A cell phone vibrated, and accompanied by the vibration, the sound of a notification echoed as the phone's screen lit up and quickly went dark.
The cell phone was on the passenger seat inside a car, and next to it, in the driver's seat, was Rose Noctis, driving the car.
When the notification sound came, her eyes momentarily shifted to the cell phone beside her before returning to the traffic ahead once more, but she was able to identify that the notification was a message.
This was the second message she had received in about twenty minutes, and this time, it had been Francis who sent it. This made perfect sense, after all, Lucas, who had sent the first message, would hardly send a second message without her having replied to the first.
This was not because Lucas was insensitive, and Rose knew that. It was because Lucas respected her space and, above all, understood that if she hadn't replied to the message, it was because she hadn't seen it yet, or because she didn't want to reply, and if it was the unlikely case that she didn't want to reply, he wouldn't insist, and that made her respect him even more.
However, she didn't reply to Lucas's message, and she wouldn't reply to Francis's message. But it wasn't because Rose didn't want to, no, it was what she wanted most. She wanted to talk to Lucas, so she would feel protected. She wanted to talk to Francis, so he would comfort her. But she couldn't, not yet, especially with Francis.
Since the beginning of that day, she had exchanged a few messages with Lucas, and honestly, maybe it was more than she should have done, but still, it could be considered acceptable. Francis, on the other hand, she hadn't exchanged a single word with him, and she feared he would start to think she was avoiding him, when in fact, that was exactly what she was doing.
Rose wanted this to end as soon as possible. She trusted her boyfriend and brother's intelligence enough to know that even if she didn't give them any explicit reason to worry, they would eventually connect the dots that something strange was going on and start to worry, and imagining that scenario broke her heart, because even so, she couldn't explain the situation to either of them.
She needed to keep them in the dark, at least for now.
For that was what she had been instructed to do.
Rose then looked at the car's rearview mirror, which directly reflected the back seat. On top of the back seat, she could see the black briefcase, that mysterious black briefcase, whose potential danger Rose dared not even imagine.
At that moment, she was even grateful to the sacred goddess for having a car to drive in this situation. After all, if that weren't the case, she would have to take a train to the city of Liam—where Lucas, Francis, and her mother lived—which would mean having to walk through public and busy places with the briefcase in her hands, running the risk of tripping or bumping into something or someone, and thus drop the suitcase. She feared not only what could happen to her if the suitcase were damaged, but mainly what could happen to the people around her.
It was because of these negative possibilities, these bad thoughts, that Rose couldn't bear to look at that suitcase in the rearview mirror for long, and so she realigned the reflection no longer to the back seat, but to her own face.
Rose was a beautiful young woman, no one could deny that. Her features attracted many, but also caused envy, especially in other women she had contact with at her college. Her somewhat antisocial behavior didn't help in this regard, as people could conclude that she didn't interact much with others because she considered herself superior.
Still, her beauty was clear to others, and yet, when she looked at her own face in that rearview mirror, something contrasted with that beautiful appearance.
And that was her eyes.
Her eyes were red, teary, and tired, as worries, doubts, and expectations grew and tangled in her heart.
It was then, staring at her own eyes for a few moments, that she began to replay in her mind the events that had led her to that moment.
It had all started yesterday, Sunday, around 9 p.m.
At that moment, Rose was in her college dorm room, sitting at her desk, studying intently for the exams she would have that week.
In situations like this, Rose would end up having to devote even her weekend to her studies, which would prevent her from going out with Lucas and visiting her brother and mother. Because of this, that same Sunday, she stayed in her dorm room.
Fortunately, her family—including Lucas—knew her diligent personality well and did not see this as indifference on her part. After all, even Francis and Lucas themselves were in college and understood that there are times when studying is important, although Rose, of course, still beat them both when it came to dedication to her studies.
Francis studied physics, while Lucas studied engineering. Both studied at the same university, Liam University. Rose, on the other hand, studied political science at the prestigious Millem University, as this discipline aligned with her goals.
It would have been ideal if Rose, Francis, and Lucas could have studied at the same university, but unfortunately, Liam University specializes in exact sciences, while Millem University, where Rose studied, specializes in humanities.
Still, the relationship between the three was never affected by this, and fortunately, life went on as normal for them.
Well, that is, until now.
Because on that Sunday night, something would happen to change that.
While Rose was studying patiently, her cell phone rang.
The sound of the ringtone startled her momentarily, snapping her out of her concentration.
Then she looked at the phone beside her, and then she saw it. It was that person.
The person to whom she owed an enormous debt of gratitude.
Although she was unsure why this person was calling her at this hour, Rose wasted no time before grabbing the phone and answering it.
As expected, it was a man's voice, and Rose greeted him as usual.
"Do you need anything?" Rose asked politely.
"I do," the man replied over the phone. "Are you busy right now?"
"Well, I am, but... if it's something important...?"
Rose was really busy studying, but if it was something important, especially coming from this man, then it was only natural that she would make an exception.
"Actually, it is something important."
Rose raised an eyebrow. "Is it... very important?"
"Yes, it is." The man's voice sounded somewhat bitter.
Rose began to worry. "H-Hey, wait a minute, what happened?"
"I can't explain it now," said the man. "If you can, can you come here?"
"Here? You mean, to headquarters?" Rose was surprised.
If that was the case, then the situation could be really serious.
"That's right," replied the man.
"Wow..." Rose was speechless for a moment, before an idea popped into her head. "Wait, if I need to go there, then does this have something to do with that...?"
"No," the man denied quickly and firmly. "You don't need to worry about that. But I still need you to come here, you'll understand."
Rose sighed with relief upon receiving confirmation that it wasn't a particular matter, but upon hearing that she would still need to go there, her concern quickly returned.
"You're scaring me, you know that?" Rose said in a low voice.
"I know," the man said calmly. "But everything will be fine, trust me."
"Are you sure?"
"I am," he said softly. "But I can't explain it over the phone. It's better if we talk here in my office."
"I-I... okay, I'll come there."
Rose wanted to argue, but gave up. Considering who was asking her this, if she could help resolve something important, then it was better that she did. The problem was that things involving the place she was going to visit, for whatever reason, were never simple.
But Rose trusted this man.
"Great." The man let out a sigh of relief. "Do you remember my security codes?"
"I remember." She nodded.
"Perfect. But don't hesitate to call me if you need me to explain anything."
"You bet."
"See you in a little while," the man concluded.
"See you."
Then the call ended.
With that, Rose leaned back in her chair, thoughtful.
Something important... very important...
Rose kept repeating this in her head, trying to get used to the idea.
Part of her wanted that man to be deliberately giving the wrong impression, so that when she arrived, he would surprise her with a gift or something, but her rational mind knew that this was very unlikely. After all, in fourteen years, this was the first time this had happened.
She then let out a sigh, knowing that the only way to understand what this was all about was to go to that place.
To the headquarters of the Crystalis Unity.