Clara spend her day wandering around the city in order to find people. Nein told her to only take someone who lived a miserable life. But in Kvas, there's no such thing as that and makes her strolling around aimlessly.
She returned to the cave at night where Nein and Nivalis already waiting for her. She notices the empty table but pay no mind to it as she walking toward Nein.
"So...did you find someone?."
Nein ask the moment she's standing beside him. They're currently enjoying the tea Nein bought after returning from taking the leader back to the city.
"No... there's no 'stray people' in Kvas no matter where I looked." She explain briefly before taking a seat beside him.
"Ho... looks like the duchess really care about her people." Nivalis said before sipping his tea.
Sara take a bite of the snacks before looking at Nein relaxed expression longer than necessary. He saw that and asked.
"What is it Clara?."
"I'm worried about the recruiting plan."
Nein sigh softly before thinking to himself. Not even her able to find a single person with miserable life in Kvas.
"That's mean we had no choice but to extend the search at neighbors city."
Clara simply nods and continue snacking with them.
"Say Nein, about earlier. Is it really necessary to make them forget your face?." Nivalis suddenly asked with wonder.
"It's necessary. Both me and Clara should start using another identity to cover our tracks. It's my decision, no need to worry."
"I see. I respect your decision then."
What Nein mean is that he has erase the look of his face from the five leaders memory along with the guards and replace it with a man wearing a mask instead. All that to secure his identity safe.
He wipe their memory in the middle of their discussion, he do it so subtle that no one noticed something changed. He wore his mask made from smoke to test it and spark no questions from them. Not even August and Ignis will recognize his face again.
"Now, since everyone's here, should we reassessing the topics now?" Nivalis suggest after finishing his tea.
"Of course."
"So, the plan is that the Duke and duchess will deal with the enemies while you, Nein winter support them from behind and Clara, will protect the place where the altar's sealing the leviathan in case enemies manage to get through."
"Correct. That's the sum of the whole conversation. It's a simple plan and since you've explain your situation to them and need to stay behind, this situation would like be the same like it is in Vastium. All you need to do is to hide and prevent them from using you to open up the seals."
"Hm...it's indeed a simple yet effective plan. But...we don't know yet about our enemies number."
"Don't worry. Against me, numbers not really a problem besides we have everyone this time. The plan is clear, everyone have their own job to do. What's important is to keep the leviathan sealed, no matter the cost is."
His tone's certain, Nivalis who agreed smiles with contentment. Taking Nein form of decision wise and calculated. Clara however, looks worried instead, seeing this side of Nein again makes her remembering about the past. The past where he sacrifice his whole teammates to ensure victory and makes him stripped from his role as a leader, Sara make a long bargain with the commander to make him stay since his ability will be useful for intel gathering. And since that day, people begin to look at him with suspicion.
Meanwhile, Ruffen's currently reporting to Teren about the situation through the communication orb.
"Have you found out the person behind it?."
"I haven't Lord Teren. But I'm assuming since they managed to break the seals...it looks like it was them. And I assume they know already about our plan."
Everyone's silent for a moment. Teren eyes filled with fury the moment he knows it was the same group again.
"I'll sent Lues to help you. Make sure to not failed this time."
Upon hearing the seventh seat will join him, he smiles and sent his gratitude immediately.
"As you wish, Lord Teren.
The next day, the storm finally calmed down. The sky's clear and people who got trapped begin to pack their stuff to leave Kvas.
"Are you going to stay Nein?."
Noz ask as they're standing by the gate. He's already carying his bags and ready to go.
"Yeah, there's something left to do."
"I see... Then good luck with that. It's a pleasure to knowing you my friend."
"Likewise, I'm enjoying our time sparing together."
They shake each other hands with a smile before letting go. Noz pat Nein shoulder and went toward his carriage.
"Well then, see you again Nein!."
"See you..."
Nein watch the carriage disappearing into the distance. With peoples leaving, the city somehow got a bit empty now. Nein makes his way toward the bar where he usually drinks with Noz, now the place only filled with locals and not as merrier as before. Somehow, he feels a bit at ease from that.
Meanwhile, Clara's already traveling along the snows, toward the neighbors country, Pluvia. The bright sunlight casting shadow against the white terrain where she speeding through. She use {skate} to travel there.
She takes the forest path to avoid drawing attention as Nein told her. She's speeding through the frozen trees, everything is fine along the way, that is until she encounter a bunch of people.
She stopped immediately and saw a group of people with a wagon covered with blanket. A group of armed people immediately draw their weapons from her sudden appearance.
"Well well well... What do we have here... A lost girl?." Said one man with a mocking grin.
"Hehe, what are you waiting for?. Take her in."
There's twenty peoples in total and two of them begin to approach her. There's three wagon and looking by their looks and weapon. She knows they were enemies and change into combat mode.
"{Frazil}"
Suddenly, snow spikes formed around her and below the two, piercing through their limbs and make them screaming in agony.
"!!. Get your weapon!. She's no ordinary girl!." Said one man to the others.
They begin to surround her. The two people is not dead, just downed. That is because the rules she created herself to not making her sister sad. A rule that prevent her from killing her enemies herself and just let them barely alive. Believing if they're willing to live, they'll survive even with missing limbs. A rules that makes her somewhat cruel but also merciful.
"{Sastrugi}"
She makes a katana out of ice, a weapon as hard as diamond and sharp like obsidian. She's approaching slowly toward the group. With the ice crystals floating around her, they begin to falter until one person stepped in.
"Wow...a snow mage I assume?. I'm Laiz, a master swordsman. Pleased to meet you miss."
The man introduce himself to her with pride. A blond man with arrogance in his face. The group looks a bit relieved when he's there and doesn't scared anymore.
"Now now, little miss, there's no reason for us to fight. I'm sorry for my men action toward you and I'm grateful for you for not killing them. How about you follow me instead?. With that power of yours, I believe master Ruffen will be happy with it."
He says with persuasive tone. The two people behind her is indeed alive, with the spikes freezing their wounds, they won't die due to blood loss.
"What's inside the wagon?."
"I'm sorry, can't tell you that, it's a business privacy."
"There's people inside. Little people."
"... You should... Learn how to read the situation miss."
With that, he raise his hand and tell his men to attack. She remain still and just watch them charging toward her. She open her mouth and whispers.
"...{whiteout}."