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The yellow mage and the priestess were trying to find a safe place to stay and rest before continuing their way around the city. They were slightly injured, it wasn't anything deadly just some bruises and Akane was able to heal the greater bruises with her purification but she couldn't keep doing it forever since it was costing her own mind to cast this spell.
After some time wandering around the city and avoiding the monsters created by the moon, the yellow mage noticed a place that the monsters seemed to avoid. They walked to it carefully, going down the stairs and opening the door, ready to protect themselves if there was someone there waiting to attack.
When they opened the door, there were only two people who also looked like they were getting ready to fight back, that being the journalist and the doctor, they didn’t seem to get along so well, more like they tolerated each other.
Akane spoke up, feeling the air tense
“ Hello… we just want to rest for a moment, then we will go back to the city… “
After hearing that, the doctor and the journalist ease up, lowering their guard.
“ Us too, get comfortable, the monsters avoid this place for some reason so… If you want a drink, i'm the bartender for today “ Said the doctor, with a bottle in his hand before pouring a drink for the journalist who nodded at them
Akane and O’saa enter the building and close the door behind them, O’saa sits at a table near the entrance, after some hesitation the priestess sits at the chair in front of the yellow mage, they didn't talk much, just some small talk between the doctor and the journalist. Akane looked around, it was a nice and comfy place, there was a stage with a piano that Akane was interested in, the music in general was nice and the tables… hm? What is that on the floor?
The priestess stands up from her seat, walking towards that piece of ground sticking up and lifts it up
“ Um.. guys, there is a.. secret basement here? “
Everyone turns their attention to you, and walks over towards the entrance of that secret basement, the journalist was clearly more interested in it than anyone else, after looking around it on the surface, the journalist makes her way in, Akane and O’saa following her while the doctor decides to stay at the bar.
“ I hit the jackpot with this hideout! “ Said the journalist, when she finished reading some papers on a table, Akane approaches her, curious about what she meant by “hitting the jackpot”
“ What is this place? “ She asks, grabbing one of the papers in her own hands but barely making sense about what was written in them so she puts it back, returning her gaze to the blond woman
“ This place… it's a hideout of the NLU, I completely ignored the possibility of NLU presence! How stupid can I be! “
Akane blinks slowly, nodding as if she understood what the journalist was talking about but it was clear that she didn't understand so the journalist explains
“The NLU is the Nameless Liberty Underground. They’re a small rebel group that has been doing guerilla strikes against the Bremen and Eastern Union during the Great War.”
She kept talking for a bit before she got interrupted by O’saa, and both women turn their heads to O’saa
“ If you don’t mind, I'm going to meditate, silence would be appreciated… “
The journalist sighs before going back to the papers, Akane walks over to where O’saa was, her mind was low so meditating would be nice
“ Can I join you? On meditating. “ Akane asks, looking at O’saa who’s already on the floor, the man looks up at her and nods shortly after. Akane smiles and sits down next to him, knees barely touching and they both close their eyes
They stay like that for some minutes, maybe 10? The priestess felt her mind recovering quickly she opens her eyes, trying to not make any sounds and stares at the yellow mage, the priestess was mesmerized by his beauty, she wanted to be closer to him and know about him, about how it felt to be free like he was
Being alone with her thoughts didn't last lost, O’saa also opened his eyes and looked back at Akane
“ It looks like you want to ask me something. “ He says in a low voice, Akane’s eyes widened and she was thinking about what to reply, was it so obvious? She didnt expect him to notice that she was staring. “ What is it like to be a yellow mage? Is that what you wanted to ask me? “
Akane couldn't maintain eye contact, feeling embarrassed that it was that easy to read her
“ A-ah… is it that easy to tell?... but yes, it is what I want to ask. “ Akane replies, staring into the yellow mage’s eyes again while he speaks.
“ It's a different path from yours, I could say it’s the opposite, unlike the priests from the west, the priests and the priestesses from the east… We, yellow mages bend the powers from the older gods to serve our personal gains… “
Akane listens closely, resting her chin on her hand and paying full attention to him, the life of a yellow mage interested you, O’saa keeps talking.
“And as you could imagine, that comes with freedom, which I can only imagine that's something you never had “
That part almost made the priestess choke with her own saliva, she sighs, remembering her own life
“Geez, you didn't have to say it like that!... “ Akane turns her head away with a sad expression before continuing
“ But.. you’re not wrong, I never had a choice or freedom, everything in my life has been chosen for me- “ She pauses for a second and looks back at O’saa who is paying attention to her story. “To be honest… never wanted to be a shrine maiden, i'm just following family traditions, i don’t hate being one but… having freedom must be nice “ she sighs and her face wears a sad smile, the yellow man grins when she finished telling her story
“ Oh it sure is, you can do whatever you want… “ Akane looks at him with a mocking smile after huffing
“ Are you teasing me? “ The priestess asks, the yellow mage shrugs with a teasing smile
“ Oh no.. I would never do such a thing!… “ O’saa goes back to closing his eyes and getting into meditation, smirking, making the priestess roll her eyes, while doing the same thing
“ Yeah right… “