— I was really lucky Carina wasn't looking, sneaking away was real easy.
Serena was now headed towards the Crusader's head quarters.
— Man, the streets are kinda crowded today, what gives?
She stopped walking and put her hand on her chin.
— Nah, screw it, I'm going trough the roofs.
She jumped up, reaching a house's roof in one motion.
— Heh, it's just that easy.
— W-What's easy, S-Serena?
— GUAH! — She slipped and threw herself away from the voice — D-Don't sneak on me like that...M-Mamo?
— I-It's Marco...I t-tried t-to search for you, but couldn't f-find you anywhere, so I started to g-go trough r-roofs, a-a-a-and then you suddenly appeared right in front of me...s-so...
— Ok...wanna go to the Crusader's HQ with me?
— W-We should go h-help in the fair...
— Well, see you later then!
Serena leapt towards the headquarters, leaving the young man behind
— N-No! W-Wait for me!
He leapt as well, following and begging her to stop
— I-I-I just...need...you to wait a second!
— Ok, fine!
She suddenly stopped, the young man, not expecting that, hit his face into her butt, falling down on the roof. Serena sighed after seeing that made Marco's nose start to bleed.
His appearance was very much like that of a child's, his blonde hair was messy, his eyes, now filled with tears, reminded a clear sky and the ocean.
As if in a trance, Serena was woken up by the slight sobbing, and along with the blood, snot started to pour.
She ripped a piece of cloth from his clothes and leaned into his face to clean it. She sighed again.
— Man, you're way too weak...why are you even a guard?
As if forcing himself not to fully cry, he got up and took the cloth from Serena's hand.
— I'm a guard because I'm weak! I...I need to become s-stronger!
Serena scratched her head, and once again, sighed.
— Ok then!
She started to leap again, leaving Marco behind.
His eyes were wide open, he looked at the ripped piece of cloth covered in blood and snot.
— I...what's wrong with that girl? — he looked down and took a deep breath — This is...annoying...I'm going back...
With that, he jumped back down to the streets and walked.
Serena finally arrived at the headquarters, a wood house, tree stories tall, and if not for the small sign reading "Salman's Crusaders Order's HQ - OPEN 24/7" it would blend into the scenery as a rich family's home.
As Serena approached the building, she noticed something odd.
— Hummmm...Something's odd here...I just don't know what...
She looked for the doorway that led inside the building, but couldn't find it.
— I mean, it should be here, but this door-shaped wood is in the way...OHHHhh...oh...I really hope nobody heard that...
She then knocked on the door, and from inside, she heard frantic pacing.
Breathing heavily, a child-like voice answered — I'm sorry, but we are closed for an emer...for an important meeting, please come back...wait, it's you! Serena!
The young man opened the door slightly to look around and wispered — Come in, quick!
After both were inside, he quickly closed the door.
— I'm sorry, something happened and everyone had to go into a meeting...well, except me, since only commissioned officers can go in there...out of the eight of us...only me...anyway, what can I help you with?
Serena was staring at the boy — Uh...yeah! You...are still starting here, so...yeah...anyway, can I talk to Reinard?
— You forgot my name again, right?
A lonely drop of sweat ran through her forehead, and as quickly as she could, her eyes skimmed the man's body.
Slender, short, blue hair covering right eye, dark blue eyes, sub-lieutenant rank.
— N-no...you're...Vino!
— THAT'S MY BROTHER, YOU...YOU... — He heavily stomped the ground, but suddenly stopped and sighed — I have to calm down, everything is...fine. It's Ghiaccio, Ghiaccio Stiverra, last time I tell you, got it?
— Yeah, I just...sorry, I forgot who you were. But, really, what's even going on? This place never closes, right?
— Humpf...I can't tell you about the emergency meeting, it's a secret!
— Really? Why can't you tell me?
— Because if I tell commoners that... — He gasped and cleared his throat — Uhm...I-I d-d-d-don't k-kn-know anything.
— Come on, I already know it's a meeting. — Serena unbuttoned her shirt, showing some clevage, and leaned into the boy's ear — Just...tell me already.
— No, thank you. You can leave now. — Ghiaccio swiftly opened the door and started shoving Serena.
— WAIT! JUST WAIT! I have to tell Reinard that I got 1000 arrests!
— Wow, that's so great, I'll tell him immediately...
— Damn it, I'm just letting you kick me out, ok? Just because I'm this nice, ok?
— Sure, goodbye, Serena. — He said as he slamed the door.
Serena slumped at the door as she sighed.
— But I worked so hard...Why today...
— Because you are the worst.
Chills ran trough Serena's spine as she felt the deadly stare one cat-eared girl was showing her, and as fear struck, she chose to face it instead of running away.
— You look into my eyes and give me a good reason as to why you let a nobody fill out all the forms for your latest arrest.
Serena's face morphed into regret in it's purest form.
— Should've just ran away... — She mumbled
Carina was standing over her, the hairs on her head and shoulders stood tall and her tail, fluffy as it were, seemed to be made of spikes.
— Get up, we're going to the guild, you need to recieve your last payment.
— Oh! I forgot about that!
Serena got up in one swift move, as spry as can be, but one look at Carina made her realise the trouble she was in.
— So...uhm...Carina, did the guy get, you know...
— Funny you ask, maybe if you, I don't know, DID YOUR JOB, you'd know.
As if a boulder was tossed onto Serena's back, she slouched over.
— But...but, you know how long I've been waiting for this, right? Can't you just forgive me? Pretty please?
— 5 years and 1000 arrest, not once you followed protocol fully. This is the last time, at the very least this one you should've done all the way through.
— I'm sorry, it's just that I'm duuuuumb-uhhh.
— You are, but you are no fool, so stop pretending, your life will change drastically now. Being a crusader and working for the Order, especially in these times of war, require attention and organization from every part involved, if you slip out of order, you very well may die...so all I'm saying is, you should regard all that comes with the territory so you don't leave the people that love you worried.
A soft smile appeared on Carina's face as tears start to well up — So remember this, Serena...
— You called me dumb...
Carina stopped in her tracks, baffled.
— You shouldn't call others dumb...that's not cool.
— How about an insensitive, dense, idiot?
— Not cool too, you are an adult, why do that stuff?
Carina took a deep breath, so deep her ribs felt like breaking.
— O.K.