In Solnera Village, we follow Takahari, who's dozing off in one of many beautiful parks. The gentle breeze of the wind and the warmth from the Solnera Ring soothed him. Put him at peace as he just lies on the ground with his hands behind his head.
"I was wondering if I'd find you here. Sentinel Takahari..." A familiar voice states, catching Takahari's attention.
His face formed a smirk as he continued lying still.
"Oh, Yaba, is it really so bad to rest every now and then?" Takahari commented with a faint sigh.
"If I've learned anything from you, it's that rest can keep you sharp and prepared. But I've also learned... You're just lazy." Yaba replied with a chuckle.
"Had you been a big, beautiful woman with the chest of a goddess, I feel those words would've affected me dearly. Yet—." Takahari halted his sentence as he opened his eyes and sat up.
"I find myself distant from the words of man." Takahari continued as he looked towards Yaba.
"Can't say you don't make it interesting, that's for sure." Yaba remarks as he takes a seat by Takahari.
"So? Did you come to enjoy some quality resting time with your higher-up, or did you need something of me?" Takahari questioned as he looked out at the Solnera Ring.
"Well, Sentinel Kentoya requested me to find you and tell you he's waiting for you in the Soul Court." Yaba informed as he started laying back onto the grass.
"Kentoya did, huh? Interesting, I wonder what it's about." Takahari questioned as he also lay down on the grass.
"Shouldn't you go see what he wants?" Yaba asked
"Probably..." Takahari replied reluctantly.
Suddenly the conversation between Yaba and Takahari fell into silence. Leaving them relaxing in peace together. The soft, gentle wind breezing over them as the rustling of the trees kept them focused on the peacefulness.
"You should probably get going..." Yaba remarked.
Takahari's peaceful face turned sour as he opened his eyes and forced himself to move on. As Takahari stood up, he brushed himself off and began walking away.
Leaving Yaba to enjoy his resting time, Takahari murmured to himself about his Sergeant Yaba.
"Why did I get stuck with such a stickler?" Takahari hashed before vanishing from Yaba's voice.
All Yaba could do was smirk as he let the gentle weather of the Solnera Village take over him.
The Soul Court
As Takahari arrives at The Soul Court, when he enters, he finds not one but two people discussing things.
"Well, if it isn't the beautiful Yurino, and what's this?! Your hair's no longer orange!" Takahari teased as he continued walking down the stairs to the middle of the room.
"Shut it, you slacker! You were supposed to be here moments ago!" Yurino exclaimed,
Takahari smirks as he continues observing her hair in awe.
"Wow, it's—."
"Yes! It's green! I change my hair every now and then; you should know this!" Yurino retorts as she starts reaching for Takahari's throat.
"Did you do the same thing when she dyed her hair orange?" Kentoya questioned.
"Did I? I don't remember." Takahari replied as Yurino strangled him around.
Takahari just lets Yurino strangle him around as he smirks happily.
"Are you two done flirting? Or are you ready to continue?" Kentoya questioned.
Causing Yurino to instantly let go of Takahari with a slightly redder face than normal.
"We're not flirting! I will never flirt with this womanizer!" Yurino remarks as she walks to a side of the table.
"Aw, don't be that way, Yurino. I feel we've got something special going on." Takahari teased as he also approached the table.
After getting properly adjusted, Kentoya resumed what he was talking about before.
"Takahari, since you're late,. I'll fill you in on what we've learned." Kentoya states as he begins passing the scrolls around.
"According to one of Ota's scouts, it seems the one who became a Proxy Sentarii is far more important than we originally knew." Kentoya informed Takahari while he read through the scrolls. His face showed different reactions, yet only slightly.
"As you're reading, I'm sure you saw the main part of it. The Sword Eater." Kentoya remarks.
"Seventy-five years—is it even possible?" Takahari questioned as he continued scrounging through the scrolls.
"Well, according to Ota, it seems the other Marshals don't believe so. However, due to Ota's nature, he refuses to let this ember of information burn out. So, he's given us specific instructions. Investigate this Proxy Sentarii and eliminate him." Kentoya informed as he placed down a scroll.
"Would Marshal Ota really go this far?" Yurino questioned in concern.
"To conserve balance, it takes both sides of the spectrum of good and evil." Kentoya quoted as he held up his left arm and put a small bracelet close to his mouth.
"Come in, Mika, do you read?" Kentoya spoke into the bracelet, waiting for a response.
"Loud and clear, Sentinel Kentoya. What do you need of me?" Mika asked curiously.
"Rendezvous at the meeting point; it's time to take to the field with your team." Kentoya commanded, waiting for another response.
"Understood, on my way." Mika replied before cutting off communications.
"Kentoya, what exactly is your plan here?" Takahari questioned.
"The plan is simple: Mika's team will leave for Karakami Town and seek out The Sword Eater. He will then be eliminated on sight. Ota's sure he'll fight back, so he wants to use this chance to gain official visual on the Sword Eater's actual presence." Kentoya informs as he begins prepping to leave.
"Now that we're all on the same page, I believe this meeting is concluded." Kentoya remarks as he begins leaving.
Yurino and Takahari watched casually as he left; however, as Yurino looked over at Takahari, he smiled gently back at her. Causing her to storm off after Kentoya.
"Harsh..." Takahari murmured.
As he also began to walk out of the room, he noticed a crumpled-up scroll under a seat and was quick to take a look. As he fixed up the scroll, he began reading it.
Slowly finding himself intrigued by the words on it.