Finding Forgiveness {Jerza}

Identifiable

A/N: If you pay attention to details, you may figure it all out.
ALSO!
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Either way, I won't distract you any longer.
Enjoy the chapter!

-A

Lahar's P.O.V.

It had been two weeks since I woke up in the middle of the night to an intruder in my bathroom.

That intruder turned out to be someone I'm very fond of.

My girlfriend,

Akemi Clarke.

It was all so suddenly distracting to me. The way her deep pink lips had a natural warmth. The way emotion danced in her eyes. The sweet words she'd comforted me with.

I believed whatever she told me. I had no reason to doubt her, did I?

I wasn't being swept away by my emotions, was I?

Those questions circulated in my head for hours, and then days, and then weeks-

To where I am now.

"Captain," A young recruit called as he entered the room, throwing me out of my thoughts. I looked up at him bleakly without a response as he crossed the office with a file in hand, "The case you asked for."

He extended the folder to me, "Thank you, Private," I nodded before he bowed and left.

The file was so thin, hardly a case at all by the council's standards. 

I eyed the magic seal on the cover, which was more advanced than other cases. This type of seal, called a RedLine seal, is used only for highly classified information.

I announced the incantation used to undo it, and began my search.

I thumbed open the folder, and was greeted by the title.

DARK GUILD 57-82//THE DAMNED

The fugitive I couldn't tell Akemi about. The guild that was in a location so remote that we still haven't found it after combing the country. Twice.

I'd read this file a thousand times. I could almost recite the first five pages by heart.

But today,

today was different.

There was a rumor of a break-through yesterday, which means that there's new information to be read today.

I skimmed through the pages, looking for even the slightest revision. Line after line, the black ink seemed the same. The pages seemed to be the exact same as before. 

I pushed forwards, continuing on with my analysis. Nothing was different, even as I was nearing the end of the writing.

Maybe I'm missing something?

I should consider reading it over once again...

Sighing, I lifted the folder upwards to hold it parallel to my face. To my surprise, photos came toppling out of the file and onto my desk. 

Actual photos.

On a case this brief, it's unimaginable that we'd acquire photos of the convicts. I felt the anticipation rising in my chest as I shakily picked them up.

For some reason, I immediately thought back to when Akemi called me a nerd. I suppose I am, considering how fast my heart is racing. Nothing beats good council-work.