Aurelia tilted her head a little, a goofy grin on her face. Her vivid purple eyes shined brightly with excitement as well.
"Guess we'll be on the same team now, huh? That's so cool!"
Assad remained silent.
Her smile faltered; she made a tiny pout with her mouth. Assad quietly clicked his tongue again.
'Why is she still talking to me?'
Before she could continue pestering him a little voice rang out over the noise.
"Sanae Yaktine's unit."
The murmurs quickly died down in the room. Sanae had her arms crossed and she stood like a statue.
"All of you assigned to my unit," she said very coldly, "come to me immediately."
Aurelia raised her brow.
"Oh my Gosh, scary. Looks like our commander wants us."
Assad stood up and then all of the other members of Sanae's assigned group began to go toward her. While that was happening the other two commanders decided to do the same with their unit if criminals.
Geng Xuefeng waved lazily with two fingers into the air and the criminals assigned to her began to walk toward her, each of them moving carefully.
Mae Yongsun didn't call his group members to him again.
He simply stood there.
One of his hands rested on the hilt of his sword.
That right there was enough.
All the criminals that had been assigned to him immediately moved after seeing what had happened before. There was no way anyone would have wanted to test out their luck again.
The hall was beginning to become separated by those that had been assigned their squad and commander and those that were waiting, being the few criminals that weren't called yet.
As Assad stood with the rest of Sanae's squad, Aurelia was standing right next to him and was looking extremely happy; even though she was supposed to be marching towards her death.
However, for the remaining eight criminals that had been assigned into this squad were all very different.
Sanae took a step forward.
"My name is Sanae Yaktine, Fourth Squad Commander of the Dark Division. I will be the one in charge of you all during the Nami Lan Expedition."
Sanae looked at every one of them and sized them up like she was calculating their lifespan.
"But let me be very clear about this; I am not your friend, nor am I your saviour. If any of you become a burden to me, I will l without an ounce of regret abandon you and leave you to die."
The mood in the hall changed tremendously even Aurelia stopped smiling for a half-second.
"Now, everyone will need to introduce themselves."
None of them moved; the ten criminals remain motionless while staring blankly at Sanae with expressions that offer no hints as to what they are thinking.
Sanae's brow raised slightly.
"Really? You all had the guts to be vocal about your defiance against the commander just a few moments ago; where did that confidence go?"
They continued to remain quiet. Aurelia observed this with the thought in her mind, 'This is so weird.'
Then a woman stepped out from the group.
She walked strongly as if she were better than them; unlike any of the other members of the group.
The woman's hair was a shade of vibrant pink that flowed down to the back of her knees and almost appeared to be magenta under the soft glow of the lantern.
In addition to the beautiful hair, she had somewhat sharpened eyes with an unusual shade of orange/red.
She looked dangerous to someone who does not know her, and she also caused a few of the other people in the group to step back just a little.
"Well, someone had to break the silence. You wanted us to introduce ourselves, correct?"
Assad didn't hear her words; his mind was elsewhere and he was trying to figure out who she reminded him of while his brows pinched together and he looked at her for a long time.
'Where do I know her from?'
He couldn't figure it out and couldn't get a grip on it.
"What is your name."
The woman tilted her head and grinned.
"Seriously? The so-called Commander of your first brigade just read us all the names before, you weren't paying any attention?"
Some of the other criminals made themselves look busy and Sanae remained perfectly still.
"If this is your attempt at provoking me,' Sanae said plainly, "then you must go back to school."
She chuckled.
"Ha, alright no need to take this so seriously. Anyway, my name is Esme, Esme Ennè."
Assad heard the name and went back in his deep thoughts
'Esme, why do I know this name?'
When he was with the Sweepers, before he had been arrested, was a time in Yorna when Sévon made a return from a mission in Yorna he had brought someone new with him, judging by their appearances, both girls were similar, however at that time, the new girl had red and black hair.
Now, Esme has red/orange, with a hint of pink hair, much different from what he would have remembered.
The only time they were able to see each other was when Assad found out that he had been spying on Shuren & Sévon.
When Assad was asked he was doing he just simply said hi, went to went the direction of the elevator the girl eventually followed. Their destination was the training arena were they found Taura and Lokei sparring with each other.
As soon as Taura and the girl see each other again after a long time, they jump into each other's arms with joy.
'Uh-oh.'
Assad turns toward Esme.
'Now I know who Esme is since she was with Sévon, no wonder she looks familiar.'
Esme still hasn't moved from where she was standing. Sanae continues to stare at Esme without saying anything.
"I'm debating whether to call you confident or cocky, but now at least I know your name. "
Esme looked at him for a moment, and with a smile she finally gave a little laugh.
"Hurtful. Commander, you're such a good shot at it."
Aurelia let out a quiet snort next to Assad.
'She must be funny.'
Esme just smiled back, and then moved to the side.
"Whatever, I'll give up the spotlight."
She moved over and pointed at the others
"Go on then, try to not bore me and our commaderto death."
A strange quietness ensued with no one being hasty in presenting their self. Sanae sighed quietly through her nose.
"...Well? Do I have to drag you into saying your own names?"
Meanwhile, Assad was barely aware of what was being said, his eyes lingering on the girl named Esme for another half a second.
And that uncomfortable feeling still had not left him.
'Sévon...Who the hell did you bring back with you that day?'