After nearly half an hour, all members had gathered in the main room.
Still embarrassed by the earlier outburst, Erika Von Berta—a young woman with black hair streaked with highlights and pink eyes—sat across from Izumi, hiding her clenched fists between her legs.
Erik, noticing his twin sister's expression, suppressed a mocking laugh behind a calm façade.
Idiot… You look like a puppy with its tail between its legs… he thought, barely holding back his laughter.
Doctor Rosmond and Izumi prevented that. Both stood at the front; young Kairen was upright, leaning on his cane, while the doctor sat in an armchair.
"I thought there were three of you…" Rosmond said, interlacing his fingers.
"Not anymore. Our former captain resigned from this squad and was reassigned elsewhere. Apparently, a new supervisor requested to take the position…" Erik replied, sitting on the arm of the sofa.
"We just don't know his name yet, or the reason for the decision. We're expecting him to introduce himself by Christmas," Erika added, glancing furtively at Izumi as she returned to a more casual posture.
In silence, keeping his face fixed forward, Izumi absorbed the information efficiently.
When one becomes Revealed, despite having to deal with Burdens, there is only one path to follow in the coming weeks: Atziluth, the World of Emanation.
The fateful trial in which the Archangels would understand the true essence of their Revealed.
"May I ask a question?" Izumi said.
Though he didn't turn, everyone knew it was directed at Rosmond.
"Of course. What would you like to know?"
"Which squad was I assigned to?"
Before Rosmond could answer, the front door slammed shut with force.
"Squad Z—or Zeta Squad—the Assault Squad…"
The figure who entered, exuding confidence and valor, made the Berta twins snap to attention as if by instinct.
Walking behind Izumi with heavy steps, Sir Kinney displayed the medal pinned to his black suit—a golden medal with a shining star that held a single meaning: ten years ago, Kinney had been elected Germany's best active Sefira.
Nowadays, however, he was nearing retirement…
"I will be one of your supervisors during this period of Revelation. My name is Kinney Allison. It's a pleasure to welcome you, Izumi no Michizane."
Placing a hand on Izumi's shoulder, Kinney pulled him into a brief side embrace. He knew of the Burden and therefore did not disrespect him by demanding a handshake.
"The pleasure is mine, Sir Kinney. However, I'd prefer you use the name Kairen instead of Michizane…" Izumi said, reluctantly.
Kairen… Michizane? He's a descendant of one of the Eleven? Erika paled, a bead of sweat running down her face as she stared at Izumi.
Looking into his once-blue eyes, she was stunned by how much the Burden had consumed him in just a single day. His eyes—the windows to the soul—were nearly gray now.
A blue so lifeless it bordered on gray; they conveyed no desire, no motivation, no will to live…
Beyond that, Izumi's presence felt heavy, weighing down the atmosphere—something Erika could relate to.
Though she could still muster a smile that Izumi could not see, the young Berta carried a Burden as heavy as absolute blindness.
I'm stuck between two depressives… Erik thought, frowning.
"Everyone, we only need the captain for our squad to be complete. I've been informed he'll arrive before Christmas Eve, so he'll be part of our communion," Kinney announced, standing between the twins and Izumi.
He grabbed a glass from a nearby table, drank some water, and continued.
"I'm the personal supervisor of the Berta twins, but I'll assist you for now, Izumi. Your assigned supervisor should arrive tomorrow morning, so I'll fill the role until then."
Setting the glass aside, Kinney turned to the twins.
"Given our companion's condition, I'll have to ask you to guide him for the time being… Keep each other company until lunch. I'll prepare something for us," he said enthusiastically, crossing his arms and puffing out his chest.
Damn… We're going to be poisoned… Erik thought, squeezing his eyes shut.
Relaxing her posture, Erika stepped forward and looked directly at Izumi, causing him slight discomfort.
"Well… can you already go upstairs?" she asked innocently, doing her best to include him in their routine.
"Five steps before the stairs… Here's the outdoor bathroom," Erika said, guiding Izumi along the second floor.
"Erika, his room is this way!" Erik shouted from the end of the hallway.
She thought about how cruel that was—literally the last room, for someone with a disability.
"Let's keep going…"
Walking down the second-floor corridor, Erika counted the steps alongside Izumi. With each set of steps, they marked the twins' rooms, Kinney's room, and finally, Izumi's.
Entering the room, the young man felt a pleasant atmosphere brush against his skin. Though he couldn't see the decor, he was certain it was quite simple.
After all, they would only stay in that house for seven days before new occupants arrived. That was the routine of a Revealed…
"Well, sit here. We need to discuss our routine."
Guided by Erik, Izumi sat on the mattress, rested his cane on the floor, and swallowed hard.
Keeping some distance, Erik sat on an office chair near the window and slid slightly across the floor.
"We have seven days to prepare… On the twenty-ninth, we'll enter Atziluth, and our true trial will begin," Erik said, spinning lazily with his neck hanging back.
"We'll need to deal with your Burden by then… Do you have any idea how it works?" Erika asked, flopping onto the mattress.
"I have no idea at all…" Izumi replied, tense.
"That's unfortunate…"
Stopping his spin and merely swaying, Erik asked, "What about the voice? What do the Archangels tell you?"
"Archangels…"
Izumi had forgotten that detail.
The irritating voice that coldly intoned the phrase The sea is your north had always been the Archangels.
For each Revealed, an Archangel is assigned; in total, there are seven guides who reveal the true nature of a Saint.
"Yes, them," Erik confirmed. "What phrase do they tell you?"
Izumi hesitated before answering, but soon gave in. That should have been his secret alone. Still, no other Sefira would understand its true meaning.
"The sea is your north…" Izumi said—and after speaking it aloud, he fell into thought. He had heard it constantly, yet chose to ignore it to avoid going mad.
Erik sighed and resumed his slow spin; he had no idea what it meant.
"You have chained your own destiny… That's my phrase," Erika said, resting her head in her hands.
"Your words are a gunshot…" Erik added, making his phrase clear.
The difference between them and Izumi was that… they knew the reason behind their phrases.
The atmosphere grew heavy, to the point that Izumi felt himself quickly drying out.
Before it could worsen, Erika asked with a smile, "Izumi, what's your reason for becoming a Sefira?"
"None… I don't have any reason," he answered quickly. "Actually, I was preparing to go to college. But this ruined my life plan."
Raising an eyebrow, Erika sat cross-legged and looked at him strangely.
"How can you not? You're a Michizane… You're a descendant of Satoru no Michizane, aren't you? One of the eleven primordial Sephiroth… Your clan is as influential in Asia as the Alichieri family is in Europe!" she said, shocked by his lack of motivation.
Erik was equally surprised, unable to believe Izumi's words—perhaps Izumi himself couldn't either.
"Yeah… I wanted to be a Sefira when I was younger. I devoted myself to it… more than anyone. But some events changed how I see life."
"Why? Did you start fearing demons?" Erik asked, genuinely wanting to understand his new companion.
"I became more afraid of heroes than villains. But that's something I'll have to endure. Since there's no escape for me, I have to accept it and move forward…"
Making a dissatisfied face, Erika narrowed her eyes and sighed deeply. Giving Izumi a light elbow to the back, she said:
"I see, I see… I'll pretend I believe in your lack of motivation, Mr. Michizane. I'm starving, but I don't want to go downstairs…"
"Are you feeling lazy?" Izumi asked, following the change in topic.
"If only that were it…" Erik said, standing up and stretching. "Kinney's cooking is awful… Military-grade food in wartime. He might've even thrown in the rat that was bothering Erika earlier today…"
"Gross! Get away from me, you pig!"
Erik stuck out his tongue and went "Blech!", nearly gagging.
"Is it really that bad?" Izumi asked innocently—yet sarcastically.
Erik sighed in pity…
Tapping Izumi's shoulder twice, he conveyed the perfect message without words—
Starve, but never eat what Sir Kinney offers you.