Twirling his index finger and making the map disappear once more, the vampire butler smiled in an almost smug manner, before replying, [b]“I would have presumed that a three kilometer headstart would be enough for your crew to go in and find Vance, but of course, I will gladly do so, if Lady Rilolia wishes. Would you desire a distraction then?”[/b] Rilolia looked at Lenz's eyes for a moment. There was something that seemed a bit off about the vampire, about his choice of words, or, perhaps, just something that unnerved her. But for now, she kept quiet of her worries. She had already lost one friend, and if she could help it, she wasn't going to lose another. The amethyst-haired girl clutched the crown jewel of Dead Gear. There was something underneath his fake smiles, something even deeper than his snark attitude hidden by weak pretenses. But for now, she nodded, [b]“That'll be acceptable, Lenz.”[/b] Her company had become quite eccentric since she first met that Crystala. A foolhardy, kind Astopolian, a witch-vampire, a cursed elf, and now, a vampire butler whom served her, but whom she doesn't remember. --- As Riley received answers from the janitor in the shut-down Bureau, the doors of the building swung open again, letting in another whiff of the burning and decaying wind that was gracing the town at the moment. With a grimace at the smell, the janitor turned his attention to the newcomer, and said, [b]“Place is closed, and mah...”[/b] He stopped then, hacking up a glob of red-flecked phelgm, spat it in the can, coughed once more to clear his throat, before continuing, [b]“...voice isn't as it was. If you're one of those relief soldiers from the other parts, this man has your answers.”[/b] With an easy gait, a middle-aged, well-shaved man stepped up towards the janitor, offering a flask of a strong-smelling alcohol, which the other took a greedy swig of. [b]“That better?”[/b] the man asked with a smile, to which the janitor nodded. Upon further inspection, he bore not the clothing of a soldier, but that of an airship captain, bearing medals of honor and a well-polished hat. His hair was a blue-black, giving it the same color as dark seaweed, and his eyes were light brown, an amber hue. Though his ears were hidden, points could still be seen, poking out from his hair, with the finer lines of his face marking him out as an elf. Placing the flask of alcohol back under his dark coat, the elven man said, turning to Riley, [b]“Sir, shall I presume that you are interested in participating in the hunts for those...abnormal rift-beasts that terrorized the town last night? I'm Captain Escellar, head of the scouting operation, as well as...latest addition to the Sidosa Board. Tasked with bringing up all able-bodied volunteers for the mission of hindering, and perhaps slaying those beasts. Would you be interested in partaking this quest...”[/b] He took another, more questioning glance at Riley's face, eyes narrowing in thought. The janitor, seeing this, interjected, his voice clearer. [b]“There be something wrong, sir?[/b] Suddenly, the elf's face split into a smile, a smile that seemed so much more genuine than the ones that he had shown previously. [b]“By the Goddess, Eldren, is that you? You damned recluse,”[/b] he said, slapping Riley on the shoulder, [b]“Thought I'd never see you after you quit so suddenly! How's your family, my brother? Sarah's still doing fine, right?”[/b] Grasping Riley's hand in a hearty manner, the elf proclaimed, [b]“With you here, this monster hunt will be no problem whatsoever!”[/b] --- [b]“You make it sound so easy, South,”[/b] North replied, crossing her arms at the rather bold and simplified solution that the Explorer witch provided, [b]“But are you not underestimating the security forces of a country in a state of emergency?”[/b] Pointing a slim, jade pipe at the military-esque witch with a shark-like grin, South replied, [b]“And you make it sound so hard, North, when all we need to do is send someone that they aren't looking for. They're searching for witches, right? So naturally, all we need to do is send someone that they aren't looking for.”[/b] On top of the great snake, East replied, miffed at what South was implying, [b]“Are you saying that you want my honored guests to do work that relates to our internal affairs? That would be an insult to them, and only stain my reputation as a welcoming hostess!”[/b] West, watching all this, interrupted in the same level-headed tone as always, [b]“Well, if you object to it, I can see if one of the refuges in my lands would be interested in helping out, East.”[/b] Apparently, she didn't get the joke. [b]“Oh no, it's fine, West,” [/b]East replied, waving it off while hiding her smile, [b]“I'll just have good ol' Aiv deal with this, as always. I'm sure that, as the person who suggested it, South, you'll be providing my knight with an artifact that will allow him to become our magical proxy?”[/b] Aiv frowned. There was no point in him going any further, was there? And all things considered, she should be totally aware of the fact that, he too was a fugitive from the other countries. Coming to Frelia to send a message was one thing, but to be actively roaming the lands in search of the perpetrator of a nighttime massacre...that was quite another. He had done enough, and East owed him many favors at this point. And thus... [b]“No.”[/b] --- At the end of the road, what Araki, the Tainted One, found, was not any obvious trail, but that of a scent that wafted in the air. The scent of a being similar to himself, yet different. The path of destruction had stopped at that point, and what remained was the simple fact that whatever was there had chosen to fly. The tracks were now irrelevant. And continuing the hunt became irrelevant as well. Not because there was no more point in pursuing the rift-beast, but because of the being that appeared before Araki. The demon of Musphelheim, the pale-skinned girl with red eyes and horns. For an instant, as she cast her gaze towards Araki, the world seemed to have been set ablaze, the sky turning blood red as geysers of lava burst through the ground, a mist of countless embers sweeping through the landscape as fire rained down from ago. And then, she blinked, and the world turned back to normal. [b]“You aren't the one, are you?”[/b] --- [b]“Finally done moping around?”[/b] Mirelle asked, taking a sip of some funny tropical concoction. [b]“Well, I figured that I'll just chase him for once,”[/b] replied Wynnara, tying her hair up with a new, black ribbon. [b]“Gonna tell him about what's going on here?” [/b]The former Knight Commander smiled, sitting down slowly. [b]“Knowing him, he's probably just burying himself in Dansila's archives or something, trying to figure out how that happened to Cykes.” “Sounds like him, doesn't it? Like aunt, like nephew.” “Heh, that's about right.” “Welp, till next time, Wynnara. Keep safe, and work out more. You're getting flabby around the parts that don't need fat.” “Later, Master Keep. You should worry more about yourself, considering all the food you guzzle down nowadays.”[/b]