A Lingering Unease
Bell and Lucia slowly circled the church perimeter, taking it all in. Laughter and chatter spilled out from nearby, overlaid with a thin veil of solemn reverence, like a quiet prayer. Devotees in white robes passed by, exchanging brief greetings, dipping their heads lightly, and sharing smiles as they brushed past. Standing amid that scene, Bell felt her shoulders relax without realizing it. It was strangely peaceful and stable here—more so than she'd expected.
The two stepped into the round-domed white building, the church's main hall. The interior was vast and soaring, too grand to take in at a glance. Stained glass filled the ceiling in vibrant splendor. The walls were lined with murals depicting ancient myths, stretching in sequence. The right wall stood out especially—a few painters perched on ladders, adding fresh strokes to it.
Bell stared, momentarily entranced, then turned to Lucia.
What the hell is that?
She hadn't said it aloud, but the question was plain on her face. Lucia caught her expression and gave an awkward smile.
"Sorry, Captain. It wasn't there last time I came. No idea."
Lucia pouted, her face falling like a sad puppy's. Bell gently tugged her hand.
"Why are you apologizing? Don't sweat it."
Lucia's grin returned in a flash at Bell's calm words. Bell noted the reaction with quiet relief and turned back to the mural. Even as they approached right behind the painters, the artists remained absorbed in their work, oblivious. The mural seemed to chronicle the church's history in order. At the top, hopeful faces clasped hands toward the goddess Lildar. Below, massive walls in muted tones loomed behind the people—like the barriers.
One corner drew the eye: children sitting in a circle, beaming with joy. Faintly glowing blue vials lined the table before them.
Bell couldn't look away. A tightness grew in her chest. Glancing up, she saw behind the goddess Lildar: enormous clock hands stretching like golden wings from her back.
"Lildar has something to do with time?"
Bell murmured softly, and a painter on the ladder whipped his head around. Their eyes met. Bell hadn't expected a reaction to her whisper and froze for a split second, but she kept her composure, slowly averting her gaze.
"No. Goddess Lildar brings peace and stability."
"How very on-the-nose."
"Heh heh. That's gods for you. But those look more like clock hands than wings, don't they?"
"Exactly."
The banter was light, but the painter's brush slowed noticeably. Bell couldn't shake the feeling his ears were tuned to them. She scanned the mural again. The blue vials on the table uncomfortably overlapped with Luminot.
Am I overthinking because of what Kyle Walker said?
Bell frowned hard at the inexplicable unease. Then a sharp female voice cut from behind.
"You two look awfully leisurely."
The painter turned at the voice, a familiar smile crossing his face. Bell and Lucia looked too. The woman, already cloaked in a robe, strode quickly toward the exit.
"Captain, that was a proxy, right?"
Bell snapped her eyes up at Lucia's whisper.
"How could you tell?"
"Heartbeat. It's half a beat faster than normal, with a unique rhythm only proxies have. Not just tachycardia— you can hear it if you listen."
Lucia shrugged, a touch smug, chin lifted slightly. Bell patted her back in genuine surprise.
"I knew you liked books, but damn, you know everything."
"Heh heh. I've got most medical texts memorized."
"How is that even possible..."
Bell let out a helpless laugh.
"Maybe 'cause I'm no good at combat. Sensing stuff? Something like that. Heh heh."
"Impressive, Lucia."
Lucia's face lit up at Bell's sincere praise. Something oddly familiar tugged at her, and she glanced again at the receding figure. I don't think I've seen a proxy before. Shaking it off, she trotted after Bell. Bell, sensing the painter's attention still on them, took Lucia's wrist and steered her deeper inside. Lucia followed with an innocent expression.
Bell ran through possibilities in her head. Female voice. Not Kyle Walker. Likely another proxy in Rain Code, as mentioned by Intelligence Analysis Department.
Why's a Rain Code proxy here? Mediating? But they've been hands-off till now—why now?
Her thoughts tangled when hurried footsteps approached from behind. Crisp shoe heels striking the floor. Fiery red hair entered her view. Cheisi. Her face was set hard as she rushed out of the church.
Lucia startled, sidling half behind Bell and muttering.
"Phew, thought my heart would stop if she spotted us. Cheisi's still crazy busy."
"You know her?"
"Yeah. Vice-priestess."
Bell raised an eyebrow. Vice-priestess felt oddly mismatched for her age, like ill-fitting clothes. She tracked Cheisi's vanishing back once more.
"Captain, look over there."
Lucia tapped her arm. In the central hall stood a massive statue of a woman with arms outstretched—the goddess Lildar. Chairs lined before it, a few devotees sitting in silent prayer, hands clasped. It was a scale of religious iconography rare inside the barriers. Unfamiliar to Bell.
"Kinda amazing..."
Bell murmured. Lucia grabbed her hand, tugging toward the chairs.
"We're here—let's pray once."
"Huh?"
Bell blinked blankly, and Lucia whispered with a grin.
"You've gotta have something in your heart you wanna pray for. Heh heh, it's been ages for me too."
Bell sat without protest at Lucia's excitement. She glanced sideways at Lucia, eyes closed, hands clasped.
Prayer, huh.
Nothing came when she tried. Since becoming a proxy, events that shook her were mostly tied to death. More disappointments than hopes. At first, she'd felt invincible. All that remained was regret. Faces flashed by—then the ones beside her now.
Bell exhaled deeply and clasped her hands.
May I protect the people who smile for me.
I don't want to lose anyone helplessly again. Even if it costs my life.
Haha... maybe that hurts less.
Bell chuckled softly, opening her eyes. Lucia still had hers shut. After a moment, she opened them, beaming at Bell.
"What'd you pray for, Captain?"
"Secret. Obviously."
Lucia giggled, and Bell snorted, standing.
"Then what about you?"
"For you, Lieutenant Adolf, and Kelun. That we all stay well and good things keep coming."
A small smile curved Bell's lips.
"...Thanks."
"Heh heh, no biggie!"
Lucia rubbed her nose, grinning. Bell nodded toward the exit.
"Let's go. Would be nice to meet the high priest too, but probably not happening."
"Still, we learned a lot today. A proxy was here—probably Lieutenant Lin Kseszbet from Rain Code's Intelligence Analysis Department."
Bell halted.
"...How'd you know?"
"Memorized the org chart. Didn't see her face, but heh heh."
Bell was momentarily speechless. The teary-eyed girl from training was gone; now she pushed to adapt. Childish in spots, but her mindset outshone many adults. Bell smiled faintly, and Lucia snuggled close again.
Bell felt the warmth and asked,
"What do you think brought Lieutenant Kseszbet here?"
"An Intelligence proxy moving personally? Means they've watched ethnic tensions escalate for a while."
Lucia's voice dropped.
"If there was no prior connection, no reason to come now. Safer to assume something's gone between the church and Management Bureau all along. So this mess wasn't random—it was managed, left to fester."
Bell nodded slowly.
"Yeah. And she was hiding."
Bell absently touched her lip with her thumb. One thing was clear: someone was deliberately stoking ethnic strife. But the protesters' slogans pointed more at the Management Bureau than the other race—almost comically so. Defying the goddess's will? Lildar meant peace and stability, right? Stirring conflict while decrying defiance implied conflict was right. Bell suspected the protesters' actions didn't align with the church's true intent.
"If the Bureau intervened directly, no need to hide."
"Dunno the goal yet, but rumors and militia feel orchestrated by someone else."
"...Agreed."
Bell said lowly. Lucia caught her breath.
"I think the biggest trigger for Harkens and Bonyaks turning hostile was the rumor that Shatter Light Shtafenberk sided with the Bonyak massacre."
"Then suddenly forming a militia—Bonyaks get scared, take it personally."
"Exactly! That's what I think too!"
As they talked, they descended the stairs and exited. Harsh sunlight poured down. Bell pulled her scarf forward, glancing at the militia.
"And that militia. Ignoring a force this size is insane—threat to the barrier itself. Director Remar talked like minimizing needless casualties was key."
Bell's eyes swept the militia cluster, then the uneasy civilians watching them.
Lucia beamed, thrilled at the serious back-and-forth.
"Right, Captain! Remar probably got underreported numbers."
"Hah. So Rain Code Intelligence might have issues, like Kyle Walker said."
Bell inhaled slowly. Lucia puffed her cheeks.
"Yeah, well... don't get too pissed..."
She paused, then added,
"And Director Innocent here seems scared the Grand Marshal might step in personally."
"...Why?"
"He countered right away, negatively, about avoiding needless sacrifices."
Bell suppressed Nantigar memories surfacing. If it escalated to the top commander... bloodless resolution would be tough. Maybe Remar feared that, wanting it settled first.
"Tricky."
"Tell me about it. Still no sign of Shtafenberk. Sigh."
Lucia sighed deeply. Bell cautiously stroked her hair. Lucia flinched, then grinned goofily. Bell chuckled.
If not Remar, some other force moving inside Rain Code.
Someone who could run a show this big behind the barrier commander's back.
"Alright. Lieutenant and Kelun will investigate too. Should sort out nicely. And swing by Intelligence Analysis Department when we can."
"Yes!"
Lucia nodded vigorously, then blinked.
"Captain, why don't you call Lieutenant Adolf by name?"
Bell's head jerked up. Her eyes wandered briefly.
Come to think... when did I start using names for Lucia and Kelun?
She imagined calling Adolf by name. Shaking her head, she sensed disaster—the distance shattering, more embarrassing words spilling.
"You don't call me by name either."
"Ehh, you're Captain. Maybe in a few years, if you see me as a real little sister. Then."
As their light chat continued, they reached the stairs' base. Then a voice called from behind.
"Lucia."