The next day came faster than anyone would have anticipated.
The Atrium of Founders was a sea of navy blue, every Novice and Sentinel rank standing in tense silence.
The air was thick with anticipation. Elite Loretta stood on the dais, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd, knuckles resting lightly on the wooden podium.
"I need to clarify this to all of you, that the defense of Clover City is not a training exercise," she began, her voice echoing in the vast hall. "It is the first true test for many of you. To lead in such a time requires more than just strength. It requires judgment, composure, and the respect of your peers. Mistakes here are not once you avoid next. Sorry to say, but there may not be a next time for you. This is not something you should relax on."
She let her words hang for a moment, ensuring they sank into their heads before continuing.
"After careful consideration of your performance records and the recommendations of your superiors, the overall command for the City Patrol has been decided." Her gaze swept across the front row. "Sylvia Volksnon. Step forward."
A loud, collective murmur erupted this time. All eyes turned to Sylvia, who, despite her plain Novice uniform, carried herself with an innate authority.
Her face remained focused as she stepped forward and gave a polite bow of her head. "Elite Loretta."
"You will be the overall leader. Your knowledge of tactics and your swordsmanship are noted. You will coordinate all patrols, manage rotations, and serve as the primary point of contact for any demon sightings within any parts of the city." Loretta's tone was strictly professional, but there was a glint of approval in her eyes.
"Your second-in-command will be Klaus." She gestured to a tall, broad-shouldered Sentinel with a grim, focused expression. He stepped forward to stand beside Sylvia, giving her a curt nod of acknowledgment.
"Understood," Sylvia replied, her voice firm.
"Good." Loretta then picked up a scroll. "Now, for the team leaders of the individual patrol squads. When I call your name, you will be responsible for a team of eight. You report to Sylvia and Kael." She began reading from the list. "Team One, Gideon Merin. Team Two, Marta Campas. Team Three, Timothy Jackson. Team Four… Liana Damon."
Liana, standing near Nolan and Cedric, jolted slightly. Her eyes went wide for a second, giving a way her utter excitement, before a fierce, determined look settled on her face. She stood a little taller, squaring her shoulders. "Yes, ma'am!"
Cedric grinned and nudged her with his elbow, whispering, "Look at you, Captain."
Nolan just watched, his expression as unreadable as ever.
A few more names were called, finalizing the leadership structure. As the final name was read, Loretta rolled the scroll back up. "The team rosters will be posted in the main hall within the hour. Dismissed. Prepare yourselves. You move out at dawn."
The silence was suddenly taken over by a cacophony of conversations, rustling of clothes and steps heading for the vast hall's exit.
Nolan turned to leave with the others, but a voice called out to him, making him stop right in his tracks.
"Nolan Dagmire."
The people around him stopped as well, creating a small circle of silence. He slowly turned back to face the dais. Elite Loretta was still there, her arms now crossed over her white coat.
"The rest of you are dismissed," she said, her eyes not leaving Nolan. "Dagmire. You will come with me to my office. Now."
Liana and Cedric exchanged a worried glance. Sylvia, from her position at the front, watched the exchange with intense curiosity.
But Nolan simply nodded, his face a mask of calm. "As you wish."
… …
Minutes later.
Special Advisor's Office...
Nolan sat across from Elite Loretta on the other side of the table. His gaze was questioning and intent, yet he didn't budge. He stared right back like nothing was happening.
"Nolan Dagmire." She finally spoke, leaning back on her chair.
"Yes, Elite Loretta," he replied, his voice calm and clear.
"You are no ordinary child," she said.
Nolan remained quiet, watching her intently.
"I set Sebastian to monitor you and his comments have been positive, more especially yesterday's," Loretta explained. "You really are a true leader with good skills. You have proven that with how well you interact with your group. However… I refused to offer you a leading position for other purposes."
"One of them being not to put pressure on me? Second being to help monitor, lay information and bring strategic advices to the table?" Nolan pointed out, his expression not changing an ounce.
Elite Loretta arched a brow, but she seemed more convinced than surprised. "He was not wrong about you now, was he? I want you to be my eyes and ears out there. You are the first person I am telling this, before even Patrol Head: the ranked demons are already around the City in different places, but they are not ones you all can not handle if you are serious."
"They will not attack until it's late into the night," Nolan said, casually.
"Why do you say so,"
"Because I know that," he replied, though he knew that was too vague for her to understand, so he added, "if they have already taken territories and haven't attacked yet, then they're waiting for the right time to strike, which is most likely at night. I can assure you they have gotten smarter."
Elite Loretta let out soft chuckle. "Have you been having talks with Vordd now?"
Nolan shook his head. "Not at all. I'm just being logical."
She nodded and leaned forward. "This is why I wanted you to hear this first. So what is your say on the patrol?"
"During the day, the city would be safer, so I suggest we take the charge to them and try reducing their numbers. The darkness is a terrifying place to battle in." Nolan suggested with full confidence.
"Attack by day, defend by night. Smart," Loretta admitted. "I will call in Sylvia Volksnon and speak with her on this."
"May I leave now?" He asked.
She remained silent for a beat, staring at him, before nodding. "You may," she said. "Also, I made sure you remain with your group. You have fine chemistry there. Not going to spoil it."
Nolan scoffed and stood up, leaving without a word.
Minutes after Nolan's departure, Elite Loretta started to hear noises from outside. "What are they still doing in the Atriu—"
The door to her office creaked open without a knock, cutting her off, a violation of protocol she would tolerate from only one person. She didn't need to look up to know who it was.
A man walked in, dressed in the Elite-rank uniform. "Miss me?" He laughed, closing the door.
He had short, rough black hair, with a scar stretching horizontally from the right side of his forehead to his eyebrow.
"You fool," she frowned, gritting her teeth, though there was a hint of relief in her eyes.
He chuckled, dragging the chair and sitting on it, dropping his legs on the table. It was disrespectful, but for him? He wasn't getting into trouble.
It was the same man from yesterday. The one who effortlessly killed the demons.
But that wasn't all. This was the one and only Head of Defense. One of the guilds most valuable assets. Aris.
He folded his arms and grinned. "You don't care about me at all, do you… mother?"