Pillar of Order [N. Wild Card Topic]

It mattered little where the Wild Card was or what she was in the middle of doing. Shiina would find herself in a room that was rarely visited. At least, until the Queen opened its services to Class Zero. It mattered little in the grand scheme of things. The usual attendants, the boy and the woman, were present with them. But as usual, they stood there without any semblance of emotion. Near them was someone more familiar than the two in all of their hooded glory. "Congratulations are in order in light of your recent triumph. However, a few matters must be broached in our short time together. Limmure."

As if his mere utterance of her name was a command, the bound woman began to address Shiina, "As a Soldier of Order, your successes are a tribute to the Queen. They ensure the Order, her Order, is the rigid and all-encompassing chain required to bind tightly around the harmful chaotic nature of the City's masses deep inside of them. You've seen for yourself the few mavericks the Queen desires to keep under control. You are aware of what they are capable and surely you must realize what happens when that chain is broken for the rest of the City. There are those, even within the hoard of ravenous hounds, who truly wish to break these safeguards. To match them, you must reach the several peaks of your potential to succeed."

"Your progress is advancing the further you confront these challenges ahead of you. Since your awakening, you have unlocked many egos within you. Despite your failure to secure Alice, your capture of the Demon Painter has put your current record at a balance as we speak. It is suggested that you prevent future failures to uphold your 'oath'. His Majesty expects results from you and your fellow Cadets." The boy who spoke after Limmure had no change in his expression. His very mannerisms were mechanical, but was doll-like in appearance. Even after speaking, he simply stared ahead without any so much of a visible expectation of a reply. The unknown threads that connected with him were tight, but lax at the very moment until he was needed and was addressed to. There was something strange about him, but also about Limmure whose eyes were hidden. As handpicked staff of the Queen, they held secrets to themselves as much as they had a lot to offer to the Cadets. Oh how little did this Wild Card know.

They were quiet, but it didn't seem as if they were at all fazed at her reaction. Though, the hooded man cracked an amused smile under his concealing garb. Nevertheless, it was all just a part of business. It helped that all parties inside the Masque of Red right now knew this. There was still a sense of a 'gentle stir' in the air. It came from Lou Siffer, "Well said, and so we shall get to the point. You are here because of your recent experiences and so you shall return here the more you succeed and the more you fail. It is all a part of your growth until you reach the zenith possible... or you gain an untimely end. The two you see here in the Masque of Red are Limmure and Jale. Each shall offer their services to you and your allies shall you require it in this facsimile of a room. But we shall always be watching your progress."

He gave a nod to Jale to continue. "As a Soldier of Order, you surely heard of the rumors of one of Isla's retainers committing crimes under his jurisdiction. Assume they were true. You also know the motivations of one of the mavericks for his heinous crimes you captured recently. We ask of you, what is true justice? Where do you find it in your recent experiences? What have you learned from this?"

Whether Lou Siffer was pleased or not, they would not show it. But they didn't seem very surprised by Shiina's answer. Both Attendants by his side continued to dispassionately stand by him without notable reaction to her words. "Understanding what it truly means to you is imperative to your growth. It shall facilitate the last stages leading you to the zenith of your potential. You are naught, but a germinating seed. Your experiences as a Wild Card and as Isla's Soldier will facilitate your growth to eventually and finally reach that answer. Thus we shall await for that moment when you can finally reach it."

The woman continued after him. "You must understand the relevance Justice possesses over Order. Consistency. Reasoning. Warranting. Merit. Control. These are things that form the fabrics of the status quo woven by the threads of Order. Man is by all means a complicated and chaotic animal. From her rise to the lofty throne, your Queen understood this and thus she spread her chains over the entirety of Endymion to keep it from destroying itself from losing itself to Chaos. Despite this, there are few who break free and understand the City for what it truly is. Your claim that treating your enemies as animals is an act of injustice despite your lacking understanding of what true justice is and your role as a Soldier of Order. Explain why you categorize it as unjust."

The perfect Soldier without a true understanding of what justice is undoubtedly lacking in understanding what Order was. Both concepts were peas in a pod, united and symbiotic to one another until the other slacks. Despite her ignorance, that is exactly why they were here, to help her reach to that answer.

"A humanitarian, but more empathetic outlook than I once believed of you. Your ability to acknowledge your enemies, despite the conflict they have in purpose with you, make for an intriguing answer indeed." a small chuckle escapes them. They were amused by what she said, it showed there was a sliver of growth ongoing. Or perhaps it was there already. Either way, there was a promise to it. Both Rei and Yomi were at odds with each other, but yet they could never acknowledge anything past the edge of their power pointed at each other. Perhaps the outcome maybe different this time around. "Be aware. Should you come to realize what true justice is and desire to realize it, there will be... a sacrifice. A life. Remember this, should you steel and drive yourself for that purpose."

Underneath Lou Siffer's hood, the small ghost of a smile could probably be seen through the outlines of the cloth covering his mouth. If only this Wild Card even knew. Yomi's sacrifice came at an interesting cost that perhaps even her successor couldn't even imagine. Perhaps she was also following in her footsteps as well. "Great things comes from equally great sacrifices. You have time to ponder and to reach your Answer. By the time you do, remember what we have said. Return to your World. Your next steps await you. I look forward to your future."

As they said this, the aura in the room began to shift. Before Shiina knew it, she would return to where she came from. It left Lou Siffer and the Masque's Denizens alone. But not for much longer as Lou himself began to leave as well through the door. As the door closed, Limmure and Jale remained still as statues awaiting for the next guests...