Editing City Series:Volume6c Chapter3 (section)

===Part 3===

The village was surrounded by an old stone wall in the forest.

The village had been created by clearing the forest alongside the road. There were areas of open field running alongside the road, houses had been built there, and areas of forest separated those houses. The entire village could not be viewed at once.

Hazel rubbed her sleepy eyes and took a look around.

The greenery spread out around her in shadowy colors. She saw the road, some modest wooden homes, and enough cleared land for some fields and gardens. Then there was the forest. Each house was a good distance apart. In some cases, it took 10 seconds by motorcycle before the next one came into view.

The road was covered in wheel ruts, making for a bumpy ride. It felt like being kicked from below, so Hazel removed the blanket draped over her and placed it below her butt.

She looked to the wooden house moving by on their right.

“Should we really enter the village without permission?”

“It’s fine. Everyone will be at the central square. For the wedding.”

“What wedding?” she looked up to see surprise on his face.

“Oh, that’s right,” he said, forcing a monotone voice. He smiled bitterly and continued like he had just remembered. “I’m the only one who knows about that thanks to that weird letter. You’re just my assistant who for some reason fell out of the ship, for some reason passed out, and for some reason didn’t wake up until now.”

“P-please stop bullying me like that.”

She heard a single peal of a bell in the distance.

Recalling what Berger had said, she realized what was happening in this village.

She put on a smile to smooth things over.

“We showed up on a joyous day, didn’t we?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty joyous all right. The bride and groom are both pretty great people.”

“Hm, so you know them. I hope it turns out to be a good celebration. We heard an organ playing before, right? So is there a church or school here too?”

“I’m sure there is. But I’m impressed you heard it. I didn’t notice it over the motorcycle.”

Hazel kept smiling as she nodded.

“I’m just used to hearing it is all. I’m studying in the education department, so we have to learn how to teach music class. I’m actually pretty good at playing the organ.”

That had also helped with her training in using Lives.

“But,” she began. “No one told me you were familiar with this village.”

“Because I’m not. I barely know anything about the place.”

“Eh?”

Her smile vanished. She had sensed a faint chill in his voice.

But he continued before she could wonder what it was.

“All I know are the way here and…I guess I’d seen the entrance before too.”

Hazel looked up at him in something of a rush.

“Th-that’s all you know about the village?”

“Yeah, that’s right, Hazel Mirildorf.”

“Then why did you act like you knew the bridge and groom?”

…''He said they were pretty great people.

She could not see his Lives.

…''Is he suppressing his emotions?

He almost looked angry.

There were some things it was wrong to ask about, so she chose her words carefully.

“Um, Berger?”

“Yeah?”

“Did you really want to come here today?”

“That’s a silly question, Hazel. I was ordered here.”

He suddenly applied the brakes, so the motorcycle slid along the dirt a bit and the sidecar was pushed a little forward before stopping.

On that forest road, she could only hear the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves.

…''Why did he stop?

She looked around and then up at him.

He took a breath, let go of the handlebars, and reached back toward the luggage rack behind him.

“Do you want to get off here and walk the rest of the way yourself, Hazel Mirildorf?”

“P-please stop being so mean.”

“Then why are you asking these weird questions?”

She was unsure how to respond.

“B-because you seem angry this time. You won’t tell me what it’s about, you won’t look me in the eye, and you’ve just been sulking this whole time. You’re angry.”

“Yeah, I’m angry all right.”

“Why?”

“Figure it out, Hazel. …What did I tell you when we went our separate ways three years ago? You were supposed to live a happy carefree life in America. Why the hell did you decide to join the AIF while going to college?”

“B-because…”

“Because your Messiah power came back? Which means you can fight? Don’t be naïve, Hazel. Do you know what it means when it takes you two years to complete your training? Or when you’re still a Greenhorner when you can see Lives with an octave of nearly a million? It means you’re not cut out for this, Hazel Mirildorf.”

“…”

She fell silent, but she did not take her eyes off of him.

He looked her way and tried to say something.

“–––––”

But the words never came.

That was when she realized she had tears in her eyes.

“Oh.”

She quickly wiped them away with her handkerchief. Then the sidecar shook and another tear fell.

The BMW was moving forward.

“That idiot is catching up.”

Only then did she notice the quiet roar of an engine coming from behind.

The motorcycle sped up, causing more shaking and another fallen tear.

The wind blew, its azure Lives tickling her cheek and flowing behind her.

He said nothing. Neither did she.

The forest on either side of the road came to an end far up ahead. The central square was visible past that, as were a few people.

Realizing that was their destination, Hazel put the handkerchief back in her pocket.

She recalled her mission.

…''Escape from here with General Pale and arrive in Cologne by 11 PM. There, we fire the tracker onto the Gard-class, rendezvous with Corelle, and escape Germany.

She was Berger’s assistant, but she had another mission she could not get his help on.

…''I have to convince him to join the AIF.

While she wondered how she could do that, she heard organ music. It was playing the Unreif Germane with a somewhat quicker and upbeat tempo.

She sang this verse to herself.

This verse’s lyrics came from the 6th Section of the Ending God, which made her smile bitterly.

…''That section is about a pretty nasty rejection.

The music continued on.

As if inviting in any outside guests.