Meanwhile, as things got busy at the Vander Dojo and Naoto began his fight with Sherryl, a different scene could now be seen taking place elsewhere. Some time had passed since Renne, Emma, Fie and Musse finished enjoying some confectioneries at one of the local bakeries in Leica District. They saw the Vander Dojo's doors remain tightly shut, not accepting any visitors. When they left, they heard some loud clashing noises from inside, and they knew well not to disturb them. Since then, Renne led the group outside, and some time had passed.
Heimdallr. West Gate.
West Ostia Highway. En route to Leeves.
"You girls stay safe out there, alright? Don't venture off the main road. Otherwise, you'll be greeted with Monsters. If you want to take the bus to the next town, the stop is off to the side from here. You can check its schedule post.", An officer dressed in gray said. The four were escorted by the RMP. He even gave them a salute, as he could easily see the St. Astraia uniform two of them were wearing.
"What he said. While St. Astraia does allow travel outside the capital during the holidays or if you receive a permitted leave, please advise caution not to wander off the road. There are dangerous Monsters out there. Please stay safe.", A second RMP officer said with a hint of worry in his eyes. The officer's eyes landed upon Emma, who he thought was the oldest of the bunch. He wondered what the large, tightly-wrapped object she was carrying around her back, but didn't ask.
"We will be careful, Officer. Thank you for the warning.", Emma said. To avoid raising even further suspicion, earlier, Musse proposed for Emma and Fie to wear the St. Astraia uniforms so they could pass as schoolgirls, albeit temporary. All so they could leave the capital. To Emma, she determined it wasn't a bad idea. So as they left, they got fitted. And now, they're here.
Fie, on the other hand, attempted to flee the scene the moment she saw another skirt, but Emma's reflexes were very quick now thanks to all that training she has done this last year or two as a Jaeger and under the guidance of the Stahlritter, so she caught Fie before she could run away. Fie could only accept her new fate, and was now temporarily wearing the St. Astraia uniform. Fie even rummaged around her skirt a little as the four wandered off to the area where the bus was located.
"Do we really have to do it like this? Can't I change back into my normal outfit?", Fie complained.
"Oh come on. It isn't all that bad, is it? You look quite cute in that uniform Fie. How about you enroll at St. Astraia for real?", Musse said, teasing Fie with a playful smile.
"Hard pass. I enjoy moving around from place to place too much to settle down in one area. That's how we Jaegers do business.", Fie immediately responded, shooting Musse's offer down without hesitation.
"Aww. Well, can't say I didn't try.", Musse replied, and shrugged her shoulders. "I still find it hard to believe you're doing mercenary work at your age. Is it hard?"
"Eh, it depends on what you do. We do training drills to not get rusty back at whatever camp we have set up. We're currently in-between that, but Dad said our group will remain in the capital for a while. It probably won't be long until we do another training round, apart from us going out to hunt Monsters like this.", Fie explained, and looked at Emma. "You in, Emma?"
"I'm sure I will have a lot of spare time these next couple of months as Naoto continues his own training, so sure, why not? I haven't done one of those drills in a while.", Emma said, and agreed.
"Heehee.", Renne added with a giggle. "We'll need to be discreet to make sure we're not spotted, but we'll enter some foliage and veer off the main road. After that, you can change to your previous clothes. It won't be long now."
"Finally.", Fie said, and sighed. I'd rather lounge around in my panties then wear a skirt. Twice in the span of twenty-four hours is way too much for me."
"There will be no parading around in one's panties today. Notion denied.", Emma shot back.
"Boo.", Fie said, but didn't push further. Doing that earned another giggle from the four.
The four girls proceeded to do as Renne said. One kept watch on the RMP Officers slowly retreating from the gate. Unlike the stationed Imperial Army soldiers, the RMP had patrol routes that they had to return to. They couldn't loiter around forever, so the four just waited, and timed it. Making sure not to get caught, they successfully found a path to wander onto. They were surrounded by a bunch of trees and rolling hills now.
"Can I change back into my shorts now?", Fie asked with pleading eyes.
"Help yourself.", Renne said, and rummaged around, only to toss Fie's normal outfit back at her.
"I'll help myself too then.", Emma said, also catching her clothes.
"Aww. But I understand. The two of us will wait for you.", Musse responded with a nod.
After walking a ways off the main road, they had now obscured themselves away from the gate. No one else could be seen nearby. Both Fie and Emma spent a moment hiding around one of the nearby trees so they could change back into their usual clothing. Fie spent no time at all to get out of those skirts she always seems to dread while Emma just shrugged that off, appearing normal as always. Emma saw that black school uniform plop onto some grass nearby, causing her to shake her head again.
"That Fie...", Emma sighed before she regrouped with Renne and Musse. She now looked like a Wandering Witch again.
"Don't sweat the details, Emma. You two doing this isn't an issue to us. We're still on track to where we need to go next.", Renne said, not paying it any mind. Instead, her eyes remained on Musse. "Still, I did not think you would actually decide to venture with us. The three of us know how to fight, but you? Do you think you can hold a candle to our own? I thought you would return to your dorms at the school after having breakfast."
"You would think so, but I did say I wanted to tag along with you all. I do not like going back on what I have decided on doing.", Musse said, and shook her head. "How could I not be interested? It's clear the three of you aren't normal. The fact that you can fight toe-to-toe with Monsters is a big red flag. Besides, St. Astraia rarely accepts transfer students between terms. Let alone two."
"Well, well. Aren't you a sharp one?", Renne responded with a playful smile. "It is quite a curious thing, is it not? I wonder, how far are you willing to go?"
"My, whatever do you mean by that~?", Musse responded, smiling again. She played it off with another tease, but Renne was still interested in what she asked. She turned toward Emma.
"How much should we tell Musse, Emma?", Renne asked, ignoring Musse's remark. "I do have a suggestion for you, and Fie too. That is if you two are interested."
"Sure. I'm down.", Fie said, and began to do some stretching now that she had more freedom to do so.
"What is it that you want to suggest, Renne?", Emma asked, also showing interest in her eyes.
"You see, I was thinking of changing our location just a tad. It'll lead to a new hunting ground, but it is rather far away from here. I think the two of you will be interested in it.", Renne began to explain.
"A new hunting ground?", Fie said. Her eyes lit up the moment she heard that. "I'm game. I've been having an itch to cut loose. That dance was too much for me."
"I know you said you wanted to see how we perform in battle, Musse.", Emma said, taking a glance at Musse. "How far would we be moving away, exactly? I am not against this."
"I'll get to that.", Renne said. "But before I do, I want to hear what Musse has to say about us. In particular, I want to hear your determination. What you said earlier is true. The three of us are far from normal. You saw us at Valflame Palace the day prior. We all have a connection to Naoto. Or in your view, His Royal Highness. Part of me thinks you know too much already, and I am half-leaning toward Emma wiping your memory."
The moment Renne said that with a glare that could kill, no pun intended, Musse felt the blood drain from her body, making her back turn cold.
'It really does all lead back to His Royal Highness...', Musse thought, feeling sweat drip down her back. She was genuinely curious how Renne could suddenly change character like this. She felt dangerous, but Musse didn't back down. "You really are putting me on the spot here, Renne. I don't doubt that you have the ability to wipe someone's memory, but are you really giving me much choice here?"
"I do apologize for Renne's behavior, Musse, but we operate where we are needed. Knowing that, do you still intend to go with us?", Emma asked, also showing a serious look in her eyes.
"Be there, or be square. Your call.", Fie said, also not joking around. "But know this. If you really intend to follow suit, you are hereby aligning yourself with Naoto's interests and goals. Emma is more on the forefront, but we've been supporting him from the shadows."
"And if I say no, it'll basically be as if none of this ever happened?", Musse asked.
"Pretty much. You've seen what happened back inside the changing room the day prior. Me in particular, we wouldn't be here without Naoto's assistance.", Renne immediately replied with a nod.
"Heehee.", Musse giggled, but she kept her stance steady and resolute. "What can you say? Curiosity killed the cat. I really am curious why His Royal Highness is presently an emissary here in Heimdallr. The engagement is one thing, but I know there is more to the picture than just that. So I will bite, and stick with you girls. Is that a good enough answer for you Renne? I do not mind aligning myself with His Royal Highness's personal interests."
"That will be enough for now. Thank you, Musse. You will not regret this decision.", Renne said, and thanked Musse for making such a decision on the spot. Musse was going to remain with their party for the foreseeable future, and Naoto had no idea this was in the works now. Another event that never took place in the games. Emma, Fie, Renne and Musse should not be together right now. Regardless of that, Renne looked at Musse again and continued to speak. "But before I go into talking about this new hunting ground, I would like you all to meet someone. Can you bend the light around us, Emma? I want absolutely zero traces of us.
"We're going to meet someone?", Fie asked, becoming interested.
"That is easy for me so I can definitely do that.", Emma replied with a nod. "I am also interested in where you are going with this, Renne."
From there, Emma did a motion of her hand, and suddenly brought out her Witch's Staff. What Emma brought out was a staff similar to that of Roselia's Crimson Staff. She hadn't received her own Orbal Staff yet from the Epstein Foundation, as it isn't exactly available at this point in time. In the next couple of years, the Epstein Foundation will roll out these Orbal Staffs, which utilize Orbal Energy to fight, in the next couple of years. Apart from Emma and Elliot, other people like Tio Plato will eventually receive their respective Orbal Staffs to test them. It all happens around the same time when Zero & Cold Steel I's story align with one another. It is still three to four years out until then.
Presently, Emma had a staff that was very much like Roselia's Crimson staff and the Training Crimson Staff Naoto possessed. Except it wasn't red. It was more golden in color. It looked very similar to the counterpart Emma would use in the next couple of years once she's at Thors, but it doesn't have all the orbal circuitry within it. Just a plain-old staff handmade by the expert craftsmen of the Hexen Clan. As crude as it might appear on the outside, Musse's eyes turned wide.
"...Is that real?", Musse asked, looking at the staff with a wondrous look in her eyes. She knew that the Epstein Foundation had started early development of the Orbal Staffs, but the finished product was far from ready. There shouldn't be any circulating the market right now. "Do you have ties to the Foundation? How in Aidios's name did you acquire an Orbal Staff?"
"Very much so. But on that point, that is where you are mistaken, Musse.", Emma said, and smiled. "You see, I only happened to introduce a part of myself back at the front of the palace. I couldn't exactly do the rest with the Jaegers. Only Fie here is truly in the know as far as Zephyr goes."
"You...haven't fully introduced yourself?", Musse responded, still looking surprised. Emma didn't immediately answer. Instead, she turned around toward the direction of Leeves, and suddenly called out.
"Oh Celine, Tama, come here for a moment!", Emma called out.
"Sheesh. It's about time. You're finally letting the cat out of the bag huh?", Celine's voice said, only to have a swift blur of a shadow hop down from a nearby tree.
"Should you really be saying that? And I thought I was bad with the puns. You're on a whole another level, Celine.", Tamamo said, and joined up with her. Musse saw the same black cat and silvery-white fox who rested nearby earlier at the cafe they were at before this. The shock didn't fade from Musse's eyes. No, she had been witnessing many surprising things as of late.
But to see a talking cat and a talking fox...
"Did...these two talk?", Musse asked.
"Oh now, we won't bite. Mostly. That's more Tama's territory.", Celine said.
"Hey! I take personal offense to that!", Tamamo shot back. "I don't bite. I swear."
"Haha.", Emma added with a laugh. "Come on now you two, it's still the middle of the day. You can play around later. But yes, it is as you can see, Musse. These two can very much talk. They're Familiars, personally made by Grandmother. It was short, but she was that golden-blonde haired woman beside Naoto when they got out of that car."
"That person was your grandmother!?", Musse exclaimed. "I don't think I want to jump down that rabbit hole..."
"Trust me, you don't. Less contact you make with Rose, the better. Naoto, on the other hand, has the pleasure of keeping her busy for the time being. Hopefully Rose doesn't cause a scene.", Celine said, and sighed. "At the very least, she isn't cooped up in her atelier. That thing really needs to be cleaned out."
"You do make a point there, Celine. Perhaps we can make some time to visit Grandmother's atelier during our down time. I do not mind cleaning it out for her.", Emma said, and smiled at Musse. "But I think we are getting ahead of ourselves. It's not like I have a different name. I truly am Emma Millstein, even if some call me Ghost Tracer. That is just part of me. In reality, I am what you call a Witch-In-Training. The three of us hail from a little secluded village tucked away in Western Erebonia, which has been erect ever since the Great Collapse. We mostly keep to ourselves nowadays, since Magic is an Art that has been lost throughout time. There aren't many who are aware of its existence. But with me telling you this, it means there is one more person in the know now."