"Hmm... confirming authorized personnel: Lemuen, Mostima, Dawn... Destroyer? And this one, Jeanne. Alright, the files match. Happy New Year in advance!"
At the eastern entrance of Laterano City, the Sankta guard looked over the four entry applications, a nagging sense of unease in the back of his mind. Except for Lemuen, the files for the other three were quite peculiar—especially Mostima. Her appearance was far too unusual; was that a tail behind her? And her halo was wrong; if she was a Fallen, how did she get entry clearance?
But since the higher-ups had approved them, it meant there were no issues. Whether their identities were problematic wasn't for a mere gatekeeper to fret over. He watched them walk into the city, but his eyes never left Jeanne. The blonde girl seemed to possess a certain magnetism that pulled his attention like a magnet.
"Hey, snap out of it! What are you staring at?"
On the other side, a colleague who had finished checking another application slapped him on the back. "I've never seen you look at someone so entranced. What, found someone you like? Want me to introduce you?"
The colleague laughed. The young guard was getting on in years; it was about time.
"Don't joke. I just felt that blonde girl was... very strange. The feeling was like... I can't put my finger on it." He scratched his head, watching the distant figure of Jeanne. Even after she had left, he couldn't identify that unique sensation. What was her race? There were no discernible racial traits, which was incredibly odd.
But since he couldn't figure it out, he didn't dwell on it. Better to think about what he'd do for the New Year countdown.
"Is this Laterano? It really does look like a great place to live."
The four of them were now walking down the streets of Laterano. Looking at the clean, orderly roads and the surrounding scenery, Jeanne felt as if she had stepped into another world. Though she hadn't visited many cities, she could see the vast gap between Laterano and others. It wasn't that Lungmen wasn't livable, but the two cities felt entirely different.
Unlike the fast-paced Lungmen, even the pedestrians here seemed to have slowed down. Everyone was savoring the feeling of living in this city.
"Of course. Anyone who has lived here will never forget this environment—as long as you aren't allergic to sugar," Mostima chimed in. she looked at the city with nostalgia; it hadn't changed a bit since she left. Laterano was like that: even if you left for five or six years, you'd return to find it mostly the same, save for some unexpected little changes in the corners.
"This really isn't an ice cream truck! Have you ever seen an ice cream truck this color? Look, that one over there is a real one!"
The four of them stopped to buy ice cream. Passing Sankta kept trying to buy treats from them, assuming their oddly shaped vehicle was a mobile stall. Even after Lemuen's explanation, they didn't leave; instead, they happily took photos with the car. They eventually had to find a quiet corner to avoid the attention.
"Forget the car, I want to know how you did that? In a blink, you've become a different person! Is it some kind of disguise technique? Can I learn it?" Mostima was far more interested in Jeanne's transformation. She didn't understand how pale-blonde hair could suddenly turn into a vibrant, long gold.
And that wasn't all. Jeanne's black outfit had instantly turned white, and her entire aura had shifted. Mostima thought that if she had such a skill, she'd never have to worry about her identity while skipping work again.
"It's... complicated. Just think of it as a unique Originium Art. I can't really teach you; it's basically an instinct."
Jeanne hadn't expected to switch forms the moment she approached Laterano! For a long time, she had stayed in her "black" form, but suddenly, she had uncontrollably shifted to the "white" Jeanne. Perhaps it was because her "Saintess" power became incredibly active in Laterano?
In this state, her power hadn't changed much, but she felt a strange resistance toward summoning or controlling Wyverns, as if her heart simply didn't want to do it.
"Is that so? A pity. I thought I could use it to go 'undercover' more effectively," Mostima joked, earning a massive eye-roll from Fiammetta. Even if she changed her looks, she couldn't hide that halo.
Before Fiammetta could comment, an arm suddenly looped around Mostima's shoulder. Not even Fiammetta had noticed someone approaching.
"What are we chatting about? Mostima, you're back and you didn't even say hello? I would have met you at the gate!"
It was Velliv. She was smiling, holding Mostima like a close friend. Mostima cursed her own carelessness; she must have relaxed too much upon returning home to let this dangerous woman get so close!
"First time meeting you, Miss Jeanne! I am this girl's superior. You can call me Velliv," she said, her eyes squinting behind a smile as she observed Jeanne. Even she felt a sense of "goodness" from Jeanne—a strange, inexplicable familiarity that made it almost impossible for a Sankta to dislike her. Yet, Velliv remained skeptical in her heart.
"Now, you three enjoy yourselves. I have some 'work-related' conflicts to resolve with this one." Velliv began to lead Mostima away. She had a few things to discuss—namely reports, reports, and more reports.
"Ah, right. One more thing. The Pope said if you don't mind, you can join him for afternoon tea."
Before leaving, she relayed the invitation to Jeanne. Fiammetta quickly said her goodbyes to follow them, claiming her duty as Mostima's monitor required her to keep the blue-haired Sankta in sight.
"So... where to next?" Jeanne asked Lemuen. Jeanne could sense that Velliv held a high status; the woman was wearing a red robe made from the Shroud, even if it was partially hidden under a black coat.
"Well, where do you want to go? How about a walk? I remember a shop nearby that sells limited-edition crepes—"
BOOM—!
A series of explosions erupted behind them, startling Jeanne. She looked around frantically. "What happened? Is someone attacking Laterano?"
Lemuen's expression didn't change at all. She turned to Jeanne and explained calmly: "Don't worry. That's just standard procedure here."