![Day 03: No Answer [Plot] Empty](https://2img.net/i/empty.gif)
by Takes place after A Talk
As it grew later in the night, the Expiate managed to get things under control. The cacophony and panic of the earlier evening settled into quiet tension. People might have been in their homes now, but there was no doubt they were all talking in hushed voices. Windows shut out like candles and lanterns dimmed. At the Expiate headquarters, the blinds of an office window went down as well. Velhesca brushed her mint-green bangs away from her eyes as she peered outside.
"Has everyone left?" Chief Commander Veiller asked.
He had just entered the room, his face drawn out, but his eyes listless. Velhesca noted that the man she was assistant to looked particularly worse for wear tonight. She bobbed her head.
"The Special Unit has retired for the night, save for Delilah" she said. "I gave orders to Brettman's men to cease investigation operations as requested. The only ones out are the patrol officers."
Richard nodded his head slowly as he moved to one of the armchairs. He gingerly lowered himself down, wincing ever so slightly as he rested back. Was he injured? He must have sensed Velhesca staring because he quickly shot a glance at her.
"Are the others arriving?" he asked.
"A-ah! Yes!" she squeaked. "Delilah just said goodnight to her team. Assistant Commander will be here shortly, too. He should be done escorting your daughter home and..."
Her voice trailed off as the Chief Commander looked away, his expression turning morose. A bad move on her part. She cleared her voice.
"Anyways!" she said. "The only one missing is Commissioner Clerval."
"Good..." he said.
He made a small sigh and pulled out a folded piece of paper from his breast pocket. Velhesca could make out a roughly drawn map of the town with marks on it. She cleared her throat.
"Ahm...Chief Commander, if it's not rude to ask..."
"Hm?"
"Couldn't this meeting wait until morning?" she asked. "After all, the situation is controlled, and there's only a few people still up now considering their--"
"That's exactly why it can't wait until morning."
Velhesca looked up. Richard's face had darkened and he was now sitting in a hunched position, his hands dangling over legs. Velhesca remained quiet, and with nothing to respond to, the Chief Commander stood up before making his way to a board on the wall. It was a large map of the five kingdoms of Esterelf.
"Saoirse...Stahlmin...and now two attacks in Aldmerrow," he said.
He took the paper he had been holding and pinned it to Aldmerrow's section. Velhesca would notice other large red dots and drawn maps on other kingdoms.
"Do you think they're related, sir?" she asked. "The attacks, I mean."
The Chief Commander looked at the map. His eyes narrowed.
"It would be so easy if that were the case..." he said.
Velhesca looked at him, bewildered. The Chief Commander gave her a wan smile.
"If these were all related," he explained. "Then it just means another opponent we'll indefinitely smother out. But if these aren't and these are all separate major events..."
The Chief Commander stared hard at the wall, regarding that three out of the five kingdoms had been under considerable distress.
"Well, then Esterelf's finally caving in on its own weight," he said. "And that, I don't think anyone can stop, Vella.
.
.
.
Not even me."
[END]
As it grew later in the night, the Expiate managed to get things under control. The cacophony and panic of the earlier evening settled into quiet tension. People might have been in their homes now, but there was no doubt they were all talking in hushed voices. Windows shut out like candles and lanterns dimmed. At the Expiate headquarters, the blinds of an office window went down as well. Velhesca brushed her mint-green bangs away from her eyes as she peered outside.
"Has everyone left?" Chief Commander Veiller asked.
He had just entered the room, his face drawn out, but his eyes listless. Velhesca noted that the man she was assistant to looked particularly worse for wear tonight. She bobbed her head.
"The Special Unit has retired for the night, save for Delilah" she said. "I gave orders to Brettman's men to cease investigation operations as requested. The only ones out are the patrol officers."
Richard nodded his head slowly as he moved to one of the armchairs. He gingerly lowered himself down, wincing ever so slightly as he rested back. Was he injured? He must have sensed Velhesca staring because he quickly shot a glance at her.
"Are the others arriving?" he asked.
"A-ah! Yes!" she squeaked. "Delilah just said goodnight to her team. Assistant Commander will be here shortly, too. He should be done escorting your daughter home and..."
Her voice trailed off as the Chief Commander looked away, his expression turning morose. A bad move on her part. She cleared her voice.
"Anyways!" she said. "The only one missing is Commissioner Clerval."
"Good..." he said.
He made a small sigh and pulled out a folded piece of paper from his breast pocket. Velhesca could make out a roughly drawn map of the town with marks on it. She cleared her throat.
"Ahm...Chief Commander, if it's not rude to ask..."
"Hm?"
"Couldn't this meeting wait until morning?" she asked. "After all, the situation is controlled, and there's only a few people still up now considering their--"
"That's exactly why it can't wait until morning."
Velhesca looked up. Richard's face had darkened and he was now sitting in a hunched position, his hands dangling over legs. Velhesca remained quiet, and with nothing to respond to, the Chief Commander stood up before making his way to a board on the wall. It was a large map of the five kingdoms of Esterelf.
"Saoirse...Stahlmin...and now two attacks in Aldmerrow," he said.
He took the paper he had been holding and pinned it to Aldmerrow's section. Velhesca would notice other large red dots and drawn maps on other kingdoms.
"Do you think they're related, sir?" she asked. "The attacks, I mean."
The Chief Commander looked at the map. His eyes narrowed.
"It would be so easy if that were the case..." he said.
Velhesca looked at him, bewildered. The Chief Commander gave her a wan smile.
"If these were all related," he explained. "Then it just means another opponent we'll indefinitely smother out. But if these aren't and these are all separate major events..."
The Chief Commander stared hard at the wall, regarding that three out of the five kingdoms had been under considerable distress.
"Well, then Esterelf's finally caving in on its own weight," he said. "And that, I don't think anyone can stop, Vella.
.
.
.
Not even me."
[END]
