NOTE 21

The sound of her footsteps reflected among those pointed arched and ribbed vaults as she made her way down the hallway. Even though the day was nearing its peak, the entire academy was quiet. It wasn’t’ that there was no one around, it was just that the place suddenly seemed to have lost its voice. Lost its essence of life.

Her steps stopped right in front of the giant door.

“Are you sure about this?” asked Bongsor.

Without even replying, she opened the large door. Then she saw him, a figure who should be an example to the entire academy. A figure who should be able to provide sanctuary to those students in need.

“I was expecting you to come, Doctor Lika,” said Dirja in his usual tone and smile. “Is there something you—”

“What is this?” asked Doctor Lika.

She sent a screenshot of a news website this morning. Dirja only took a glance at it as if he already knew the content of it. But his smile still gone.

Maidengard Dismissed. That’s the title on it. The article tells a story of a girl with the title of Maidengard who is assigned to defend a military post from the invasion of automatons. Although she was recently recovered after six months of disappearance, she returned to her duty. But who would have though that her name would rise and be known beyond her title. Being the one who let hundreds of people perish because of her arrogant and incompetence. This great failure is deemed to bring shame to those who once held the same title. Therefore, the title was revoked from her.

“Maybe this is—”

Doctor Lika sent another screenshot. And another one. And another one. There were even some of it showing achievements of those who were sent along with this girl. “Is it the military?”

Dirja could only stare at her limply. “Someone needs a scapegoat. And unfortunately, this Maidengard girl over here was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“Was this planned?”

“As far as I'm concerned, I don't think so.” Dirja let out a long sigh. “You know better than anyone that I don’t want this to happen. I thought that sending them there, which supposed to be relatively safe, would give them more of an exposure to them for being the students in class thirteen.”

“You did achieve that.”

“…I did. I can even say that I did well in the eyes of some people,” said Dirja half-jokingly. “Anyway, what do you want to do now?”

“I want to keep my eyes on her.” She looked out the window behind Dirja. “Without memory. She doesn’t know anything other than what I gave her during rehabilitation. All the basic things she needs to know about Alanka Jangkarbumi. But I can sense that she is left with many uncertainties.”

“Why is that?”

Doctor Lika chuckled. “Do you know how hard it is to fill the shoes of a girl named Alanka Jangkarbumi? Especially if you have the same face, same name, same family, same eyes, same mouth, same height, and so on.”

“I don’t think I can handle that.”

“Neither any of us. Even Alanka herself.”