The door to God Arc storage facility opened for I didn't know how many times. Since this morning I helped Licca sorting out these abandoned God Arc and moved it to their new storage room. My immense strength allowed me to drag entire container alone, which normally took a forklift at least.

Now this what I called a God Arc storage facility, multiple active God Arc lined neatly in their own protective casing on the wall, no random parts lie around, no broken God Arc in sight. Air around me considerably cleaner than before. Rust smell that tainted this place had long gone, only oil like scent remained.

"Yo Licca, it's done. How bout you?"

"Almost done with basic circuit model, this is all thanks to you. Try to take it easy Rena, you've gathered everything in the list last night, now you cleaned out entire room alone, without any equipment no less." Licca put her soldering iron down and stared at me.

"I need no rest. I can keep doing this all day without getting tired. A handy side effect don't you think?"

"One more thing. I got a report that Anti-Aragami wall on east side of the Den has been damaged. Not much, but better fix it as soon as possible. There's one thing that bothering me. They said the cracks in Anti-Aragami wall resemble a hand, as if someone jams their fingers in it." Licca tapped her chin and thinking for a while.

'Yes, the culprit is here, right in front your face.'

'Shaddap!'

"It should be impossible, no one has enough physical power for such feat, not even a God Eater. Wait... You have something to do with it don't you?" Licca narrowed her eyes on me.

'Bingo! She's the one that broke your wall.'

'Oy, it's your idea idiot.'

"Um... no?" Nope, there was no way I could fool her with my half-hearted tone.

"You and your sister are bad at lying you know?" Licca released a long sigh. "I'll let it slide this time, don't do that again. Fixing Anti-Aragami wall is hard, it become harder when the said wall is a hundred meters high."

"Sorry, I did that when I escaped from this place. That settles it, I'll help your team fixing that wall."

"You don't have to. Take a rest, let the maintenance crew do their job." She gave me disapproval shook.

"Nope, it was my fault to begin with, I'm going whether you like it or not."

"Too late, they already working as we speak. They'll have finished their job by the time you arrived."

"Tch, fine, just call me if you need anything."

Nothing left to do here so I'm heading back to my room.

I stopped in front of Dr. Sakaki's room. Dr. Sakaki stayed in his office as usual, wait, there was another person. This scent... Lindow?

"Hey doc, and Lindow, what're you doing here?" I opened the door and greeted them.

"What? I can't come and visit you?" He raised his hand and greeted me.

"Of course you can! It just unusual you know... anyway, come, I'll prepare a beer for you."

We both sat on sofa in my room. Lindow drank his beer while I sipped my tea. Strange, my tea was quite bland... I did put less sugar in it? Whatever.

"So Lindow, how's my sister now?"

"Even better than before. She trained much harder after your rampage. Now she's the first recruit that capable to take down a Vajra alone in simulation. I won't be surprised if she surpasses us, veterans, in a year or two." Lindow lit up his cigarette, a trail of smoke seeping from his lips.

"Silly sis, she blamed herself for my rage. How about you Lindow?"

"Same old, same old. Go and kill something, go back and have a date with Sakuya, repeat and rinse. Not complaining though, she's a nice girl."

"You really love her don't you? Don't forget to invite me." I smiled at him. Soon we would have either mini Lindow or mini Sakuya running around.

"Of course, I wouldn't engage to her If I didn't. Don't worry, you, Rina, and whole First Unit will get first row seat." Lindow emptied his beer can and threw it away. "Time's up, must go now."

"So soon?"

"Yep, got a mission to do in City of Mercy. Oh well, I'll try to visit you again next time." Lindow stood up and took something from his pocket. "Here, hold this for me okay?"

He gave me... A data disk? "What's this?"

"My little side project. I'll pick it up later, see ya." Lindow left my room.

I took another sip from my tea. Yep, definitely more bland than usual. Someone knocked Dr. Sakaki's door just as I about to read my maintenance manual. This vanilla scent... oh Rina, better made some milk tea then.

"Morning sis." She opened my door and sat on sofa.

"Morning. Tell me..." I put her milk tea on the table. "Why did you push yourself like that? What happened in Sunken Grid is not your fault."

"Lindow told you didn't he? It's my fault, I was-"

"No, it wasn't. No one could hear that fish, it was too far." I interrupted her. "Look, I'm proud that you can defeat a Vajra alone, but overdoing it will only bring harm to yourself."

"I'm sorry..." She looked at the floor.

"It's okay, just know your limit." I released a sigh. It useless, I couldn't get angry at her, not for long.

"Um... sis? I got this for you." She put a box filled with assorted Aragami Core on table.

"Thank you." I took one of it. An Ogretail Core, but it had few streaks of white line on it surface. "Is this Ogretail Core? Different from the usual."

"A Fallen Ogretail. Dr. Sakaki said it's a normal Ogretail that adapted to cold environment." She nipped her milk tea. "Your tea is good as always sis."

Another person knocked Dr. Sakaki's door. A pine like scent mixed with tinge of cigarette, yep, definitely Sakuya. I strode across my room and opened the door. "Hey Sakuya, come in."

Sakuya sat beside my sister. "First, I'm sorry, I aimed my God Arc at you."

"Nahh I don't mind. I'll do the same if our roles was reversed, it was half month ago anyway." I waved at her in dismissal.

"Thank you. How did you know I'm in Dr. Sakaki's office?"

"Your scent. You got a pine like fragrance mixed with Lindow's scent all over you." Huh? It was me or her cheek reddened?

"Don't say that, It might cause misunderstanding." Sakuya's cheek brighten up significantly.

"I don't get it." My sister tilted her head.

"Neither do I sis."

'Hahahahaha ooh that's gold. Another scenery to be added to my vault.'

'What the hell? Explain it Rei!'

'The way you wording it almost like you accusing her mating with Lindow.'

"Shit..." My cheeks warmed up. Damn that idiot, he explained it bluntly on purpose.

"Um... Why are you blushing too?" My sister stared at me with innocence written on his face.

'Hahahaha keep this up, you're the best Rena.'

'Shut up you idiot!'

"I don't get it, explain it please..." My sister whined.

"It's better if you don't know it." Damn Rei and his tactlessness.

"Anyway, I'm here to pick you up Rina. We got an extermination mission, a Vajra in City of Mercy." Sakuya regained her composure, still blushing a little though.

"Awww but I just arrived here."

"It's fine, you can visit me again after this, not like I'm going anywhere. Besides, you'll be back in no time considering both Sakuya and Lindow helping you this time." I drank all my bland tea.

"Lindow? He's not with us, director gave him special assignment along with Alisa." Sakuya raised her eyebrow at me.

Eh? Something was wrong. Two teams in one area was a rare occasion. It happened only on unforeseen event such as Aragami ambush or in highly infested area. Did they messed up the order? It shouldn't be. Far East Branch had limited God Eaters so they maintained a strict control over God Eaters deployment.

"I'm going sis."

"See you later Rena."

"963 Sheep jumping over a fence... 964 Sheep jumping over a fence... 965 Sheep jumping over a fence... 966 Sheep ju-"

'Oy what the hell are you doing?'

'Counting imaginary sheep. They said this is the best way to induce sleep, a complete bullshit.'

'Idiot. I've told you, we don't and can't rest.'

Well, he was right, but curiosity won over me. Kinda waste to let my new bed untouched for five days straight, so I tried to sleep. Nothing could send me to dreamland, not even a thousand sheep over a fence thing. Of course it wouldn't work on me, it was a trick for human.

I flipped to my side, soft fabric brushed against my skin. What a waste, a high quality bed given to someone who couldn't sleep. It took almost an hour to count that thousand sheep and I got nothing in return. Maybe I should check on Licca rather than squander my time like this, she might had another list of Aragami part.

Slowly I crawled to the edge of my bed and headed straight to bathroom. A warm bath before a mission wouldn't hurt. Stream of lavender scented hot water filled my tub. I Absent-mindedly scrubbed my body with a sponge while my mind wandering off. An hour already passed since my sister left me, she would return soon. If I think about it, I never made anything other than milk tea for her. Should I made some? I'm not the best cook around, but surely I could bake some cookies without turned it into a charcoal.

I put my signature black and white hooded Fenrir uniform after dried myself and opened kitchen cabinets. It filled with cereals, pudding powder, and juice. Now where that flour and chocolate block?

An elevator stopped on this floor. Normally I paid no mind to such thing but the owner of this footstep seemed to be in hurry and run straight to Dr. Sakaki's office, no, it was right to my room. The said person rammed my door and hastily opened it.

It was my sister. Rina stood on my doorstep with ragged breath. She her hair disheveled and sweat dripped from her forehead. Something sweet emanated from her, this metallic scent... blood?

"Damn it, you're wounded, go to infirmary now."

A trail of red liquid steamed from gash on her stomach. Her green Fenrir uniform now soaked in her own blood. I picked her up and ran to infirmary near Dr. Sakaki's office. The infirmary door shattered to pieces when my boot crashed into it.

"Put me down, you must save Lindow. He trapped in ruined church with unknown Vajra in the center of City of Mercy."

"WHAT! What about you?"

"Just go! I'll be fine, I'm a medic remember?"

Rina wobbled toward medical cabinet and took few tools from it. Slowly she rests on clinic bed and began mending her wound.

I ran back to Dr. Sakaki's office and rammed his door. He sat there, behind his computer as usual. He stopped typing and stared at me.

"What happened to Rina?"

"No time to explain, I need your chopper and call any available doctor, NOW!"

The dusty ground beneath me cracked. A harsh landing from hundreds meter high helicopter tend to broke anything I stepped on. I didn't wait for chopper to descending, its side door flew away the moment I reached City of Mercy. This is a rescue mission, every seconds could make a difference between finding him or his body. Still, I had to apologize to Dr. Sakaki for busting his helicopter door.

Nothing but small fry wandered around City of Mercy. No sign of Lindow or new Vajra that Rina mentioned. All I got was odd-looking yellow Ogretail with decorated head. It fell after a single hit, just like other small fry, but It was the toughest small fry I faced this far. Its body still intact even though I crushed it with full strength.

The area around ruined church was eerily quiet, no Aragami, no sound of battle, only scent of blood remained. Fear struck deep into me. Am I too late? The only path leading to inner church clogged with rubble so I took a detour. I entered the church using a hole near its roof. Ironic, this hole used only by Aragami, a normal God Eater couldn't jump high enough. Now, I could use it as I pleased, what a twisted joke.

A white Vajra laid down in a pool of Aragami blood. This must be the unknown Vajra. It had disgustingly feminine face, almost like a woman. Its body covered in whitish fur and its cape was blue instead of orange. Scent of two different blood hanging in the air, the usual Aragami blood and human blood. No... I jumped down and landed on something hard.

It was Lindow's God Arc. I picked it up and searched my surrounding.

I couldn't find Lindow. Damn it, he was wounded, unarmed, and lost. I checked at the ceiling near blocked path. It riddled with bullet hole and soot, definitely an assault gun God Arc filled with blaze Oracle bullet. That means... a sabotage? Fury boiled in me. Whoever did this will beg for death after I finished with them. "Come in Licca. Send a retrieval team to ruined church in City of Mercy, tell them to bring some breaching explosives as well."

"Understood." Licca closed her radio.

'Calm yourself Rena. Sharpen your senses, we might find some clue about this.'

Useless. My rage run far too deep. All I could do is restrained myself from destroying every Aragami around me. I jumped through the hole and landed outside. Something bumped my foot as I took my first step. A white colored metal cylindrical container, like a flash grenade that God Eater normally used. Alluring scent mixed with cigarettes emerged from its hole.

'It's a bait, a man-made weapon to attract Aragami.'

'You certainly know many things about God Eater.'

'I'd encounter one of it before. Quite devious weapon if you ask me.'

A bait? I see. Lindow was assaulted. One person trapped him while the other one released this bait. I took a sniff at the cigarette scent and memorized it. Whoever had this scent would soon know the true meaning of pain.

I wandered around, searching for clues about Lindow. This was one of the few occasions that I'm grateful being an Aragami. Limitless energy coupled with inability to feel sore really helped a lot in sweeping through this area. My sweeping stopped when I sensed something that might lead me to Lindow. A trace of human blood drifting in the air, it came from southwest of this place.

Occasionally, I stopped in my track and sniffing air around me before continuing, like a dog. I don't care if I acted like one, I would do that in a heartbeat if it could bring me closer in tracking down Lindow.

"Doc? Are you there?"

[Yes, what is it Rena?] Dr. Sakaki's voice came from my headset.

"I won't return anytime soon, I'm still tracking Lindow. How's Rina doing?"

[She's sleeping now. It's a superficial wound, few stitches and restful days will fix her in no time.]

"Good, I leave her in your care doc."

The sky darkened and snowflakes began to fall. I found another clue when I reached snowy forest northside of Temple Area, footprints. It was a teenager considering the diminutive size of the said footprints. Something didn't add up, teenager in the middle of snowy forest? Aragami would kill him or her, if not, the harsh weather would.

Another perk of being an Aragami is immunity against bad weather, I kept pushing forward despite being caught in a large blizzard. Snow and freezing wind didn't bother me, it felt like cool wind on my skin. The scent of blood and footprints had long gone, dispersed by harsh weather. All I could do was to keep moving onward to the center of Temple Area, Tranquil Temple.

I would become a frozen corpse had I been a human. By the time I arrived in Tranquil Temple my entire body covered in snow, much like a human sized snowman. I shook my body and wiped the melting snow off. Trail of cold water dripping from my cloth. It seems I had lost some of my senses, I could still feel cold but not how cold it is. Frozen snow and gentle breeze felt the same, just like how lava and tub of warm water felt to me.

The trail had gone cold, I've completely lost Lindow, where the hell did he go? Mild snowfall constantly blanketing this place, much like eternal drizzle in Wailing Plains. This troublesome snowfall had absorbed any lingering scents, effectively stopped me from sniffing out the blood. Without any clue, I roamed around aimlessly until I found something.

It was another strange female Vajra.

Not exactly what I looking for, but I could use some target practice for venting out my rage. I charged at it with gauntlets in my arms. It jumped at me, way faster than I calculated. Instinctively, I swatted it aside and launched it into an abandoned house. Huh? It was lighter than it look. I didn't even use my Aragami form, yet it flew like a ragdoll. The Vajra created a large ice spike and threw it at my head.

My spike clashed and shattered its ice spike before struck its shoulder. I took my chances while its recoiled and mounting its back. Let see how tough this wings. I grabbed its wing base and tore it away. The strange Vajra began trashing around, tried to dismount me. Its trashing grew harder with each wing I tore, and it went enraged immediately right after I tore the last wing. Nope, it couldn't touch me, I was on its back, far from its fangs and claws. I replaced my right gauntlet with a blade and began gouging its back.

Blood, Oracle Cells, Aragami flesh, everything was scattered around. My blade carved a large hole on its back, deep enough to reached its Core. The beast fell down as soon as I tore it away. I jumped down from its back and examined my surrounding. What a mess, snow around me painted in red, including myself. Now, what should I do with this carcass?

I swallowed its core and stripped down its body. Anything useful to a God Eater such as its claw, wing, or fangs would make a good gift for Rina, the rest of it for Dr. Sakaki. If I think about it, this strange Vajra was quite weak, definitely uncommon. Rule of thumb dictated that a mutant is always stronger than the regular one, so why did a normal Vajra gave more challenge than this?

'Is it me or this Vajra is weaker than usual? '

'No, you're the one that grow stronger. We become stronger with each devour, and that cat affinity with ice only worsen its situation.'

'Ice? Why its affinity have anything to do with this?'

'Remember the first day you use your Aragami form? I said that you have fire and ice type Oracle Cells. Here's a hint, these elemental Oracle Cells act as both your armor and weapon.'

I kept walking around aimlessly. Sadly, all trace of footprints and blood had completely gone, even the one that lead me to this place. Damn my luck, I might got some leads if that cursed blizzard didn't hit this place. Half-heartedly, I reached out my headset and pushed a button.

"Doc? I've lost him. Send the extraction chopper, I'll be waiting at Tranquil Temple."

Depression, that what the entire Den felt. No need for my extremely sharp senses, normal people could immediately noticed how quiet the Den lobby was. People muttered something like Reaper or Death God as I passed by. What was that? A title?

When I got back to Dr. Sakaki's office, my sister was already there, waiting patiently for me. The hell? Not even a day and she already moving around?

"I don't think walking around with stitches in your stomach is a good idea sis."

"I know, but I must tell you something, promise me you'll hear me out until I finished my story."

"No, your story will have to wait." I grabbed her hand.

A bright flash entered my vision.

My sight slowly returned. So, once again, I entered her memories. My sister was standing near entrance to the ruined church, guarding it along with Sakuya, Soma, and Kota.

A loud roar echoed from inside the church and took everyone's attention. She checked at her surrounding, no Aragami spotted.

"I'm going in." My sister rushed and entered the church, ignoring Sakuya's order.

Alisa was standing there, she did nothing except aiming her assault barrel. My sister ran past her and saw Lindow fought the female Vajra from before.

My sister ran into the Vajra and slashed its head. She dodged a swipe and landed near Lindow. Lindow dashed to its side and made a long gash on its torso. It swung its paw at my sister in retaliation. She jumped at its side, that was when she saw that Alisa aiming her God Arc at Lindow.

"Odin... Dva... Tri..."

Alisa's voice broke my sister's concentration. A moment of distraction is lethal in battle. Rina took a direct blow from the Vajra and flew away. My sister collided with Alisa and threw her aim off, but not before set off a shot. The ceiling collapsed and clogged the entryway with rubble.

The scenery shimmered, slowly changing form.

My sister rest on infirmary bed while stitching her wound. Ah, this was what she did after I left, she had enough skill to fixed her own wound.

"Who break this door? Nevermind, prepare to move her into the bed."

Few Fenrir doctor pushed a stretcher and put it beside an empty bed in front of my sister. They released stretcher binding and moved Alisa into infirmary bed. All of them left except one.

"Dr. Sakaki asked me to check on you. Show me your wound."

My sister rolled her bandage. Three gashes on her stomach now neatly sutured. He examined it closely for a while.

"I see you have medical knowledge. Have you completed the cleaning procedures?"

"Cleaned out the wound, sterilized both tools and my wound, wrapped it. Yes, all done."

"Correct, my job is done, get well soon." He left infirmary along with others.

Slowly she walked and sat on a vacant chair near Alisa's bed. "Why did you do that Alisa?"

"There's no use talking to her when she's like this. The tranquilizer I have are very effective. She'll be unconscious for hours."

My sister snapped her head towards the sound. An old man with gray hair and eyes stood near entrance. He wore yellow bandana and glasses while smoking a cigarette. Great, smoking in infirmary, where did he got his degree?

"Perhaps, but still..." My sister touched Alisa's hand.

In that instant few images entered my sister. Alisa was an orphan, her parents killed by a Vajra with man face. She sought vengeance by becoming a God Eater. That didn't explain why she aims her God Arc at Lindow?

Everything glittered, crumbling into nothingness.

I opened my eyes, back in Dr. Sakaki's office again. Rage filled my heart. That Alisa, everything happened because of her. I would have a nice long chat with her, with a bit of interrogation perhaps. I stood up and began to walk away.

"Stop! Don't do that sis." My sister snatched my arm and dragged me back to the couch.

"The hell? Don't stop me. You know that she's responsible for this whole mess." I glared at her.

"Trust me on this. I don't sense any hostility in her. Arrogance perhaps, but not aggression."

"No, she harmed Lindow and she'll pay for it." I shook my head.

"Listen to me sis, I'm not asking you to forgive her, I want to uncover the truth. Whether you going to forgive her or not is up to you, but hold your judgment until we know the truth."

I let out a sigh. Never once I won a debate against my sister. She was right, a rash action brought nothing but trouble. "You're a big softie you know that? Fine, have it your way, don't expect me to forgive her though."

"A resonance is amazing don't you think? Thought and emotion traded in an instant."

Dr. Sakaki's voice caught my attention. "A resonance? What do you know about it?"

"Without a proper research, all I can say is it's a way to dive into someone's memories and emotion. I thought it happens only to New-Type, but your sister told me about her first resonance with you few days ago."

"Yep, what happen to our body while we both in resonance?" I crossed my arms and leaned on the couch.

"Nothing. Both of you abruptly stopped for exactly four seconds before you suddenly stand up."

"Got it. By the way, sorry I busted both your helicopter and infirmary door doc. At least I got a compensation for you." I ran to my training lab and picked an Oracle resistant box. I put the new Vajra remains in it before gave it to Dr. Sakaki. "Here, it's a part of the new Vajra that I found while ago."

"And this is for you sis." I took out few other materials and gave it to her. "New Vajra fangs, claws, wings, and few other itty bits that I don't know."

"Thank you..." She smiled at me. "You really need a bath sis. These dried Aragami blood make you even more intimidating than usual."

I looked down to my cloth. Most of it, especially my pants drenched in blood. Well, carving a fist sized hole in Aragami's back would ruin anyone's cloth. Still, she said I'm scary?

"That reminds me of Alisa. It seems Alisa is afraid of me. She tensed up when the first time we met. How intimidating I'm?"

"Um... truthfully? Very. You've changed sis. The way you walk, every gestures you make... It's graceful, yet inhuman. Not to mention this oppressive feeling..." My sister shuddered a little. Almost imperceptible, but still a shudder.

I frowned at her explanation. I absolutely didn't want to make her afraid of me. "Oppressive? How so?"

"I don't know, it feels like I'm standing next to an extremely dangerous Aragami. Ah, don't worry about it, I'm not afraid of you sis." She grabbed my hand in reassurance.

My fears evaporated. Empathy was one of her strong point, still, to think that she saw through my anxiety immediately...

"I might have an explanation for that." Dr. Sakaki's voice came from behind his computer. "All God Eaters can sense Oracle activity on various levels. A highly sensitive God Eater like Soma can even detect Aragami around him. In your case, Rena, your extremely dense Oracle field clashed with God Eaters senses and triggered a fight or flight like response."

"That's why normal people like you and Licca feels nothing from me." I nodded in understanding. "But why only Alisa?"

"Kota is Kota, he just too dull for that. Sakuya, Soma, and... Lindow... all of them are veterans. Chances are, they have accustomed to such feeling and shrugged it off." My sister's tone grew heavier the moment she said Lindow. It obvious that this mess took a toll on her, just like me.

"Alright, I'll go now."

I left them behind and took a shower. Something clattered on the floor the moment I took off my stained uniform. It was a disk that Lindow gave me this morning. I took a hasty shower and immediately returned to Dr. Sakaki's office after changed my cloth. Both Dr. Sakaki and my sister was still there, chatted with each other.

"Well, that's fast." My sister spoke to me.

"Yeah, Lindow gave me this, can you open it doc?" I handed over Lindow's disk.

"What's that?" My sister stood beside me.

We both watched Dr. Sakaki opened Lindow's disk using his computer. There was only a single file in it, a map about Aegis island and everything around.

"Isn't this stuff should be classified? Why Lindow have something like this?" My sister stared at me.

"Beats me. All I know is he gave it to me this morning, telling me to hold it for a while. Anyway, I'll keep it for now."

I took the disk and kept it in my drawer. Slowly I laid on my bed and gazed at my pure white ceiling. What kind of trouble Lindow gotten himself into? His missing body and trace of human blood from City of Mercy to Temple Area means he survived his assassination attempt. As long as he still out there, my search would continue until I found either him or his body.