4
"Supervisor, a package for you. It's already been cleared upstairs. Also, a report from two exorcists in the field."
The man addressed only as 'Supervisor' received a small, neat parcel, with only a single address – that of the Black Order – and a single sheet of paper.
"Thank you. This is a short report, isn't it?" he said to the deliverer as he meant to leave.
"Yes, sir. They couldn't describe much of what happened and no Innocence was found so…"
"I see."
He left as the supervisor first lifted the box, ignoring the tedious, though short, report he would have to read and file. It was light, almost weightless, like it could float in the air on its own. He shredded the standard brown wrappings eagerly- mail wasn't common at the Black Order. A dim glow emitted from beneath the lid of the small white box. His eyes widened at the gift inside, but it was hastily discarded in favour of the report then.
"It can't be…"
The fragment of Innocence glimmered unknowing of its meaning and the situation of its sender.
"Ah, Kael, I think I need to go shopping," Cecilia whined.
"What? Shopping? Why? Your dress is fine," Kael concluded blandly.
"I've been having to do a lot of running lately. To the top of the mountain, to the flower shop while you were fighting, back to you…It's hard in this, you know!"
Kael groaned, "Fine, you can go, but I'm staying here," he handed her a small pouch, "this is all we have, so try not to spend it all. Okay?"
She ran off through the crowd, without a word, but an eager smile. Still young enough to enjoy the fun of shopping, but much too aged in the world to have the time, or the sense to do it, she had no intention of actually having much fun at all. The grin faded as she left Kael behind.
'If there's any chance those exorcists saw me that night, then they might report it. I've had that dress for so long, they'll recognise it for sure,' her face became grim as she hurried toward a store, any store.
She found Kael sitting casually on a bench, looking odd with Sita peering around his head to see everyone in the crowd that passed by. He wasn't far from where she had left him.
"Here," she handed back the money purse, still mostly full, "I didn't need much, since I traded in that dress."
He looked up, "Going to be cold? Going to complain next week?"
"She held up the white cape with a fur-lined hood, "Not at all."
The white shorts might have seemed impractical to Kael- and very uncomfortable after that dress mind you- but nothing would hinder her movements. The sleeveless turtleneck was warm and easy to move in too. The high burnt red boots that matched it, well, they were just for looks, but at least they didn't have big heels on them.
"Let's go," Kael stood, "Where to this time?"
Closing her eyes and quieting for a moment, she felt around. It seemed to the North there was the faintest beacon that could be seen in any direction for miles around.
"Kael, why are so many Innocence fragments in Europe?" she asked as she headed towards it.
"I don't know. Maybe because there are so many people here. Perhaps the Innocence is searching for its hosts on its own."
Cecilia hummed and skipped ahead.