Chapter 77: New Comrade

Chapter 77: New Comrade
Returning to the barracks felt like I was brought back home. And I couldn't help wondering if things would end now that I had performed the ritual prayer. Not only that, I had to investigate something.
It was about the man who had injured me. I could vividly remember a few of the features with that sharp jaw and the smirk. Just by thinking about him, it made my skin crawl out of nowhere.
"Azai, bring this flowerpot to the throne room."
I snapped back as soon as my name was being called. I did as I told them before my eyes were on my fellow apprentices looking in my way. I just ignored it, even though this immensely bothered me at this moment since we were already doing some preparations, yet they still had time to use their eyes to judge me.
How much more if they got to learn that I had three mates who came from the House of De Rosa?
And it would soon be revealed that I was their mate. I wondered how it went with Thaddeus when he talked to Severin.
I wanted to see Thaddeus. I didn't get to hear from him again. I wasn't certain if I would see him in this upcoming event as I didn't get any confirmation from him.
After finishing our tasks, my comrades and I headed to the cafeteria for our lunch break. Not wanting to mingle with the others, I grabbed a few pieces of fruit and slipped outside to the bleachers with a table. There, I quietly ate, lost in thought, contemplating how I should handle things moving forward.
Things would get busier tomorrow. While the royal knights would be handling the preparations for their arrival, the royal soldiers would be handling the case of the rogue attacks.
Our roles had been switched, not because royal knights couldn't handle the case there. It was because our mission was to hold back these rogues before the royal soldiers began their final attack.
Cretheus and the other high-rank royal knight profiles would probably return later tonight. This could mean that I could be able to see him.
The thought of seeing him made my heart flutter. I simply caressed the mark that was on my right shoulder, trying my best not to smile from ear to ear.
I was now mated by my three mates. And I needed to do my best to give them the best attention so they wouldn't have to compete with each other anymore. It was hard, but I wouldn't give up on them.
"Today is a very busy day, no?"
I flinched when a fellow female comrade sat across me. She was holding an apple and bit it before she turned to me and smiled.
"Isn't that right?" she asked.
I was hesitant to reply but I nodded and continued to eat. I glanced at her before lowering my gaze because it didn't feel right that I had met this person before.
She had a specific training uniform only meant for apprentices, but I could have sworn I never met her. And for the past weeks I had been training in the camp, I already knew the faces of my comrades.
Just this person... She was new here. I could tell.
"You're new here, right?" I couldn't help but ask.
Instead of surmising who she was, it was better to directly ask. 
Her lips formed a wide smile before she nodded and bit on her apple. "Indeed. You know your comrades very well, Kasumi."
I blinked in disbelief. "How did you know my name?" I even creased my forehead.
"Well, I should know my fellow apprentices, too, right?" she said nonchalantly, shrugging. "I'm from the second batch. Rachelle's the name." She wriggled her eyebrows before biting on her apple.
That earned me a silence. I almost forgot about that fact. Captain Jack had already told us about that when we first arrived here in the camp.
"You're right." I continued eating and ignored her. I just needed to start my investigation about the masked man. I needed to confirm something, and I could be able to do that within the barracks.
The investigation should begin with the four clans. That was the only conclusion I had reached.
I had been tormented by the other three clans ever since I had done that 'miracle.' There could be another reason my main claim would act upon this as what I did had been treated as an omen.
There had been so much possibility on who I could be treated as the suspect. And I didn't know where I could start.
"Kenji Miyoshi."
My thoughts trailed off when Rachelle spoke all of a sudden. "Pardon?" I tried not to show that the name she mentioned startled me.
Rachelle's gaze lazily swept over the grand structure of the royal knighthood, her expression unreadable. Then, her eyes flicked to mine, and the corners of her lips curled into a subtle, knowing smile.
"Grand Officer Kenji Miyoshi, your mentor..." she paused as she hummed, "He is an odd individual, isn't he?"
I slightly creased my forehead, wondering why she was mentioning my current mentor out of nowhere. But I calmly answered her, "He is an airhead. That's what I can tell you." I couldn't say that I agreed with her, but she was right about it.
A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she rose to her feet, her movements deliberate. Turning her head just enough to meet my gaze, she spoke with a tone laced with warning. "I'm sure you've noticed it. But tread carefully around him, Kasumi Azai." Without waiting for a response, she pivoted on her heels and waved dismissively, her back to me, not bothering to look again.
When I was left alone, Kenji Miyoshi's name lingered in my head while I was watching her disappear before my sight. And for some reason, she gave me an idea on who to pin the investigation right now.
I took a heavy breath as chills ran down my spine. I hated to admit it, but Kenji was the first person I had on my mind before she uttered his name out of nowhere.
My eyes darted as to where she left of. "Who are you, Rachelle?" I mumbled.