After chatting with Vivian, I walked over to Eve who was also treated the wounded using her water spectrum spells. The psycho finished up with her patient and sent them off with a shooing motion.
"Thank you, Eve. I appreciate all the help."
The greying older man shook reached out to shake her hand. But Eve put her hands behind her back and smiled his way instead, seemingly opting not to touch him.
"Just keep on pushin' old timer."
The man shrugged and kept on "pushing" like Eve suggested. He walked down the broken road, feeling much better than before.
"Eve, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"
"What is it, Ms. Detective?"
Eve mocked.
"You mentioned you were close to the bombings earlier. Where exactly were you when they went off?"
"There were three of them in total. The first bomb went off to the north of the lower quarters. That's where I was."
Eve pointed to the north.
"The second exploded only moments later in the middle of the lower quarters. I believe the explosion was nearby hotel because that's where most victims were found. The third and last one went off towards the far east."
She kicked a wooden box that lay about on the ground, but it didn't break. The psycho clicked her tongue then turned back to me.
"The people who did this are screwed up in their head. I was nearby when all the chaos happened. Only by luck did I manage not to get harmed."
Her bright blue eyes shined intensely as they gazed my way.
"What? Am I a suspect of yours or something, Feodora?"
Eve laughed.
"No, I believe you actually, Eve."
"Oh, and why is that?"
"Just intuition, I guess."
Despite Eve being insane, something just felt right about her statement. Everything felt genuine as if she was just someone at the wrong place at the wrong time.
"Oh, Eve~"
The voice of an angel resonated from behind. Eve's body stiffened; her eyes dimmed to an almost dark blue.
"Hm?"
I turned to the womanly voice that took me off guard. Eve pressed her chest against my back like she was trying to hide behind me. Her breathing labored, as if someone was sucking the air from her lungs.
"Who are you?"
I asked the approaching woman.
Alongside that angelic voice, she had long bright pink hair, cherry-colored eyes, and a black business suit. Her onyx-toned high heels clicked as they approached us.
She seemed to be around my height, making her shorter than Eve. Her posture was firm and proud. This woman was nothing short of stunning too. The way she moved felt clean and pointed, as if everything she did was calculated.
"Nnggg."
Eve shook harder the closer this woman got.
"Eve, are you okay? Who is this, woman?"
I whispered.
But clearly, Eve was too shaken up to speak. I was on the defensive as I faced the flawless woman coming our way. Warily, she avoided puddles of water and mud as if it would be the death of her to step in them.
"Who are you?"
I asked her.
Her stoic expression turned to a horrific scowl.
"Eve, this place is gross, get over here right now!"
"Ahh. Nnng."
Like a child struck with feat, Eve didn't way a word.
The trembling Eve clenched my jacket without warning. Her normally bright eyes were dark blue as if someone turned the lights off within her.
This woman terrified Eve.
"I don't think she wants to come to you."
I spoke up for Eve.
The scowl on the woman's face warped into a sadistic smile. It took me off guard seeing an angel turn to a demon before my eyes.
"Get away from her you filthy vessel! Eve, get over here right now!"
She demanded.
I extended my arm to shield Eve from her.
"Eve's not going anywhere she doesn't want to go."
The suited woman's smile waned as her sharp eyes turned back to me.
"Don't you tell me what my Eve will do! How dare you even speak to me at all, you filthy vessel!"
She beckoned Eve to come to her.
"Eve, if I have to tell you to come to me one more time-"
"Leave her alone, Atom!"
From the east, Jade came to us. Alongside her was the human version of Mellissa and Yuu Yuu from last night.
"Oh, Jade? I just wanted a moment with my precious Eve. I had to make sure- "
The knight stretched out her arm, defending both Eve and me from this strange pristine woman.
"Eve is in my consultant team for now, Atom. We Radiants signed off on the papers. Respect the law we established."
Jade ordered.
Atom crossed her arms, lips twisted in disgust. She fluffed her long hair and clicked her tongue.
"Fine, Jade. I put a lot of work into Eve, and I don't want any filthy thing messing her up. Do you hear me?!"
Atom screamed.
Her angelic voice was gone, replaced with a grimy, monstrous one. Jade didn't flinch but kept her calm composure.
"I promise you that nothing will happen to Eve. But we have a contract, and Eve is under me. You're scaring the girl, get out of here if you're not going to help with the rescue efforts, Atom."
Atom scoffed and turned her heels. Before stepping into a pile of debris and mud on the ground, she carefully avoided it with prejudice.
"This place is filthy. Everything about this place is filthy!"
Atom grumbled.
With one last look our way, the demonic-like woman walked away from the devastation.
"Who was that?"
I asked nobody in particular.
Eve let go of my jacket and pushed her body off my back. She looked ashamed as she wiped the side of her cheek. Whoever that woman was, it brought the fear of God in her.
"I-I'll go help the people to the east, Jade."
Eve said, her voice trembling.
We all watched as Eve ran away like a little girl in trouble.
"Eve-"
I called out but she was long gone.
My chest twisted as I thought about the way she looked moments ago.
"I've never seen Eve look that way."
I said.
"That woman is Eve's master to put it lightly, Feodora."
Mellissa, the human, chimed in.
Jade continued off of her statement.
"Atom Seed is the Radiant who reinvented the phones and many of the technologies we have today. She owns the largest technology firm and is wealthy beyond imagination. Eve Seed is owned by her, Feodora."
Jade said.
She sounded disgusted in her tone.
"That horrible woman owns Eve?"
I questioned the knights choice of words.
"Listen, it's complicated, Feodora."
The knight pulled on her bangs. She seemed uncomfortable talking about the subject and I wouldn't blame her.
"All you need to know is Eve was lent to me for the time being and to never bring up Atom around her. That girl is terrified of her master for good reason."
As strange as this entire situation was, I had to accept it was for the time being. We had other issues.
"Sure, I can do that much for Eve."
I looked to the distance, at the woman in question. She was diligently healing the wounded. For the first time I didn't see her as an unhinged person but someone who needed protection.
Jade turned back to Mellissa and Yuu Yuu, and I did the same.
"Anyway, Feodora, you already know Mellissa. I want to introduce you to someone else."
"Yes, her name is Yuuna."
I answered Jade.
The knight raised her head in surprise.
"Hm, you two are already acquaintances? I didn't expect that from a hermit."
"I'm not a hermit."
I protested.
Jade shrugged her shoulders and smiled at me.
"Well, that's going to make things easier for me. Yuuna is a contractor from the Light Camp, just like Vivian Heart. She will be providing aid to the people here."
Gently, Yuu Yuu nodded, confirming Jade's words.
The knight continued.
"Long story short, she's a doctor, and Mellissa is too. I want you to take them around the bombing scene so they can treat people with severe wounds."
Jade looked about the area. Her fearsome glare amplified as she saw the people strung about, injured from the chaos.
"I would do it myself, but I have to get ready to provide protection during an upcoming address. The Ruler of the Radiant Kingdom is about to make a statement regarding these recent events."
"Ruler?"
I asked.
The human clapped, causing Yuu Yuu to shriek back away from her.
"Yes, the Ruler of the Radiant Kingdom, Marx. He's about to address the people and Jade needs to be there for his protection!"
Yuu Yuu nodded slightly and turned to the side. It seemed she was too shy to say anything, but occasionally, she would glance at me and smile. It was nothing short of adorable. I kind of wanted to pat her on the head but I had to concentrate.
"So, Marx is the Ruler of the Radiant Kingdom?"
I asked, trying to get my facts right. Mellissa put her hands behind her back and nodded with vigor.
"That's correct, Feodora. If you'd like to know more, I'll tell you all about Marx. He is a wonderful Ruler."
Yuu Yuu pushed hot air from her mouth. Jade put her hand on her hip and shrugged her slim shoulders.
"Anyway, you three keep up the efforts to help these people out. After Marx has finished his speech, I'll call you, Feodora, about what we're going to do next."
"Wait, before you go, Jade-"
I stopped her and pointed at the innocent human, Mellissa.
"Oh, Countess Mellissa? Hm."
The knight put a finger to her chin.
"If she does come out while you're working with Mellissa, that might be bad, wouldn't it Feodora?"
"Yeah, that might bad, Jade. I wouldn't want to cause more of a scene here."
The knight dug in her pockets and brought that rosary Terra had the other night. It was bright white and about the size of my palm.
"What is this?"
I asked as she set it in my hand.
"This is a warding device that I created. If the demon side of Mellissa comes out, you can command her with this on you."
"Command, like a dog?"
The image of Countess Mellissa with a leash on came to mind. It was a little unsettling.
Jade nodded sharply.
"Just like a dog. However, if she swipes it from you, she'll be uncontrollable. So, make sure she never gets it from you, Feodora."
The overworked knight sighed harshly.
"I don't have time to go over all the tricks you can do with this rosary, but all you really need to know is-"
With a finger in the air, Jade lectured.
"To command Countess, tell her to heel. If Countess gets out of control, snap your fingers and tell her to leave. That will bring the human side of her back."
The person in question started clapping her hands in excitement. Mellissa skipped around in joy.
"Oh, what interesting commands, Jade! I wonder how the other me reacts to them. I never met her, Feodora! I've always wanted to, you know?"
Mellissa has never met her other side before. I had so many questions, but I saved them as I thought about the directions Jade gave me.
"Command her not to attack me with heel. If she gets too out of control, snap my fingers and tell her to leave."
With this knowledge, I took the rosary out of Jade's hand. A surge of spectrum magic resonated from the device. Knowing that the Jade created this too, only added to the mystery of who Jade Opal was.
I slipped it in my pocket for safekeeping.