Chapter Seventeen: Coffee Before The Storm

Chapter Seventeen: Coffee Before The Storm

As they plummeted down, the wind roared in Serena’s ears and Amelia's grip almost crushed her hand that was covered in second-level aura. Seven hells! The human was strong when she wanted to be! The ground rushed up to meet them and Serena smashed through a wooden table, denting the stone floor underneath and throwing up dust and splinters.

To her right, Amelia had somehow gone through the table head first, face-planting the stone floor. Her legs wiggled in the air and she was making weird whimpering noises. Serena removed her hand from Amelia’s crushing grip and pulled the struggling human upwards by her ankle.

“That was amazing!” An upside-down Amelia exclaimed when her face appeared. “Can we do it again!? Oh my, the adrenaline rush! I feel wonderful!” Serena rolled her eyes and opened her hand, letting Amelia fall into a crumpled heap. At least the idiot was okay.

“Old man?” She called out, turning to see Lord Yulan clamber smoothly out of a bed of soil and plants. She wasn’t sure how it was possible to look dignified in such a situation, but Lord Yulan managed it. He dusted his legs and adjusted his shoes before rubbing his knees.

“A little hard on my joints, but I still have it in me, Serena!” Lord Yulan’s face broke out in a proud smile as he crossed his arms and straightened his posture. “These old horns still have some fight left in them! Hmm...” He narrowed his eyes at the pile of blond hair and limbs. “Is your human alright?”

“She’s fine,” answered Serena, climbing out of the wooden table. A crowd of market-goers had started to form. Amelia’s screaming certainly hadn’t helped reduce their attention.

“Dear, do you think they’re okay!?”

“Must be pretty skilled to survive a fall like that!”

“They didn’t fall, they jumped! I saw it!”

“Seven Hells! That’s Speaker Halen! The captain in the news!”

“Come on,” Serena said, helping Amelia stand. The trio pushed their way through the crowd, and after turning a few corners, they escaped from prying eyes. Behind them, the piercing sounds of whistles blown by the city guard could be heard. Serena guided the pair into a quieter part of the city before dipping into an empty cafe at the end of an alley. She shut the door behind them and turned the closed sign around.

Two young demons in work uniforms stood awkwardly behind the counter, watching Serena. One of them was casting a nervous look at her captain's uniform and marbled sword, while the other stared at her with wonder.

“It’s Captain Halen! The war hero!” The teenage demon spluttered. He gave a shoddy but enthusiastic salute. “It’s an honour to meet you! Bless the seven hells!”

“You are... students?” She asked, eyeing the both of them carefully.

“Yes, Captain! I’m trainee Yin, and this,” he elbowed his nervous-looking colleague, “Is trainee Meng! We’re second-years at the academy! You’re a legend amongst the officer staff, Captain!”

“Is that so? Well then, trainee Yin, would you be able to do me a favour?” The youthful face lit up as he beamed with sudden pride.

“Of course, Captain!”

“My friends and I require some privacy. Would you and trainee Meng make yourself scarce for the time being?”

“Y-Yes! We can do that!”

“Before you go, is there anyone else in the building?” Serena asked, noticing a door behind the two employees.

“No one else! The boss won’t be back until the end of the day.”

“Good. Now take this...” Serena fumbled about in the pockets of her uniform. She was looking for her family insignia but she had already given it out to the hotel employee. “Amelia,” she called out, “Do you have the Halen insignia on you?”

“Mmm! Of course! I’ll never take it off!”

“Well, take it off now. I need it.”

“Aww, alright.” Amelia pulled at her neck and removed the necklace she had fashioned from the insignia and a piece of string. Serena took it, pausing slightly at feeling how warm the metal was. Warm from Amelia’s body heat.

She cursed quietly. She needed to sort through this bizarre and unnatural attraction that was building. She let her eyes wander over the girl's face for a moment. Amelia was a friend, and that was all she needed to be. A beautiful and annoying friend... with soft pink lips that-

“Tsk! Idiot!” She muttered.

“I didn’t do anything!” Amelia protested, puffing her cheeks out.

“Not you,” she said, shaking her head. This time, she was the idiot for getting distracted and letting her mind think about such... inappropriate things.

“Trainee Yin. Take this and stand at the edge of the street. Hold it so it’s visible to the passing crowd. If you’re approached by somebody, ask them if their accent is from Ichtaca, no matter what they sound like. If they answer yes, then point them to this cafe. Do you understand?”

“Understood, Captain!” Another shoddy salute.

“And sort your salute out, trainee. Like this,” Serena saluted the youth with all the experience and practice of the seasoned captain she was. The boy looked like he could die happy.

“Yes, Captain! I’ll practice all night!”

“Good, now go, the both of you.”

After a pair of slightly-improved salutes, the two workers exited the shop and vanished from sight. Serena turned and inspected the room behind the work area. It was a storeroom filled with bags of beans and leaves. Satisfied they were alone in the building, she returned to the table and positioned herself so she could face the doorway.

“What’s the Ichtaca thing about?” Amelia asked.

“An old intelligence trick for two agents to identify if they’re both part of Centralis Intelligence,” Serena explained, “It’s not really used anymore as the war has forced intelligence techniques to become more sophisticated. However, I know there’s an intelligence group monitoring us, and they know I know, it should be good enough.”

She was overdue for a refresher course. New cryptographic methods had been invented, and some ships now had dedicated cryptographers to work alongside the sensors and communications officer. The only reason the Vengeance hadn’t had its protocols modernised already was because it filled a unique role in the navy and did not participate in normal fleet operations.

“Why would Centralis be monitoring you?” Lord Yulan asked, “Because of the ship?”

Serena felt herself grow hot. This damn idiot was really pushing her luck. She would definitely find a way to punish this kind of behaviour. After all, Amelia wasn’t subtle, and Serena was finding it harder and harder too...

Resist.

She sighed. “Well, look over there; that’s a painting of her.” She gestured to the wall where a depiction of the Empress stood, leaning over a table with several other subordinates looking at a map of the Eastern Terra Firma.

“That’s her!?” Amelia jumped up to examine the painting. “She looks... so normal! I thought her horns would be huge! I was right about the black hair, though!”

“Hmm...” Lord Yulan leaned in, reading the imperial tag on the painting. “Looks like this was three hundred years ago, when she came here to contain the monster waves after the Samino civil war. She takes a different form now.”

“She takes a different form?” Amelia turned, eyeing Lord Yulan in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Not only is she immortal, but our divine empress can change her appearance at will. She does so often, matching her figure to the people of the lands she visits. It is a generous and tactful reminder that our Elana embodies all of demonkind.”

“That... that...” Amelia waved her arm about... “That’s crazy! Does she actually change form? It’s not illusion magic?”

“Not illusion magic, my dear,” Lord Yulan said, shaking his head, “After she communed the Third Word, over the next few centuries, she communed even greater powers. It would be strange if she couldn’t change her form.”

“There’s also a rumour,” Serena said, jumping in, “That she semi-often visits random parts of the empire—a pub here, an inn there—in full disguise that no one can see through or detect”.

“It’s not just a rumour,” Lord Yulan said, “Cascadian officials have made enough comments about those activities that it’s more considered an open secret than a rumour.”

“So she could be anyone!? At any time?” Amelia asked, eyes open in surprise.

“That’s right,” Serena said, “This is why you need proper etiquette lessons. I don’t want you to be impolite to that bartender who is actually our divine deity on her night out! Ha!”

“Fine! I’ll take them seriously!” Amelia protested. “So what does she actually look like? Her original form?”

“Hmm...” Lord Yulan said, “She was originally born in Celle, and like all people of Cerulean heritage she would have...” His eyes suddenly narrowed as he looked at Amelia, “Golden hair and blue eyes. Just like you...”

A moment of silence enveloped the trio as Amelia looked more and more awkward.

“Don’t worry,” Serena said, “I’ve long since decided that if this idiot is the Empress in disguise then all hope is lost and we should surrender now.”

“Hey!” Amelia protested, “I’m very capable when I need to be!” Her cheeks were puffed out in that way that Serena had come to find very cute. Suddenly she wanted to ruffle that silky blonde hair. Messing Amelia’s hair up so it took on the appearance of bed hair did... strange things to Serena’s mind.

“The problem here is when you’re not capable, you’re a walking disaster!” She said, enjoying pushing the smug human’s buttons a little more.

“Well then!” Amelia huffed, hands on hips, “I cannot wait for our next martial arts lesson. I think it’s time I started to get serious! Hmm!? How about I tie you up like a knot and leave you hanging from the mast! Bet I can do it!”

“Idiot. If anyone’s tying anyone up, it’s me!” Serena glared at Amelia who for some reason gave a strange giggle and started to blush.

“Well, if you say so...” Amelia said quietly.

“You...” Serena trailed off, the blushing human suddenly made her feel like blushing. Damn it!

“Well I must say Serena,” Lord Yulan intoned smoothly, “I am thoroughly delighted to see you’ve made a friend you can be comfortable with. You used to be so cold and now your hearts warmed up, hasn’t it?”

“Tsk! Stop speaking nonsense old man,” Serena mumbled, looking to the side. After a moment, she looked back to see Amelia grinning smugly at her and so she was forced to look away again! Damn it, now she looked like a nervous idiot!

“You two lock horns like an old married couple. How envious I am of your youthful energy!” Lord Yulan cried out in an exaggerated manner. “Alas! What can an old set of bones like me do but guide the younger generations into happiness?”

“I think we get on great!” Amelia mused, “Serena pretends to be this serious, scary captain, but she actually has a big soft side! That’s my favourite part!”

“Stop saying unnecessary things... the both of you,” Serena muttered, feeling herself blushing even more. How was she supposed to deal with this two-sided attack!

Luckily, she was saved by a pair of figures entering the doorway. A pair of demons with their faces shrouded in masks stepped through. As the door swung open, one of them raised the insignia she had given the employee. “Is this yours?”

Serena stood up, gripping her marble sword. She stood in between the two groups. The demon that spoke carried a long hafted mace in his other hand, while his partner - who had a womanly figure - carried a short sword and shield. She could sense their aether frothing inside them and reflexively spooled up her own.

“Who are you?” She asked, already suspecting the answer. With her free hand she gestured behind her the military hand signals. Prepare. Fight. She didn’t know if either of them would understand. Another thing to teach Amelia.

“We found this hidden in the sock of a whimpering little rat,” the man said, dropping the insignia on the floor. “It was a nice plan you made, Captain Halen. Don’t worry; we’ve dealt with those interfering agents hovering about. Also,” the man removed his mask, revealing a thin mouth with scars running up both cheeks, forming a morbid smile. “We found a pair of teenagers at the end of this alley. They were so eager to help.”

Serena blinked, trying to stay calm. “Who are you?” She asked again.

“Does it matter? Can we just get started?” Said the female demon in annoyance, gripping her short sword tighter. Yellow aura spread across her body and her weapons. The male demon did the same, his long mace glowing yellow.

It was third-level aura, and skillfully done too.

Which meant...

“Amelia!” She yelled, not taking her eyes off the pair in front. “Ward Yulan! Now!” Serena forced her aura to match, glowing yellow.

“Salinas,” Spoke the man.

“Taruna,” Spoke the woman.

And everything exploded.