929. Mimicry, The Director of The Acedia Special Division
The Avernus was rely the na used to call the Iron Coffins.
The na that Oboros Infinitas preferred was a codena to distinguish one Avernus from another.
For instance, an Avernus from the Wrath Division would have the na of: AW-D72-4.
‘A’ stood for Avernus.
The second letter denoted the Division they worked for. The ‘D’ and the imdiately following number was their Division number. There were eleven Divisions in total (corresponding with the Sins), and each had upwards of a thousand teams spread across the Nex galopolis, the Derma Layer and beyond.
The final number was a number between 0 and 7, with 7 being the weakest (Green Trickle) and 0 the strongest (Eternal Night).
Each Division was led by multiple Directors much like Acedia and had anywhere between one to several hundred teams under their command.
These large groups were called Sections.
Then, each section was composed of Executives, who were the middle managers of Oboros Infinitas.
The Orange Disruptor was interestingly both an Executive and a Harrower. The latter of which were people who directly managed a team of Repenters rather than dealing with the bureaucracy behind the scenes.
Although, judging by the bags beneath her eyes, she had to fulfil both duties.
* * *
“It’d be nice to have Ti Reverberation’s Isolation Spheres installed here~” The Orange Disruptor complained, making her voice known to Jury. “Then I’d be able to pay ten tis as less for ten tis the amount of ti with an Elven goddess. If it weren’t for trains to just vanish out of nowhere, then it’d be nice to have them aboard.”
“Good to haves are never needs. Even as a Color, it surprises how much the flesh yearns beyond biological needs.” Hayte was not afraid to tell her exactly how he felt, even if it ant losing his life. “Allies of my brethren would have their hands on Ti Reverberation’s technology in no ti.”
“I’ve been aning to ask you this.” Frost began, matching her pace with Hayte as she walked beside him. “You’re from Infecta Rot, correct?”
“How astute. I’m often referred to as a construct than of my own brethren.” He was surprised that Frost knew he ca from Infecta Rot. “Was your next guess a Golem? Walking beside a Witch does tend to rouse confusion. Within this shell of mine resides a slurry of at. I suppose that’s , in the sa vein that the brain can be said to be an individual.”
“Usari thought you were the legendary Galahad!” The bunny girl pouted. “Usari was so sad that she coped and called you Gawain!”
Both of these beings were Phenoms of Contempt that existed in Emvita, with the latter being a construct of Jury’s Advisor – Ragnelle.
“Foolish. Machines have no Souls. But constructs of great Witches do. Machines envy those for what they lack. What they seek should not be in the Nex galopolis. But as machines, they are not the type to operate on a hunch.”
Hayte’s perplexity could be read from his face even though he had no facial features.
“We arrived to take care of White Midnight personnel after a chain of disappearances. Regrettably, as you’ve seen Black Dove and her partner – Jury I believe – The risk had elevated significantly.”
He felt more of a leader than the Orange Disruptor did. And despite his na sounding close to ‘Hate’, he did not appear to embody hatred in any way or form.
“However, that is the mission we’ve taken for monetary and resource purposes. The true purpose resides in the palms of our Director. Hence, the reason for our briefing.”
They approached a lattice door with the symbol of an exquisitely crafted symbol of a tal shackle. If all the furniture and chandeliers were put together, then it would not amount to one tenth of the price that this would have cost.
It was simple in design, but Frost imdiately recognized its worth. Faint, green damascus patterns glistened in the dim lights. For such valuable tal to be used for a re decoration spoke of the materialistic character of the person behind these doors.
But knowing that Acedia wanted nothing more than to beco as close to Frost as possible, she figured that this was no more than a signifier of her position within Oboros Infinitas.
“Shall we?” The Orange Disruptor placed both hands on the doors.
They opened with the gentlest push, soundlessly swinging inwards.
It revealed a dimly lit sanctum, paired with the faintest scent of ink, wood, paper and the intangible weight of authority.
Despite it being afternoon, the wall of windowpanes invited the subdued, orange light of dawn into the spacious chamber.
“Tsk. Five minutes early. Don’t tell one of you managed to get hurt.” A scalding voice spoke.
It belonged to a Black Wing.
It was Abigail.
“And who’s this? It’s not like you to bring soone from the streets here –!?”
The realization hit her as Frost and Jury entered the room last.
Imdiately, it all fell silent.
An array of couches sat on one side of the room, and a wall of books filled with tos and forbidden texts on the other. These were books that were banned by the Golden Dawn for their propensity to send one spiraling into madness.
Placed in the back center of the room, right where the light shone, was a large executive desk.
And there, sat on an imnse chair that could only be described as a throne, was a certain white-haired woman.
“I-I apologize –!”
“Abigail. rcy is in the na of our benefactor. An apology is the sa as implying her cruelty.”
Red eyes gazed back at Frost from that seat.
Those eyes spiraled with unbounded awe.
Sat there was an elegant white-haired woman whose hair was tied into a graceful ponytail. Her porcelain skin paired with those eyes would cause one to believe that she was a vampire.
But the color of her hair was proof that she was an abnormality.
“Welco back, my Special Division. It seems like you’ve brought an esteed guest.”
Slowly, she lowered her folded legs and stood to greet them. She fixed her black tie and unfurled the sleeves of her white buttoned shirt.
“Normally, I wouldn’t accept guests on such a short notice. My Leviathan is my sanctuary. But there are exceptions.”
Her attitude, mannerisms, conduct, behavior – it was nothing like the Mimicry Frost rembered.
“And you are an exception of the highest caliber.”
She leaned over the table and extended her gloved hand.
“Frost. Jury. Welco aboard the Acedia Headquarters. While it’s quaint to need to introduce ourselves again, I feel like it’s only appropriate given how long it’s been.”
Frost took her hand, and imdiately, her pupils contracted, revealing a glimpse of the monster retained within ‘Acedia’.
“Acedia. The Director of the Acedia Special Division. It’s a pleasure to et you again.”
Her eyes trembled.
It took everything in Acedia’s power to stop her from gushing in the presence of who was, effectively, the perfect her.
Or, in a twisted sense, Acedia’s own mother.
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