The Inspector takes a half-turn and looks at Raia. He runs his gaze over her, and one corner of his mouth quirks up. "You must be the healer. It's great to have someone like you in the Order."

Raia's face remains expressionless as she meets his intimidating gaze. She doesn't understand fully the situation, and she has no idea who the man is. They call him the Inspector, and it's apparent that he holds such authority in the place.

"I'm really grateful you were with Raiden. We might have already lost one warrior if it hadn't been for you. So I'm thinking . . . you two should always be assigned to missions together, "Antoine declares. He sweeps his gaze over them, an enigmatic smile on his face, then looks at Raia again.

"I'm sure you don't know who I am, so allow me to explain. I'm General Inspector Antoine Lewis of the Carnegie Corps, the armed forces of the Holy Church, and that also makes me in charge of the Order." He pauses and gives her a smug smile. "And now, I'm ordering you, little disciple, to stay with this boy during your missions and use your healing if his body requires it."

"She will not!" Raiden growls before Raia can respond.

Antoine scowls and raises a hand, but Nathan leaps from his seat and grabs the man's wrist before he can slap Raiden again.

"Nathan!" Nihar hisses, rising from his seat. He casts a wary look between him and Antoine.

"Touch him again, and words will reach the Ministry leaders," Nathan snarls, his eyes blazing.

Antoine's lips curl into a wry smile as he stares with equal intensity into Nathan's coal-black eyes. "Bishop Galbraith, are you perhaps failing to keep track of the behavior of your people?"

Cyrus stiffens, but he quickly regains his composure. He clenches his fists and clears his throat, his gaze fixed on Nathan. "Nathan Farquharson, please be mindful of your behavior."

When Nathan refuses to let go of Antoine's wrist, Nihar takes the initiative and drags him away from the Inspector's reach.

Antoine's cold stare pierces him. "Do you wish to return to your home and forget about being a disciple? I'd be more than happy to send you back." A wicked grin spreads across his face. When Nathan stiffens, his eyes gleam with amusement.

Nathan casts one last glare at the man before settling into the seat next to Nihar.

Antoine snorts and returns his attention to Raiden. "As I previously stated, you will need to stay close to the healer at all times to avoid being killed. Is that clear?"

When Raiden doesn't respond, Antoine asks again, this time in a louder and stronger tone of voice. "Is that clear, Raiden Oliver Kara?"

Raiden looks at Raia, but the girl only stares at him, her eyes vacant. She maintains a neutral expression as she analyzes the situation at hand.

Raia has a vague recollection of a similar situation. Cyrus had previously requested her cooperation in looking after Raiden before they embarked on their mission. Cyrus's desperation to keep Raiden safe has to be related to the current situation. And, based on what she's seen recently with Nathan, the Inspector doesn't seem to treat other Aragons the same way he does Raiden. So there's definitely something strange going on here. They're treating Raiden as if he's a valuable object that must be protected.

They're concealing something important, something related to Raiden's existence.

Does it have anything to do with that as well? Raia reflects on Raiden's abrupt change of demeanor during their fight with the Cimmerian.

Anyhow, I'm going to have to keep an eye on that disciple and figure it out on my own.

Raiden grits his teeth. "I . . . I can't."

Antoine grabs Raiden's chin and forces him to look him in the eyes. "You don't make your own decisions here, boy. I decide things here, and I'm ordering you to stay with the healer at all costs."

"You're not going to ask my opinion on this, Inspector?" Raia speaks up, emphasizing his title.

Antoine looks at her with a scowl on his face, as if he doesn't expect her to speak. "What are you trying to say, healer?"

Despite being in the presence of someone in authority, Raia's eyes show no signs of fear or inferiority. "I'm saying that I want my voice to be heard on this matter. It's my power, after all."

The Inspector snorts and lets Raiden go, shoving him so hard that he almost falls backward. "Don't you dare disobey me too, newbie."

"I don't care if you have power over this organization, Inspector. If you disregard the opinions of others, I don't think you deserve my respect. Especially after seeing how you treat your people." Her eyes darken as she stares at him.

"I'm the healer, so I get to decide when and with whom I use my power," she continues, a note of firmness in her voice. She doesn't know why she suddenly feels angry after seeing Antoine hurt Raiden. But, after hearing his pitiful reason and how he's attempting to control the life of an innocent boy, she can't just sit back and watch it happen before her eyes.

Just by observing Antoine, Raia can already tell what kind of person he is. He's a cruel man who enjoys using his authority to compel others to do his will. Those sharp eyes of his clearly indicate that he is someone with a manipulative nature, and those kinds of people are someone Raia can easily recognize. Based on his recent actions, he doesn't seem to care about the Aragons' well-being. And he scolded Raiden not because he cares about the boy's life, but because he cares about him as an object.

He's not an enemy, but he's also not someone she can call an ally. Someone cannot be trusted. Raia will have to keep an eye on this man and figure out the reason for his harsh action toward Raiden.

"I just fixed his body, after all, so don't go ruining it again. And what? Is being injured now a sin? Is there such a rule I'm not aware of?" Raia's voice is quiet and calm, but there is an edge to it. "Do you even know what it means to be a warrior? As a member of the military, and an inspector at that, you must know more than anyone else in this room. Every time we leave this place, there's no guarantee we'll return. And Kara is no exemption."

"Y-you! How dare you speak to me in that manner!"

"Inspector," Raia drawls. "Don't overstep your authority. I'm an Aragon, so I'm already your weapon. Being your healer is something entirely different. I don't like it when someone tries to take over my entire life."

Antoine's jaw tightens but he doesn't say anything.

"Don't take away my last vestiges of liberty," Raia adds in a calm voice, a wave of rage washing over her.

Cyrus clears his throat after an endless stretch of tense silence.

"Inspector, Raia's right," Cyrus says. "I don't think it's something we still have a hold on. Let her make her own decision about this. And I doubt the Ministry's leaders will agree on this either."

"What a surprise. So you don't want to ensure this boy's safety?" Antoine sneers.

Cyrus flinches for a split second but quickly recovers. "We must still respect the opinions of our people. Healing, in particular, is not something that can be done easily." He gives Raia a hesitant look.

"So, healer, you don't care if someone dies just because you refuse to heal them?" Antoine says as he approaches Raia and towers over her, attempting to appear intimidating, but Raia's face remains impassive.

"That's no longer my problem nor do I care," Raia answers, her face devoid of any expression. "I'm only here to destroy demons. If I see fit to save someone, then I'll act like a savior."

"How despicable! How daring of you to say such an immoral thing. Do you even hear yourself? You're a disciple of Light. Act like one!"

"Is it now a rule to act like a saint?"

"What -" Antoine starts, but Raia cuts him off.

"As I've said, I decide when and with whom I use my power. I don't want anyone forcing me to use my healing on random people."

Don't make me come to the conclusion that this organization is no different than that orphanage.

"The angels must have made a mistake in blessing someone as cruel as you," Antoine speaks in a low voice, glaring at her, but Raia only stares at him with an unwavering gaze. The inspector is the first to look away. He takes a step back and glances at Cyrus. "Nonetheless, I command that these two be assigned to the same team. Permanently." His lips form a smirk. "Let us put this matter to rest right now. So, healer, do you mind if I inquire about the whereabouts of your master?" His eyes flicker back to Raia.

"I'm afraid I don't have anything to tell you," Raia responds, "my master said nothing to me when we parted ways."

Which is, unfortunately, true. Even when they left their dwelling and Simon escorted her to the port, he never told her where he was going until she boarded a boat. Raia didn't even bother asking because she knew he wouldn't tell her anyway. Even when she was young, he never told her where he went. Some days she'd just find herself alone in the house with a letter from her master that she'd somehow stopped reading because he only wrote the same words in every letter he left.

"I'll be back!"

Until now, Raia has no idea where her master is.

Antoine sets his mouth into a hard line and furrows his eyebrows, seemingly deep in thought. He then shrugs his shoulders after a long silence. "Well, then, get ready; you'll have your Presentation in three weeks."

As if he has nothing else to say, Antoine walks past Raiden and heads over to the entrance. As the door pulls apart, a loud grinding sound interrupts the silence. He pauses for a brief moment to light a cigarette before disappearing from their sight.