rolling away and caught it. He tried to put in back on his hand but a female hand on his shoulder stopped him.
Teito looked back and muttered. "Eve?"
She nodded. "Sorry I was late. Can you please give me the Eye so I can take it to safety?" She gently asked of him.
Teito felt unsure but an encouraging squeeze on his shoulder eased his doubt. He gave the Eye to her.
"Thank you." Eve said gratefully.
Teito requested. "Can you please alert the imperial guard about the situation here?"
"I will." Though Eve had no intention of doing that.
Hakuren called out. "Please escape Lady Eve. We'll buy you as much time as we can. You can't afford to give it to Bastien."
She nodded then quickly ran out of room.
Suddenly, Zehel appeared and impaled Bastien on his scythe. He personally tells Teito. "You have been deceived. You have given the Eye to a woman who is a part of the group that is your mortal enemy."
Teito's and Hakuren's eyes went wide at the Ghost's words and paled.
(With Eve)
She ran while clutching the Eye on her chest. She happened to pass by Teito's room and went inside for a bit. She saw a stone that clearly resembled the Eye and took it, she sensed that it's a fake but decided to keep it anyway.
When she left, she saw Kuroyuri and Haruse, disguised in acolyte and bishop uniforms. The former said. "Ayanami sent us to help you Eve, he said that you could use the assistance now that you've probably alerted the whole church."
Eve nodded and continued running along with Kuroyuri and Haruse.
That is until they encountered acolytes trying to stop them.
"Don't let go of the Eye, Eve. We'll handle this rabble." Haruse ordered as he and Kuroyuri unleashed their Warsfeil powers on those acolytes.
They continued running but once again, they were blocked.
This time by Castor and Labrador.
They didn't want to engage the two yet so they went to the other direction of the Church grounds.
"Keep moving Eve! Don't stop!" Kuroyuri ordered Eve who is running as well.
Castor blocked their path and fired sharp strings at them. Labrador fired thorns and plants but Kuroyuri and Haruse took the brunt of the damage and unable to support Eve.
"Eve, go to the entrance!" Kuroyuri called out to Eve to leave them behind.
She ran and encountered Teito and needless to say he was furious and is currently holding a sword. (Don't ask)
Eve unsheathed hers and they began sparring.
Eve noticed that Teito's swings are sloppy but full of force. Not to mention that his face was twisted with fury over being betrayed.
They continued fighting in what appears to be a storage room where Eve used the surrounding barrels and shoved Teito into them, damaging him.
Teito realized that Eve is the superior swordsman between them and was forced to retreat but not before firing his Zaiphon at a nearby group of acolytes for Eve to contend to before fleeing.
Eve knocked them out and continued pursuing Teito but he made his surprise attack by firing his Zaiphon at her, hitting her dead on and knocking her down.
She barely got up when she was hit in the back by a sword but quickly parried the next two strikes and smoothly disarmed Teito's sword. She tripped him using her foot and pointed the tip of her sword to him.
"Go ahead. Finish it." Teito spat at her but she sheathed her sword.
"No. Your fate belongs to another." Eve calmly replied before walking away.
"Another...Ayanami!" Teito said in horrific realization. "You're part of the Black Hawks aren't you!?"
Eve's response is to look over her shoulder but continued walking.
She saw Kuroyuri waiting for her at the entrance and asked. "Where's Haruse?"
Kuroyuri spat bitterly. "He's gone. Taken by that damned purple-haired bishop by draining him with his plants. Bought enough time for me to escape."
Eve cupped Kuroyuri's cheek and said sympathetically. "I am so sorry but at least we have the Eye."
Kuroyuri leaned their head at Eve's cheek and said. "Mhm."
They returned to the military base and Eve presented both the fake and the real eyes to Ayanami. Ayanami correctly deduced the real one and praised. "Once again, you've done me a great service Eve. Many thanks. Kuroyuri, I have felt Haruse's passing and I give you my condolences. If you wish to take revenge on that purple bishop, I will allow you to do so but for now, please leave. There is something I wish to tell Eve in private."
Kuroyuri saluted and left Ayanami's office.
"I honestly can't believe I'm saying this but you deserve the truth. I'll just say it: I am the reincarnation of Verloren, the God of Death." Ayanami revealed, seeing Eve's calm face as she looked unfazed by the information.
"I am aware of what happened to you -to Verloren- sir."
"Good, I can skip of all the explanations then. Now I must ask, Eve. Do you have the memories of your...namesake?"
"I do sir. I remembered how I died...by your touch..." Eve said, remembering that very event that change Verloren's life forever.
"I won't ask how you came to life and frankly I am pleased that you are one of us and you've done so much for us. I am entrusting you with my true identity and I will trust you to keep it. I don't need to tell you what will happen should you fail." Ayanami said.
"No sir."
"As much as I would like you to rest Eve, that's not possible. Those damnable bishops and Teito will come looking for the Eye. You brought me the fake eye which I can use to my advantage by setting them up to a false location and wiping them out."
"I am ready to leave at once sir."
Ayanami smirked at Eve. "I shall be there to personally oversee their destruction Eve. I am willing to assume that you are aware of the Ghosts?"
"I am sir."
"Better. I will absorb those wretched Ghosts and once we're done with them, I'll give you a special reward...it will be worth your time I can assure you."
"I am willing to wait for it sir." Eve smiled and placed a hand on her chest.