AD 2200, 6/6, Unknown Area – Noel's Church of Sister Mercury

In a grassy field around a small white wooden church, three friends stand. They're negotiating a deal from the highest levels of the NOL.

"Noel, are you sure?" Tsubaki Yayoi tilts her head in worry. Long red hair frames her cautious sapphire eyes. Her blue Praetorian Guard poncho billows in the wind.

"Yes, I'm sure, Tsubaki." Noel Vermillion hums as she adjusts the white cotton sheet hanging in front of her. "While I'm happy about Kagura's offer..." She turns back to her friend with a gentle smile, long blonde hair swaying in the breeze with her habit. "I'm happier helping people in my own way. I'm sorry."

Makoto Nanaya nods, her white-tipped brown hair swaying. Her hazel eyes shine with understanding and approval. Her bushy tail swishes behind her as she regards her friend. "Well, it's something that you decided for yourself. I'd say that's for the best."

Tsubaki looks conflicted for a moment, then sighs and smiles at Noel. "Yes, I agree," She steps forward to clasp Noel's shoulder. "But if anything happens, contact us right away."

Noel leans into the comforting touch, humming happily. "Yeah, I will." She leans in closer to hug her friend. "Thank you, Tsubaki, Makoto." She pulls away to smile at the two once more. "Say thank you to Kagura for me, too."

Both women nod, and Makoto opens her mouth to say something, but soft grunting cuts her off. The three friends turn to see a figure in a habit identical to Noel's struggling under a sheet.

After another awkward moment of fumbling, Lambda finally disengages from the troublesome cloth. Her pale blonde braid whips about as she shakes her head. She turns to look at them with a flushed but otherwise calm face, her maroon eyes soft and stoic as ever. "Meal preparations, are complete."

Noel brightens even further, picking up the laundry basket with a bounce in her step. "Okay! Tsubaki, Makoto, you should eat here. Lambda's cooking is good!"

Tsubaki smiles gratefully, "Thank you, I'll do that."

Makoto sighs in relief. "Yeah. But it's great that Lambda can make 'normal' food."

Tsubaki flushes and her smile becomes awkward as she glances at Makoto. "Yes, well, I'm sure Lambda could give Noel some pointers."

Noel looks at her friends with confusion and hurt as she helps Lambda rehang the sheet. "Hey! What's that supposed to mean? I can cook too!"

Lambda's eyes fill with some phantom dread as if reliving some untold horror. She quickly clasps her hands around Noel's. "No, Noel. Never."

Noel's expression becomes even more crestfallen at the declaration from her sister. "You too, Lambda? That's terrible…"

Watching all this from the window with a dull scarlet gaze is a pale girl with a white braid. On her clavicle is a nasty-looking scar in the shape of an 'X'. Bandages swathe her right eye, and she lies in her bed, listlessly watching. In the corner of her small room stands a wooden rack, from which hangs a crimson coat. She turns to regard the nostalgic item. She listens to the chatter that fills the other rooms before drifting away.

Noel cracks open her second sister's door. Seeing her sleeping again, she smiles sadly.

"…As they say in Spain, 'La paloma está en el huerto de duraznos'." Noel continues to write out her newest poem, giggling to herself. A healthy flush rises on her cheeks as she bites her lower lip in concentration.

A knock comes upon her door. Noel jolts, shutting her poetry journal shut with a loud snap, face flushing a deep scarlet. She takes a moment to jam the book under her pillow before calling out nervously. "Y-Yes? Who is it?"

"It's Tsubaki. Are you alright, Noel? I can come back later if you need me to." Tsubaki's confusion and worry are plain to hear, and Noel takes a breath to calm herself.

"I'm fine, Tsubaki. Let me get the door." Noel rises from under her flowery blankets, careful not to disturb her stuffed animals on her way out. She swiftly pads her way across the plush carpet to unlock her door and open it.

Tsubaki smiles gently at her once she can see her, looking slightly awkward. "I'm sorry to bother you, I know it's late, but I need to talk to you in private."

Noel blinks, then steps aside to let Tsubaki shuffle into the room. She's not wearing her beret or poncho anymore, so her NOL uniform is on full display. Noel locks the door again and turns to face a somber-looking Tsubaki.

"What's wrong, Tsubaki?" Noel looks at Tsubaki with worry, trying to figure out what's bothering the redhead.

"I don't think we should let Carl go free." Tsubaki stares into Noel's eyes, her tone flat and certain.

Noel stiffens but meets Tsubaki's gaze firmly. "Tsubaki, I already told you that he won't come after me again."

Tsubaki's brow furrows. "Noel, what if you're wrong? This isn't the first time he's attacked one of us. I know that terrible things have happened to him, but that's no excuse for what he's done. I just don't think I can do what you want this time."

Noel sighs. Tsubaki has every right to be angry with their former friend. This is the third time he's come after Noel herself, and he's attacked Tsubaki as well. The last time she'd seen the poor boy, he'd fallen completely under his father's influence. The way he'd looked at her still made her feel as if insects were crawling under her skin. But…

"Tsubaki, don't you remember how I got away from him?" Noel meets Tsubaki's sharp sapphire with hard jade. "Carl is in no shape to be coming after anyone right now. And even if he did come after me, I'm not the same as I was before. He won't be able to hurt me again."

Tsubaki sighs frustratedly, "Even if that's the case... I still think you should press official charges. Noel, we can't just let him roam as he pleases. What if he hurts someone else?"

The thought has crossed Noel's mind, but she has faith in Carl. The last time she'd seen him… "I don't think it'll come to that. I'm not changing my mind, Tsubaki. I'm sorry, but I think we should give him another chance."

Tsubaki looks conflicted and frustrated.

Noel steps forward to place a comforting hand on her shoulder, smiling sadly. "But, I'm not in any position to stop you if you feel like you have to do something. Just… think about it, okay?"

Tsubaki looks away, thinking things over. Noel's description of Carl's breakdown had been… haunting. Knowing that the sweet boy they'd known at the military academy had grown into such a dangerous person... It still chips at her heart. But if what Noel said is accurate, then…

After a moment, Tsubaki sighs. Her expression is one of reluctant hope. "Alright. I'll see if I can convince Kagura to keep him under surveillance instead. That way we can keep track of him without having to put him through an arrest."

Noel's smile grows, and she pulls Tsubaki into an embrace. "Thank you, Tsubaki. I know this isn't easy for you."

Tsubaki returns the embrace before pulling back to press their foreheads together. "Yes. But I trust you, Noel. But promise me that you'll contact me if you see him again."

Noel hums, "Alright, I promise." She gazes into Tsubaki's eyes, content to bask in their shared warmth for a little while.

Another knock on the door causes the two women to part, and Noel walks over to peek out. "Yes?"

Makoto smiles mischievously back at her. "Sup, Noellie? Did you and Tsubaki think you could sneak in a girl's night without me?"

Noel rolls her eyes good-naturedly and opens the door to let in her friend, laughing. "Of course not. I hope you're okay with getting cramped~"

"Hey, already with the tail?" Makoto pouts as Noel loses herself in her furry appendage.

Tsubaki chuckles, taking in the nostalgic scene with bright eyes. Truth is, she's a little disappointed that Makoto cut her one-on-one with Noel short. But they can continue their talk another time. For now, she's content with sharing a quiet night with those closest to her.

AD 2200, 6/7, Unknown Area – Noel's Church of Sister Mercury

The morning passes all too quickly for Noel's liking. After last night, she'd been eager to spend more time with her friends. But she understands. The NOL has pressing matters to address now that the world's seithr levels have halved. Now she's wishing them a safe journey back to the NOL headquarters in Ookoto.

"I'll miss you both so much." Noel says into their group hug.

"Aw, don't worry, Noellie. We'll visit ya plenty. Right, Tsubaki~?" Makoto looks slyly at the redhead, who politely coughs, a flush dusting her cheeks.

"Yes, we will." Tsubaki breaks the hug to smile at Noel. "I'll be sure to stop by for your sister's birthday in September. I might even convince Jin to visit."

Noel hums, "Well, so long as you don't push him into it. Jin should visit me because he wants to. I know his feelings are... complicated right now."

Makoto sighs, then smiles. "Yeah. Don't worry, Tsubaki and I will take real good care of him."

Noel smiles brighter. "I know. Be sure to tell him that he's welcome to visit whenever he's—!"

Noel cuts herself off as she catches sight of a blade glimmering in Nu's window. She rushes back into the church, crying out her name in fear and worry, her friends hot on her heels. When they burst through the door, it's to see Nu holding one of her Murakumo blades. Her long white braid pools around her ankles in a tattered heap.

"N-Nu! What are you—!" Noel tenses as Nu turns to face her with a glare in her scarlet eye.

"I don't want that name anymore." Her voice is calm, but Noel feels a shiver run down her spine.

"Hey, hey! Put that thing down, will ya? You're gonna put out your eye." Makoto is tense, her joke is meant to calm the albino down.

The former Nu blinks, then glances down at her hair. Reaching up with her free hand, she feels the new edges of her locks before shrugging. "These parameters are acceptable. I won't be needing this right now. Here." She holds the blade out to Noel. "I'm still feeling tired. I'm going back to sleep now."

Noel blinks but cautiously takes the blade.

Her youngest sister crawls back under her covers. After a moment, she looks at Noel with annoyance. "Please get out of my room."

"R-Right." Noel backs out of the room and shuts the door, still shaken by what she's seen.

"Noel, are you going to be alright? I can have someone look at her if necessary." Tsubaki's eyes are hard with worry as she clasps Noel's shoulder.

Noel blinks at her, then shakes her head. "It's fine. She just needs time. I haven't heard her say anything since the Embryo, so this is progress, right?"

Makoto shudders. "Man, oh man. Things are a lot easier in my family. Ya sure you're gonna be okay, Noel?"

Noel nods, her eyes losing their shock. "Yeah. I'll have to let Lambda know that she's not catatonic anymore."

Makoto and Tsubaki share an unsure glance but shrug after a moment. If that's how Noel wants to handle it, they're in no position to argue. Tsubaki turns back with a serious look. "Alright. We should head out now, I wouldn't want to be late for our rendezvous with Akane."

Noel smiles brightly. "Oh, right. Tell him I said hi, okay? And make sure he gives my love to Taro; I'd love to see them both again."

Makoto chuckles. "Oh, I'm sure he's going to give him plenty of love, alright."

The three girls chuckle, then make their way to the door, where a frowning Lambda awaits. "Noel did I see N—!"

Noel holds up a hand, worried that their sister will overhear them. She'd been hostile to the name, after all. "I don't think we should call her that anymore. I found her cutting off her hair with this." Noel shifts the blade. "Please, keep an eye on her. I'll handle the chores."

Lambda nods, her eyes narrowing. "Understood. I'll do my best." She moves past the group, taking the blade from Noel as she passes to put it up. "I wish you two a safe journey." She calls back over her shoulder.

"Thanks!" Makoto calls back, a slight wave back in her tail as she watches Lambda go. She turns back to Tsubaki. "Well, we better get going before anything else exciting happens."

Tsubaki nods. "Right. We've delayed a bit as it is." She gives Noel one last smile. "I'll see you soon, Noel."

Noel nods, a faint blush on her cheeks as she matches Tsubaki's smile. "Right. I'd better get to work though. Goodbye, you two." She gives her friends one last hug before hurrying to tend to their homestead.

AD 2200, 6/9, Unknown Area – Noel's Church of Sister Mercury

"Are you sure that was the right thing to do? That boy has been quite the menace as of late." Valkenhayn R. Hellsing's voice is full of doubt as he takes the basket of berries from Noel. She's filled him in on the latest news of her and her sister's situation. Working for House Alucard won't be easy, but it will be fulfilling.

"Yes. I know he's a little lost right now, but he'll come around, I'm sure of it. How's Ragna doing by the way? I haven't heard from him in a while." Noel smiles at the elderly werewolf, eager to hear news of her oldest brother.

Valkenhayn sighs. "That ruffian is still giving us the run about, I fear. He'll need to figure out what he wants to do now that he can't go about breaking everything he doesn't fancy."

Noel sighs, her smile dimming somewhat. Ragna has lost a lot of his strength, after pushing his body to its limit against Terumi. He's not able to use his Idea Engine, or the Azure Grimoire without the risk of breaking his body even more. He's fought for so long that he doesn't know what to do with himself now that it's over.

"…Can you tell him to visit more? We worry about him." Noel looks at Valkenhayn hopefully.

He sighs. "I'll see what I can do. But you know him. Ah, yes. That reminds me, Madam Rachel would be most delighted if you and your sisters would join her for tea. Perhaps some games when the youngest is up for it."

Noel's brow furrows. Does Rachel really want to put her to the test already? She's only started to get out of bed. "I'll see if the others are up for it, but I can't make any promises."

Valkenhayn nods understandingly. "Of course. Milady only wishes to see how you are all fairing after your ordeals and is more than willing to be patient. It is simply something to keep in mind for now." He checks his pocket watch. "Ah. It's time to brew the afternoon tea. I must be off."

Noel smiles again, her brow easing somewhat. "Alright. Please, let me know what she thinks of the berries, Mister Valkenhayn."

"Of course, Miss Noel. Have a wonderful day." Valkenhayn fades into the shadows with a gentlemanly bow. He vanishes from both her sight and this world.

Noel stares at the spot where he'd been standing, thinking. After a few moments, she nods and returns to the church. She finds her youngest sister going through a book of names. She's swathed in their oldest brother's trademark coat. She knocks on the study's doorframe, not wishing to startle her.

The young albino looks up with a stoic expression. "…Did you need something?"

Noel nods, smiling gently. "Rachel wants to know if we're up for a visit. I want you to know that we'll wait as long—?"

The former Nu nods with a hum, going back to her book. "Understood. I will be ready to see the vampire when I've found my name."

Noel blinks, then nods with a sad smile. "Alright. Take your time, okay?"

The former Nu nods again. "Understood." After a moment, she looks up. "Do you want to read as well?"

Noel doesn't even have to think before she answers, "I'd like that very much."