“Thank you, Parkov.” A new window appeared, and both newscasters took up one side of the screen each. A woman had appeared in the new window, green hair dancing in the wind as she ascended what looked like the walls of the fortress. “I’m Emilia, the permanent staff stationed at the enormous fortress at the Great Divide! It was supposed to be a break for me, but reality really hates following plans.”

“I was planning to wake up at six today, but my body decided that doing so at eight was a better idea. That’s why I was late to work today,” Chester replied with a flourish. “But enough about me. Emilia, what’s going on at the Great Divide?”

“A black ring has appeared within the Great Divide,” Emilia replied. “It happened a few hours ago, and the Heaven-cleaving Fortress is now on full alert. This phenomenon is suspected to be linked to the passing of the Human God, and as we speak, forces from all over the world are preparing to reinforce World’s End.”

She paused. “In fact, it would seem that the first reinforcements are already on their way. Marshal Marie, Chief of Air for the Republic of Francois, is already at the fortress.”

Adjusting whatever passed for a video camera around Orb and turning it to a familiar person…two familiar people, in fact, the newscaster began to approach the pair, who were staring at the ring and discussing matters quietly.

“Excuse me!” Emilia called out. “Marshal Marie of the Republic, can I have an interview?”

The two started, and then turned to the camera.

After a moment of awkward silence, the marshal adjusted her uniform and asked, “You are?”

“I’m Emilia, a reporter from the Northern News Network, stationed here to report on any updates regarding the war to come,” Emilia replied. “Do you have a moment for an interview?”

“Normally, I’d say that I wouldn’t, but as matters stand, we’re all just standing around here and staring at the black ring. Go ahead. Do note that I will not answer any questions of a sensitive nature, however.”

Colonel Aziz nodded along. The camera shifted to his rather lean frame for a moment, and for a moment, Gaius had a feeling that this reporter was giving the colonel a once-over. Stifling an urge to laugh, he squeezed Isabelle’s hand lightly, rubbed Nakama’s head, and then returned his attention to the interview.

“Marshal Marie, what do you think about the sudden appearance of this ring?” Emilia asked.

“Naturally, it’s caused by the passing of the Human God,” Marie replied. “This ring appeared immediately after his death. There’s no way I can link it to anything else.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you know about the Human God’s death? I just found out about it an hour ago, but it seems that your troops are already here,” Emilia replied. “Are those rumours about you and Colonel Aziz being connected to the great gods true?”

“Wait, what?”

Another awkward silence passed as the two soldiers exchanged bemused glances. “That’s a first for me.”

“And me too,” the colonel added. “No, we were watching the unveiling of the next-gen military model of the Display when the attack happened.”

“I see.” Emilia cleared her throat. “I apologise for bringing up these baseless rumours.”

“No harm done.” The marshal turned away from the camera to look at the Great Divide, an action that the camera followed faithfully. It was a huge black wall that towered to the skies and beyond, but it wasn’t a solid black; it was a translucent black. Within the huge wall, Gaius could see a thick ring of solid darkness; even though the colours were similar, the opacity of the ring made it stand out.

He didn’t like that ring at all.

“Marshal Marie, are your troops at this fortress?” Emilia ventured another question.

“They’re on the way to the Heaven-cleaving Fortress,” the marshal replied. “I’m planning to register at the Hall of Guardians, and then have them construct secondary defence lines behind the frontlines. This ring isn’t going to change my mind much, unless it collapses tomorrow or something.”

“Please don’t jinx it,” Gaius muttered.

“I haven’t had enough of a peaceful life yet,” Isabelle added. “And this idiot wants to run off to fight as soon as possible. Please don’t go down that quickly, mister Great Divide.”

“My Mecham’s not done yet!”

The three of them looked at each other, before laughing.

Gaius sighed, and then gave Isabelle a hug. “If only we can be like this forever.”

Nakama pouted and ran over to Gaius. “Give me a hug too!”

“Fine. There, there.” Gaius didn’t quite dare to hug her the way he did for Isabelle, however. Her physical body wasn’t anywhere close to Isabelle’s; Nakama was still very much a Soldier. Rubbing her head, Gaius picked up a cushion and continued to watch the soldiers discuss about their plans going forward. It was more idle chatter, although Gaius found himself amused by how the marshal deflected any and all questions about her private life by bringing out the colonel beside her.

Gaius had the feeling that Colonel Aziz was going to be a name mumbled and cursed at by single men for years to come after this stunt, a sentiment that was clearly shared by the unfortunate colonel himself, whose lips were twitching. Was it really alright to turn one’s subordinate into a target of jealousy?

“These two seem rather affectionate,” Isabelle muttered.

“As far as I know, though, they don’t seem to be together,” Gaius replied, in an equally quiet voice. “If you ask me, they seem to be best friends of a sort. On Earth, I believe they called this the, uh, friendzone. Something like…two people who just can’t seem to take the last step.”

Gaius wasn’t quite sure if he got it correct, but he had no obligation to be either. As long as Isabelle knew that he wasn’t quite sure about the term, nothing else mattered.

“The two of them look like they’re playing a game or something, though,” Isabelle replied. Gaius couldn’t quite imagine the two of them playing games like this, but Isabelle had always been a better judge of people than him.

“Let’s just leave them be,” Gaius replied. Sparing the television one last glance, he stifled a yawn and got up. “How’s Xanadu?”

“She was asleep earlier, so I’m not too sure.”

“Let’s go check up on her, then.”