The Final Word [Sci]

The shackles might have set the wrong tone, though.

Those few short months ago, after K would have returned with stories of her success, the shackled fox would have been brought before Luminas' council to decide if she had properly made amends - and knowing the beauracracy of that holy empire, there would have been a good chance that she would have still had to serve for some crime. But, despite the chains, there was definitely a different 'air' around here.

For one, this was not a grand marble hall, but a simple office off to the side. And for some high and holy order, things looked increasingly mundane: Digimon of different types walked on past, spoke openly, and even laughed out in the halls. The Angewomon herself seemed increasingly uncomfortable - and why not, she'd simply been demoted from her old rank to that of a greeter! Just what had happened here?

Well... just after the incident in the woods, something changed deep within Luminas' structure. The unrest with the city's inaction and ability to be swindled by mere illusions of holy acts and grandeur finally came to a head, and those who had been on top were finally being shaken free of their ranks. Thus, it wasn't with great thanks and distrust that K was welcomed here.

Instead, it was the call of a single Angemon: "K? We'll see you now." And the fox would either walk forward or be led into that office, to already find the angel on the other side of the desk, looking through the file.

"Hm... seems here like you're one of the few whose picked up and actually finished one of the old Order's impossible tasks..."

"You're about the one-in-fifty that manages to actually pull it off." The Angemon, in more of the tone of a bored politician, simply rolled his eyes as he went over the report. And, just as casually, he waved a palm forward - a flash of light filling the lock on K's shackles, the metal binding her simply clambering off onto the floor.

Yes, exactly where did that leave her? "Let's put it this way. You've done something that would ordinarily culminate in a feast and festivities for your accomplishments, but you're instead attending an informal hearing in what amounts to a bureaucratic basement. Honestly, I apologize for that, but the restructuring hasn't been kind on the higher-ups. Only those like Oathgard, who were willing enough to put their own necks on the line, maintained any kind of rank."

The Angemon, in that same breath, would open a fresh notebook, and put the current date and time at the top of the page. "For the record, please give your personal events of that day. Include any details you can remember, regardless of how relevant or irrelevant you think they might be."

Nothing they needed to apologize for? "That wasn't the tone around here last week... never seen such crowds..."

Right, that was neither here nor there. As K started to speak, the Angemon would tap his pen to the page. The instrument was imbued with holy light, and started to transcribe the exact words the Renamon spoke of - of her morning preparation to engaging the Wisemon, to even fighting on the other side of the Gate of Destiny. Definitely a hard-fought battle to be sure, and as K came to her conclusion, the Angemon tapped a finger on the desk.

"Hm..." He took a few moments to think it over. "Though it was likely unavoidable, the fact that you were forced to load him might prove somewhat problematic. Oathgard, to the extent that the data begins to impact her negatively, please keep in touch with us. Aside from that..."

The Angemon snapped the file shut. "Just to keep things simple, we're going to honor the Order's contract by the letter, and consider what transgressions there were, forgiven. Both for this..." and he sighed, "... and the Island 8-C incident, which I imagine they were going to conveniently 'discover' between the last meeting and this one."

"Honestly between this, the Icy Fate, and being pulled out of office, the old Order's a bit more than upset at this whole ordeal. Not that it really matters anymore..."

The Angemon sighed, nodding as he sat back up. Right, there was just one more thing that he had to cover - and this was more for the Seraphimon who had escorted the Renamon here. "Oathgard, we might as well discuss it now. Your duties to observe K have obviously come to an end, but I cannot guarantee that you'll have the same position here given... well, 'this'." The angel gestured vaguely to the room as a whole, and continued:

"Knowing that, your options are fairly open - at least if you make a decision sooner rather than later. What's your intent?"

It didn't take Oathgard much thought to make his choice - and as such, the Angemon didn't try to convince him to stay. "You'll be a part of their legacy too. Don't fancy yourself too much of an observer - else the entire world is just going to pass you by."

The Angemon gave a shrug, seemingly ready to adjourn this meeting - until Oathgard put another idea in the hat. He wanted to bring along another member? "Hm. If you're able to pull the strings and organize it, I'll see what I can do on this end." That small matter was quickly agreed to - and at the comment on K working for Luminas, the Angemon just gave a chuckle.

"Careful there. There's still quite a few here that would have rather seen her tied to the stake. Times are changing, but the old order still has their fanatics - so I wouldn't be trudging along here longer than you need to be. Not yet, anyway."

That was, perhaps, the first honest, well-meaning warning K would have ever heard from Luminas.

"For now, I believe the matter is settled."