POV: Yesod

Today had been uneventful, which was… the first time that ever happened in the last 14 days. I welcomed this change.

The Knight of Despair, or Justine to a few who did not fear her, did an amazing job. Which should be praised, even if it wasn't a particularly good development in my personal opinion.

Tomorrow, five days would have passed, and that was a concerning thought. Two times it happened, with me and Malkuth.

Would it happen to Netzach? I was not sure, keeping a close eye on him had been my main priority after Trigger reached his floor. They didn't interact enough for any major problems, but that didn't mean they had not met each other.

Netzach slowly but surely was becoming more lucid. In any other situation, I would be happy he stopped drowning himself in Enkephalin, but he was focused on something. Whatever that might be, it certainly seems to have caused some kind of change.

There is only one way to find out. His department was always a mess after work, Enkephalin would be around the floor, but today he was simply there, watching that plant that decorates the Main Room.

"Netzach." He responded to my voice with a tilt, throwing me one glance before diverting his attention away from me.

"...Yesod, last person I expected to see here." He responded with a small shrug and a tone of disinterest.

Glancing at the plant, I couldn't help but wonder what he found so interesting in it, "Is there a problem with it?" My question was met with a moment of silence.

"I'm just thinking about what I've been told. What I've seen in my head." If there ever was a red flag, it would be this.

I wasn't an enthusiast of what happened to me and Malkuth. Regardless of my thoughts, it seems that those reactions are needed for everything to come back to us, "Like the same images I mentioned before?" I had told the Manager beforehand what I thought were some kind of failure with me, were in fact the memories of my 'past'. Although at this point, they don't quite feel like they are mine.

Netzach tilted his body forward slightly, the closest thing we could get to a nod with our current bodies, "Those didn't happen until I met Trigger. Then I started seeing this red eyed woman with brown hair and I feel… alive? Sad? Despondent? I don't know what I even feel." Ah… so that's what it is.

It had been a bit hard to ignore, but I managed to at least not bother with the fact that Trigger resembled Carmen in so many ways that I couldn't help but wonder if they were related.

Ayin making a similar expression to Carmen isn't what I could ever consider natural, yet Trigger managed to make it seem like it was something that was always meant to be.

"I can't say. I'm not sure on my own feelings just yet, but I still look at the process we take and try to make it worth something." Netzach turned fully towards me. It was so jarring not seeing Enkephalin dripping from his body.

Netzach seemed to slouch slightly, "That's what you think? I'm just wondering why we pretend to care so much, can't seem to find an answer about that." I suppose that's true. We are hardly doing honest work here, but for how far things have gotten… it would be a tragedy that it was for nothing.

"Is that so? Is it that you can't find the answer or that you don't like what that answer might be?" My inquiry wasn't appreciated, if the slight narrow of his only eye was anything to go by.

"I'm not here to listen to this from you, of all people." His voice carried venom and I had to pause for a moment. I'm going about this the wrong way.

Being too logical would do me no good, "Indeed, I'm no one to tell you how to act or how to feel. I only hope you don't keep doing this to yourself." My fellow Sephirah gave me a confused stare.

"...Thanks. I'm still trying to sort out my thoughts. I know things are tense as of late, you and Malkuth have been intense around one another and your agents seem to be acting just like you around hers." Even if he didn't show it that much, Netzach wasn't one to ignore his surroundings. Well, not as much as he says he does.

And he is right, the 'conflict' with Malkuth and Angela has reached its peak after asking for Knight of Despair to be left wandering the halls, "There are complications between us. I can only hope they don't escalate." Netzach had his hands full with his own emotions. Burdening him with the knowledge of what could possibly be a brewing war, would do him no good.

"Netzach, just try to understand your current emotions, but have the ability to accept them. I can say from experience that it won't end well if you don't." I explained while noticing that he seemed more relaxed now.

He mumbled something under his breath, "I'll keep it in mind, Yesod… you aren't as much of a 'Viper' as I thought you were." Of course, he had to bring that up.

"I'm not cold-blooded, just direct. I'll see you later… and Netzach?"

"Yeah?"

"Be careful."

Netzach only gave an awkward nod, which I returned. There are things to do, most of them involving the new 'employee' in my department.

POV change: Trigger

I usually didn't go to my room after work, but I felt like taking a quick nap since I had nothing pressing to do aside from training Amelia on E.G.O and there are a few hours before that had to happen.

So I simply put my coffin aside and took a seat on the floor while leaning my back against a wall. Bell left the coffin and laid down on top of my head, I don't think my hair is that comfy… oh whatever. It's not like she is doing anything annoying.

Closing my eyes, I slowly let sleep take ove-

"Hi there! You seem to have gotten better." My eyes snapped open. The white layout… it looks like a familiar office.

I'm on a couch? I rose my body from my position and took a seating position, staring at the blurred face of 'C', "Well… this is certainly convenient." My comment got a smile out of her.

"You have questions, I'll try to give answers." It was a bit surprising just how calm and open she could be, even if I only met her twice, her emotions and expressions always came together. 'C' is simply an honest person.

Scratching the side of my head, I glanced around the room again. The photo… it's still there, but I can see one face now. It's a girl with long brown/honey hair, her eyes were so bright, and she had an earnest smile on her face, like she was ready for anything.

And there was a new one at the side, one single person with black colors on her clothes… it's like a tunic of some kind and the patter on the dress… Binah? Or who she was before becoming a Sephirah? I couldn't see her face either.

I turned back with my attention towards 'C', seeing her somber expression while staring at the photo, "Elijah… she was a bright kid, clumsy but with the willingness to try. Not many had that." Elijah…

Malkuth. I took one glance at the photo, she was so young back then… barely older than 15 if I had to guess. To just…

No, I shouldn't ponder too hard on that. I can't change what happened, "You were part of the original project." I stated, trying my best to sound neutral and not accusatory or angry.

'C' smiled sadly, "Yup, I was the one that started it all, even before 'A' appeared… do you hate me for it?" It was a question that I should have expected.

And even then… it caught me off-guard. It almost sounded like she was afraid of the fact I could hate her.

"No… I don't really have a reason to hate you, but I'd still like to ask my questions." Answering her was easy. Not only that, but it felt like I COULDN'T really hate her.

She smiled brightly, "Ask away. Hope I can give you good answers."

So do I…

"I'm… not sure who I am, and I've seen that I have a bunch of random skills that wouldn't normally bother me, but above all else… I'm too good at being a figh- no a killer." There was no guarantee she would answer, and I'm sure she wouldn't know who I was before anyway.

She leaned back and sighed, her mood obviously souring, "It's… not something that can be talked about lightly, but I can somewhat answer your question. Your fighting skills are natural… to some degree." Oh…

I leaned back and frowned. I'm… not sure how to feel about that talent. I should feel happy with it, yet there is a certain feeling of disgust I can't quite understand.

"What do you mean to some degree?" She seemed to be in deep thought when I asked that.

"If I answered that, things could get out of control… sorry." I sighed after hearing her apologetic voice. Figures, it wouldn't be that easy.

Rubbing my eyes, I looked away, "Me being here isn't an accident, right? Too many 'impossible' things have been done by me, the way I wield E.G.O is a pretty big clue." I could tell she felt guilty.

She is part of the reason I'm here… I certainly don't know how to feel about that, but I managed to make good friends here. I can say that I don't hate it.

"It isn't, that's all I can say…" It was silent right after that, and I took notice of how somber the mood got.

Taking a deep breath, I patted the couch with my hand, "Seems like our talk got a bit heavy. How about taking some shut-eye?" Well, I'm doing that already, but that doesn't matter.

'C' stared at me and took the seat next to me. I leaned back to close my eyes again, but before I could close them, 'C' leaned into my shoulder.

…

I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and simply let her get comfortable. She seemed to hate this conversation… but it only seemed to do so because of what she couldn't tell me.

She is mysterious, and I don't exactly fully trust her.

"Thank you…" She mumbled, and I had to suppress a frown. She sounded so vulnerable… but above all else, the way she spoke to me was...

Like she saw me as her son.

I just couldn't bring myself to hate her.

So I closed my eyes and… enjoyed the moment.

This foreign feeling I didn't understand… what is it, I wonder?

…

I don't dislike it.