1.43. Truce

<Avner Cross>

Just who is Avner? He's a character written by Novelle which hasn't even been fleshed out completely by. Same goes for Pu'er.

Rather, Pu'er is a character that appears more often compared to Avner. Rurita had visited hirs home before, to complete a school project. And that was how I know Pu'er lives in an apartment. Though I didn't know which until xe showed me the way.

Still. It doesn't resolve anything in the slightest. I couldn't even bring myself to reject hir. I knew right away when I met hirs parents, and the shouts I heard after I left, the kind of family Pu'er is from.

I can't tell if Pu'er Julis is acting as Pu'er Greenwood, or that they are two separate characters. Because in <Cookie Cult>, you only feel Pu'er Julis' personality. Pu'er Greenwood's innocence is nowhere to be found.

I also faced some pretty unwelcomed words from my mom when I got back. I got home later than the time I told them. Moreover, I confessed that hir was late because xe tried to sneak out of the house. Not that they would do all that investigation.

Randell wouldn't simply spill the beans either.

Which makes me inclined to think that perhaps the AIs are working alongside angels and demons to cover up evidence of the war. Randell should've seen discrepancies play out in the real world yet, the AI did nothing to point out anything of this sort.

"How did it go?"

"I didn't reject hir, not did I accept."

"What the.. are you a saint?"

I gave Ares a safe answer. Pu'er forgot to ask me the cardinal question that night. I don't intend to pursue it. So by chance Pu'er asks him, the answer is on the fence.

Avner is unable to reject hir. I can only respect his wish, for now.

Ultimately, I'm still finding Novelle.

"Hey look."

Ares waved at Pu'er.

I turned to look at hir. Xe looks cuter today, somehow. Also, that hair pin. My guess is that-that's the jewel to the bastard sword.

On that note, the acrylic keychains for the weapons that broke during the fight became cracked, or crumbled at specific parts. What a nice detail.

"Where are you going?"

"Somewhere."

I walked up to hir.

"Morning."

"M-Morning.."

"Let's go."

"G-Go?"

"To see the teacher."

"Ah.. yes.."

I walked in front, xe followed me from behind.

I received a few uncanny looks from the passing people. How many people exactly did Pu'er notify of Friday night's confession? Or I'm I just being self-conscious?

This time, we were headed to a function room which Cain had booked prior. I followed the AR guides as follows, making our way up a couple floors.

On the way I saw the person who had a crush on Lynda. He misunderstood my intention last time, and can't remember his name anymore.

One long hallway, function room number 10.

Pu'er and I entered, Cain already seated inside along with an unfamiliar guy in a business suit. A meeting venue design with an oval table, in-built microphones, and a glass screen for presentation purposes. The glass windows were tuned to opaque. Artificial plants were placed in all four corners of the room.

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

"Have a seat."

"So these are the two?"

"Avner, is there any reason why you brought hir here?"

"Xe's awakened as a fledgling."

"I see."

"So you're Avner, nice to meet you. You can call me Eugine."

He reached out his hands for a handshake.

I accepted it, he's got a firm grip.

"You're Pu'er I heard?"

"Yes."

They shook hands too.

"Let's move on to the main point. My friend here said that you're a demon, your class is a frigate. Though, my friend here says that you're extremely proficient, do you have any way to prove that?"

"No. I don't."

"No?"

"If you want proof, we'll just go to the astral space."

"Then let's do that," Eugine smiled. A business-like smile.

The all too familiar sensation of being thrown into space assailed me once again.

"Where.."

"Welcome to the astral plane, Pu'er. You're now one of us."

Pu'er tapped on hirs frozen body, going all the way to pinching the nose and telling me to.

"Not peek at my panties!"

Funny. Not. The two other angels laughed, I didn't.

"By the way, Cain. Sorry about this, I broke the weapons you gave me."

I took out the broken jewels. The weapons flopped to the ground, shattered.

His eyes turned sharp.

"Who did you fight?"

"An angel."

Eugine knelt down and examined the damages.

"This doesn't look normal at all. Are you sure he's a fledgling? I understand you said he holds some potential, but to this extent?"

"He's a fledgling. His contacts are empty, moreover, he doesn't even have a hex."

What is a hex?

"Oh, I see it, it's empty."

"What?"

"There's this pop up that tells me everything about you.. I don't mean it in that way, okay?"

"Pu'er, your class is a submarine?"

"Yes. What does that mean?"

"There are different class operatives, and each comes with their own abilities."

So I'm guessing that submarines have to do with covert operations and the ability to check another person's identity.

"There are a lot of Submarines born around these parts. We'll have to dispatch some to other areas soon."

"Avner, what happened to the person you fought?"

"Xe ran away. Rather, xe just disappeared, mysteriously. I don't know how to explain it."

"Hm.."

Cain looked at the broken weapons once more.

{WARNING: PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE NEAREST DEMON ASSOCIATION TO ATONE FOR YOUR SINS}

"Cain, I'm sorry, the way I see it. I don't think it's possible for the association to accept someone like him."

"Why?"

"He's too young."

"What has age got to do with his entry? All angels that become fledglings can be accepted regardless of their age, and you're saying the same doesn't apply to demons?"

"Cain, I understand what you're trying to say. However, we shouldn't mix up angels and demons."

A sour expression surfaced on Cain's face.

"W-What does that mean?"

"Stay away from him, miss, he's dangerous."

A tingling sensation crawled up my skin, I took a step backwards. A halberd shot down from the ceiling and stuck itself on the ground before me.

"Cain, you can't be fooled. He's no fledgling."

"Eugine, listen to me! He's God's lamb! How dare yo.."

"Do you wish to be executed?"

"..."

I took out one of the two good jewels left and produced the plasma cannon. The drones had already been destroyed, all that's left is the main cannon.

The tension in the room began to rise. All doors were shut. No escape.

This won't be easy.