"Crimson Choir Headquarters."
Lumian stared at the signboard in front of him, the pale moon illuminating it's golden words. He shook his head slowly and sighed. "I'm supposed to resume my night shift, but captain just called—apparently they are now changes in how the church operates."
He chuckled softly, taking a step forward, as he looked at the massive building. "What I'm I even going to say."
Grabbing the door, he gave it a pull, making it squeak loudly. "Hah, I forgot it's a push not a pull door."
---
Upon opening the door, Lumain was met with a captivating sight—four classic sofas arranged neatly around the table, and to the left, was a receptionist desk where a girl rested her head on her arms. The orange glow from the chandeliers above illuminated everything beautifully.
Lumain couldn't help but mutter to himself about how grand the place looked, compared to his usual headquarters. As he looked around the room, he finally spotted a familiar figure—with black hair and violent eyes. It was Rosanne, quietly reading a book on one of the sofas.
Seeing her, Lumian immediately felt nervous and instinctively tried to avoid her. He quietly drew closer, approaching the receptionist area. When he reached the counter, he knocked lightly on the table, just beside the girl's ear.
Knock! Knock!
The red-haired girl immediately sat up and swiftly grabbed the telephone beside her.
"Huh? Yes you need three members stationed near the Olympic coast? Oh yes, I'll get to it."
"Hmm, the Olympic coast... the name sounds quite interesting." Lumian inwardly said.
"Yes sir, they'll be there right away—just give us five minutes," she continued, before dropping the receiver and turning back.
"The customer service here is... confusing in a way."
She turned back, and finally noticed him, raising her brows up in surprise. "Hello there! I didn't see you. Who might you be?"
Lumain smiled and waved a hand politely. "Hi, I'm Lumian ward. I'm actually here because of the temporary change in faculties."
The red-haired girl who looked to be in her mid twenties, wore a white shirt paired with black trousers. "Oh, The change! Let me go and tell Captain that you're already here."
She stepped out from behind the desk and pointed towards the chairs. "Just make yourself comfortable, I'll be right back in a jiffy." Then she scurried up the stairs beside her.
Lumian looked around the hall and spotted Rosanne still seating quietly, reading her book. He considered waiting where he was—but with his leg still aching from the long walk, he decided to sit next to her.
Approaching the sofa, he quietly sat down and picked up a newspaper, drawing it over his face. He peeked over the edge a few times, looking at Rosanne, but she didn't seem to take notice of his presence. After repeating the process three times, Lumian breathed a sigh of relief and turned his focus fully to the newspaper.
About a minute later, a voice broke the silence.
"Hmm, the government has commenced work on the train locomotive route leading from "Betyl" to "Montmartre heights." Considering the distance, I would prefer a plane. Travelling by train is so stressful."
"I know right," Lumian replied automatically—and paused as he realized who he was talking to. Lowering the newspaper, he forced a polite smile, even though he was still feeling nervous from the past encounter.
"Rosanne... I didn't expect to see you here."
Rosanne sighed softly, as she closed her book. "Well, I didn't expect to see myself here either," she said with a small chuckle. "The Captain told us there's been a recent change in the management of facilities. Although, I don't understand it fully, but from what I know, the workers are being rotated between departments. Like now— you, me, Alice and probably Vincent, have been moved from the Moonlight watchers faculty, to the Crimson choir faculty.
"Do you think it'll be permanent?" Lumian interrupted.
Rosanne brushed a strand of hair from her neck. "Well, I don't think so. We're still officially registered under the Moonlight watchers." She paused, then added, "Have you met the captain of this faculty yet?"
Lumian shook his head in the negative.
And as if on cue, the red-haired receptionist came down the stairs. "Mr. Ward, I've informed the Captain. He said you should meet him in his office. Please, follow me."
"Okay." Lumian nodded and stood, following the receptionist towards the stairs.
"See you later, Lumain," Rosanne said, as she waved casually before picking her book back up, continuing her reading.
---
Going up the stairs, the only thing Lumian could see were—well... more stairs. But rather than that, the wallpapers were bright yellow, illuminated by chandeliers above.
"When does this stairwell end?" Lumain muttered internally.
The receptionist stole glances at him, from time to time, until she nearly lost her footing.
"Oh, watch your step." Lumian quickly said.
She chuckled awkwardly, as they continued walking. "Though I walk here many times, I'm still quite afraid of the stairs—you get me right?"
Lumian nodded with a smile.
She went on, this time paying more attention to her steps. "And the work over here is really tiring. Every now and then, I'm always receiving calls—I even forget what I'm doing sometimes." She giggled softly, and suddenly smacked her forehead. "Ah! I forgot to tell you, my name is Mira."
She continued walking side by side with Lumian. "And you've already told me your name, right?"
"Lumian Ward." They both said, as they chuckled.
After that, Lumain vividly noticed that there was a "Dark-Whitish Emblem" every set of steps—which is the symbol of the Skywalker. The symbol depicted two pairs of wings in the night sky.
Climbing another set of stairs, Mira noticed it too. "Hmm, the Skywalker," she said. Turning to Lumain with her hand on the bend of the railing, she asked, "Do you still remember his full title?"
Lumain came to a stop, scratching his head awkwardly. "Ugh... the Skywalker whose wings touch the cosmos... uh-the ruler of the sky and everything beyond."
Sadly, Lumain couldn't remember the rest of the title. He'd never been much of a listener back in school.
Mira giggled behind her hand as they continued. "Aren't you supposed to have that title engraved in your head? Since, you know you worship at the Skywalker church."
Lumian gave a self depreciating smile. "Well, I joined the church just two years ago."
"Two years ago?" Mira said in a surprised tone. "I joined five years ago. My mom and dad were strongly devoted to the church. Even when the crimson sun hadn't descended, they still served the Skywalker."
"This church has been active even before the crimson sun descended... I never knew that." Lumian said inwardly.
"Even then," Mira continued. "You must've gone to Sunday school before fully joining. You supposed to know this!"
She paused and gave a sly smile before reciting, "The Skywalker, whose wings touch the cosmos. He's the ruler of the sky and everything beyond. The emperor of light and darkness. The master of annihilation and creation..."
"See? That's how you say it." She said with a teasing smile.
After that revelation, Lumian was momentarily stunned, but he still flashed a smiling face, as they continued walking. They finally reached an intersection with three doors on either side. Mira paused and pointed to door on the left. "That's the captain office." Then to the right. "That's the cathedral."
"And lastly—" she began, but before she could finish, Lumian eyes had already wandered towards the half opened door ahead. Through it, he saw Vincent in a blue jacket, his long slightly hair disheveled, but still giving that romantic vibe.
Noticing Lumian, Vincent gave him a playful wink. Lumian replied with a polite smile and wave.
"Oh! You already know him." Mira asked.
"Yes," Lumian said. "He's my colleague from my faculty."
"Well, he came much earlier than you—he's already met the captain."
"This girl really talks a lot." Lumian said Inwardly as he moved towards the captain's door.
Mira smiled and said with a wave. "Alright, I'll wait here till your done."
Lumain gave an awkward smile. "I don't think they'll be a need for that."
"Nonsense! You don't know this place that well—I'm your personal guide today."
"... Well, thank you for that," Lumain said with a smile, but inwardly he added, But who's handling the receptionist now?"
He gripped the door and stepped inside.
---
Elsewhere—in a cathedral across the city. The silence was thick almost deafening. Rows upon rows were vacant beneath the pale glow of the candles.
But at the sacred alter, a man knelt, clutching a white crucifix. It was Mr. Richard.
Suddenly he began to cry, as his body shock violently.
"I promise I won't do it again... I promise... I didn't mean to..."
His voice which was soft at first, suddenly twisted into quiet, mad laughter.
"Hehehehe... I promise...I'm sorry... please, please..."
To the ordinary eye, he looked like a madman, but in his eyes, he saw things differently.
White feathers fell endlessly from above, giving a captivating, almost holy sight. But before him, there was a collosal being with four radiant wings. In the creature's single crimson eye, Mr. Richard reflection stared in terror.