Daily Life in Lumen Guard

Jack William, the brigadier general, exhaled a plume of cigarette smoke and gazed out the window where rain had begun to patter down. "Hoo—"

It had already been three days. Bell was taking a few days off at Sophie's place, and today she was attending the memorial service with her too. When he'd first heard about it, Jack had been mildly surprised by Bell's change, and even now it felt a bit unfamiliar. Sophie herself had asked for the first time in years if she could take more leave, and Jack had worn his most shocked expression in recent memory. Of course, he'd approved it without hesitation. Deep down, he wanted to give her a whole month if he could.

The only downside to Sophie's vacation was the slight backlog of work and the office filling up with cigarette smoke. Jack took another drag, dismissing it as a minor indulgence.

Bell ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had been through a lot. Their first meeting hadn't gone well, he recalled. She'd smashed a nanny Dist to bits. Then there was the squad that had grown close to her during the all-out war and never returned. And finally, that incident in Nantigar had been the decisive blow. After those major events, Bell had completely broken down. He had no experience raising kids, so he hadn't understood at the time, but now he could somewhat relate to his old friend's complaints about his daughter shutting herself in her room and refusing to speak.

The difference was that this wasn't your typical wound. Time had dragged on in helpless uncertainty, not knowing how to comfort her. But now that child was staying by Sophie's side. There was a clear shift in the air, something promising.

Suddenly, Sophie's words came back to him. "...Growth is honed in the forge of emotions, was it?"

Jack stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and turned back to the documents on his desk. The Fraction-6 troop reinforcement proposal had passed smoothly. The Intelligence Analysis Department's security enhancements had too. He slowly closed the file on his desk.

Guess I should start thinking of it as the Intelligence Surveillance Department now.

The approval order stamped with the Grand Marshal's seal. What was the Grand Marshal thinking? Jack knew the man's iron will well. The reckless all-out war, the Nantigar massacre, even reintroducing Aria. He kept his distance because none of it sat right, but as a soldier, he respected him. What had propelled him to that position was not just overwhelming force, but cool judgment and rational command in the face of it. When people first flooded into the barrier cities, the forces from every nation had moved as one because he was at the center.

What the hell drives him to act so boldly?

Jack raked a hand through his hair. This approval didn't particularly benefit the Grand Marshal's power structure. Hassel seemed loyal enough, but there were no guarantees he'd stay ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that way forever. The authority granted to them was no light matter.

Jack leaned back in his chair, lost in thought. The Grand Marshal's moniker, Steel Sword. The proxy called the strongest. Even to Jack's eyes, his power bordered on monstrous. But even so, why would he willingly slice off a piece of his own pie? He always kept his blades sharp for potential crises. Jack didn't worry about himself—he could protect his own hide and Sophie with his strength alone. But the Grand Marshal showed excessive interest in Bell. At first, Jack thought it was to keep him in check. But what if that scrutiny was aimed at Bell herself?

He figured Bell needed her own dedicated guardians. And someday, those guardians might become his own blades. If Bell thought of him even a little.

It's probably in full swing by now.

The memorial service. Jack thought of himself as an old man who'd attended so many he'd forgotten how to cry there. But he was determined never to let anyone he knew be buried there again. No matter what it took.

The Grand Marshal uses everything ruthlessly, yet she still only fears me.

Jack straightened up. Better to exploit the situation thoroughly than fall behind. Besides, no one else knew what had happened outside the barriers, in that arena.

She might not even be her anymore.

After hesitating for a long moment, Jack reached out. Nothing beat this for quick handling. The black panel on his desk, untouched until now. He placed his palm on it casually, and it vibrated faintly with fingerprint recognition.

He input a few lines of numbers and symbols. Optical fibers crisscrossing the room flashed brightly, pushing back the darkness with a blue hologram. In the center of the space, a transparent silhouette quietly took shape. A woman's form. Strands of flowing light. A virtual body down to perfectly rendered eyes.

Jack twitched an eyebrow. The voice was polite and clear.

It's gotten so advanced they can hold full conversations again. The science tech department needs to ease up.

Mechanical courtesy, yet laced with an oddly emotional nuance.

It really feels... alive.

He faced the hologram with a weary expression. It creeped him out, confronting this entity. But if he could use it, he would. If the Intelligence Analysis Department kept their word, leveraging Aria would prepare him for much.

His hand slowly swept through the air again. A hologram window opened, data quietly scrolling.

"Pull up the current list of all proxies within the barriers. Everyone, including combat branches."

Hologram windows began filling the room. Glowing rectangles floated everywhere, streaming names, affiliations, ranks, and mission records.

"Reclassify by combat, science, intelligence, and reconnaissance. Include abnormal transfer rates and evaluation records."

Aria danced through the air, rearranging the windows—a spectacular sight. Jack felt sly, thinking he'd grow accustomed to using it someday.

"Haha, humans can't help it, huh."

The windows reorganized into color-coded groups. Then, one face caught his eye. Lucia Beloche, Bell's trainee, the talk of the management bureau lately. Sophie had called her puppy-like once. A rookie proxy Bell had trained personally.

"Bright kid... reminds me of Siarin. Stings a bit."

The brigadier general muttered bitterly and looked at another window. Next was a boy with sharp, fierce eyes. Kelun Phrase. Another new trainee. No manifested ability yet, but a rare combat-branch second-generation proxy, and he seemed on good terms with Bell.

"Kelun Phrase. Assign to Combat Response Unit."

But Jack's gaze shifted to another. "...Adolf Mandel."

The upper list Aria displayed didn't have that name.

"Not ripe yet. Refresh the list."

He muttered quietly. The man he'd personally assigned as Bell's training overseer.

"Visualize Adolf Mandel's information."

The brigadier general looked up. As recent combat records, achievements, and even minor issues were exposed, he spoke again.

"Stop—"

The hologram froze. Aria stood poised gracefully. Flawless records, not a single issue, but Jack eyed one detail suspiciously.

Pre-project barrier unknown. Picked up off the street or what?

Jack hardened his expression, lit another cigarette, and exhaled. A refugee, yet barrier unknown and memory loss? What kind of guy was this?

Sophie's words flashed through his mind. 'Stimulation from a peer might have helped.'

"I could do without some mystery like this."

He frowned. It grated on him—Bell getting involved with a guy. Especially one with black-ops sketchiness. But what really bothered him was deeper. Had this shady character positively influenced Bell?

Jack stared at Adolf's front-facing photo in the hologram, lips pressed tight. Piercing it with unnerving intensity, he pondered. Why'd you deliberately omit him from the list earlier? Even you, mighty Aria.

Exhaling smoke, Jack said, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠"Assign this proxy to Lumen Guard."

Tongue's gotten awfully long. Jack stared at Aria, then snarked, "Start the transfer as ordered. Assign to Lumen Guard's Combat Response Unit."

As Adolf's affiliation erased from Valhalla Disk, it rewrote to Lumen Guard. Jack took another drag, exhaled, chuckled, and said, "Who are you, really?"

Like facing a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠monster. His glare at Aria was ferocious.

Aria flickered once, then replied forlornly.

Jack jabbed his cigarette toward Aria like a weapon, hoping to bore a hole. It just sliced empty air.

A few days into winter, snow flurried down over Lumen Guard's skies. The streets looked tidy, but the white flakes soon blanketed the gray pavement.

Adolf and Roland crossed the scene, walking quietly. Roland sniffed.

"Man, no matter how I think about it, it's weird, right? I get your temporary transfer, but assigning it during vacation? They're nuts."

Adolf buttoned his coat. "Maybe they give a day off from assignments since the move hits during leave?"

"You think? Naive. If there's work, they'll just assign you."

"Still, glad you came along."

Adolf grinned brightly. Roland stuffed his hands in his pockets, annoyed. What guy smiles that easy?

"Nothing to be happy about. I synced my leave to hang with you. Regular army's strict on vacation, unlike proxies."

"Didn't mean to drag you into this."

Adolf looked apologetic, so Roland sighed dramatically to reassure him. "Whatever, no big deal. Just think of it as a Lumen Guard trip since we were gonna chill anyway. Pretty cool place."

"Right? I was amazed my first time. Wanna catch a movie later?"

Roland sighed inwardly at Adolf's excitement. Their plans—grabbing drinks, sneaking mercenary gigs—had flown out the window with the sudden transfer. And Roland felt a twinge of resentment. Once leave ended, Adolf would live in Lumen Guard. No more bar crawls? He tried shaking it off, but missing him from Valhalla Disk stung.

Adolf spoke warmly to the dawdling Roland. "What're you thinking? Not like you."

Yeah, what's the point? Now matters more. Roland pumped a fist cheerfully. "Alright, let's party! Where's the booze?"

"Haha—you're back."

"Damn right. Drink till we drop!"

Passersby on the street. Kids pelting snowballs. A snowman already built. Excited couples. Beyond the peace, the barrier's top loomed, snow-piled like cotton-wrapped.

The white snow reminded Adolf of someone.

"Roland, wanna build a snowman?"

"What kinda crazy talk? Guys don't do that."

"Oh, is that it?"

"Yeah. Get a girlfriend, do it with her."

"Tricky. Even snowmen."

Roland thought, Pure as hell. He turned away. "Do it with Captain Bell."

Adolf whipped to Roland, then slowly turned back. "She's not my girlfriend."

Delicious reaction. Roland smirked. How to leave this guy alone in Lumen Guard?

As Roland pouted slightly, two proxy-uniformed figures bickering entered his view.

"No clause firing proxies for dating, right?"

"No such insane rule."

Adolf's curt reply left Roland dumbfounded. The puppy-making guy.

Adolf followed his gaze. A brown-haired girl smiling softly. Short, glossy black hair. Familiar faces.

"It's them. My trainees."

Adolf beamed.

"What?"

"Let's say hi!"

As Adolf and Roland approached, Kelun sighed deeply, handing Lucia hot chocolate. She'd dragged him out for the limited-sale drink after singing about it all day, but this ditz left her wrist terminal and payment receiver behind.

How excited were you? Forgetting the most important thing...

Kelun's head throbbed. How'd he end up big-brothering his airhead teammate?

"You gotta stop wandering without your wrist terminal. What if you need to pay like now, or an emergency?"

He squinted slightly. "Seriously. Be careful in Lumen Guard... and the science tech department from now on."

Lucia just stared at the hot chocolate, then smiled at him. "Hehe—got it~ Thanks, Kelun."

Kelun nodded, gazing at her like a little sister. Blunt words, but he always watched closest.

Adolf approached, chuckling stealthily. Kelun glared sharply at the footsteps, but softened upon recognizing them, greeting warmly.

"Oh, Senior! What brings you here?"