User:NeloAngelo/RekanStuff/4

The sunlight shined into the window, bequeathing gentle warmth towards the ever dull gray hallway. Sanna, still a bit tired from assassination mission now head towards General Bunyan, the thought that sparked from Illia’s confession still fresh in her mind.

"Hello, Sanna."

Sanna’s turned around as she heard an energetic voice. It was Erica greeting her on the hallway. Sanna replied with a light wave of hand as the mercenary walked towards her.

"Well, not feeling the static of electricity today?" Erica asked, pointing her blond hair. Sanna gave a vacant look as Erica asked, before realizing what she meant and shook her head bashfully.

Erica gave an amused chuckle at Sanna’s reaction, then continued, “How’s your arm?” As she said that, Erica shifted her focus towards Sanna’s right arm, not hidden by any sleeves or bandages; noticing the area that Sanna was wounded last night had no any graze marks or blemish.

Taking two steps closer to Sanna, Erica remarked “Wow, it’s like you’re never wounded to begin with!” As Erica stares at her arm intently with full of curiosity, Sanna instinctively backed away, feeling somewhat self-conscious.

"Ah, I’m sorry." Erica said, noticing Sanna’s unease reaction. Retreating back, Erica continued, half-jokingly "This is amazing. I got to sign up for one of these AN medical programs." Sanna cracked a faint smile at the mercenary’s remark, though she said nothing.

"Anyway, you’re looking for General Bunyan?" Erica asked, changing the subject.

Sanna nodded, as Erica replied “Yeah, me too. Let’s go together.”

"Knock-knock"

"Come in." Bunyan’s ever guttural voice greeted them as Erica knocked the door. Seeing the idea of Sanna walking alongside someone she’s unfamiliar with surprised Bunyan, though he kept his amused feeling under his usual composed front.

Bunyan’s eye flicked at one of the documents he was holding, and spoke, "Great job yesterday. Sanna, Reinhardt. Ehrenfels has confirmed the target’s elimination and rest assured, our tracks have been covered."

Taking a sip from his coffee mug, Bunyan continued, "Reinhardt, your payment has been transferred into your account. I believe you’ve signed up for...4 months contract? This is a good start. As part of AN, I’d like to extend my thanks to you. I look forward to working with you, and Sanna."

"Not bad for a job." Erica muttered under her breath, smiling.

"You are free for the rest of the day. Dismissed." Bunyan concluded, closing the document of Richard’s files. "Free for the rest of the day, huh?" Erica said, as the two left the command room. Looking at Sanna, Erica suddenly asked, "Hey, are you doing anything after this?” Sanna, surprised by Erica’s sudden question, tilted her head aside, before replying, "No...why?"

"Well, since we’re free, why not go celebrate somewhere?" Erica said, her voice brimming with excitement. Sanna looked at her feet for a while, before eventually answering with a "yes"

The two then left the base, deciding to celebrate their success at a local café not far from it. It was a quaint café with minimal decorations of potted plants; its business remained miraculously strong at a rural place like this.

"Well, this is one of the usual places I hang out at. The ambiance is pretty nice, don’t you think?" Erica said, inviting Sanna.

"Ah. I didn’t realize there’s a place like this around." Sanna replied.

"You don’t go out much huh, Sanna?" Erica said, as Sanna looked away, replying nothing.

"Good day ladies, what will you have today?"

"I’ll have a latte." Erica replied.

"...Cappuccino." Sanna answered.

The two waited for their orders, though both of them remained silent, Erica looked at Sanna intently, smiling.

"Is something wrong...?" Sanna asked.

"Ah, it’s nothing." Erica replied, still smiling, before continuing, "so, how long have you been working for AN?"

"Hmm? Well, I was adopted into the AN military." Sanna replied, somewhat flustered. Against Erica, she somehow felt the mercenary’s friendly demeanor has the ability to goad someone into revealing his/her secrets.

"So you said you’ve been working for AN for as long as you can remember?" Erica asked.

Sanna nodded.

"Given much thought about what do you want to do after this war?" Erica asked again.

The question seemingly struck a chord in Sanna, the question in which she asked herself last night echoed again. Biting her lip, Sanna replied with a dead silence.

"Ah. I’m sorry, is that a sensitive question?" Erica apologized.

"No...it’s just...I haven’t really given much thought about it until recently." Sanna replied.

"Well, I’m the same too." Erica answered; her usual lively voice seemed deflated as she does so, surprising Sanna. Erica then continued, "I’ve often asked myself, ‘what do I want to do’ if this is all over; and everytime, I ended up with nothing."

Sanna looked at the mercenary, who shrugged as she said those words.

"Some people spend their lives trying to build the future; some people try to rebuild the past. I guess we're stuck in the middle somewhere." Erica said again, somewhat jokingly.

"I guess." Sanna followed, as the two girls smiled, seemingly laughing at their own undecided future.

"Excuse me ladies, your orders." The two was interrupted by the waiter, who has served up their coffees respectively.

"Haha, not bad, I’ve got a latter art in this." Erica remarked, looking at her latte, the steamed milk floated elegantly on top of the espresso, forming the pattern of a flower.

"Looks like a lily." Erica continued again, with Sanna staring at her coffee mug, the gold eyes of hers that exude a sense of detachment suddenly filled with curiosity.

Noticing Sanna’s response, Erica asked, "You don’t know what a latte art is?"

"Ah, I’ve heard of it…" Sanna replied.

"It’s really interesting, huh?" Erica said as she raised her cup towards Sanna.

"To the two girls who are stuck in anywhere and nowhere." Erica said.

"To the two girls who are stuck in anywhere and nowhere." Sanna followed suit, stifling her laughter.

The question which sparked from Illia’s confession, the question in which Erica asked echoed in her mind. But for now, Sanna felt less burdened by those questions, feeling as if the burden has been shared with the amiable mercenary.