"What took you so long?"

Isolde asked as she glanced at Naomi.

"Formalities."

Naomi sighed.

She wanted to go to the Emergency Medical Camp with Lucian, but Claire’s questions held her.

She thought it would end quickly so she stayed, but it ended up taking fifteen minutes and by the time she came, Lucian was already inside.

Isolde nodded at her answer, already expecting something like this. Enclave’s recruitment process was a lengthy one, fifteen minutes was actually quite early.

"Whatever, let’s go."

Isolde nodded. Naomi nodded back and they walked in and just as they did—

They noticed the change.

Something was... wrong.

The place seemed different from outside, sure, even the Enclave Hunters outside seemed disciplined, they moved quickly, followed orders, kept civilians and other supernatural groups away from restricted areas and moved very efficiently, even more than the army did, but even then...

The inside of the camp was... completely different.

It was... dead silent.

There were dozens of people inside, medics, hunters, patients being treated after returning from the Trial, their allies—

It should have been a chaotic atmosphere.

But...

Almost no one said a word.

Even when someone did say something, it wasn’t louder than a whisper.

Everyone inside moved very very carefully, making sure they didn’t make any unnecessary noise. There were no casual conversations, nothing.

"Is it always like this?"

Naomi whispered with a frown on her face.

"Like what?"

Isolde whispered back.

"Quiet.

I mean, I understand it’s a medical camp, but thi—"

"Stay silent."

Before Naomi could even complete her words, Isolde stopped her. Naomi turned to her with a frown and saw a serious expression on Isolde’s face, an expression similar to the one she had when she prepared her final spell against Varek and...

Naomi did not like that.

She followed Isolde’s gaze, she noticed Lucian was there, surrounded by several medics, all working on his injuries, some wounds were already cleaned, most of the blood covering him was cleaned as well.

His clothes were cut open, revealing all his gruesome injuries, a sight that made Naomi sick even now, but...

That was not what everyone was afraid of.

They were afraid of... her.

The tall woman standing beside his bed with a straight back and hands folded.

"Who is... she?"

Naomi asked when she saw her.

She didn’t understand why Lucian always seemed like he was surrounded by beautiful women.

Not to mention this one seemed much much different than the others, even Evelyn didn’t seem comparable to her.

Her aura from just standing there was... intimidating.

Naomi waited for a few seconds, but when she did not get the answer she wanted, she turned towards Isolde again and noticed the witch’s body was completely stiff.

"Oi."

She whispered.

Isolde did not react.

"Isolde."

She called, this time, a little louder than a whisper and when Isolde was jolted awake, she turned towards Naomi, Naomi gestured towards the woman and Isolde...

"That’s... Vivienne Everhart."

She spoke in a low voice.

"...what?"

Naomi’s face changed.

"That’s... her?"

Isolde nodded with a stiff look on her face.

"So that’s the one who... attacked your famil—"

"Shh."

Isolde silenced her.

Naomi quickly shut herself up.

She turned back towards Vivienne and now...

The woman was looking right at her.

That made even Naomi’s body stiffen up.

Very quickly, it all made sense to her. Why everyone inside was acting like they were acting, why no one dared to utter a single word.

They were all intimidated by this woman.

And... she wasn’t even doing anything right now...

’Calm yourself.’

That was when Naomi heard Aevrienne’s voice in her head.

That made her jump again.

Naomi still wasn’t used to listening to another woman’s voice inside her head, that would need time.

’Your heart rate is increasing. Don’t panic, she has no intention of harming you.’

Naomi knew that as well.

She just...

Her having no intention of harming her didn’t make her less scary.

The woman was still very very intimidating.

’Well, she is unusual.

That is true.’

Aevrienne nodded.

Those words surprised Naomi.

Even an Ancient Spirit thought she was unusual...?

’She is strong.

Much stronger than a human should be.’

She spoke, then, the spirit observed her for a few more seconds, then—

’If you can even call what she is a human.’

Naomi had no idea what those words meant.

’Heh. It is quite amusing.’

Aevrienne then laughed a little.

’A monster being trained by another monster.’

She still remembered their conversation, she remembered the boy mentioning this woman’s name when asked who taught him.

And just as Naomi racked her brain, trying to understand what her new friend was even talking about.

"So you are Naomi."

Vivienne spoke up.

"Y-Yes."

Naomi nodded.

Vivienne’s eyes moved to the mark on her wrist, then to the spirit standing behind her. Unlike most people, she did not react to Aevrienne.

"An Ancient Spirit.

I’ve always wanted to meet one."

"You’ve met one now."

Aevrienne smiled.

Unlike others, she wasn’t intimidated by her.

After all, she cannot die.

There was nothing for her to lose.

Vivienne did not ask anything else either, she just nodded and her eyes moved to Isolde.

The witch flinched.

"A Blackthorn Witch."

"L-Lady Vivienne."

Isolde flinched.

"My name is Isolde Verraine, I am the granddaughter of the Blackthorn Matriarch."

"Ah."

Vivienne nodded.

Recalling the little girl she met a while ago.

She really was a Matriarch now.

Heck, she even had a granddaughter.

"I hope she is healthy, your grandmother.

She is one of the greatest mages I’ve met."

"S-She’d be honoured to hear that."

Isolde bowed.

Naomi couldn’t help but notice how the witch did not show a fraction of her usual antics, though when she glanced at Vivienne, she very quickly understood why.

She wouldn’t dare to play around in front of this woman either.

Just then—

"Lucian needs rest."

Vivienne spoke up.

"I understand why you are here, but he cannot meet you right now.

Leave."

She ordered.

And Naomi—

"A-As you command, Lady Vivienne."

She nodded.

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