[A/N: This one's a bit long, so enjoy!]

~Valerie's POV~

Why is it that whenever I get somewhat reassured and let down my guard, something ridiculous comes up and shatters the placid state I was in until then?

I picked it up and wrinkled my nose in disgust. Can't believe this monstrosity will be associated with me in any way.

Yesterday, after my first day at Evan Academy, I walked back the whole way and reached headquarters without any incident. Why did I walk for such a long distance, you ask? 

Firstly, human public transport is a big no-go. Overcrowded, difficult to handle during emergencies, too exposed - there are various reasons. 

Asking any of my team mates to come and pick me up would be a grave mistake. Saeki won't start driving until I agree to join her high-pitched voice in a car karaoke session, which I'm not too eager about. Leo got his license revoked at least three times this month - so I'd rather not climb into a car which he is driving. I bet that I can drive better than him (I learned the basics in case of emergencies; you have no idea how often that is) - what a shame that they do not hand out driving licenses to fifteen-year olds. Damien, in short - drives like a granny with arthritis. 

No offence to the granny, though.

Team leader's always busy - training, working, doing paperwork, yelling at someone (Leo or me, mostly) - it would be a mistake to disturb him and get zapped in the process. Oh no, did I say zapped? I meant scolded. Yes, definitely scolded. 

As far as I can remember, he's always been like this only - grumpy and cold.

Mr. G's car looks like an ancient relic and sounds like a choking frog. That's not even the major problem here. By the time you reach your destination, he'll make sure that your brain has been deeply engraved with the rules from The Shadow Clan Rulebook. 

You know, dos and don'ts for the Shadow People when interacting with humans or other Clans?

I'd rather walk than face this kind of ridiculous behaviour. Sometimes, I cannot believe that I'm actually the youngest in the whole damn GSU (Global Supernatural Unit, remember?)... and that everyone except me is an adult here. You'd probably think that they have started acting like one by now. No luck there.

Or maybe it was me who grew up faster than she should have.

Anyway, it took me about an hour to reach my destination. That may be due to the fact that I was walking rather slowly and got sidetracked multiple times. It was a wide forest trail anyway, so it was difficult to get lost, actually. Didn't realize it at first, but the (W)ESS Headquarters are way closer to my new school than I thought. Hidden in plain sight, a little inside the forest stretching  beyond the contours of Evan Academy.

Now you might want to know - why on earth did I take the school bus, then? Firstly, to avoid suspicion. Evan Academy is reputed to be atleast one kilometre away from the nearest signs of human habitation. If I walk out of the forest everyday, this could attract attention and might even give away the location of the (W)ESS headquarters. Not to say that everyone might consider me a female version of Tarzan. So in the morning, I take a route  to circumnavigate the forest and end up at a place which is roughly one mile (1.6 kilometres) from the school. There I board the bus.

Now while going back, most of the people are too eager to leave the school premises to actually notice one student slipping off towards the forest, aren't they? No problem there.

When I finally reached the headquarters and crossed the gates and the security systems, the front door opened to reveal a very pissed-off Damien waiting for me inside. He was tapping his feet impatiently and pacing about now and then. And when he noticed me quietly standing outside, he finally lost it. 

Giants getting angry is not a pretty sight.

"Why did you take so long?!" The expression on his face almost woke up my instincts to run away and hide in the forest I had just crossed, "It was hardly a thirty-minute walk!"

"Uh... lost my way." He stared incredulously at me, then shook his head. 

"Go tell him that." He jerked his thumb towards the fifth storey, "He's practically fuming right now."

Hell no. He'll cut short my life by twenty years.

"Um," I gave a nervous smile to the frowning giant, " I'd... rather take the back entrance, if you don't mind."

Not waiting for a response, I quickly jogged towards the back of the mansion. It almost six stories tall, but you can't see beyond the third storey if you're not a (W)ESS member or someone affliated with the ICPA. Since all of us meet the above given requirements, we can witness the mansion in its entirety. And boy, isn't it HUGE! To think that there are underground levels as well...

After a successful scale up the mansion's walls which ended in getting caught by a grinning Leonard, I got brutally assaulted by a barrage of questions ranging from 'Was it too harsh?' to 'Did you make any friends?'. 

Friends? Honestly? It was just the first day, dimwit. Not that I'll make any friends even if I became immortal and stayed on Earth till Judgement Day.

After deflecting as many questions as possible, he finally relented and let me go to the main kitchen. He followed me everywhere I went, so I just ignored his presence and got myself a much-needed cup of coffee to curb a pounding headache. 

I had just started on the third cup when Saeki walked in. At first, she was surprised to see me there. But then she just smiled and nodded a 'hi' at me as she chomped on a cheeseburger (?) and offered me one; unlike a certain Fae who startled me just as I was entering through a window and almost sent me plummeting down four stories. I declined the cheeseburger, though, and proceeded to drain the cup of its contents.

"Rei?" 

"Hm?"

"How was school today?" 

I tilted my head to the left. It is my way of saying 'okayish' without words. The cup was still being emptied, after all.

She leant against the countertop and regarded me with curious eyes, before opening her mouth. Then she hesitated and looked over my head at Leo, who I imagine gave her an encouraging nod. 

"So," She stopped, then continued, "Did you have a crush on someone?"

"W-what?!!" I spluttered in panic and almost choked. The cup fell down from my hands, its contents splashing on my clothes. 

Where in the worlds did that come from?!

"Hey, you okay?" Leo rubbed my back, "Need a towel?"

"N-no." I hiccuped once.

"Water?" He held out a bottle in my direction. I took it and gulped a mouthful.

I would need a gallon of coffee to cope with the massive headache I was having now.

Still coughing, I narrowed my eyes at Saeki, who looked genuinely concerned, and Leo, who was barely hiding his laughter. Saeki was just being curious. Guess who gave her the 'inspiration' to ask that question? 

I looked down at the now cracked cup, and the puddle of brown liquid it was lying in. Drops of the same stuff dripped from my ruined clothes. I am usually very composed and hardly ever lose temper, but there are always exceptions when I'm around infuriating personalities.

I'm so going to pulverize a certain Fae right now. 

Fortunately for him, Damien happened to have seen the entire exchange and immediately intervened. Saeki took the initiative and whisked me away to another room, talking excitedly about some new anime she had been watching. I looked over my shoulder to see Damien let Leonard have it at full force. 

"But, it's a valid question!" He was waving his arms around and trying to justify.

My face twitched in annoyance.

It was precisely at this moment that our illustrious group leader decided to walk in. He came out of his study and walked over to the side table to sift through a pile of papers, making the Fae and the Giant stop abruptly in between their argument. Looking up at the sudden silence, he frowned at three distressed and one expressionless faces.

"What happened?"

"Nothing." I replied in a monotone voice.

He raised his eyebrows in suspicion, "Really? Then why could I hear yelling from the study?"

"Carl-san," Saeki made a strange face as she furiously shook her head, "Don't."

Jude Carlisle. He's our group leader and one of the oldest members of the current (W)ESS, the other being Damien. They have an understanding with each other as equals in combat, with Damien being more experienced and Carl having an exceptional amount of aptitude and training. Overall, Carl acts very formal with strangers and has a reputation of being able to easily negotiate and influence others. For those who know him, unfortunately, he's mostly comes off as a jerk who's too strict with training and is somewhat of a disciplinarian. Not to mention that his sense of humor is severely impaired and usually results in someone getting an experience of a lifetime. But well, he's a good guy... I think. After all, he's the reason why I'm here in the first place.

Fun fact: My team makes me want to go ballistic.

He directed his gaze towards Damien, who had a strong hold on Leo's collar. They seemed to communicate silently.

"Oh," He mumbled in a low voice, "I see..."

He regarded me with a face torn between pity and amusement.

"What?" I snapped, "Didn't find what you came looking for?"

"Found it." He held up up some five papers.

"Then go and do what you were doing before coming here."

He opened his mouth, probably to retort - then had one good look of my face.

"Training at 6. Don't forget." And with that he was gone. Just like that, without a witty comeback. Even the team leader doesn't argue with me when I get really angry. 

Wait, 6? Instead of 5? A full one-hour break?

After three hours of training, I finally found myself at the dining table. 

Oh, I didn't explain, did I?

Thing is, all of us stay in headquarters only. This way, we can train easily and also respond more collectively in demanding situations. This arrangement also ensures that the near and dear ones of the (W)ESS members stay out of potential threat and danger. Our job isn't exactly family-friendly, you know? Still, we can go visit our families on the days we get off and vice-versa. So, this place has everything - starting from individual rooms to huge pantrys and recreation rooms to training halls. You won't believe how lavish it is. Though Leonard was able to turn it into a garbage dump in a month.

No wonder we take turns in cleaning now.

Anyway, this is the reason why we were sitting around a big dining table right now, with Leonard throwing food here and there while Saeki was getting scolded by Damien for bringing junk food on the table. I quietly sat on my chair, avoiding the random piece of broccoli that came my way while trying to decide whether I should just take my plate to my own room or not. Won't say I wasn't tempted to, but there was an unspoken rule we all followed - eat with the other members unless there is a very important reason why you want to do it alone. I don't think my excuse of homework will work, though.

Carl finally joined the table and in the blessed moments of silence that followed, I was done with my food. Leaving my plate in the rack after washing and rinsing it, I took the stairs and after reaching the front entrance, slipped on a jacket and pulled on a pair of boots leaning against the shoe rack.

"Where are you going?" 

I frowned at Carl's question, who had come down after me, "I have a late night patrol today. It's Monday, remember?"

"Is that right?" He pursed his lips and thoughtfully tapped his chin.

"Yeah." 

"Where's your weapon?"

"Won't need it. I'm going to be in a green zone."

He didn't look convinced, "But still- "

"I'm good." 

He frowned, "Don't you have homework?"

"Done in school only." I could make out where he was going with this. No way was I going to let another member take my place in the patrol today. They had already been working too hard these days, and now I was at school from 7 am to 3 pm.

"Which sector?"

"2-B."

"2-B? But," I could see a half-smirk on his face, "Mr. G just called me to tell that all sections of sector 2 will be patrolled by ESS-3 this week. Orders from the top. Of course, if you still want to go-"

"Couldn't you have said that before?" I had a massive urge to punch him in his amused face.

"You didn't ask."

"... stupid jerk." I mumbled aloud.

"What?"

"Nothing. Move aside." I stepped back in, and giving him one of my best glares, trudged upstairs back to my room. Gods, didn't know that school could be so tiring. All of my joints were aching and felt heavy. Or maybe it was my imagination.

If you're wondering what ESS-3 is, then don't go too deep. There are 7 ESS branches spread in the 6 continents (We usually go to Antarctica only if there's any complicated situations; the Clans there can handle it most of the time). They work under orders from GSP and are supposed to lend their assistance to our squad whenever asked for. (W)ESS is different. How? If an ESS branch is handling a case then it's a petty one. If it was passed on to (W)ESS, then it's got to be something important. 

Though other ESS branches mostly hate us (They say we 'steal' their cases. Really?!) and we are well off without their oh-so-lovely assistance.

Giving a (W)ESS patrol to ESS-3 means that the higher ups are confident that the sector is potentially secure. Well, I could care less.

I pushed open the door to my room.

Our rooms are so big that 7 year-old me thought one could play soccer in here. I quietly sat down on my bed and listened to Leo and Saeki, who were probably having a pillow fight. They were able to get on with it for a full three minutes before Damien's voice broke in. Then a cacophony ensued. I guess they were trying to make him understand the benefits of trying to break each others' teeth out using pillows. By the sounds of it, Damien isn't really convinced.

Being the oldest member, Damien is the one who actually knows the most about the history of (W)ESS. He was a trainee during the time when Mr. G was still a field agent, and that was a long time ago. Other than him, Carl also knows a lot too - but you might as well talk to a wall and expect a reply. 

After Damien made Leo go to his own room, the night finally quietened down. It is official - Damien is the resident caretaker of Areson Manor. 

Areson Manor? This is the house name of our headquarters; apparently this was a manor before it was renovated as (W)ESS's residence. 

I'm usually insomniac, but today I was feeling rather drained. Before I knew it, my head nodded and losing my balance, I fell off the bed. Mumbling, I stood up, climbed up again and crashed on my bed, instantly falling asleep.

~Carl's POV~

Listening for any sounds coming from above, I sighed in relief when it finally stopped. Quietly slipping on my coat, I picked up the sliver sword leaning against my table.

"You're still awake?" 

I looked up.

"Yeah."

He nodded towards my hand, "Where to?"

"Work." I pulled the sword out and looked at the engravings on it.

"I heard the exchange."

"Oh?"

"So," He leant against the door,  "You lied to her." 

I shrugged calmly, "We don't need a tired-looking zombie going on a late night patrol in one of the most dangerous sectors in the city." 

"You guys," He shook his head and walked into my line of vision, "Are incorrigible. Want me to come with you? I heard a rumor of some suspicious activities-"

"No. I'm good." I slipped the sword back into its former place and turned to go.

"If she gets to know what you did-"

"I don't care."

"Oh."

"Hn." I reached the front door, then stopped, remembering something.

"Damien."

"Hm?" He had come down behind me.

"I, well..."

"Eh? What is it?"

"Uh..." 

"What's the matter?" He looked really concerned now.

I really, really want to know.

"Damien, how was her day at school today?"

~Valerie's POV~

The figurative bomb dropped this morning.

I slept through a lot of nightmares and woke up to find a sharp pain between my shoulder blades. At first I jolted up, convinced that everything I saw had happened for real. Then my surroundings came in focus and I realized that it was all a dream. But the pain was still there - most probably from the spreadeagled sleeping position I was in.

Morning activities were as usual, if you don't count the fact that Leo was singing 'Faded' by Alan Walker in the bathroom and all of us could hear him from the ground level only. I cringed when he mixed up lines, replaced 'light' and 'sight' with 'night' and proceeded to make a new reinterpretation when he forgot the lyrics. 

Breakfast was uneventful too, other than when Leo decided that Damien would look rather handsome with some pieces of eggs and bacon in his hair and eventually got beaten within an inch of his life. Entertaining.

Then I looked at the clock and was just wondering about what I was supposed to wear to school since my uniform was nowhere to be seen when my gradual humiliation started.

"Val~" Leo entered the room with a parcel in his hand.

I narrowed my eyes at him, "I told you not to call me that."

"Ouch, so rude Edrei!" He pretended to look hurt before grinning, "Even when I got you a nice little present!"

I looked at the parcel with suspicion. Leo's idea of a present isn't normal even by supernatural standards. 

"Don't worry, Edrei." Damien entered the room, "It came by the post. It's safe."

I huffed and opened the parcel as Leo stuck his tongue out to the Giant. Real mature behaviour.

Hm... there was a plastic bag inside the parcel. I opened it and tipped the contents on the couch.

Then stared in disbelief.

"What... is this?"

"Your uniform, of course!"

"Eh!?" I picked up the grey-coloured skirt. Leo was openly laughing at my desperate expression, while Damien disguised his with a cough. And failed.

"W-wha..." I trailed off as the white shirt and navy-blue blazer came in my line of sight. 

Carl, who had been absent during breakfast due to some work, came in and eyed the clothes strewn on the couch, "What's this mess?" 

Damien pointed at me, "Her uniform."

The corners of his lips twitched, "I... see."

Wait.

I checked the date of delivery written on the parcel. It came yesterday only, but... they hid it from me till right now so that I have literally no excuse for not wearing it to school. I looked at our group leader, who was struggling to hide his grin.

"Be quick. You have school remember?"

I glared at him.

Carl... you were an accomplice weren't you?

I mumbled and picked up the uniform as I exited. I could hear their laughter even from my room. 

What a pain.

After struggling around and almost knocking myself out with the bedside table, I finally got it somewhat right. Slightly limping, I returned to the room they were in. 

To find pin drop silence.

"Wow..." Leo was the first one to break the silence, "You... look... like a girl."

"I am a girl." I huffed, then stared at the tie which looked as hopeless as I felt, "I... don't like this uniform."

"Well, like it or not," Damien remarked, "This is what you'll have to wear to school from now."

"That's true." Carl regarded me curiously, "What happened to your wings?"

"The shirt is modified such that I can tuck in my wings without looking like a hunched old woman."

"Good."

"I agree with Rei-chan." Saeki, who had been silent until then, spoke up.

"Saeki?"

"Rei-chan's uniform... I don't like it."

Finally, an ally...

She continued, "It's not cute at all. Look at my high school uniform," She whipped out some clothes out of nowhere. Not surprising since she's a Sorcerer.

"Isn't it CUTE?"

Ally lost.

"On second thought," I hid my grimace, "I like my school uniform very much."

"Yay! That's the way to go! Now," Leo patted my head, "Surprise!" He held open a shoe box in my direction.

I stared at the ballet school shoes inside. 

Did I tell you that I hate surprises?

"I thought that these shoes will look rather charming with those knee-length socks of yours." He grinned, "Do you like them?"

Ya sure. Drop dead already.

After getting a collective send off from the Manor, I walked and almost tripped a dozen times - thanks to the skirt and the ridiculous shoes - before reaching the place from where I was to board the bus. On a bridge connecting the city's outskirts with the start of the forest.

The bus came.

Then I remembered that everyone. Will. See. Me. Like. This. 

An alarm went off in my head.

I stood frozen as the doors opened. Then I saw that everyone was wearing uniform like me. As is to be expected. I calmed down a bit and proceeded to board the bus.

And came nose-to-nose with Aiden.

Won't say I wasn't startled, but I didn't show it. Seemed like his bus number got changed.

"Move." 

He wrinkled his nose but stepped aside. As I picked a seat I could feel the bus conductor give sympathetic glances towards him. Well, whatever. I quietly looked at the uniforms of Evan Academy.

Not too bad - but not my favorite either.

~Aiden's POV~

The bus just stopped on the bridge, in the middle of nowhere. Strange. I stood up to see what was happening, and almost smacked into her. 

Valerie Edrei.

"Move." As expressionless and blunt as always. I grimaced but moved out of the way. As she passed me and went towards the back of the bus, I shook my head and sat down again. 

Then I started, realization hitting me. 

The bus stopped. 

She got on.

She got onto the bus from a bridge - in the middle of nowhere. As far as I can see, there is practically nothing on both sides of the bridge - just plain land. She was standing on one side, waiting for the bus. This area is actually left like this only because it is notorious for frequent flash floods, so it's not really safe to live here.

Why wasn't she there at a bus stop?

What was she doing near the forest, so early in the morning? This is a government protected area, so houses cannot be there in or anywhere near the forest - and that includes this area too, so... where did she come from?

Why did you disappear three years ago, without a single trace?

I don't remember why we stopped talking in the first place. From what I can see now, she is all too fine with that. 

Well, I could care less. But still...

Why are you attending a school now?

You're so full of mystery, aren't you?

I looked over my seat to see her, three seats further back - staring out of the window as if her life depended on it. Curious, I looked out of the window too, and for a moment saw something black move in the forest. I blinked, then rubbed my eyes before looking again. Nothing there.

Weird.

Probably a trick of the eyes.

~Valerie's POV~

Well, Aiden looked as happy as I felt on seeing him. 

I can't believe how exhausting this is...

Mentally sighing, I looked out of the window. 

Then sat up.

There was something... moving in the forest.

Too fast to be an animal or bird. 

A... shadow.

A shadow is actually a soul which got stranded from its path and lost its way while walking through the fine line between the Light and the Dark. 

Don't stare at me. It's the definition written in the Rulebook.

In the simplest sense, they are the souls of people who were kicked out from both Heaven and Hell and now have nothing to do except roam about and give negative vibes to random people. Annoying. But if given enough power and being properly controlled, they can become fatal instruments of destruction.

The Dark Society's weapon of choice.

I pressed my face to the window and tried to look at it again.

Shadows. Travelling along with the bus while remaining hidden in the forest. 

Wait. Not shadows.

Phantoms. Basically, extremely powerful Shadows used to spy on and follow people and do other 'villain guy' things.

This is bad.

Should I call my team mates? No, let's see what happens first.

I wasn't the only one looking out of the window. But nobody seemed to have noticed anything amiss. I saw Aiden rub his eyes once, but that may be due to tiredness. 

This meant that the Phantoms were using camouflage spells along with travelling spells. That's some high amount of magic, so humans won't be able to see them. Or Shadow People who have below Sorcerer level of magic. My team mates would be able to, because they take the assistance of multiple spells and potions and gadgets themselves. Only I and Saeki can see them naked-eyed. Carl can too, but he's a different story.

I looked out again to see that they were gone.

For now.

Looked like our current investigation was garnering more attention than it should...

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