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Riva stood up when the clerk piped up, unconsciously smoothing the hem of her apron. She kept quiet, and stayed at the back of the line.

Imhotep got in line since it seemed to be the thing to do.

Cato followed suit as well.

The clerk got up from his seat and opened a hatch in the counter.

"Follow me," he said, walking out through a door beside the poster he had been sitting in front of.

He led them down a hallway where a few doors led into what appeared to be storerooms and barracks, before opening the last door, leading to a quite barren and empty room.

"Please stand in a line next to each other," the clerk said, as he turned to leave again. "The captain will be here in a few seconds to brief you on what this is going to be about."

Invictus did as he was bade. He formed a line next to the others.

Alida found herself besides Invictus. She was surprised that he seemed to be the only guard here, although she considered the others could just as easily be guards out of uniform. For a moment she felt out of place, but dismissed the thought and instead lost herself in day dreams.

Riva got in line beside Imhotep, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her black apron nervously.

Cato got in line also, standing on the very end. He looked idly around, not really seeing, lost in thought as he was.

A few minutes later, a barrel-chested man entered behind them, walking to the front of the line they'd formed. He was short, probably wider around the chest than he was tall, but was built like a bear, big arms and legs making him look a bit like a leprechaun after two weeks in harsh training. He had a ginger beard and small, menacing brown eyes glaring at the six recruits from beneath a red-headed combover.

He wore the clothing of an advisor to one of the Heptarchs: A gold-rimmed, robe and leather sandals, but on top of this he wore a gilded cuirass, and he carried a long musket on his back. Everytime he moved his wings it would move slightly upwards, threatening to tip over and hit him in the head.

He took up position, standing with his hands in his sides, eyeing the six young angels in turn.

"So!" he said, voice like a bear growling. It wasn't a friendly sound. "You wish to hunt demons, eh?"

Riva glared back at the man with a hint of violet-tinged venom.

Invictus straightened to attention. He gripped his polearm firmly. He didn't speak though. He wouldn't speak unless ordered to.

When the man's eyes crossed Alida's she gave a nod, bowing ever so slightly as she did so.

"I guess so," Imhotep said, his unwavering grin still in place.

The barrel-chested ginger's eyes immediately snapped towards Imhotep, a scary glint in his eyes.

"Did I permit you to talk?" he shouted. "Did I, at any point, give you permission to speak?"

"Do we need your permission?" Alida voiced up, a thoughtful look in her eyes.

"In MY squad, you do!" the man boomed. "I am Commander Torgissus Firebrand, First Military Advisor to Heptarch Miraz of the Castitas and younger brother of the same Heptarch. In my squad, one does what one is told! Are we clear?"

He directed his quesion both at Alida and at Imhotep.

Invictus saluted Torgissus.

"Yes, commander."

So much for temperance Alida thought to herself. She did not like being yelled at, and regretted speaking her mind as she usually did on the rare occasions. She nodded again, her smile still not fading.

Cato only nodded. He wouldn't have much trouble with not talking. Or taking orders either for that matter.

Imhotep lost his smile immediately when he was told he shouldn't talk unless told he could. His pale blue eyes went into puppy dog mode, widening and watering slightly. He didn't mean to upset the red haired angel. And now he couldn't even apologize because he was not given permission to.

Imhotep looked down at his own shoes. Not even the shininess of Riva's boots helped him to get over his feelings.

Torgissus turned towards Invictus, cracking a small smile.

"And a guard is here as well. Shouldn't you be on duty, wearing uniform and all?" he asked.

"You've crummy snuck off from wherever you were supposed to be, haven't you?"

Riva noticed the profoundly crestfallen expression on Imhotep's face, and, if she hadn't been worried about the role the man could hold in her fate, she... she... Well, she probably wouldn't have done anything. She wasn't the 'intervening' type.

So instead, she redoubled her antipathetic stare at the man.

Invictus remained silent. He supposed the commander was right.

Torgissus smirked.

"Thought so."

He began pacing back and forth in front of the six.

"You have volunteered for hunting demons. For chasing them around our perfect society, catching them, and getting them back down their hellholes. That's all good. But do any of you halfwits have any idea what to look for when hunting a demon?"

Imhotep wanted to say he did not, but had not been given permission to speak. He began to shake his head, but caught himself halfway through the first shake. He hadn't been given permission to shake his head, either.