[Y/N] - Your Name
[M/N] - Middle Name
[L/N] - Last Name
I
["Talking"]
["SCREAMING"]
["Whispering"]
["Thinking"]

<<<<<< I >[---]< I >>>>>>

Tyberos: ["Then... You are ready to join your new family"]

The man calmly said, turning his back to the boy, prompting him to follow close behind. Storing away the various blades which he previously held like claws, Y/N started to follow the man, who walked with huge steps that made the ground beneath their feet almost shake. Nonetheless, even if such noise of his clanking, gigantic armor was still ringing, everything else was in a deep, pure state of clear silence.

Y/N looked ahead, not muttering or speaking a single word as he merely walked behind the man, keeping both hands behind his back. The various blades he previously-held were now stored away, seemingly disappearing as they were hidden within his belt. Walking ahead, the gas mask with empty, shattered glasses on the eyes gently shook around with each step that the man calmly took behind Tyberos.

The two of them continued their slow walk, never once exchanging a single word, but rather, continuously marching ahead. It wasn't long before Y/N himself stopped once Tyberos had also done so. Merely showing his palm towards the boy, the gigantic Chapter Master marched ahead, and Y/N stood. Like a statue, he remained motionless, almost as if he wasn't even breathing to begin with. And so, he watched.

Ahead, Tyberos stopped when near a young woman. Even from a small distance, Y/N could clearly see that she wasn't any older than he was. And yet, she was clad in dark, black-colored armor. With a depthless obsidian color in the steel, it was almost as if the eyes from his endless, eyeless mask had been used to create such a thing. Her features, young and pale-like with blue-colored eyes slowly moved towards him.

He heard something as Tyberos spoke, not being able to make out what the man was saying thanks to each of his words coming out in a muffled, sinister whisper. And yet, as the young girl had turned to face him, Y/N also noticed how she held within herself a blade. Such a blade had a golden handle and hand-guard which pointed downwards. With it, there was some sort of energy coursing all through the edge of that weapon.

And so, Y/N raised his head to glance towards the man as he approached once more. This time around, however, he also brought the young girl with him, who stood to the side. She was noticeably taller than Y/N, who looked up towards her. The girl's own blue eyes were caught in surprise and shock by how cold and depthless his sea-like eyes were. But no words were exchanged as the young girl merely looked at him.

Tyberos once more returned to walking, and gave a few, large, and shaky steps before he stopped. Turning around, he saw the young boy and girl looking at each other, never once breaking eye-contact. The girl had a face of surprise and confusion, but the boy showed no emotions, even if the burning pattern around his face and eyes made him seem as if he was angrily-staring towards the girl in a judging silence.

The weapon which Y/N recognized to be a Bolter was strapped to her waist. On his, save for his various, thin blades, was nothing but his mask. He remained there, looking up at her, and never once blinking, or shifting a single inch. She continued to stare down towards him, also maintaining an never-breaking eye-contact. The two of them continued in there, not shifting, moving, or speaking a single word, even.

Tyberos: ["... Hm"]

The whisper-like tone of the man was enough to break the two from their trance, and glance towards him once more. Merely nodding his head towards the end of the corridor, Tyberos went back to walking. And as they exchanged a single glance one last time, the duo of Soldiers returned to walking, following the behemoth Chapter Master. Both of them moved in perfect sync, keeping their hands behind their back.

They marched ahead as if they were stepping towards the battlefield. For them, there was no reason, only war. And as such, they acted as if everything around them was ready to jump and kill them. The boy, visibly more than other, as he displayed no emotion or movement, not even shifting as he continued to look ahead. As if a statue moved, even, thanks to his seemingly-stiff limbs which continued to march ahead.

The girl glanced down towards him, moving only her eyes to scan up and down the seemingly-endless burning marks all around his body. As they traveled all around, she could even see some of the muscle, the tendons, and part of his exposed bones around the area in his jaw. She also noticed how that flesh had been long burned away, melting and surely already gone with the wind by the time he stood there.

And so, as she was lost within her thoughts about this mysterious man, she couldn't help but notice the thing which explained everything. Her eyes dropped in sorrow and shame as she watched the gas mask dangle by his hip. Broken, with the glass around the eyes long shattered, and the respirator attached to nothing. By its design and color, his wounds, the way he walked, and even his eye, she knew the reason for it.

Nonetheless, as she stopped once the clanking of Tyberos' armor also stopped, she glanced ahead. Noticing the man who pushed open a large pair of doors, and stepped outside from the small, cramped hallway. As the girl raised her hand to block the sun from her eyes, the boy at her side remained motionless. Unbothered, seemingly, to the point where he was just walking along as if nothing had changed to begin with.

Tyberos: ["... Behind those doors. Your new family awaits you both"] The man said as he stopped, pointing into the distance ["Now go. My job in this place is done, and so is yours..."]

Girl: ["But... I thought I-, I mean, we were going to join the Carcharodons?"] The young, white-haired lass asked, glancing towards the man ["What is this all about, Tyberos? You said you were taking us to our new family!"]

Tyberos: ["... The Carcharodons are no place for children. Especially not an Orders Hospitaller, even less a Kriegsman. Go, you both belong with them"] Dropping his arm by his side as he had pointed already, the man stepped ahead, and stopped only two steps as he had walked ["I will see you both again. I taught everything I could. I've done my part... Now, go, and heal your hearts"]

Those were the last words the two heard from him.

He walked away, and seemed to ignore all the screams and shouts from the girl who tried to speak with him. The boy, standing still, merely glanced towards the massive door in the distance, and his eyes focused against it. Turning towards the pair of massive, golden gates, he began to march towards it. His head held high, and his chest puffed while both hands comfortably sat at the back of his body as he walked.

The girl sighed, stopping her screaming before she turned to the side, watching as the boy walked away without her. Narrowing her eyes, once more in clear worry, she glanced between him and the ever-disappearing silhouette of Tyberos. Biting her lip for a moment, she finally gave him, and made her decision. With hurried steps as her heels clicked against the ground, she followed the boy, who continued to march.

Once she had caught up, she glanced towards him one more time. His gaze didn't move to meet hers, and instead, he remained moving ahead. His ice-cold cyan eyes never once gave him to the sight of the woman, as he focused on his duty. As if to try and call his attention, the woman forced a cough followed by a grunt, but nothing. He continued to march ahead towards the gates on the other side of the golden garden.

He stopped once he had reached the golden gates, and looked up towards it. He noticed the various patterns, but one that stood out to him. A bleeding heart of sorts, but he paid it no mind, and merely reached ahead to open the doors. Just as he was about to do, however, he stopped, and slowly glanced to the side. There, he saw the young girl grasping his wrist with slight strength, and yet, he couldn't feel any of it.

Y/N: ["... May I help you?"]

Chiara: ["Hum... I'm Chiara. Chiara Hoffnunglicht! Pleased to meet you!"] She said, extending her hand forward for a handshake with a bright smile ["And um... What about you? Who are you?"]

Y/N: ["I'm Y/N L/N. Former Commissar of 993rd Death Korps Infantry Regiment"]

Chiara: ["Oh, that's... Kinda a high number"] The girl muttered to herself for a moment ["Former, you say? What happened? Don't tell me you were demoted~"] She said with a joking tone, clearly trying to ease the mood.

Y/N: ["My squad was K.I.A during the siege against Fleet Leviathan"]

Chiara: ["..."]

The girl's eyes widened slightly, and her mouth was shut. She stood there, clearly in pure awkwardness as she still stared towards the Kriegsman. Calmly, the man turned around, dismissing his own words as if they were nothing, and reached ahead. He pushed the doors open without hesitation, calmly stepping ahead. And once he did, he was met with a sigh that made him stop for a second to process the scene ahead.

His eyes scanned around the room for a moment before they dropped against a man. Said man was barking orders left and right, trying to rush the many injured men with the few little men in disposition he had. Seeing such a scene, watching as various of the Marines were bleeding, Chiara's eyes widened. She was quick to dash ahead, and catch the man's attention with the quick approaching of her boots against the ground.

Man: ["Huh? A Adepta Sororitas? What business do you-"]

Chiara: ["My Kriegsman companion will explain everything!"] She hurriedly said, looking up towards the man with hurry ["I'm a former Orders Hospitaller. Tell me how I can help, and where are the injured"]

Man: ["... To the room on the right. We just came back from a mission... The few that remained, that is"] Chiara nodded, and was quick to dash away towards the room the man had pointed towards before he faced the man ["So? What is this all about? I need to help my men. We can't afford to lose any more of them"]

Y/N: ["I'm Y/N L/N. Former Commissar of 993rd Death Korps Infantry Regiment"] He greets while saluting, glancing up towards the Chapter Master ["We were sent by Tyberos. He claimed that, in here, we'd find our new family"]

Man: ["... Kid, how old are you?"]

Y/N: ["Last I remember, I have seen 13 Winters"]

Man: ["Very well... In this case, please, aid us in these times, and we'll welcome you"] The man said, gaining with him a soft expression and eyes of kindness ["At the moment we could use all of the help we can. It's been tough ever since... Forever"]

The man's eyes widened for a moment, and he froze in place. Looking down towards the boy, his eyes narrowed for a moment. Y/N took this moment to analyze his appearance, and his armor. The man had blonde, short, waved-back hair, and wore the same design as the others, but was taller in height, and held an Iron Halo in his right hand. He also had various, small scars scattered all around his body and his face.

The room was almost empty, and towering in the far end of it was the symbol of a bleeding heart against the background of a black-and-white checkerboard pattern. Within, what Y/N recognized to be the Marines, were rushing around with the few people they had, carrying wounded soldiers who wore a mustard yellow, with the same Chapter badge he saw just now against the wall to their left shoulder plate. 

And he smiled with a gentle expression.

[𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬]
[𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐬]
[𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐮𝐢𝐧: 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐦 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬]

Malakim: ["Oh, and, in advance... Welcome to your new family"]

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He sat there. Alone once more.

By himself in the room of the company he worked at for the past months. Alone with nothing but the breeze of the wind which made what remained of his live-skin shiver. Nonetheless, he stood in there with his legs crossed, and slowly, stood up while glancing down at the Lamenter Symbol which he held in his hand. He stood, remembering everything that had gone down during those nights and days.

"Promise... Me..."

Standing on top of the room by himself, shirtless with nothing but his pants on, Y/N opened his arms. He allowed the cold to shiver his live-skin, and sighed once he had actually felt some sort of sensation for the first time in months. His eyes closing, he began to walk ahead. Each step he took he continued to near the border of the building more and more, and he knew it. But knowing it didn't stop him.

"Promise... Me that... You'll endure"

As the memories replayed, he could once more smell the iron and blood mixed with gunpowder that he had long forgotten. The stains of blood that had come from within the depths of his lungs and organs was also a familiar feeling as he continued to walk ahead. Allowing his lower body to fall backwards, and his arms to spread even more as he did. Step by step as the end of the roof neared, getting closer and closer.

"That's what we do... Right? Endure..."

Even though they dropped down from his eyes, Y/N couldn't feel the tears that stained his dead skin as they moved along the wavy wrinkles of his purple skin. Dropping down against the ground, they stained the wood beneath him. Even though he couldn't feel the tears, he could feel the strange feeling arising from within his chest. The cramped feeling as if someone squeezed his heart, grasping it with anger.

"That's... All we're good for, isn't it? To be punching bags..."

The voice continued to echo, just as Y/N continued to approach the edge. Taking in a deep, deep breath, his steps continued to increase. Just as the feeling within his chest also did, and for some reason, one which made him feel even worse. A feeling which Y/N didn't know how or why, but it just made him feel like shit. For some reason, what arose from within his chest was a sense of regret or responsibility.

"After all... What... What else do we have other than that?"

He gripped the badge of the Lamenters with such strength that the sharp metal area dug against his palm. Feeling the pain, Y/N's eyes opened as he drew a quick, sharp breath of surprise and pleasure. Once more, he had felt something for the first time in ages. Anything that it might have been, it had finally happened, just in time, as Y/N glanced down, noticing how one of his feet already dangled over the roof's ledge.

"Kid... Don't give up, alright? Make me proud..."

His breathing, albeit steady, couldn't be huskier and drier. As if he hadn't had a single drop of water in the past month, his throat ached with a dry feeling. The salty tears that still dripped down from his eyes, staining his chest and pants as well as the wood of the roof, but Y/N wasn't able to feel them. So far, he was not able to feel anything other than that sense of destruction within the cramped pain increasing in his chest.

"Because... Remember, kid... Remember what I always told you..."

Y/N: ["... For those we cherish..."]

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.
[マスクの後ろの兵士]
-≽ [𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐤] ≼-
Chapter 3: [We Die In Glory]
.
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And once more, it rang.

The pendulum within the golden bell swung from side-to-side, causing the sound to ring all around the city. As another day had begun, the sun stood proudly in the skies, outshining and outsizing any other of the stars around it. Glowing as brightly as ever, it basked both the people, animals, and the plants into its warm rays of sunlight. And yet another day, as the sun stood, glaring down the city, another morning dawned.

Beneath the tallest tower within one of the city's many churches, basking in the sun right in front of the stairs, many stood. Most were children, young boys and girls who talked, ran around, and played with each other. Playing with their Marbles as some also played Hopscotch in the background, they stood oblivious to the meaning of responsibilities. Unbeknownst to them, such glorious moment in their life would pass.

In fact, they stood oblivious to many things, but not only the children, but also the men and women. How could one know that such an odd couple, consisting of a blonde girl wearing such a beautiful dress and with such beautiful eyes was once but a murder machine? And how could they ever figure that such a tall, menacing figure with burnt skin and stone-cold eyes and arrogant attitude is, in fact, a great doctor?

Unaware that they've come here from nowhere across the unforgiving sea, drifting further and further, It had all become clear to them. That, once, violent winds were upon us, blowing such strength that they couldn't sleep. And that the Internal temperatures are rising and all the voices wouldn't recede. But now, they've finally found what they were looking for: A place where they could be without remorse.

Even now, as they calmly walked around the people, masking themselves in broad daylight from their past actions and the ever-expanding list of unforgiving crimes they had committed, the two continued to walk side-by-side in calmness. Because they were strangers who had found an even stranger war, finally, they had found what they were looking for. They sharpened the knife and looked down upon the bay.

For all their lives, a stranger they remained.

Calmly, Violet stopped walking once she reached a crosswalk. Glancing down at the paper in her hand, she looked left and right before stepping ahead to cross the road. However, she calmly stopped before turning to look over her shoulder. Once she did, she noticed Y/N standing still like a statue as he usually did. He merely had a single hand raised, and a finger extended, allowing a black-and-white cat to rub itself on it.

He showed no expression or reaction, merely allowing the feline to rub its head and nuzzle against his finger. Turning around, the blonde girl walked towards him, gently grasping him by the hand before pulling him along. Y/N, in reaction, merely extended his hand forward towards the kitten, allowing himself to be dragged away by Violet. Still, the boy showed no sort of expression or protest, either physically or vocally.

It wasn't long before she stopped walking in front of a small building that stood in the center within a massive campus. Glancing down at the paper in her hand still, she continued to walk ahead, calmly dragging Y/N still as the boy walked side-by-side with her. As she stepped ahead within the pathway made out of small stones placed together, overgrown by vegetation and a beautiful garden, the girl stopped at the door.

Glancing to the side, and up, she locked eyes with Y/N, who had turned to face down at her. With a small nod from the boy, Violet stepped ahead, and calmly opened the door, walking inside along with Y/N before closing the door behind them. Within they saw a small classroom which could fit about 20 Students. About 10 of which were already inside, and some of them turned around to face the odd duo that entered.

Two opposites.

One of which was a young, beautiful girl with a soft expression which made her seem like a doll, wearing a beautiful dress and with captivating blue eyes. The other, also young, was a destroyed figure of what was once a man with burnt and wrinkled purple skin. Wearing a dark trench coat with ripped pants and old, military boots, and who had a fearsome pair of ice-colored eyes. Staring at them was like drowning in the sea.

While the girl seemed like an angel, the boy was the mirror-perfect replica of what one might consider a demon. Even if he wasn't exactly angry or mad, the burning pattern around his body made it seem like so. As if his eyes were narrowed, and like a shark ready to devour its prey, it stalked the deep waters, always ready to strike, and drag down such unfortunate souls to the endless depths of the seas to devour their flesh.

Girl: ["Leiden sure is huge, isn't it~?!"]

Girl 2: ["It really is! It has so many streets compared to my hometown that I got lost"] A small duo of girls who hadn't turned to face them calmly spoke up ["Apparently, getting this school's brooch makes it easier to find a job"] She calmly spoke, continuing as Y/N and Violet walked in and sat down without a word ["I wanna graduate and go back home right away..."]

Girl: ["Oh~? You sure that you aren't just after the brooch?"]

Girl 2: ["Oh please!"]

The girl broke into a small fit of short laughter, having a soft and calm expression as she chuckled away at her friend's words. In the back, sitting without motion or a single glance, Y/N and Violet continued side-by-side. That is, until the door opened and an authoritative voice rang inside. Sure, it was nothing compared to the tone of the man who was once a Krieg Commissar, but it was still quite serious and powering.

With the clicking of her boots inside the small room echoing step after step against the wooden floor, a woman stepped ahead. A middle-aged lady with black hair she wears in a bun and medium-blue eyes with a bit furrowed eyebrows. She wears a simple dark green dress. Turning a bit to face her, a young girl with long, brown hair tied into a ponytail that rested on her shoulder gained a clearly-nervous expression.

She stopped in front of the class, standing a bit above the others while on a small, elevated platform. Her serious gaze drifted around, putting a serious sense of pressure on the shoulder of all but two people inside that room. She gave a low, short hum to herself as she scanned the class, noticing a strange, but not unfamiliar, face lurking in the background, who stood opposite to the face sitting at the side.

Woman: ["I welcome you all to the Auto Memoir Doll Training School-"]

Just as she was about to speak, however, she was interrupted by the sound of the doors opening once more. She turned ahead to face a fair-skinned young woman of medium height with freckles and olive green eyes entering the room. She has long, straight scarlet-red hair, which falls down to her lower back, with two locks of hair framing her face on each side. She also styles her hair by wearing a braided headband. With her, she carried a hat, and hurried towards the place.

Girl: ["Sorry that I'm late!"]

Woman: ["... Know that repeated tardiness is counted as absence without leave"] She said, prompting the girl to bow, and walk away to sit down ["With the war now over, the demand for Dolls grows by the day. Of course, you can become one without attending this school"] Calmly, the woman explained, keeping a calm and composed posture as her eyes scanned around the room ["However, our goal is not to produce just any Dolls but to produce the very finest. The brooch that symbolizes graduation from this school also symbolizes excellence"] Calmly, she raised her hand near her neck, allowing students to see a brooch sitting on top on her clothing, shining as it was made out of gold ["That said, I'm not able to see where said Brooch current is... Which also brings the question: You've already graduated from this school, Commissar. What is your business here?"]

Everyone turned to follow the woman's gaze, who landed against the man with the dark, ragged clothes and the eyes that were as cold as the steel within his claw-like blades. Nonetheless, he merely stood up, opening his trenchcoat to reveal within itself a collection of various sorts of medals, all of which were somewhat shiny, and seemed to be organized from top to down by their importance and significance.

Many eyes landed against him as he did so, calmly standing with both hands behind his back, and his head raised high. The various sorts of medals that decorated all the areas within his chest had a small spot where one didn't see a medal, but rather, the same brooch that the woman wore. Violet, glancing up towards him, remained quite expressionless, but seemed to be rather surprised at the brooch on Y/N's shirt.

Y/N: ["I fear that, a Commissar for the Death Korps of Krieg, I am no more, Lady Rhodanthe. Rather, I'm now a medic"] The man spoke, prompting a few whispers to erupt from within the small room ["Which is also the reason that I'm here. To accompany a patient, who is still under my care"]

Rhodanthe: ["So, I suppose that even them, you still know the rules of this school"] She spoke, calmly moving her gaze away from Y/N ["Such as, those of you who I do not deem worthy Dolls will find this brooch entirely out of your grasp"] She spoke, keeping her authority, which prompted Y/N to fix his coat and calmly sit down ["... Are you all ready-"]

Violet: ["Yes, ma'am"]

Y/N: ["... Ms. Evergarden, on this particular occasion, saluting is not required"] Y/N calmly spoke, gently standing up near Violet, and calmly pushing her just a bit to sit down ["You are still in recovery, so please, do not make such harsh and sudden movements, or else-"]

Violet: ["Ow..."]

Y/N: ["-That may happen. It's not been too long ever since we left the war, so your blood volume is still low, so the blood flow to the brain is diminished"] Y/N calmly aided, leaning down near the girl and reaching ahead with the palm of his hand to gently put it against her forehead ["That, and the headaches are worse when you stand up. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, it is called"] Everyone turned around to face them, including Rhodanthe, who raised an eyebrow ["This condition involves a rapid heartbeat and changes in blood pressure when you stand up too fast. Please, refrain from doing so again"]

Violet: ["Yes, sir..."]

She slowly saluted while looking up at Y/N, still with that slightly-pained expression on her face. And as everyone continued to stare, Y/N sat down at her side and picked up a small cloth from within his pocket. Drenching it in the cold water from his metal canteen that hung from within the trenchcoat, he calmly put it down against Violet's forehead. But as he continued to talk, a single person was lost within her thoughts.

???: ["Violet Evergarden and Y/N L/N. Her demeanor was completely divorced from her doll-like appearance, just as Y/N's own words and care were away from his monstrous, devilish looks..."] The girl thought, glancing up towards Y/N who calmly continued to take care of Violet, gently dropping down a small, little pill within the girl's open palm, allowing her to swallow it ["Even though he was a Commissar, from Krieg out of all places, he just had this calm and comforting area around him. And the girl, who looked so innocent and calm, looked as if she was..."]

Nothing but a soldier.

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Rhodanthe: ["... Feel free to begin"]

The woman spoke, allowing the students around the room to start typing. However, all around the place, save for the Commissar-turned-Doctor, a single person didn't start writing. Noticing such a thing, the black-haired woman stepped ahead, keeping both hands behind her back, and approaching the blonde girl with doll-like features. When near her, she glanced down towards Violet, who, in turn, looked up towards her.

Rhodanthe: ["What is the matter, Ms. Evergarden?"]

Violet: ["You haven't specified a required speed"]

Rhodanthe: ["Oh. If I do, will you be able to keep up, then?"] The woman asked, glancing down towards Violet, who remained quiet ["Two hundred characters per minute, in that case"]

Violet: ["... Yes, ma'am"]

Violet calmly reached ahead, gently biting down against her glove before pulling it out. Everyone, who had turned around in surprise at hearing the specified amount of words, were quickly back to work. That is, until they saw the girl's prosthetic hands, and turned around to face her once more. The girl calmly removed the gloves before putting them aside, and giving them to Y/N, who neatly folded them in a mere instant.

Violet: ["I'll start now"]

Rhodanthe: ["Go ahead"]

Calmly, Violet reached ahead, pressing down one of the many letters within the typewriter with a calm push. Such a small, little, single digit suddenly turned to two, who turned to four, and who turned to eight before finally arriving at sixteen. Each instant that went by, Violet's fingers masterfully glided across the board, increasing each time more and more in speed as she reached ahead to push the paper back.

Rhodanthe hummed, narrowing her eyes towards Violet as the blonde-haired soldier continued on that masterful, and slick spree. She was quick, both on typing and loading back the printer, and never once stopping her movements from continuing. She kept that same velocity of her fingers moving back and forth, all around, and up and down within the small mechanical keyboard of the typewriter on top of the table.

Which earned herself a nod of approval from Y/N.

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The scenarios changed once more.

And as the red-haired girl reached ahead to bite against the half of a sandwich containing salami, red onion, lettuce, peeled carrots and pickles, she stopped. Glancing to the side, there sat the blonde-haired, former soldier, who merely glanced down towards a piece of paper that she grasped within her hands. In front of the girl with red hair sat Y/N, who also had no food in front of his plate, much like Violet.

The two of them, alongside every single other student, sat within a small room with a massive table. It expanded from one side to the other as everyone gathered around it, talking and chatting among themselves. But, as you might expect from this point in the story, Y/N and Violet had remained quiet, and motionless. Not even glancing at each other. The boy, in question, was staring down blankly against the table.

Girl: ["Hum... Excuse me, aren't you two going to eat?"]

Violet: ["We've been trained to minimize our intake during a mission"]

Girl: ["Ehhh? But..."] The girl glanced down, and smiled as she picked the other half of her sandwich ["Would you two like some of mine, then?"]

Violet: ["No, thank you. Ms. Luculia from Leiden"]

Luculia: ["Eh...? You remember what I said in my introduction?"] The girl asked, watching as Y/N raised his head to face her eye-to-eye ["Do... The two of you also remember it? Or is it like, only her...?"]

Y/N: ["We both remember what everyone said, and what everyone did"]

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Requirements...

One after the other, they rained down against everyone inside the classroom, and of course, Violet wasn't an exception. But unlike all the other students, however, the former-soldier remained calm and composed. For someone of her caliber, nothing was harder than anything she had been through. Everything that they stormed down against the girl, she would calmly, and easily brush them off with little-to-no problems.

Grammatical Perfection and a rich vocabulary? Violet had already all the books she could in a matter of minutes. Detailed knowledge about the various types of letters? In a mere instant, she could already decorate them all as Rhodanthe continued to show each time more and more how rough the academy was. When the students were sweating in nervousness, glancing around and swallowing dry, Violet was calm.

It wasn't surprising that, throughout all of it, Y/N would stay with her, making sure to always be nearby. He would watch, silent and still, but with a gaze cold like marble stone. A gargoyle-like predatory glare which could make any and all tremble like mouses before the claws of an Eagle. A single look which could turn lions into mere gazelles and towering dragons in cowering lizards. Capable of shaking anyone.

And yet, little would pay attention to him, and even less people would remember that he was in the room. It was almost as if he truly was some sort of mannequin or realistic statue, as he would always stand like one. With his gaze always focused on Violet, it was easy for one to forget why he wasn't noticeable. Almost as if he had been standing so-perfectly-still that he remained invisible, the boy was unnoticed.

Rhodanthe: ["That's all for today. And I shall now announce today's grades"] The woman said, prompting everyone to close their books and sigh in exhaustion. Save, of course, for Violet ["Starting with Grammar, Violet Evergarden, full marks. Next, vocabulary. Violet Evergarden, full marks..."]

Everyone turned to face Violet, but the girl remained still. Her doll-like figure such as her soft skin and pinkish lips made all of them wonder if she was truly alive. The man at her side, however, continued with his eyes against her, and never once moved. Noticing his gaze, slowly, Violet turned to face the man, as the two remained still, with their eyes always locked into the other. For a moment, they remained, motionless.

Until Y/N gave her a thumbs-up of approval.

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Violet: ["I have returned from my first day of mission..."]

Currently, inside the small room with the just-as-small-sized booths for the Ghostwriting were six people. Two familiar, short-haired girls, a woman with long, flowing black hair, the doll-like soldier with her soft features still remaining collected, and the red-haired former-military man, who stood by the side. And last, but not least (afterall we are talking about the Main Character), the Kriegsman-turned Marine.

And so, as the writer broke the 4th wall for the second time, Erica turned around to face the two. Unlike previously, she was once more collected instead of emotional. Keeping a neutral face and collected expression, as she calmly turned to face Violet. And upon hearing her voice, Iris sat up peeking from over the small, thin wall of the booth in which she Ghostwritten all day long, and also not all that long ago.

Erica: ["How was the first day of school?"]

Iris: ["I bet you got yelled at~"]

Violet: ["No, I didn't"]

Y/N: ["That would be illogical. She is a Soldier who follows orders"] Y/N comments, causing Iris to yelp in pain as he gently pulled her ear ["Something that I may need to teach some of the other Dolls to do"]

Iris: ["Ow, ow! Oi, this hurts! Cut it out!"] Iris complained, trying (and failing), to push Y/N away ["Stop that! You'll tear my ear off!"]

Y/N: ["I have no strength to do such a thing. You are blessed that I'm not one of those yellow guys from back in the Imperium"] Y/N said, releasing Iris from his grip, and allowing the girl to scowl at him with her tongue out as she rubbed her ear in pain ["Back when Father and I joined forces with them, it was... Interesting. They certainly were an angry bunch. A very... Very, VERY angry bunch"] Y/N stood still, glaring at nothing as he seemingly had flashbacks to all the screaming ["... I learned a lot of new words with them. Not very polite ones, though"]

Hodgins: ["Welcome back, Violet, Y/N!"]

Violet: ["Boss, I have here Instructor Rhodanthe's daily evaluation of my work"] The girl said, turning around to face Hodgins, and presenting him with a few papers ["I've been successful in my duties, and managed to achieve all full marks"]

Hodgins: ["Ohh, nice grades for your first day"]

Benedict: ["Oh, hey! You two back already?"]

The blonde-haired boy entered the room with a large smile aimed towards Y/N and Violet, and at Hodgins' praise, Iris narrowed her eyes in annoyance at the two. Benedict's smile, however, disappeared once he had set his eyes on Cattleya. Crossing his arms with narrowed eyes of annoyance, the man reaped what he sow as Cattleya shot an equally-annoyed glare towards him, causing the boy to glance away.

Cattleya: ["How long are you going to keep that up?! Grow up and be a man!"]

Benedict: ["Right back at you!"]

Violet: ["... What are they doing?"]

Y/N: ["Those two are always at conflict with each other. They are good, but they lack discipline"] Y/N calmly replied, still keeping both of his hands inside of his pockets, soon glancing towards Hodgins ["The fact you managed to make them act alongside each other for so long is a praiseworthy feat"]

Violet watched as the two continued to argue, and her eyes soon drifted up towards Y/N, who remained there, motionless. Underneath his coat, she could see the glistening of his various medals, and the brooch that signified his skill and certificate that he was a Doll. However, a small glow thanks to the reflecting light entering through the window caught Violet's eyes, as she glanced to see another medal.

She wasn't aware of it before, back in the school. A symbol she didn't know, but the clear, chess-like design with the symbol of a bleeding heart was enough to grab her eyes. It was outlined in gold, but the patch had seen better days as various marks of scratches, and a few chipping also complemented its look. Alongside it, Violet could see a hole going through the heart, as if a bullet had pierced right through its center.

It stood right in the area of Y/N's heart.

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Rhodanthe: ["Your exercise today will be an actual ghostwriting"]

The woman's voice and words still rang around everyone's ears as they sat down. Calmly keeping her hands on top of her lap as Violet glanced ahead towards Luculia. The red-haired girl sat in front of her, as Y/N stood by the side. Unlike him, and all the other students in the large room, the two girls had a typewriter in front of them. Y/N sat there, motionless as he leaned ahead, moving his glance from Violet to Luculia.

Luculia: ["Are you ready, Violet?"]

Violet: ["I'm in your hands, Ms. Luculia"]

Luculia: ["So, who will this letter be to?"]

The girl asked, glancing ahead with her fingers towering over the keyboard of the typewriter. Her large smile widening even more alongside her ever-excited eyes. They seemed to narrow a bit as her smile faltered once Violet didn't reply. Instead, the blonde remained there, sitting like a doll with her gentle and calm expression and face. Luculia tilted her head to the side, awaiting as Violet's lips opened, and spoke.

Violet: ["Are you asking me who I want to send the letter to?"]

Rhodanthe: ["Simply pick someone close to you to whom you wish to convey something"] The woman spoke, turning her head to face Violet as she calmly and gently approach ["Whether that is hate, appreciation, some sort of admiration, or most commonly, love"]

Violet: ["Someone close to me..."] Violet hummed, glancing down before she faced Luculia once more ["Please, address the letter to Dr. Y/N L/N of the Lamenters"]

Rhodanthe: ["... In such a case, it is best you await for it outside, Dr. L/N"] The woman said, glancing down towards Y/N ["Afterall, there would be no fun in receiving a letter when you're listening to it being written"]

Calmly, Y/N stood up without a single word before he nodded his head towards Violet, who nodded her head back towards him. It wouldn't be long before Y/N, keeping both hands behind his back, walked ahead, and left the room, closing the large, oak doors behind his back. And as he did so, Violet turned towards Luculia, and nodded her head, earning an equal-nod from the girl, which prompted Violet to start her words.

Alongside the entire room, for the next various minutes, nothing was heard other than the ever-ringing chatting of various letters being written as well as the noise of the typewriters being used. Among them all, Violet's own voice that was gentle, and emotionless, having no shortage of also being calming, stood out. The way she talked, moved, and even just stood there, in front of Luculia, was weirdly uncanny.

But Luculia didn't seem to mind, and instead, her fingers continued to move alongside the typewriter. Sure, she wasn't as fast as Y/N or Violet, but she was still going, and by each minute, she seemed to increase at least a little bit more on her writing skills and speeds. The girl soon stopped once Violet stopped speaking, awaiting for her to continue. Violet, calmly, opened her lips to speak one more time.

Violet: ["That is all for my report"] She said, surprising Luculia ["Yours, Violet Evergarden"]

Luculia: ["Hm... Is- Is that it?"]

Violet: ["On second thought"] She said, once more catching Luculia's attention ["When will I receive new orders from the Major?"] Violet continued to speak as Luculia went back to her writing ["Add that to the end, please"]

Luculia: ["Haha, this feels more like filing official paperwork than writing a letter"] The girl with red hair spoke with a nervous chuckle ["Is there anything else you wish to add? If not, it is all finished, then"]

Violet: ["It is your turn to dictate the letter, Ms. Luculia"]

Luculia: ["Hm, right... Uh, to my bro-... Actually, I think that I'll address it to my parents"]

Violet, without a word, turned her head down to face the typewriter. As she did so, it wouldn't be long before the red-haired lass' lips opened, and she began to speak. And just as she did so, Violet instantly began to write without a single moment of hesitation, and pure clearness on her face. Still, the blonde-haired girl showed no signs of moving, and continued with her ever-gliding fingers all across the typewriter.

Luculia: ["You see, I haven't really thanked my mother and father for what they've done"] Also gaining a soft expression with a gentle and friendly smile, Luculia gave a hum ["Hmm... Now that I'm actually sending a letter, I can't find the right words. There's so much to say about the place we went, and the places I wish we could've gone"] She calmly continued, and unlike Violet, she had a gentle, and calm smile present against her lips ["I... Honestly can't fill it all in"]

Luculia continued with her gentle smile, narrowing her eyes a bit as she gained a gentle and soft expression while continuing to talk. Lowering the hand that previously-held her chin, the girl's smile widened even more. Her eyes opened a bit as her green eyes continued to face towards the blonde-haired, doll-like girl that sat in front of her, never once taking her eyes from Violet, who spoke not a single word.

It wouldn't be long until time had once more flown with extreme speed. As if it all had gone in the mere blink of an eye, Violet saw throughout the entire letter. As Luculia continued to pour her heart out in a gentle, shy, and comfortable manner, Violet herself was still writing the letter. She seemed as immovable as Y/N, and her soft expression remained unchanged, not showing a single ounce of other emotion.

Luculia: ["Talk to you again soon"] The girl calmly continued to speak as she approached the end of her letter ["Please, don't worry about me. Yours, Luculia"]

It wasn't long before Violet stopped taping against the typewriter, and lifted her head to look towards Luculia. Soon, her gaze moved to the side and upwards once Rhodanthe had approached. Her soft expression and her beautiful, blue eyes followed the instructor's hand as she reached ahead, and grasped the sheet of paper in the machine. And as she removed it from there, she brought it upon her serious eyes.

Her eyes that were previously strict and serious, only like that of a teacher and instructor of a high-grade school which is exactly what she was, turned into sour, suspicious and slightly-angered eyes. Her gaze shifting from the sheet of paper down towards Violet, she gave the Soldier her letter back, and Violet carefully, and gently picked it up. And so, Rhodante spoke up, showing clear seriousness in her voice.

Rhodanthe: ["Violet, read this out-loud for us"]

Violet: ["Yes, ma'am"] She said before looking down at the letter ["Dear father, dear mother, I know I haven't written to you in some time, but I have nothing new to report"] The girl said, causing a sudden squeal of surprise coming from Luculia ["It is a matter of great concern to me that I haven't expressed my gratitude for what you did"] The entire room remained in a cold, awkward silent as Violet continued to read ["As for the places we went, and the places I wish we could've gone, I have no information to give you"] By the outside, Y/N stood, leaning against the wall near the door as he heard Violet's echoing, but muffled voice ["I am carrying out my duties in a diligent manner and am sound in both body and mind. I haven't run into any problems"] Luculia's eyes widened for a moment, as she continued to look ahead in a silent tone of amazement ["That is all. I ask that you don't concern yourself with my wellbeing. Yours, Luculia"]

Rhodanthe: ["... Do you call that a letter?"]

As the awkward silence of the room continued to reign within the room, Rhodante spoke, breaking it. The various other students looked towards Violet, mostly in confusion, but some of them in a mixture of confusion and somewhat anger. Rhodanthe, however, had spoken up to break the silence, and look down towards Violet. The girl looked up back towards her, showing slight confusion in her eyes.

Luculia: ["H - Huh... Maybe I didn't make myself clear...!"]

Rhodanthe: ["That isn't the issue at this moment"] The girl said, soon facing Luculia before looking at Violet again ["Letters are an instrument for communicating a person's feelings. A first-rate Doll should understand the words the client is speaking"] She continued to speak, having her only being the only thing that echoed in the room ["And take from them the feelings they truly wish to express. Violet, your grades are good across all subjects"] The woman said, glaring down towards the blonde-haired soldier yet one more time, and narrowing her eyes at her ["And it's true that your writing is fast and precise, but what you have ghostwritten can't be called a letter"]

Violet: ["... Can't be called a letter?"]

Luculia: ["Hum... M - Maybe we can try again-"]

Rhodanthe: ["That will be the lesson for today. You are all dismissed"] And dismissed, they were, specially Luculia, who's Rhodanthe paid no attention to ["Please, give the letters you have written to whom they are addressed"]

Luculia turned around as she had faced Rhodanthe, but it wasn't long before she faced again one more time. There, she saw Violet who glanced down towards the letter she had just ghostwritten. Luculia, glancing down at the paper in her own typewriter, pulled it out once Violet had handed her writing to the red-haired lass. Luculia, handing Violet the letter she had written herself, glanced to the side.

Seeing Y/N standing by the door, immovable as usual.

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Luculia: ["Don't worry. You just weren't at your best today"]

Violet: ["Something similar had happened previously..."]

As the red Sun over paradise began to set in the distance, a trio of interesting figures walked among the people. From these three, two of them surely were pretty eye-catching. The boy with his scars, and the girl with her gentle expression like that of a doll. They walked calmly, standing side-by-side with each other as they continued to make their way among the streets. People and cars passed by, children still played.

It wouldn't be long until the red-haired girl turned to face both Y/N and Violet. The boy, who carried Violet's letter with him, glanced away into the distance from the bridge in which they stood. He continued to look towards the horizon where the sun was setting, never once taking his eyes away from the beautiful display of the scene. Also looking in a trance as the sun reflected in the water, creating an ever-better display.

Seeing that, Luculia gave a large, and gentle smile. Gently, as she carried her briefcase in front of her body, holding it with both hands, the girl turned to face the two soldiers. Violet's gaze was locked ahead, and Luculia, for a moment, had a saddened expression. That is, until she glanced around, and something towering in the distance had caught her eyes. Instantly, they went wide with pure excitement.

Turning around to look towards Y/N and Violet with her ever-soft and gentle smile, Luculia's lips parted, giving way so that her voice could gently grab Y/N's and Violet's attention. She had stopped walking as she spoke, prompting Y/N and Violet, at his side, to do the same a few steps ahead. Turning to look up towards the taller boy, Violet gained a shrug, which in turn, she responded with a nod to that suggestion:

Luculia: ["Let me show you two the most beautiful view in this city"]

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Luculia: ["Here we are~!"]

She said with an expression of clear happiness. She walked up the stairs, turning over her shoulder to face Violet with a large smile. It wouldn't be long until the two had faced the tower, the same one in which various children played during the morning. Surprisingly enough, some of the kids were still there, hanging around and just overall playing games and having fun with each other as the three stepped ahead.

Pushing open the single door to the place, Luculia stepped ahead, and calmly began to walk up the tower. Y/N stopped for a moment, glancing upwards as he saw the continuous rise of the stairs that seemed to almost go on forever. With a mere humming, he stepped towards the stairs alongside Violet. The two calmly followed Luculia, who had turned around to look over her shoulder with a calm warning.

Luculia: ["The stairs are steep, so watch your step"]

She said with a smile that soon disappeared once they noticed their expressions. Violet was always glancing towards the wooden steps. As for Y/N, he glanced everywhere around him, especially up the stairs. He moved in a slow, careful manner, always checking for a mere instant where he was putting his hand on the handrail. One would call him paranoid, afraid that someone would jump in and kill him.

Nonetheless, the trio continued to make their way up the various and various fleets of stairs. Almost as if they were being created before their very eyes thanks to how many there were. Nonetheless, they continued rising to the top, past the three, but still large and extremely-spaced windows that were the only source of light. It wouldn't be long until they reached the top, basking in the setting sunlight.

Violet raised her head as, for a mere instant, every seemed to have gone white, and she stood on top of the tower. Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened a bit to show a clear expression of surprise and slight confusion. The gentle breeze that blew her, Y/N's, and Luculia's hair was also blowing her dress alongside Luculia's, and Y/N's trench coat. Her expression, as always, was gentle and soft, like that of a doll.

Luculia: ["Isn't it amazing? I've loved this view ever since I was a little kid..."]

Violet stood, remaining motionless and quiet as she glanced ahead. The man at her side was also surprised, glancing towards the seemingly-never-ending sea who had the sun setting right beneath it. His eyes, for a moment, seemed to glow as the blistening tears formed on both of them. Glancing away, none of the two girls could see it, as it slowly, but surely, lost the battle against gravity, and rolled down his face.

"Tell me, Y/N. Have you ever been to Leiden?"

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The boy remained unmoving just like before.

He stood behind the two figures, both of whom were taller than him. The larger one, however, was beyond just taller, and stood about twice the size of the boy. His yellow armor reflected the light of the sun, as did the various weapons stuck to the ground in front of them. Alongside it were various others that stood side-by-side, all weapons Y/N was used to seeing this people using, all of which had a symbol of his Chapter.

It wouldn't be long until the man slowly stood up, and the vision flashed before Y/N's very own two eyes. With a small smile spreading, he glanced over his shoulder to face the Kriegsman boy. By his side, still kneeling and with both hands held together in prayer, the white-haired warrior girl stood. Her eyes closed, and the low murmurs of her praying and constant begging of adorations echoing within her closed fists.

The man, giving him a gentle smile as he always did, saw as Y/N continued to look up at him. Even though the burning marks and the specific areas made it so that the boy seemed angry, disappointed, and somewhat judgeful, The Watcher of the Deep knew more than well that this would almost never be the case. Sighing, the man faced towards the various weapons stuck to the ground, and was quick to salute.

Malakim: ["Y/N, Chiara..."]

The Chapter Master spoke in a low voice, prompting the two of them to glance up towards him. Y/N, stepping ahead as the man signed to him to do so, felt his entire body being slightly-weighted-down as Malakim put a hand on his and Chiara's shoulders. Looking down at them like a father looking towards his children with a proud, and extremely-large smile, the man gave them a small, and rapid nod.

Malakim: ["I hope that you both, one day, could see the view I saw there..."]

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Luculia: ["Well, I'll be going this way, then. See ya~!"]

Y/N: ["Stay safe. Bye, Luculia-"]

Violet: ["Ms. Luculia..."]

Luculia: ["Haha. Just call me Luculia, Violet-"]

Violet called, prompting Luculia to stop in her tracks and turn around to face the blonde-haired girl. Y/N, who had also turned around to walk away towards the company, stopped. Glancing over his shoulder, he noticed Violet standing there, and calmly turned around once more. As usual, he kept both hands inside his pocket, and glanced down towards the blonde, silently waiting for her to be done with her words.

Before she could finish her words, however, a sudden voice was heard. Turning around, the two were met with the sight of two men standing in front of a bar's open doors. The larger, older man had his shirt grasped by the younger person, a young man with short, messy red hair and olive green eyes. He walks with a cane and has several cuts and bruises on his face. Luculia's eyes widened, and she approached.

Bar owner: ["Go home already, drunkard!']

Man: ["Don't be like that, man! Do we have a problem-"]

Luculia: ["Brother! Have you been drinking again?!"]

Y/N glanced down towards Violet, who glanced back up towards him. The man, calmly, nodded his head towards Luculia and her brother. Violet, turning around to face the two of them, soon returned her gaze back up to Y/N, and gave him a nod. Silently, the two approached, with Violet keeping both her hands in front of her body, carrying the small briefcase, as Y/N remained with the hands on his pockets as usual.

Man: ["Wha-?! No, I haven't!"] He said with a dumb smile on his face ["This guy won't let me, so I haven't- Gah!"]

Before the man could continue his words, the cane he used suddenly gave out from beneath him, prompting him to fall back-first against the floor. Y/N, humming, nodded as he calmly pulled out his sketchbook from within his pocket. As he flipped through its various pages, he soon presented it to Violet. Glancing down at it for a second, the girl gave a calm nod, confirming what he had theorized. And so, they watched again.

Luculia: ["Brother!"] She hurried, kneeling in front of him ["Are you okay?!"]

Man: ["Tsc... Damn it!"]

These two words were enough to make Luculia's eyes go wide, and a small gasp to leave her lips. Clearly, not only surprised, but also somewhat horrified and with a tone of sadness, the girl's hand retracted. Recoiling in hesitation with a mixture of worry, sadness, and somewhat fear. Her fingers, gently were brought back as the man glared down at the floor, a look of self-hatred, shame, and anger mixtured all in his two eyes.

Hearing the sound of wood gently cackling against the ground, Luculia turned around. There, she saw Y/N scribbling down something against his small book, and Violet leaning down. Her leather-covered hands gently grasped the cane that the man used to hold himself up. Not long after, Violet brought it upwards, calmly holding it against her body with both of her hands gently grasped around the wooden cane.

Violet: ["Luculia..."]

Luculia: ["... Thank you, Violet"]

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Violet: ["Will I... Will I ever be a worthy Doll?"]

The boy glanced down at the girl, as the two stood by themselves inside the small room. The same room in which the two slept alongside each other, dark as always was. In front of Y/N, who had his trenchcoat to the side, allowing the extent of the burns around his arms and his body to be seen as he wore only a tight, dark-grey shirt. In front of him, Violet stood, still wearing her beautiful dress and her jacket.

She was glancing down, keeping both hands against the other, tightly clenching them behind her back. It wouldn't be long as she also raised her shoulders in a defensive manner, as if a soldier was ashamed of its poor performance. Or, in Violet's case, that was quite literally what had happened. Nonetheless, Y/N had set aside the letter she had written for him, and gently, the man glanced down towards Violet one more time.

Violet: ["The Instructor also said that what I had Ghostwritten couldn't be called a letter..."] She said, glancing down at the ground, and avoiding making eye-contact with Y/N ["Should I... Do you think that I should seek another area to specialize myself and give-"]

Y/N: ["No soldier can be a perfect-shot when they first pick up a gun, Violet..."] Y/N calmly said, soon glancing down towards the girl ["You merely gave your first shot. You have talent, but if you give up, it will be wasted"] Gently, the boy reached ahead, running his fingers against her hair ["You may have missed in your first shot... But you've still got bullets left to shoot"]

As he had reached ahead, the girl's eyes gently closed as she calmly nuzzled the top of her head against his open palm. With a small humming, the boy calmly pulled his hand back, allowing Violet to look up towards him as he turned around. Walking to the side, he gently pulled a chair that stood in front of a small table with an old typewriter on it, and motioned for Violet to have a seat, which she complied without any words.

Y/N: ["But... When you first join the battle, you are not alone. You have brothers in arms, do you not? I've had many myself. I've followed some, commanded some..."] Gently, Y/N reached ahead, calmly putting a paper on the typewriter before he sat at the bed on Violet's side ["I may not be a Commissar anymore, but a Doctor never let his patients struggle. Either mentally or physically. Shall I teach you, Ms. Evergarden?"]

Y/N offered, but he didn't smile, and his expression didn't change. His voice was cold, low like a dangerous whisper of a monster. As if a predator stalked among the woods, ready to pounce against its prey, and tear open their body with its bare claws. To feast against their organs and their flesh, and to drench its body in the dark-crimson, warm blood. As if he was, truly, just a predator ready to devour its prey in just a few bites.

And yet, Violet felt no fear. In fact, she felt almost as if the man in front of her was her own, personal shield and her sword. As if he always stood there, ready to either take a bullet for her, but also ready to become the world's most dangerous weapon. From his cold eyes, she felt no fear, but a warm comfort. From his intimidating posture, she felt no fear, but a loving aura which made her worries wash away like sands on a beach.

Violet: ["... I would be honored"]

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Luculia: ["I'm home~! I'll get cooking right... Away..."]

The girl opened the door to the house, having with her the brightest-possible smile on her face. However, it was quickly destroyed once her green eyes had faced the scene. Her expression of excitement and genuine happiness was quickly replaced by one of displeasure, surprise, and soon, clear worry. It wouldn't be long until the girl noticed the mess of the room, and the man who slept on the sofa, snoring away in his dreams.

The bottle of hard liquor that stood on top of the table alongside the bitten, raw tomato with a fork stabbed against it. The empty shot glass and another tumbled bottle that was dripping with the alcohol staining the table. Alongside it there was also a half-bitten loaf of bread, as if someone just took a single, hurried bite, and left it there to rot. The blanket on the ground alongside other various fruits and vegetables.

Slowly, Luculia entered the room, closing the door behind her gently so it wouldn't make too much noise and wake up her brother. Setting down the basket filled with fresh fruits and vegetables on top of the table, the girl stepped back. She sat on the only other chair against the room, and glanced down towards the floor with clear sadness being present in her eyes. And so, she reached for the letter in her hand.

Her eyes, previously merely shaking and blurred, were now stained with fresh tears. Her teeth gently clenched alongside the fingers around the letter as her eyes narrowed. It wouldn't be long until the girl found her eyes closing, and the tears running down from her eyes down to her cheek, and dripping down against her dress. And so, her lips slowly opened to mutter the only words that could come to her mind.

The same people that stood within a picture by the end of the room, placed on the center of the main wall behind Luculia. The figure of a father and a mother alongside two other people, one of them being Luculia herself, but much, much younger. The other would be her brother, who looked in a much better shape, both physically and mentally. He wore a dark, military uniform, the same one that Violet herself once used.

Luculia: ["Dad... Mom..."]

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Rhodanthe: ["Bluebell Junoa"]

Bluebell: ["Yes, ma'am!"]

As the golden rays of the beautiful sunshine peered through the open windows, it brought with it a bright light. And with said bright light, once more the world ran, and everyone went on with their either adventurous, normal, or just boring lifes. In the case of two particular former-soldiers, however, they stood within a small room. Said room, already very familiar to them, was the same room back in the Dolls academy.

And with it, Rhodanthe spoke as she usually did: With a strict tone still present in her voice. Nonetheless, as she called, the girl stood up with a bright smile present against her face. It wouldn't be long until Rhodanthe had called the girl at her side. And as the two stood up, the same girls from before who were shushed by Rhodanthe during their first day, smiled at each other. Showing clear happiness present in their lips.

Rhodanthe: ["Iberis Konoue"]

Iberis: ["Yes, ma'am!"]

Rhodanthe: ["Luculia Marlborough"] No answer was heard ["Luculia Marlborough!"]

Luculia: ["... Y - Yes, ma'am!"]

Rhodanthe: ["The aforementioned nine students will graduate from this class"] The woman said, glancing ahead with a serious tone ["May you all be exemplary Dolls, and bring fortune for the name of our school"]

It wouldn't be long until the room erupted with conversations and whispers from student to student as they continued to talk. Luculia's eyes, however, didn't show as much happiness as she slowly glanced to the side. There, she met the two former soldiers from which she had become so used to meeting in the past weeks of class. As they usually did, they showed absolutely no emotion in their clear or burnt face.

Instead, they remained there, standing like a statue and a doll. Luculia's eyes softened up for a bit as everyone all around her continued to talk. Showing clear happiness and satisfaction in their tone of voice, they continued to chat about all sorts of stuff. Be it where they would work, or if they would try and continue to studying about ghostwriting. Luculia, however, remained silent, until her name was called.

Bluebell: ["And you, Luculia?"] The brown-haired girl asked with a smile ["Where will you work?"]

Luculia: ["I, uhm... Uh... I haven't decided just yet"] The girl said with a small chuckle of nervousness ["I'll have to think about it on a later date..."]

Bluebell: ["Oh, really...? But you've graduated from the top of the class!"]

The girl chuckled once more, showing clear nervousness as she was caught off guard by the question and the following words. Rubbing the back of her head, she chuckled once more as her eyes moved to the side, facing Y/N and Violet one more time. The two of them stood in there, as Y/N glanced towards Violet from the side of his face. And so did Rhodanthe, as she faced the blonde-haired, doll-like figure of Violet.

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Hodgins: ["Really? That's too bad..."]

Violet: ["I'm terribly sorry, sir"]

Inside the room, once more, stood three people as usual. Violet, Y/N, and Hodgins, with the older man, sat against his table, right in front of a tall, open window behind him. Violet stood in front of the desk, glancing down at the sitting man with both hands behind her back. Hodgins, looking up at her, had a soft, understanding expression. And to the side stood Y/N, who had his arms crossed, still as a statue.

Hodgins: ["It's not like you have to graduate to be a Doll"]

Violet: ["But then... Why did I go to school at all?"]

Violet's question took Hodgins a bit off-guard, visible by his eyes narrowing suddenly, even if just a bit. Violet also squeezed her hands tightly, as they stood behind her back just like before. Y/N, moving his eyes from Violet to Hodgins, nodded his head towards the girl, earning himself a small, discret nod back from the red-haired man. And so, Violet's lips once more parted, and just like before, the girl began to speak.

Violet: ["I'm aware that graduating isn't everything, but if I can't understand the words the client is speaking..."] Violet said, gently glancing down to avoid eye-contact from the man, as she thought back to Luculia and the "letter" she had written for her ["And take from them the feelings they wish to express..."]

Violet glanced down for a moment before she felt a sudden weight on her right shoulder. Turning to look at it, she saw Y/N, who had his hand against her shoulder, giving her a calming, and slow nod. Soon, Violet turned around to face Hodgins once more. Swallowing dry as she exhaled a bit to calm herself down, the girl's usual blank and soft expression returned as she found the courage to calmly and quietly speak.

Violet: ["I don't serve any purpose as a Doll..."]

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Her steps were also familiar.

Like a silent shadow, they followed Violet wherever they went. The clicking of her boots against the wooden floor as they continued to follow her wherever she went. Glancing down at the small sheet of paper in her hand, the girl glanced ahead, looking all around herself to see if she was in the correct place that the letter from her friend mentioned. And as she found herself there, she saw the figure of Luculia, who smiled.

Luculia: ["And there you are~!"]

Luculia: ["Luculia... School has ended"] Violet said, calmly approaching the young girl ["Why did you asked to meet me in here?"]

Luculia: ["Because I thought I might be able to see you again"] The girl said with a smile after a calm humming, while approaching the shelves on the side ["Say, Violet. Who is Y/N to you? You always asked him questions in each of your letters..."] The girl calmly spoke, grasping a typewriter in her hand as she gained a small smile ["Isn't Y/N the one you really want to write to? Why don't we try writing to him today?"] Setting down the typewriter against a small table, Luculia sat down, offering to Violet one of her many smiles ["Not one of your usual reports, but a letter packed with how you really feel... I'll be with you all the way~!"]

In the empty classroom in which the two stood, nothing or no one else remained. Instead, the two were together by themselves, with Luculia sitting down against one of the many tables with her hands ready to start writing. Not far away, Violet stood, remaining like a doll as she stood in place without muttering a single word. That is, until her mouth opened, having her lips part from one another as she calmly spoke.

Violet: ["Y/N..."]

Time flew by.

So fast, in fact, that it seemed almost like a mere instant when the sun was brightly shining in the skies, and now it was setting itself. The orangish-color replaced the golden rays of glorious sunshine that sent down such a beautiful light. Seconds turned to minutes, and minutes to hours, which soon had gathered into many. All of it passed by in a single instant as Violet and Luculia had sat in front of each other.

The red-haired girl had a nervous, dumbfolded expression with a dumb smile present on her lips, and a small sweat drop forming on her cheek. As the bell rang in the distance, the typewriter and Violet had remained unmoving. Surprisingly-enough, however, was the fact that in the so-called "letter", there was nothing but Y/N's name on it, overshadowed by an endless sea of the white-paper with nothing else on it.

Violet: ["... I'm sorry. I don't know what I want to tell him either"] Violet said, catching Luculia slightly-off-guard ["I haven't even understood what is this feeling he makes me feel..."]

In truth, Violet couldn't put in words the safety and comfort and unwavering trust. Like she could be your true self no matter what and be appreciated for it rather than in spite of it. It felt like no matter if she is in physical relation to him, or whether they were in each other's arms, a world apart for months at a time, or just leaving him behind for her studies and her work of hours, their hearts were always together.

Like resentment does not exist and support never lacks.

It isn't a feeling of bliss or constant butterflies, but rather a feeling that no matter what happens you have your significant other next to you every step of the way with unconditional support. A couple of weeks alongside him feels like Christmas morning, a couple of months alongside that boy feels like time has stopped, and with the years they had spent with the other, to Violet, it felt like the comfort of a home.

Like being lost in the right direction.

She felt the freedom to feel safe in her own skin. Like she could still do anything in the world without him, but she would rather not, that every memory she created with him is somehow of the highest caliber, even something small like their conversations. Like having the gaps in her life filled that she didn't even know needed filling. The feeling of having your head in the clouds but feet on the ground all at the same time.

Luculia: ["Violet... What made you want to be a Doll?"]

Violet: ["I want to know what "I love you" means, but..."] She lowered her head, glancing down towards the table ["I also want to know what this feeling in my chest is"]

Luculia: ["What "I love you" means...?"] Luculia also glanced down just as Violet had raised her head ["It's difficult to tell someone how you feel, isn't it?"]

Luculia: ["Truth is, my parents are dead. My brother's the only family I have left... And I don't know what I can say to him"] The girl calmly said, thinking back to the messy house, and his ever-aching hangover ["When the war broke out, he went to fight in the army, but the western front, where he was stationed, saw next-to-no combat"] She thought back on how he would always wake late, and his only leg that remained working ["The war was always being fought somewhere far away, so we never really felt its true impact..."] She thought on how his body wouldn't obey him, and how she would constantly have embarrassing, and painful falls ["But when Dad and Mom went to Herne for trade talks..."]

Violet: ["... The Western front was breached"]

Luculia: ["Nothing was left. Not even their belongings... They say that what killed them was some sort of monstrous gargoyle and a devil in the skin of a child"] Luculia said, thinking back to everything that happened, to everything that is happening, and to everything that will happen ["Can you imagine? Children fighting in the war... But then, the war had ended. My brother came home. I wanted to be happy that he at least came back alive, and I was"]

Even though she knew, Luculia didn't want to believe it. By now, she was sure that, at the time, her brother was getting himself involved in a fight, and drinking nonstop. Unfortunately, she was right, and at the moment, he had faced himself against various other men after being pushed away by the owner of a bar. Surprisingly, however, as he turned around to deliver the first strike, he was quick to do so, like wasn't drunk.

Luculia: ["He was filled with regret about not being able to defend Herne. He'd convinced himself that it was his fault that our parents died..."]

What was even more surprising, is that the man, even though he was out of shape, and clearly drunk, as well as heavily-injured without a functioning leg, remained fighting. As one of the other men tried to attack him, he would rapidly duck under his punch, and tackle his chest by using his shoulder. And with his other arm, clenching his fist as tightly as he could, he would punch ahead, clearly staggering the man.

But on the streets, fights and life are much different than in official matches, and even if the man staggered back, he was quick to attack back. This time around, however, a man moved from behind, grasping the red-haired man's arms, and locking him in place, allowing the older, stronger, and clearly-more-fit man to get a cheap hit against his face. Throwing it a bit to the side along with some blood from the busted lips.

Luculia: ["But that... All of that doesn't matter. I... I'm just really glad that he's still alive..."]

What followed was a straight punch to the gut, causing the boy to lean forward and throw ahead some blood from his busted lips and nose. Growling, he would throw his head back, hitting the back of it against the nose of the man that had grasped against him, and once more, he would try to attack. However, his fate came to worse, as he tumbled to the side thanks to his injured leg, and fell to the ground, clearly damaged.

Luculia: ["All I want is..."]

Unlike what happened, however, what followed after was surprising. Before one of the men could get a cheap shot, he was attacked. No ordinary attack, however, as he was thrown away as if a wild bull had tackled him. Soaring through the air and the other people before he landed face-first against the ground. Everyone, in surprise, turned around to face the new man, who stood there with his fist extended ahead, smirking.

Luculia: ["All I want is to thank him!"]

The other men approached, but the figure wasn't moved by their taunts. Instead, he merely stood up straight, moving away from his leaning-ahead posture. Everyone's eyes widened due to his sheer size that towered over anyone. They could barely reach down against his chest, and let alone his neck, as he glared down at them. His smirk widening by the second as he shot a quick glance towards the fallen, drunk man.

Luculia: ["But I've never gotten the chance and... And I..."]

One of the men tried to attack. Moving away from the daze thanks to the sudden size and posture of the man, as he punched ahead. As his fist made contact with the towering figure's chest, his eyes widened. A bone-crunching noise was heard, followed by a pained scream of horror and clear disdain as the man reeled back his hand. Showing his fingers that were destroyed as if had just punched a brick wall.

Luculia: ["And I kept always running away from him..."]

Before he could react, his face was met with the man's open palm as he grasped his face. Moving him ahead like a sheet of paper, he showed no struggle in lifting away from the ground a fully-grown man, and smashing him against one of the alleyways' walls. A smash so strong that a sudden gust of wind left behind the area, and the wall behind him began to crack, leaving a clear marking of his unfortunate, painful fate.

The red-haired man glanced upwards, pushing past the hangover that ached his head. His eyes widened as he noticed various figures all around him, fallen to the ground and stained with blood. Destroyed limbs, and one of them who had his entire nose carved into his skull, and completely destroyed. One of which, also had all of his teeth turned into nothing but dust, destroyed into extremely small pieces, almost powder.

The red-haired man soon glanced up, noticing the figure towering over him with his back turned. It wouldn't be very hard to notice how his stature was extremely tall, to the point where he could not even see his face. What he could notice, however, was a large smirl slowly making its way to his face. His lips stretched as their ends expanded almost-literally from ear-to-ear, and he slowly began to walk away.

Luculia: ["And now it's... It's all my fault..."]

And so, she broke down, crying her eyes out in front of Violet, who remained there, with her eyes widened in clear surprise and shock. Luculia couldn't hold back the ever-pushing tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. She bawled her eyes out as they flowed with tears as they usually did. This time around, however, she had many more tears flowing then she first had expected while tightly grasping her dress.

The sun, slowly but surely, hid itself behind the horizon, taking with him its glorious rays of red sunshine. It wouldn't be long until very little light was left within the place. In fact, the few golden rays of sunshine that remained slowly peered through the windows. Violet could only glance ahead towards Luculia with clear surprise and amazement present on her face. It wouldn't be long until the doll-like girl spoke up.

Violet: ["Luculia... Write a letter"] She said, surprising the girl who looked up towards her ["A letter where you put all the feelings you wish to express into words"]

Luculia: ["But... I can't never find the right words to say"] Her soft voice gently spoke up while she glanced down in shame ["I've tried many times before, but I just can't do it"] She continued, slowly sighing before she glanced up with a weak, sad smile ["And I don't know if I ever will... Thank you for helping me out, Violet"] Luculia suddenly brightened up, rapidly standing and pushing away her chair while running towards her head ["I'll help you write that letter to Y/N some other time!"]

The red-haired girl picked up her hat as she walked past it. It wouldn't be long before she suddenly walked out the door, barely avoiding a bump against a much larger figure. And as the boy turned around to see her running away, he calmly shrugs before turning around once more, and facing Violet inside the room. The girl looked up at him, showing no expression on her features, but instead, using her words.

Violet: ["A first-rate Doll should understand what the client is speaking..."] Violet calmly spoke, glancing away from the figure and towards the typewriter ["And take from them the feeling they truly wish to express..."]

Calmly, Violet reached down towards her glove. She approached it near her mouth, and was ready to bite on it to take it off. However, before she could do so, she felt two arms calmly wrap around her. Leaning on her shoulder, they gently snaked ahead towards the girl's hands. She gently felt the warmth against her body, prompting her to nuzzle her cheek and her hair against the boy's neck, and gently close her eyes.

Calmly, his fingers held the leather gloves and tugged them up. Slowly, but surely, they removed the gloves away from the girl's hands, and neatly folded in a mere second. It wouldn't be long until they gently sat it aside, and retracted their hands away from Violet's. Calmly tapping away the girl's shoulders and fixing her jacket, he pulled a chair at her side, sitting down and looking down as their eyes met once more.

Y/N: ["Allow me to help you with that..."]

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There, he laid.

Merely staring upwards as he was still beaten and aching all over. The blood that trickled down his broken nose and his busted lips stained his clothes. His back ached as he laid against the cold floor without moving a single inch. In the distance he could still hear the heavy footsteps of the large man moving away, never once bothering to look around himself. And so, he just laid there, watching as the memories replayed.

It wouldn't be long until they continued to flood his mind. Never once, however, they would allow him to rest, as the voice of his sister replayed in his mind. Calling out to him as his steps continued to move up the various fleets of stairs. She continued to call for him as he hurried her to continue moving up. And as she did with a look of slight doubt, her eyes suddenly cleared up as the boy extended a hand down to her.

He remembers the girl's gentle touch as Luculia's hand wrapped around his, and he helped her up. It wouldn't be long until the two had arrived at the top of the massive bell tower which towered over the church. And as they did, and the boy closed behind the hatchet behind him, his sister stepped ahead, and instantly, her eyes went wide. They sparkle in their beautiful, green-colored glow as she drew a quick, sharp breath.

Luculia: ["You were right! It's so pretty-?!"]

Before the girl could continue her words, a sudden breeze blew past. It shook both her hair and her dress forward. Alongside it, however, her hat was also taken away, left to move gently and calmly with the gentle breeze. And even though the boy tried to reach ahead to grasp it, it was already too late as the hat continued to move into the distance. The two of them stood, watching as it continued to move at the horizon.

It wouldn't be long until the man snapped back to reality. Watching as the skies suddenly darkened before his eyes, and he stood, watching the towering tower of the church. Long gone from that damned hallway. Now, there he stood, without showing any sort of emotion save for regret and pain. Slowly, his arm reached ahead, trying to grasp the tower, only for it to once more fall weakly at his side on the ground.

It wouldn't be long until he heard the sound of a sudden, approaching step. His arm rapidly moving to the side, he grasped his cane. Sitting up, he attacked by using the makeshift weapon. It, however, was easily blocked by a figure of a boy with dark hair, and purple, burnt skin. He held the cane back after it had struck his elbow, and he remained unmoving as the girl by his side gently held an oil lamp within her hand.

He stood, watching in surprise and amazement as the two figures kneeled down near him. The girl had a soft and gentle expression on her features, but the boy seemed almost angered at him. His eyes were cold, empty, as if he stared into a dark abyss of nothingness. The larger figure of the boy, however, didn't do anything, and instead he remained there as the girl reached ahead, grasping something between her fingers.

Luculia's Brother: ["You two... Aren't you two Luculia's- eh?"] He stopped talking, and glanced at the letter that Violet held ["What... What is this-"]

Violet: ["My mission- No, my duty"] Violet said, glancing down at him still ["Or rather, a letter"] At this, Y/N glanced towards Violet, who didn't notice his eyes softening ["From Luculia to you"]

Luculia's Brother: ["From Luculia...?"]

Calmly, he picked the letter in his hand, sitting up straight. Lowering his cane, it also prompted Y/N to lower his arm. Violet, watching as the man gently opened the letter, reached her oil lamp ahead, shining it over the piece of paper with just a couple of words written into it, giving a better clearance towards the letter. And so, the man, after staring at it for a second, began to read with his weakened, and pained voice.

Luculia's Brother: ["Dear brother... I'm glad that you're here for me"]

The man began to read, and his voice cracked while the tears formed in his trembling eyes. His teeth gritting, the man's left eye closed for a moment as the now-purple bruise around it had become quite shiny thanks to his tears. Tears that were no longer bound by his eyes, and instead, they flowed down from it, and down past his cheeks, staining the clothes as he continued to ignore the stinging sensation of the cuts.

Luculia: ["Thank you for everything..."]

His shaky and cracked voice continued to echo through the empty and dark streets. His tears stained the paper sheet of the letter as his eyes continued to tremble nonstop. Gagging against his own words thanks to the aching throat and the sadness and happiness mixture within, the man closed both of his eyes. They opened, however, once he heard the small sound of movement, and watched the boy stand.

There, the three of them stood. In the silent, dead, and empty streets within the ends of the staircase within the small church. It wouldn't be long until Y/N reached down, and extended his hand forward towards the red-haired boy, and nodded his head. His serious looks, even though intimidating, were weirdly comforting, as if he was a doctor looking after his patients, even among the eerie silence within the nights.

Even though the three of them stood alone, the world never felt so comforting and so warm for the three of them. It wouldn't be long before the moon had set itself in the skies, bringing down such beautiful, white sunshines of silver. And so, the boy reached ahead, and grasped Y/N's hand as the boy easily, but gently, pulled him from the ground. Sneaking the red-haired boy's arm around his neck, Y/N nodded his head.

Y/N: ["You're in need of medical attention. I shall take care of your wounds"]

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Cattleya: ["Welcome back~!"]

Violet, entering the room, nodded her head in appreciation as Y/N held the door open for her before closing it behind himself. In the small room stood Cattleya and Benedict, the two of them sitting opposites to one another with a small teapot and two tea cups in front of them. Violet glanced up towards Y/N who nodded towards her. And so, the two of them heard as the mature, black-haired woman once more spoke.

Cattleya: ["Where have you two been?"] The woman gently questioned ["You were out awfully late"]

Violet: ["School"]

Y/N: ["And by the way, where's the boss?"]

Benedict: ["A union get-together, apparently"] The boy replied before he hummed, and glanced up towards the two ["Wait, weren't you both already through with school?"]

Violet: ["That's correct, but I wrote a letter today"] The girl spoke, and her soft tone still surprised the two others ["I don't know if I managed to convey my clients feelings, though"]

Cattleya: ["Oh... Is that so?"] Cattleya said with a smile that suddenly disappeared as she stood up ["That's right! Can you believe what this idiot did?!"] She growled, pointing a finger towards Benedict ["He left a wet cup on top of a letter I'd ghostwritten!"]

Benedict: ["You're the idiot! It's your fault for leaving the letter there!"]

Cattleya: ["Seriously, what's with your attitude?!"]

Benedict: ["Oh, for crying out loud!"]

All the blonde-haired girl did was gently glance back and forth between the two as they argued. Her eyes, soft and calm as ever, blinked merely once as her gaze moved away from Benedict and towards Cattleya. Y/N, much like her, remained silent, and merely followed the two, exchanging his glance from one towards the other every few moments. The two didn't speak a word, and instead, remained quiet, and quite calm.

Violet gently nodded her head, and it wouldn't be long until she felt a gentle warmth against her head and her hair. Glancing up, she noticed Y/N gently running his fingers across her hair, which prompted the girl's eyes to close, and she gently stood on her tip-toes to push the top of her head further against Y/N's hand. As the boy reeled his hand back, Violet held it against her own hands, and put it back on top of her head.

Just another night at the CH Postal Company.

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As usual, it rang.

The people went on with their either boring or exciting lives, once more walking or driving the roads of life. Everything was usual for a moment, but as always, there is always something odd going on. And that something on this particular day just-so-happened to be the figure of a young, red-haired woman running through the streets. Her rapid and hurried steps were matched only by her large, wide smile.

And so, as she approached the large doors in the distance, she pushed them open with all of the strength she had. Entering the large, empty area of the CH Postal Company for the first time in her life, her wide, wide smile and wide eyes remained. She stepped within the room, and gasped for the name of the girl, taking in a few deep breaths thanks to how fast she had run, Luculia was clearly, and understandably tired.

Violet: ["Luculia..."]

The girl called, prompting the red-haired girl to glance to the side. There, she noticed Violet standing on the sofa against the wall and clearing the windows. Behind her was Y/N, wiping away the dust that her boots left behind and throwing them out the window. Noticing the two, Luculia's previously-large smile widened even more into a happy and very-satisfied manner as the girl gave them a glance of clear excitement.

Violet: ["What's the matter...?"]

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Rhodanthe: ["Good morning, Violet"]

Within the large, familiar room filled with various chairs and desks, a place very familiar to the four figures inside, stood only the four of them. Side-by-side was Violet and Y/N, and as usual, the girl kept her hands behind her back and the boy had both hands inside his pockets. To the side, with a happy and excited smile, was Luculia, glancing between Violet and the older, black-haired instructor, who glanced at her.

Violet: ["Instructor. I thought the course was complete"]

Luculia: ["Sorry~... I've barged in and asked her"]

Rhodanthe: ["Luculia showed me this letter"] The woman said, calmly picking up the sheet of paper ["This letter from her to her brother, which you ghostwrote"] She said, prompting a face of surprise to spread across Violet's face.

Luculia: ["I'd never been able to tell my brother how I felt about him..."] The girl said, having a small blush on her face as she looked towards Violet ["But Violet, you helped me express it better than I could ever do by myself~!"]

Violet stood there, clearly amazed and surprised by the sudden reception from the two women. It wasn't long before Y/N stepped to the side once Rhodanthe stepped ahead, picking up a small, black-colored box from her back, and opened it to reveal a small, golden brooch. Picking it up, she approached it towards Violet, and gently, she began to put it against the blonde girl's russian-blue-colored jacket, serious as usual.

Rhodanthe: ["A first-rate Doll should understand the words the client is speaking and take from them the feelings they truly wish to express"] She spoke as Violet continued to glance down with her eyes wide-open in clear surprise and shock ["You have just taken that first step. Violet... May you be an exemplary Doll, and bring fortune for the name of our school"]

Rhodanthe had a large smile on her lips as she glanced down towards Violet. The girl, looking at her brooch, raised her head once she had heard her name leaving Rhodanthe's lips. It wouldn't be long until she felt a sudden pressure against her chest, and was faced with Luculia tackling her into a large hug. Y/N, moving to stand Violet, allowed her to lean towards him, and gently, the man reached to pat her head.

Luculia: ["... Thank you so much, Violet"]

The girl said with her smile widening, and tears forming in her eyes. It wouldn't be long until Violet felt Y/N's fingers gently running against her hair. At the same time, Luculia nuzzled her head towards Violet, gently shoving her face against the girl's upper-chest into a tight hug. At the same time, Violet glanced down at Luculia, but soon raised her head to face Y/N, who gave her a nod, and a calm, soft glance.

Y/N: ["I'm proud of you, Violet"]

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Letters don't always have to be filled with lots of flowery language.

Back inside that large room filled with booths that were so familiar to all faces present, stood the four people usually in the place. Hodgins, who smiled with a letter present in his hand, and looking at Violet's new brooch. Erica, who looked ahead towards the two with a large, but gentle smile. Cattleya, who remained with her arms crossed underneath her bust, and smiled towards Violet. Iris, who was just being Iris.

Sometimes, it only takes a sentence or two to express one's feelings.

The fifth, however, stood away. The man sat against the roof, feeling the gentle breeze shake his hair and his trench coat as he stood there by himself. Holding in his hand a large brooch of the very-familiar chess symbol with a bleeding heart. Calmly reaching it ahead, Y/N held it within his own heart, taking in a deep, deep breath before he exhaled. Slowly, his eyes opened, and he glanced away into the beautiful horizon.

I think that's one of the most importants things for a Doll to understand...

Once more, the two hands of the siblings met, and one of them was pulled upwards by the hatch of the large bell tower. This time around, however, the sister helped the brother up instead of him being the one to pull her. There, with her hat gently grasped by her own hands, Luculia glanced towards her brother, who gave her a large smile. But, of course, not before he took in the view with a happy look on his eyes and lips.

And that's the thing that those two taught me. They were a bit doll-like and statue-like in appearance. A bit like soldiers, and a bit strange, but...

They were truly-wonderful people...

<<<<<< I >[---]< I >>>>>>

[Published in - 04/29/22]
[Word Count - 16.543]

Sorry about the wait.
I was meant to finish this chapter earlier, but procrastination is a bitch.