Crossbell City. Administrative District. Outside the CPD.
Around the same time Crow's group began to tackle the Azure Trials...
Several figures could now be seen gathered around the entrance of the CPD. Not because of an ongoing crime scene. No, quite the opposite. A festive mood spread around the atmosphere, not only to these individuals, but to Crossbell City as a whole!
These people were no less to everyone else living in Crossbell City.
And yet, a hint of worry appeared in one of the figure's eyes as they spoke out to another.
"Are you feeling better now, Jill? You seemed deathly pale back there once that news flash arrived.", Noel asked, still appearing worried.
Earlier in the night when the CPD was closing up shop for the day, that emergency broadcast hit their orbal terminal, and distracted everyone present. Jillian was the biggest one out of their group to receive the biggest shock. It took Jillian a while to recover from it, and because of that, they were able to finish their business. A few hours have passed since then, making it past midnight now.
Even though it was past midnight in Crossbell City, its fervor wasn't any less than what it was earlier in the day. A festive mood lingered. Now, families were firing off tiny fireworks, causing the city to light up in the midst of the night. After that passage of time, Jillian's eyes were now crystal clear. The murkiness from crying earlier was long gone. Jillian nodded her head to ease Noel's worry.
"Yes. I am feeling much better now. I am sorry if I gave you all a fright earlier. I saw...something I wasn't expecting to see.", Jillian replied, and bowed to the group of people before her to show that she was truly sorry. Guy laughed, assuring everything was fine. He even patted Jillian on the shoulder.
"Haha. That is a normal reaction to have, isn't it?", Guy said, and smiled. "I did not think you would be the type to have a little sister. In that regard, you are the same as Noel here. Sounds like some bad sh*t happened in the past. Isn't it good you finally found a trace of her?"
"I thought we already closed that case for good too...", Sergei murmured, standing beside Guy. "What is your opinion of this, Dudley? The Divine Blade led that operation. We can't talk about its details out in public like this, but do you think it warrants enough intention to go through its records one more time?"
"Quick to discern the gaps in the information we were given as always, Sergei.", Dudley said, and pushed the frames of his glasses upward. "It would not hurt to go through those files once more. There were many missing children that went unreported during that whole mess, but I vividly remember seeing Jillian's little sister as one of those accounted for. In the end, we couldn't find her. It would seem that mystery solved itself. To think she would be beside Liberl's Crown Prince. Even I find it surprising that she appeared out of the blue like this..."
Letting that moment sink in, Sergei reached into his pocket, and decided to light up a cigarette. Sonya, who was beside Sergei, frowned, seeing Sergei take a puff of smoke.
"There's still kids around us, you know, Sergei. Don't smoke in front of them.", Sonya reprimanded. "I thought I told you to quit smoking already. It is bad for your health."
"You were never around to care in the first place, Sonya. Why bother taking an interest in it now?", Sergei responded. He ignored her, and continued smoking.
"Hey now, the night has only started for us and the two of you are already bickering. Save that for later.", Guy said. "If we are to revisit those files, we can do it after we finish celebrating tonight. Well, technically, it is tomorrow now. Haha! The new year is here. We shouldn't annoy one another like this."
"Hoho. It would seem there is quite a gathering of competent people here. I take it the CPD is all done for the day.", An aged voice said, calling out to the group. "Mind if the two of us join in? I dare say we have some free time on our hands now."
The moment the voice said that, the group was drawn toward the other side of the Administrative District. Accompanying an aged, white-haired man was a beautiful, long and brown-haired woman. Elie's eyes immediately lit up as she hurried toward the man.
"Grandfather!", Elie called out, appearing happy. "You really did have some time to spare to join us to celebrate the new year. It is quite a memorable one too. The next century is here."
That's right, this man was the present mayor of Crossbell City, Mayor Henry MacDowell. Elie's Grandfather!
Mayor MacDowell wasn't alone either. Even Guy became pleased seeing the woman next to him.
"I could say the same thing to you, Cecile.", Guy said, and greeted Cecile with a smile. "Did you do a check-up on the Mayor?"
"Uh-huh. We just finished, and we saw all of you gathering outside. I feel it is only right we join in.", Cecile said, returning Guy's smile with a smile of her own. "I see many familiar faces here. It has been a while since I last saw you two too, Arios, Ian."
"Likewise. I have some free time on my schedule. My immediate business that had me cooped up in Remiferia is now over, so I can see Shizuku again. Thank you for looking after her during my absence. I feel bad I had to leave her here while I went on business. I did not think we would generate this big of a crowd."
"It is no problem, Arios. Seeing Shizuku's smile is just a bundle of joy. It is the least I can do after the tragedy that claimed Saya earlier in the year. Thankfully, it looks like your business is mostly wrapped up. Are you sure you aren't pushing yourself too hard? It hasn't been long since you became a Bracer, and they already sent you off to mediate what happened in Remiferia. You need to look after your own health. I don't want Shizuku to be without a father.", Cecile said, appearing worried.
"Thank you for your concern, but my present health is without issue. I do apologize if I have caused you worry.", Arios said, shaking his head.
"Losing Saya was truly a tragedy to us all. We can only move forward, and not dwell upon the past.", Ian said, also nodding his head. His eyes then shifted toward the Mayor. "Thank you for joining us, Mayor."
"Yeah. That is a good way to put it.", Elie said, also agreeing with what has been said. "We all have something to celebrate tonight, whether it be life itself, or for our friends and family. But are you really sure you are alright to join us, Jill? You seem better at least."
Elie was also worried for Jillian. She has been working alongside both Jillian and Noel since she took up work to assist her Grandfather. Nothing too serious apart from doing reports and field exercises fighting against Monsters, but enough time had passed where Elie now considers the two her friends. She couldn't help but still be worried for her.
At the same time, it took Elie a good moment to realize the same girl Jillian saw in the news flash just so happened to be with Naoto in that fleeting moment when the two crossed paths back on the waters in Calvard. Elie put the two-and-two together, realizing it was Sherryl Sky, Jillian Sky's younger sister. She knew that, but decided to remain quiet on the matter. She didn't know if she should say anything, or if she could, what she should say. Jillian became a mess earlier, so Elie decided against that.
Instead, Elie saw that the First Division now had interest in revisiting the files of the closed case, of which was the DG Cult Extermination. It was kept as a secret to many, but being the granddaughter of the current Mayor, she had access to what others didn't. At the very least, Elie knew that Naoto assisted in the DG Cult Extermination, wiping the cultists off the face of the continent. Just knowing that Naoto had some part in all of that brought a smile to Elie's face.
Since then, it has been a few years since Elie had last seen Naoto. Elie found it a pleasant surprise to see him appear on the news again all of a sudden, let alone it being under such circumstances. He had gotten himself a fiancé. And not just any fiancé. It was with Erebonia's Treasure! Elie's heart raced with a mixture of emotion. She knew Naoto had received several marriage proposals, but Elie hadn't a clue how many girls currently liked him. She knew about the Royal Harem too.
In the end, anticipation filled Elie's eyes. She wondered what was going to happen in the coming future. She made a decision right then and there that it was about time to reunite with Naoto. Elie was free now. All Naoto had to do was to follow through after his business ended in Erebonia. Would he still have room in his heart for her? Elie didn't know. All she could do now was smile, and seeing that smile eased Jillian's worry.
"Yes. Truly. I am much calmer now.", Jillian said. It was then everyone heard an unexpected noise. The growling of a stomach.
It came straight from Jillian, which made her blush in embarrassment.
"Hahaha!", Guy laughed, seeing Jillian like this. "Guess we know our answer already. I'm starving too, so why don't we all head our way toward Long Lao and celebrate to our heart's content?"
Letting his laughter spread around caused whatever tension in the air to vanish completely. In no time at all, everyone agreed to Guy's remark just now, and they all exited the Administrative District, heading toward East Street to celebrate the new year, just like everyone else.
It wasn't just them who were celebrating the new year. A similar scene could be seen taking place in Calvard...