INT- GRAND COVENANT ORDER - LABORATORY
Evah was busy working at her station, trying to focus.
Relax and make a decision.
She had arrived safely at the office thanks to the car service Erion had arranged for her. Her anxiety about commuting—the fear of being attacked by the people from last night—had melted away.
I want to meet Dr. Riko. There might be more to staying here than I thought. With all the resources available, I could build anything I want. She found herself imagining it, but since her arrival, she couldn't help but notice that everyone seemed to be staring at her. It wasn't her first day, but it was the second time she'd been here. They had treated her warmly yesterday, but today felt different.
Why do they keep staring at me? She glanced down at her white lab coat, hoping it didn't look out of place. It was a simple cover, so there shouldn't be an issue.
The glass door swung open, and a tall, handsome man entered the room. He was noticeably taller than Erion, with clean-cut blonde hair and a lab coat that had longer sleeves, its back extending further than usual. His name was inscribed on a gold plate pinned to his chest. He was absentmindedly playing with a fidget toy in one hand as he walked in.
"Dr. Riko Battenberg," she murmured to herself, awe creeping into her voice. The feeling was almost surreal, like a dream.
"Hi! Sorry I was away for a bit." He waved to the team with a warm smile.
He seemed so sincere—completely unlike Erion, Evah thought.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the rest of the team returned to their work. But Riko walked straight toward Evah's station, still fiddling with his toy.
"Miss Arsenault, right?" He asked, his voice light and friendly.
Evah nodded, offering a small bow. "Yes, Doctor. Just Evah for short. It's nice to finally meet you."
She had heard of him—he was the mastermind behind most of the equipment here, his inventions more like something out of a spy movie. She couldn't help but admire him.
Focus, this is what I wanted, right?
Riko's smile widened. "I hope Erion told you that you'll be my assistant. You can just call me Riko."
Evah's heart skipped a beat at the casual offer, but she immediately thought, There's no way I can just call him 'Riko'. He's Dr. Battenberg after all. His easy-going nature caught her off guard.
He began looking over her table, scanning the equipment she was working on, before casually folding a small cube and slipping it into his coat pocket.
"May I?" He asked, motioning toward her work.
"Yes, please!" Evah replied, almost starstruck. She couldn't stop staring as he examined her project.
I didn't think he'd be so young... and handsome. She had imagined him as a tired, haggard man—dark circles under his eyes, looking older than his age—after all, originating was a stressful job.
"You see, you and I are the only originators here." He whispered playfully, leaning closer to her.
"Eh?" She turned to him, waiting for him to clarify or admit he was joking.
But he didn't. His serious demeanor didn't match the playful tone, and Evah was left confused.
"None of them are originators. I just asked them to assign me people for my department, and they gave me a bunch of detectives." He sighed. "They're great, but sometimes it's hard to explain things to them."
Evah couldn't help but think, Forget about being more honest than Erion—he's way different from him.
"Believe me, they don't really want to be here," Riko continued, pointing to the rest of the team. "They can help with mass production and manpower, but not with originating."
He shook his head in mock frustration. "That's why I kept pestering Erion for an assistant. He always says no one can keep up with me."
Evah watched him as he moved toward his own station, which was larger and equipped with the main machines. She had expected him to be stoic and reserved, but instead, he was incredibly friendly and approachable.
"But when he told me he found someone, I was very happy! Originating is tiring but also enjoyable. Right?" Dr. Riko smiled, a warm, genuine expression that seemed to light up the room.
"Right!" Evah replied, her smile brightening. Maybe this was the right decision after all. I finally found someone who speaks my language.
"You can use any of their equipment, I've forbidden them from touching it. You know how dangerous they are," he said, gesturing to three pieces of equipment on the main table. One looked like a tube filled with chemicals, and the other resembled a torch gun, glowing with a mysterious blue liquid inside.
"Of course, it could cause a massive explosion," Evah said, stepping closer to the table, her eyes gleaming. I'd love to get my hands on that! Best equipment for rendering.
"Exactly!" Dr. Riko agreed. "Well, Erion did a good job finding you. I should thank him later." He paused, as a gleam of light reflected off Evah's collar. His gaze caught the shine, and a smile tugged at his lips.
"Actually, maybe we can all go out later to celebrate your first day and thank Erion as well."
Evah blinked.
"Well, you go tell him. Make sure he doesn't refuse," Dr. Riko said, pulling the cube from his pocket again. He was the only one who hadn't referred to Erion as Major. She thought.
"Sure, Doctor," Evah smiled, bowing slightly before turning to leave.
I really don't want to talk to Erion... She sighed inwardly. But how can I refuse the first task my superior gives me?
As she walked through the hall, she could feel the weight of the stares still lingering on her. What's with them? I never experienced this on my first day before. Maybe they know about what happened last night... The thought almost made her shiver. Ah, they pity me. Almost got killed last night, and here I am, working.
She approached Hilda's desk and cleared her throat. "Hello, Ms. Hilda. Dr. Riko asked me to inform Major General Erion about the celebration with the Innovation Department later."
Hilda looked up, smiling. Her gaze flicked briefly to the small metal pin on Evah's collar. There was something in her smile—different from before. Something that made Evah uneasy.
"She was just discussing something with one of the patrol teams. Just knock, and I'll signal him that you'll be coming," Hilda said kindly, though the tone was subtly off.
Evah sighed inwardly, wishing Hilda could just deliver the message herself. She stood before Erion's office door, hesitating for a moment. Okay, just be formal. He's your boss. You chose to stay here for your dream, after all.
Taking a deep breath, she knocked.
"Come in," came Erion's voice.
Evah opened the door, and she saw Erion sitting at his desk, a man in uniform sitting across from him. They were likely discussing something technical. Okay. Get in, deliver the message, and get out.
"Good afternoon, Major General," Evah greeted, bowing. "Dr. Riko asked me to thank you for your assistance with the Innovation team. He wanted you to join us for a celebration after hours."
As she spoke, the sun caught the silver brooch on her collar, its distinct engraving flashing briefly in the light. Erion's gaze flickered to it, and he was amused. The commander did the same, his expression unreadable.
He noticed it, Eeion thought, and from the look on The commander's face, he'd seen it too.
Erion hissed under his breath. Why are you so lucky, Evah?