Chapter 21 : follow me everyone,"

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"Excalibur's Rapidly, Transparency, and Destruction have arrived, sir!" One of the workers called out.

"Well then, what are you waiting for? Unlock them already!" Harcreutz replied, "You three, come on up and grab your weapons."

With a level of nonchalance that frankly baffled Vin; Xenovia, Ethan, and Vanessa each walked up to one of the machines, as they hissed with releasing pressure.

The sides and top of the machines folded back to reveal a piece of machinery in the middle, a different looking sword sheathed in each one.

Grabbing them, the three Exorcists-in-training pulled the mechanical sheathes free of their outer casing, as they grabbed onto a handle situated on the side, leaving them to hold the swords like they were suitcases.

"Alright, follow me everyone," Harcreutz waved, as he began to lead the group down the hangar, walking until they arrived at the end of a parked city bus.

Harcreutz turned around, patting the back of the vehicle proudly "This here's your transport for the mission. Looks like a standard civilian bus, except it's got tinted windows, a fake license plate, and has enough disguised armor plating to survive a bombing! The others have already gotten the thing fueled up for your trip, so hop aboard everyone!"

As he entered into the bus, Vin was surprised to find that the traditional bus seat layout had been forgone in the favor of a few long, upholstered benches that spanned the length of the bus. As he looked around for a spot to sit, his eyes found purchase in one sight.

Away from the others embroiled in their amicable conversation sat Xenovia, quiet and reserved as usual, her sheathed weapon sitting across her lap.

The sight stirred some form of recollection within Vin's mind, as he realized she was the same as he once was. Not necessarily shy, just… distant.

He understood the mentality fine enough, but was intimately familiar enough with it that he knew the harrowing isolation that came with it. So, summoning up his spirit, Vin made his choice, and fell down into the seat next to the bluenette.

Xenovia didn't make any sort of reaction beyond looking up as Griselda came aboard, and secured herself into the driver's seat of the bus.

The exorcist flicked several buttons on the bus's dashboard, before grabbing a radio, "This is Griselda Quarta, secured and ready for dispatch, over."

Vin bolted as an intercom suddenly shot to life in the hangar, "Roger Ms. Quarta, this is mission control, preparing for dispatch in three, two, one…"

A large mechanical hiss could be heard beneath their feet, as Vin peered over his shoulder and out the tinted windows to see that the platform where their vehicle sat was being raised up into the ceiling,

up and up, until eventually, it hissed to a stop in what looked to be a large garage with an open gate, two workers standing on either side, and holding traffic control batons to signal them.

Griselda turned the keys of the bus, as the powerful engine rumbled to life, "This is Griselda Quarta, proceeding to deployment, over."

The radio feedback was clear, even from where they sat in the bus, "Understood. Godspeed, Ms. Quarta, over."

And with that, the bus shot out of the gate, and soon effortlessly merged into the early afternoon traffic, nothing amiss to anyone else in the world.

Griselda turned on the GPS of the bus, giving a small glance at the estimated travel time, "Alright everyone, we're prepared to arrive at our mission's destination in three and a half hours. Let's take that time to review mission details, Jafar?"

The man pulled out a file folder, idly flipping it open while Ethan peered over to get a glimpse, "The stray devil we're dealing with is known as Augustus, cause of defection from a devil's peerage is unknown. Eyewitness reports claim that he's mutated badly, and has been consuming wildlife and people alike in the rural outskirts we're heading to."

"Very good, anything else?"

"None," Jafar shook his head as he snapped the folder closed, "Looks like we're going to have to play this one by ear."

"Indeed," Griselda replied, her eyes never leaving the road ahead of her.

Soon enough, the rest of the bus fell back into comfortable conversation, while Vin and Xenovia still sat in silence that, at least to Vin, was growing more and more awkward.

"So… Xenovia, I never got to ask, do you… have any hobbies?"

Finally, Xenovia looked up from her lap, "Define hobbies."

He scratched the back of his head, "I don't know, I guess anything that you enjoy doing. C'mon, you know what a hobby is."

"Hmmm," Xenovia put a hand to her chin, "Training."

Wow, no shit...

"Alright, bad question," Vin sighed, "What's your favorite color?"

Xenovia shot him a deadpanned glare, "I don't have one, that's ridiculous."

"Xenovia, you have a favorite color. Or at the very least, you should have some colors you like more than others."

"What's your goal here?" Xenovia snapped.

Well, time to drop all pretenses of subtly, "I'm trying to get to know you better. We're allies, and I can already name more than five facts each about everyone here, except you."

"Very well," Xenovia conceded with a sigh, "I'm an exorcist-in-training under renowned exorcist Griselda Quarta.

I specialize in offense attacks, and am a natural holy sword wielder from birth, an incredibly rare trait. I'm training in order to master a powerful holy sword in my possession. There, satisfied?"

"Xenovia, that's not what I'm talking about…" Vin pinched his brow in exasperation, "I'm not asking to know about Xenovia: the exorcist, I'm asking to know about Xenovia: the human being. The girl beneath the title of exorcist."

Xenovia scoffed, "You're wasting your time, then. You don't seem to understand, Vin; there is no difference, I am who and what I am, and that's an exorcist for the church, period."

"But why?"

Xenovia paused, "I beg your pardon?"

All in all, thanks so much for the detailed review, I thought it was really wonderful. I hope that I get to hear from you again, and I hope that you enjoy this chapter, rock on!

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