The first thing Pardofelis saw was a grand, brightly lit building above ground. Inside, it felt vast and full of high-tech touches. At least for now, all that left her ill at ease, as though she didn't belong here.
Everyone in the lobby walked at a brisk pace, yet nothing felt rushed or chaotic. They seemed driven to make each second count, with a clear sense of where they were going.
To Pardofelis, who'd been lost about her own future until quite recently, that sense of purpose was something to both envy and strive for.
On the way from the entrance to the lifts, she noticed that everyone greeted Durandal and her companions. When they looked at her, their eyes held nothing but friendly interest. That, too, felt strange.
After all her years in Sundown Alley, no one besides Aponia and the children at the sanatorium had ever looked at her that way. Most of the gazes she'd met had held one of three things: wariness, greed, or disgust.
Wariness was almost a basic survival skill in Sundown Alley. Let your guard down, and you might end up dead on the street one day.
As for greed... when she was little, people had looked at her that way because they could sell her for a good price. As she grew older, her looks made her a target for other forms of exploitation, too.
And disgust? Once people learned about her baffling knack for escape and her methods of "stocking up," they weren't likely to think much of a thief who stole to help others.
Coming from Sundown Alley to Schicksal HQ felt like stepping out of a world ruled by brute force and into a civilized one. She still felt out of place, but the sense of safety was real. Bit by bit, her defenses began to crumble.
"Next, we're going to the true heart of Schicksal. It's also where you'll be living from now on."
Durandal gave Pardofelis that brief introduction, then stepped into the lift ahead of her. She pressed the button for the first basement level.
The space below ground had staff dorms for Schicksal's members, including Pardofelis.
Hua and the others from Sapphire City had already moved here, so they no longer needed to stay in the villas near Chiba Academy.
Durandal and her companions would move in soon, too. They'd be saying goodbye to the villa they'd called home for the past six months. Once that happened, the only members living outside HQ would likely be those who already had homes in the city.
Kevyn, for instance, might've been a transfer student, but her family had bought her a place in Nagazora City. Mei was a local through and through. Even so, both had been assigned dorm rooms, giving them a place to nap at noon or spend the night when they worked late.
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When they stepped out of the lift, Pardofelis found the underground level even more open and empty. Most people worked in the building above. Down here, the space served mainly as a place to rest, unwind, train, eat, hold secret meetings, and carry out research.
Following Durandal to the Research Department, Pardofelis at last found more signs of life. Well, more people, at least. The mood here was even more hushed and solemn than in the empty halls they'd just passed through.
Everyone was so caught up in their work that few even noticed the group arrive. Without thinking, Pardofelis tried to breathe more softly.
Before long, a small, round robot floated into view. Red lights flashed in its eyes as it seemed to scan them and check who they were. Yet when it spoke a moment later, its voice sounded like an ordinary woman's, with none of the flat tone Pardofelis would've expected from a machine.
"Welcome back, Leader, Deputy Leader, and Director Eden. And welcome to the Schicksal family, Pardo! Your combat suit and custom weapons are ready. When you've got time, bring your Schicksal ID card to Helixcraft to collect them."
Pardofelis blinked at the floating robot's long greeting. Its boundless warmth felt a bit at odds with the room around them. Still, it did catch the attention of a few nearby researchers.
A young woman with short green hair came over. Like the others, she wore a white lab coat.
"The patient for the stigma implant is the ginger cat in your arms, correct? Please come with me." She also greeted Durandal and the others beside her.
"This is Klein, an assistant at Mobius's lab. I'll go in with you." Durandal then turned to Elysia and Eden. "Ellie, you come too. Eden, could you head back to Logistics and ask Connie for Pardo's ID card?"
"You can pick up Pardo's standard everyday uniform there, then get her combat gear from Helixcraft. We'll meet back here afterward."
"Okay~♪"
Elysia had no issue with the plan. She stepped forward and slipped her arm through Durandal's.
Pardofelis's cheeks still warmed at the sight. Eden had already told her that Schicksal's leader and deputy leader were a couple, but seeing them act so close still made her heart race.
Deep down, she seemed to hope that someday she'd get to share that kind of affection with someone, too.
Eden nodded as well, then turned to Pardofelis before leaving. "Felis, you and your cat mom can both relax. Mobius can be a bit harsh, but she's actually quite sweet. Don't let the way she acts scare you off."
"Besides, with our leader here, everything'll be fine."
"Don't worry, Eden! Mama Cat and I'll stay calm!"
Pardofelis seemed to mean it. She showed little fear of the surgery ahead, which put Eden at ease. With that, Eden turned and left.
"Come on, let's not keep Dr. Mobius waiting! It's been two weeks since we last saw her. She must've missed us so much~♪"
Still linked arm in arm with Durandal, Elysia set off with an eager look on her face. Klein looked as though she wanted to say something, then thought better of it.
Well, there was no need to spoil the mood by pointing out that the doctor hadn't missed Elysia at all. Besides, Klein could tell that Mobius didn't truly dislike her.
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T/N: If you want advance chapters, you can find it at [email protected]/AspenTL