Cry of Alleviation

"We're back here again."

In the office room, the room filled with blue screens, Fein, with the help of Eudimor met Yulia again. While Eudimor stood behind making no expression and in silence, Fein stepped ahead.

"I'll work with you. If only you fulfil my demand."

"Let's hear what you want."

"You're the warden here, right? You must have a list of survivors boarding this vessel…"

Yulia listened to Fein speak with her head resting on her upright palm.

"... I'm looking for a certain person."

"Please tell me in detail what they look like."

Fein was doubtful. He expected Yulia to refuse him at once. It affirmed him that the DOR required him for the rescue of the other vessel.

Or that they simply wouldn't mind helping me as long as I come of their use. "She shares the same face as me, except her eyes are violet."

"Any distinctive quality?"

"There's a mole on her cheekbone. Also.." Fein drew out his locket and showed it to her. "The ve part of this locket should be with her."

Yulia twirled her chair. Picking up the cordless intercom, she described the details about Rene shared to her. "Yes. Make haste and search for any girl that matches the description. Yes. The morgue as well."

Fein gasped hearing the word morgue. But there was also a sign of hope that he might be able to find her with their help.

Yulia raised her chin and told him. "I've sent people to look for your sister. In the meantime, should we discuss our work?"

"Sure. But first I'd like to see the person I'm looking for."

"You know.." Yulia scoffed. "You really are demanding.

Two hours of searching, finally a response came. Yulia put the intercom back in its place and turned to Fein. "They said they found a girl with similar criteria…"

Fein, who sat on an office chair, made a few movements before straightening his spine.

"In the morgue…"

Darkness shrouded on his eyes.

It cannot be….

"Would you like to go and see if she's the one you were looking for?"

Fein reluctantly replied, "Yes." He knew he wouldn't be able to handle the loss of his sister. Though he also didn't want to be left hanging in uncertainty.

Accompanied by the men who searched for her body, Fein halted close to a stretcher in the dimly lit morgue. Her body was covered underneath a white blanket. Without even lifting up the blanket, Fein became somewhat close to sure.

The structure of the body, the height, the hair colour, it all resembles Rene.

Badump badump badump, his heart raced.

All the cells in his body told him to check the face under the blanket, but his heart refused.

A whirlwind of thoughts surged into his mind. What if it actually is Rene? I'm still not ready to lose two people in a day.

The sweats ran over his hairlines, rolling down his forehead. Palms were getting colder and slippery. The storm inside him had no signs of wearing down.

He'd rather want his heart to stop beating altogether than beating so fast.

It feels like it will explode!

He grasped the tip of the blanket with his fingers in tremor.

Even if she's dead…

He turned his head away from the body and closed his eyes.

I at least want to see her!

Quickly he removed the cover. The girl lying on the stretcher, with a golden chain around her neck and a mole on her cheekbone….

His eyes couldn't get anymore wider as Fein glanced down at her half deformed face.

It…

It isn't Rene!

A huge breath left from his mouth. The rampant storm in his heart stopped raging. A heavy burden lifted from his chest. The pale girl lying on the bed wasn't his sister Rene. Even the golden locket around her neck was different.

"She isn't the one I was looking for." Fein put the blanket back on her face.

"But your descriptions matched with her."

"Sorry. It was a fault from my part. I didn't mention that the mole was on her left cheek. Not right."

"Then forgive us. We found no such girl who had similar characteristics in this vessel." Those men could see only the back of Fein under the dim lights.

"Its alright. Thank you for helping me until now."

They couldn't see his face. Fein didn't allow them. His head was hung so low that no one could see his face. He strode straight back to his cabin without regarding Yulia and all the works that awaited him.

What no one could see…

Was the tears slipping down his cheeks like an endless stream. It wasn't a cry for grief. Rather a cry of alleviation.

At least Rene is somewhere out there! Not in a morgue lying dead! I can still find her.

In his cabin, he slid down, leaning with the door. He raised his knees and hid his head behind them. The locket in between his fingers was raised at the light, shoulders trembled. A corner of Lo glinted.

"Please.. don't be dead.. Rene."

Yulia, in another room, smirked at her smartphone. She had been monitoring Fein from the morgue to his room. She wasn't aware that he was crying but she did realize what he must be experiencing.

A little boy worried for his sister.

"How cute." Unintentionally she spoke the words, startling the other person in front of her.

"Sorry. I didn't catch you."

Yulia raised her glances from her smartphone before putting it back on the table. "Oh do pardon me. Shall we continue again? Kuina Lemberg."

The girl, tugging herself together, rotated her eyeballs left and right in anxiety.

"Errrm. I did come to a decision…"

"Please. I'd love to hear." Yulia leaned forward. "What have you decided?"

"I've thought a lot… and finally recognized how i actually felt.." Kuina's quivering eyes stalled and stared straight at Yulia. "Like i thought. I really do want to protect people. I don't mind going into the front lines if need be. But… As you said.. Beast Slayers work in their own way… I.. I'm not a big fan of action. So i think… I don't have enough will to fight head on with beasts. But…" Kuina elongated her neck. "I do want to protect people with what i have."

"I see. I totally understand you." Yulia softly smiled. "You didn't have to hesitate so much. Everyone has their own preferences and I respect yours."

"I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry." Spreading her arms on the backrest of the couch, Yulia crossed her feet. "Since you're willing to protect people, you can consider joining the DOR. Here not all goes out in battles. And of course we prioritize people's safety more than anything."

"Joining the DOR?" Kuina shifted her head lower. Taking a few minutes, she finally arrived to her resolve. "Please let me join the DOR!"

"Sure. You're always welcome here."