Two women strode forward. One tall, another short.
Massive gusts of wind, ice, and snow slammed past them in the land of perpetual winter named Gusteko. Thankfully for the two, the taller woman held a lantern specially designed to not be blown out by the wind, and to give enough illumination for them to move forward, as long as they were careful.
A shorter woman followed behind her taller companion. Her tiny arms were wrapped around herself, she'd forgotten how much she hated Gusteko's climate. It didn't matter to her though, as she needed to keep going. So she pushed a smile on her face and continued after the taller woman.
Eventually, the two drew close to a medium-sized shack. It was built from an odd mix of wood and bricks. The architecture was incredibly rudimentary. It was almost certainly built for the purpose of staying warm, and not for beauty.
They soon reached the doors of the house and threw them open. They were completely unlocked, which under normal circumstances would not have been a particularly bad idea, as most people in Gusteko wouldn't be willing to go out in the freezing cold just to steal something. It would be far safer for them to stay around their village.
However today, it was one of the worst ideas the residents ever had.
Once they'd gotten inside they walked into the main room. A tiny whiff of smoke entered their noses. It was coming from a still-burning fireplace on the opposite side of the room.
Within the room was a table with a few knocked-over chairs next to it. Everything would have been mostly normal aside from the dozen people which were strewn across the stone floor.
As Meili looked upon the residents' immobile forms, she couldn't help but ask Elsa, "Why is he so... mean?"
"His business is his own, and you don't have to worry about it," Elsa Granhiert responded to her in an oddly soothing voice. She looked back at Meili, and pushed her usual perverted smile onto her face.
The purple-haired girl quickly followed suit and pushed her own smile onto her face. Although where Elsa's was twisted, hers could be considered cute.
"Yeah… you're right," Meili did her best to take her adopted sister's words to heart. "Still…"
"Meili," Elsa added a touch of warning into her voice, it appeared soothing the Mabeast User wouldn't work so she tried a different tactic.
"It's improper to question the methods of Mama's other children, and a personal word of advice, avoid questioning this one in particular." Elsa tried to avoid it, but she let out a small shudder. Meili's heart dropped. She could tell exactly what that shudder meant. Her big sister was afraid, deathly afraid.
What's wrong with- No don't think about him. Meili forced herself away from the horrors that lay before her.
Meili didn't respond to Elsa's words, instead, she pushed her smile even wider.
Elsa also didn't speak any further either, instead, she threw a few logs into the fireplace.
Once Meili heard the sound of burning cinders grow louder she moved her small body over to the fire. Her hands reached out to take full advantage of the heat. The bodies around her had made her forget about the cold for a minute.
Elsa followed suit and took advantage of the flames as well. "Elsa, why did Mama fly us out here?" Meili was referring to Mama's black dragon form, which the woman had used to get them to Gusteko quickly.
"Because I requested you three's presence," A new voice emanated throughout the room.
It was a woman's voice, and it was soft, calming, and chilling at the same time, "Though I have noticed the other assassin I requested to meet isn't here, so I only got two, how fascinating."
Elsa took out one of her kukri knives and stepped up so that she was facing opposite the door. With a subtle, mostly unnoticeable, motion she put a small part of her body in front of Meili. The bowel hunter was just being cautious, she doubted the owner of that voice would hurt them, but she was still someone who could request things directly from Mama. Elsa didn't want to trust her.
Soft footsteps padded against the cold cobblestone floor of the shack they were in. It wasn't long before a short woman stepped out of the hallway and into the room. The first thing that Meili noticed was her lack of any warm clothes. All she wore was a singular cloth. No shoes or leggings in sight.
Though the woman took no notice of the cold. And her pale skin didn't hadn't reddened in the slightest. Her icy sapphire eyes were filled with warmth that protested against the gustekan frost.
"Who are you?" Elsa's voice sounded of steel as she readied herself for whatever the woman was going to do.
"I am Pandora," She gave the two a friendly smile. Meili didn't know whether to shiver or feel more comfortable.
"I would like to request something of you, so I asked dear Capella-chan to bring you out."
Elsa and Meili twisted in fear. Pandora's use of Capella's name had been full of familiarity, but it had possessed not a hint of fear.
Meili hoped that Elsa to do her weird thing where she got all breathy in front of a strong person. She wanted Elsa to whisper about Pandora's bowels.
But the Bowel Hunter couldn't even breathe freely right now. Her instincts were screaming at her, and not in a way that she enjoyed.
After a few seconds of silence, Pandora spoke once more, "Ah, I've frightened you both. I do apologize for that." She paused for a brief second. "Now I would like to discuss some business I have with you two."
"…What is it?" Elsa's voice fell from her throat after a few seconds, but she didn't move away from Meili, or lower her blade.
"Miss Granhiert, you have recently been hired for a job in the Mathers domain, yes?"
"Yes, that's the case," Elsa tentatively responded.
"Well, I would like to hire you both for a different job," Pandora's eyes glowed with fondness, though Meili could easily tell it wasn't directed at her or Elsa, "I want you to disobey your order from Roswal L. Mathers."
Elsa's eyes darted around the room searching for an escape or something she could use. How can we escape this, I could use Meili. The woman's instincts or heart, she couldn't tell which, rejected that idea. No that wouldn't work Meili couldn't hold her for very long without mabeasts around. This Pandora is someone who can speak of Mama fo familiarly and without any fear. Can I really disobey her?
Elsa continued to think for a moment, before deciding upon her course of action, "Very well," There was no other choice that wouldn't kill her and by extension Meili.
"Now come closer. There's no need to get Miss Portroute involved."
Meili watched silently as Pandora beckoned Elsa over to her. She curled up next to the fire, trying not to eavesdrop. All she could do was smile to hide the terror boiling within her.
Once Pandora and Elsa were done speaking, the Bowel Hunter walked back over to Meili. "Come, Meili. We have a new job." She lightly slapped Meili on the shoulder to instruct the Mabeast User to stand up.
The two assassins started to move toward the entranceway of the shack. "Hold on for a second," Both quickly did as Pandora asked and warily looked at the platinum-haired woman.
"What happened to the one who did this?" She asked, gesturing at the bodies strewn across the floor. "I would like to speak with them."
"He's somewhere within the vicinity. Mama was going to collect him when he calmed down a tad," Elsa answered.
"Thank you, Miss Granhiert." Pandora got up and closed the distance between herself and the two girls.
"Now, you are in Lugunica awaiting me and your sister." The world reeled from her words, before Elsa disappeared without a trace.
Meili's smile melted from her face. Her terror overwhelmed her and she stepped away from the woman. "Ah, how idiotic of me, I frightened you once more. As much as I am fond of Capella-chan, sometimes her methods go too far. There is nothing to worry about, child."
The small platinum-haired woman placed her hand atop the purple-haired girl's head. With a gentle touch, she stroked Meili's hair, and used her Authority to soothe the young girl's emotions.
"Now, Miss Portroute, can I ask you to do something for me?"
Meili's smile reappeared on her face and she nodded. There was still fear hidden behind her eyes, but it wasn't mind-shattering like it had been.
"Thank you," Pandora stepped up and placed her mouth to Meili's ear. "Await me in the Augria Sand Dunes." The world groaned at her order, and Meili's eyes shot wide open. She didn't have the chance to speak before she disappeared.
Once the purple-haired girl was gone, Pandora took a look around at the bodies littered around the floor of the shack. It had likely been a small religious meeting. "Capella-chan's methods are certainly…" She couldn't find the right word for it.
She stood still for a few moments before shaking her head and grasping her Authority.
"I am in the Augria Sand Dunes." Reality pushed against her for a second then snapped and obeyed her. With that, she left behind a room full of sleeping men and women.