Before Maedelyn left the office to go fetch her final handmaiden, she would hear someone call out to her.

”Leaving? I had only just returned, having been busy dealing with the Association's messes.” The voice came from a violet aura that eventually materialized into a familiar man. Arteus stood in front of the desk opposite Mae, his arms folded with a smirk on his face.

”I see you had no problem making yourself at home, in my office no less.” He said, walking closer to the table.

”I thought we might take this time to actually talk; Hopefully wherever you’re going isn’t too awfully pressing.”

"Such timing..." Mae says, barely off her ass.

”I imagine that you haven’t made your presence known to the other members of the Tower? It’d cause a little too much…tedium, if so at this point. They wouldn’t quite understand the ‘contract’ between us right now, and the assistance I’m hoping you’ll provide when the time comes.”

"I've sat right here, for the most part," Mae says, "I did conduct a job interview. But, that's neither here nor there."

Arteus raised a brow. ”A job interview? I thought that was my role. No offense to your judgment, but it would pay to be mindful about who joins our ranks. I did just bring a new recruit to the Tower though.”

Arteus was now standing just about a foot or so away from Mae, who had sat back down on his desk. ”You’ve piqued my curiosity, but we’ll set that aside for now. Our agreement takes precedence. Care to discuss what the terms actually are? There are some concerns I have, and I have to take the well-being of my staff and co into consideration.”

"Oh, worry not, your pretty head," Mae says, "It was a secretarial interview. My Handmaidens are all accounted for, now," she says, "I was actually stepping out to collect the last of them. But..."

Mae looked back at Arteus, to whom she had her back to - exposed, vulnerable, yet wholly unafraid of anything he could do to this shell she inhabited. It was a display of power and confidence in defense akin to that of a hermit crab and seagull; a predator that was preyed upon, itself, and took aims to safeguard its existence, so it could boldly stray wherever it pleased.

Granted, Mae was so much more inside than a mere hermit crab, but the analogy held well enough in her mind, and afforded her the confidence to be so disrespectfully defiant of social norms - even if Arteus broke her "shell", she could scurry off into the sea or sand, and return with a new one...

"To terms, I have fewer than you," Mae says. "I seek to maintain a universally important balance of knowledge, and overthrow powers that upset it," she shifted, her position as neutral as before, "I don't seem money or power myself, I leave that to mortal - such is their profit. I merely need minds to fill with knowledge, and that's why I've come to you, the neutral party, with an offer that will allow you to weather the coming storms and shift the tides in your favour."

Mae set down a glass container, no larger than a soda can, and no less around, but clear with a screw cap, and a solution that contains small pockets of air, and more importantly, an eyeball with a colorless, yet defined iris and a fully dilated pupil.

"I offer the power of my eyes, and the knowledge that can be gained..."

Arteus looked at the eye floating in the glass, oddly fascinated by it. ”I wasn’t aware that you were into collecting body parts. Although, members of my team, myself included, also have our strange hobbies. As for the contract, it seems to be vague and overly ominous. More or less like the contract one must sign when becoming a researcher or the HQ’s private reaver team.”

He walked closer to the eye, further inspecting it. ”So, this eye grants a user ‘knowledge’, does it? I…believe that I can find a use for it somewhere down the line. As for my side of the agreement, they seem numerous simply because I have other lives to consider. This is ignoring the fact that any party involved would classify your maidens as malfested, and therefore target them for immediate extermination. However, it’s not as if they’re the only members who the Church would take issue with. Part of our agreement means that you will also aid in dealing with the inspection.”

Arteus held out an elegant white folder of sorts, and it looked to contain a few documents. ”This is an official declaration from the Holy Church, the inspectors are due to arrive. But, one of the ones coming concerns me….”

"Collecting body parts," Maedelyn laughed, before she unfurled her habit's blindfold, and looked back - missing all three of her eyes, "It's quite the opposite for we, the Diverged Divine, dear sir," she chuckled, before carrying on, "I do apologize for being less clear. I've already explained the way the world works to my new secretary, so I'm not much for repeating myself. I'll leave her to do that later."

Mae placed a hand on her cheek, and smiled. "If you like, you can give the eye a test run. It's no threat to you, or then - beyond a potential addiction to maintaining the knowledge you glean from my ken ad infinitum," she offers. "As for the numerosity of lives to care for, I can understand that on a universal scale. However, I'm not here to compare numbers, but maintain and swell them."

"Now, this..." Mae sighed, "My old stomping grounds... or rather, this body's. My churches has long fell, as have the churches of my brothers and sisters, the Diverged Divine are no longer worshiped, thanks to the attractive benevolence of The Six Scions," she thumbed through the documents, "I know pretty much everyone here. Question is, what do you want me to do? Vouch for you? Erect mental barriers? I don't even do that for my Handmaidens, as it's not my priority."

”I see, well, the newer Church has its fair share of problems as well.” Arteus said. ”As for the coming inspection, the person who concerns me the most is the Holy Seer. No doubt you know who she is?”

"In passing glances," Mae says. "I'm what you might call, "the serpent," in her, "Garden of Eden," passing out apples to all the naughty boys and girls that aren't smart enough to know better," she says, driving a well-kept fingernail into the picture of the woman in question - creasing a line between both her eyes, as if slashing them out. "Suffice to say, we aren't on a first name basis or chummy enough for drinks, but she does her rounds like a good, little follower of The Six."

There was some inherent bitterness to her tone and resentment in the machinations of her finger.

”You don’t seem to be willing to break the ice.” Arteus replied. ”The reason I brought her up is because Kiff had come into the possession of a grimoire that used to be in her care. But because of the unstable state it tended to leave its owner’s minds in, they eventually threw it away. I understand that now the tome has found a new owner- Leon Hyksos. While the book, by all rights, belongs to the Tower now, I don’t know how they’ll feel about a Church relic being picked up by our sect through backdoor means.”

He rubbed his chin for a moment. ”Your knowledge seems to be quite vast. I trust you know of Damian Florestas?”

"Break the ice? My dear sir, you overestimate the import of this mortal shell. This woman is barely a competent sister, much less someone that Her Holiness would break ice and bread with," Mae says with a gay cackle, as if Arteus told quite the knee-slapper. "That said, your pesky book is well-known to me. After all, I bound it together," she says, sliding off the desk, and slapping the feeling back into her numbed cheeks, "Walk with me, Arteus, and we'll discuss your friend, who I'm sure is in my library somewhere, if his deeds were worth cataloguing."

Mae snapped her fingers, opening the Void Portal to her Null Space, her Domain, so Arteus could step foot into her Library.

He could easily see The Maiden Abyss, binding a book with needle and thread in the center of the space, despite all the moving shelves, as they went up-and-down, and side-to-side; as if, she would always be the center of attention, when viewed from outside.

Not looking, she lifted her sewing hand, and made a come hither motion - the same motion that Mae would make with her back turned to him.

”Oh?” Arteus peered into the portal and saw the being who referred to herself as the Maiden Abyss. Walking in with her, he gazed upon the countless tome-filled shelves that lined the space. ”I feel that you and Kiff would likely get along famously.” He jeered.

”You know, you still haven’t told me about this ‘secretary of yours…”

As the portal closed, Mae would slump over, and collapse to the floor; her body floated and lifted into a chair.

Just that mousy, little girl. Bruum, I believe.}

Despite the fact that Mae fell and was moved like a puppet, her voice was clear and present through the Library - even though the lips of The Maiden Abyss never moved.

”Brun?” Arteus let his face slip into a bit of surprise, and not just at the puppet show that his host decided to put on. ”You’ve already met with her? Mousy isn’t how I would describe her, but her case is quite special. I was going to be particularly careful in how I was going to inform her of this arrangement we made.”

Arteus looked at the lifeless Mae sitting in front of him, as if examining it for a moment. Her voice rang throughout the entire space, but neither of the women in front of him made any lip movement. He then started walking toward the Maiden.

”I don’t doubt you were involved with the book’s origins. I would ask about what effect the book will have on the boy, and see what you could offer in the case of Damian’s situation. I’m not asking you to fix all of our problems. If need be, I can certainly handle it. In fact, I feel that Damian himself is more than capable of his own way out of it, if need be. However, I would like for him to understand that we can be trusted. ”

{I have nothing to do with the creation of that book that troubles you. Merely binding its pages to its cover, and setting it free upon the world, as all Knowledge should be.}

Raising her sewing hand, the little girl would leave her needle to float, and flick her wrist; materializing the book into her hands, and casting it open before her.

{I remember this one. Amusing. Tell me, is the boy talented in Espermancy?}

”Leon? Yes, it’s the divination that he specializes the most in, and the book seems to have amplified it somehow. The main aspect I’m aware of is that it is able to show him different ‘futures’. I wonder if these futures are things that may happen, or perhaps could happen?”

{Divination is such a strange way to put a specialization...} The Maiden flipped through the pages, and looked up, {Yet queerly fitting for a book that speak of futures, could-bes, and can-bes.} Casting her hand dismissively, the book would disappear to its current shelf. {There. I have redistributed the book, so the Church cannot claim it, nor can Eon Tower. It is mine. Consider it a loan, eh?}

Returning to her sewing, The Maiden would resume binding the book before her. {And, yes, I would call my darling secretary a ‘mouse,’ before me. So small. So cute. So nosey. And, she squeaks, little adorable noises. She is quite darling, indeed, little Bruum. So determined to sweep up behind you, dear sir... } Her eyes shifted to Arteus, {To the second matter, now; your friend. Explain his situation, and I’ll determine how much I can, or cannot, help.}

Arteus decided to ignore the comments and the new nickname the Maiden had given the assistant admin of the Tower. ”You redistributed it? I imagine that means that you’ve made the book a part of your repository here, therefore, no one can have the will to remove it then?” He said.

”As for Damian, his is a much more intricate case. He is the victim of a terrible magical experiment that resulted in the death of two other people. This process severely amplified the esper abilities he possessed, however, it also was a source of much trauma for him. He now has the energy of two other minds within him. However, the main point is that despite being a victim of circumstance, the Church will see his existence as heretical. His current state is a violation of natural law, magic ethics, and humanitarian principles. Therefore, they would likely set him for execution and label our Tower as breachers of the treaty between them and the Association. The latter, in that case, would label us traitors and attempt to do away with us as well.”

”I don’t suppose you have any suggestions? Despite my station, I’m not necessarily well liked at the Association, so I won’t have any pull in this circumstance.”

{I said, the book returned to his current shelf. Not me.} The Maiden paused her binding. {You are... well, nevermind, I suppose.}

There was a long silence, as The Maiden seemed to be in thought; her eyes didn’t move, not even to blink; her muscles were completely still, not even moving with the concept of breathing. All that moved were the shelves and the magic of the Null Space, itself.

{There are three options. All of them come with flaws. First of them, I simply erase the Church and the Association. It would be as simple as snapping my fingers, and creating a simultaneous explosion and implosion to collide. But, that is the most extreme solution.}

Suddenly, The Maiden slumped over, and tilted in her chair. There was a ruffling of papers, as the book she’d been binding pulled away, and fluttered into an aisle formed of risen shelves.

{Second of them. I can remove the Knowledge of the experiment from his body - physically and metaphysically. It would relieve him of his burdens,his powers, and whatever lies in-betwixt the first letter and the last period. That should be his choice, however.}

As suddenly as before, Mae sat up, and tilted her head; stretching, as if she’d been taking a glorious nap.

"Third of them," she says, "I just kill him. No more problems for anyone."

”I feel that I shouldn’t even bother entertaining the first and third options. I feel that a being of your standing would opt not to involve themselves to affect our world so directly. I can’t imagine what would be left if you were to do such a thing. However, the second option is certainly worth considering, I would certainly bring it up to him.”

”Now then, barring the inspection, there are other concerns that need attention, but those will come with time. What will you do about your handmaidens? In particular this final one, I can also presume that she’ll also be added among our ranks? ”

"I don’t make presumptions, dear sir. You are free to invite her in at your discretion," Mae says,"This is your house of cards. I offer you another, but you may add it to your stack, if you wish." A popping would roll like thunder, as Mae cracked her neck and her back, "Stiff as a board. I’d trouble you for a message, though, what fair trade could I offer in turn?"

As she propositioned him, the Library would be replaced, as she ejected them from her Null Space, and back into the office; Arteus in his seat, while Mae was lounging across his desk.

"Perhaps, Bruum has a hand for it," Mae says, "A good secretary ought to be skillful in many things, after all. Knowledge is power, y’know."

Arteus ignored Mae’s proposition and her comment towards Brunhyldia yet again.

”Just what are you expecting of Brun, exactly? This ‘role’ you’ve picked her out for doesn’t sound like the role I asked you to play if it comes to it. As I said, her situation is quite…different, we’ll say. ”

"You’re a very confident being of flesh and blood, rendable and exsanguinable, as those two facets are," Mae says. "You dare to keep secrets in the presence of Knowledge itself, and have the bravery to do so with a straight face and a calm demeanor," she says, "It’s as impressive as it is irksome. But, understand you this: you do not give me a “role” to play. I have afforded you my pawns, and I can rescind them, and turn them against you, as easily.."

Mae faded out of sight, before she reappeared, sitting with her back to Arteus once again. "My expectations of darling, mousy, little Bruum are as follows," she says, "To keep you in checkmate, dear King."

"We aren’t playing on the same side. I’m Black, and you’re White. This is but a temporary armistice, before you turn me back into your enemy, like you do all that are born of Miasma," Mae turned her head; her habit done up. "My pawns are in need of promotion, Black King. That’s why I brought them to you, the one that caught the eye of those Pets of the Six Scions, the Dragons..."

”I’m more curious as to what matter of being you truly are.” Arteus mused. ”Malfested don’t generally act like you and your so-called handmaidens. You say that I keep secrets, the same could be said of you.”

"I am me. As I said, born of Miasma, not made of it," Mae says. "Malfested are just weak, mindless intimations of what I am," she says, "I did actually explain all this already. Hang on..."

Mae would snap her fingers, and open a Void Portal; yanking Brun through by her panties.

"Secretary, answer his question," Mae says, "Oh, I should say what it is, I guess."

”Unhand me!” Brun exclaimed, her voice full of annoyed fury. Brun generated a bright spark of light from her palm, which exploded then after. The flash separated her from Mae; She quickly inspected her suddenly changed surroundings. ”What in the Scions’ name do you want now?” She grimaced, irritated that Mae had solicited her a second time. That ire was amplified when her eyes immediately fell on Arteus, who’s look gave away his loss of comfort.

”....Uh, evening Brun.” He stuttered out. Brun’s eyes began to pierce him more than any dagger could. ”I know I’ve been gone quite a while, most of the day in fact, but I trust things have ran smoothly in m-”

Arteus was cut off mid sentence, as his fellow sage had chained him from neck to toe in her holy chains. He looked as though he was having trouble breathing.

”Hurgh! Brun…there’s…no real need for this!” He said in a panicked breath.

”Lout! That’s your current designation! Tell me who this woman is and why she’s here! She claims to have entered into some sort of agreement with you, and keeps talking about how I’m a secretary!”

"Oi, oi, bad secretary," Mae says, flicking a finger, and lifting Brun by her smallclothes once again. "Fiery temper, this one."

”Enough you pervert!” Brun snapped, attempting to blast her hand away again.

Mae would find her hand removed again, but this time by a serpent and not a blast of luster. Arteus was now standing between the two women.

”Mae, it’s quite alright, I’ve got this.” He said. ”I’m sorry for not telling you this before, but it’s complicated. Just know that this woman, or being rather, has entered into an arrangement of sorts with the Tower. Or more specifically, me. With the resources she can offer, I feel that she can be of great help to us in the coming days.”

”Does her help involve her touching my undergarments?!” Brun retorted.

"Touching? Espermancy does nothing of the sort," Mae says, lying across the desk, "I can touch, though, if you are so tempted. This puppet is not so weak." Mae yawned, "That said, this arrangement is tenuous, at best. People like you, the cloth from which you’re cut is unfit to make paper from, so tempered, and impulsive - a down feather quill would tear your paper right open with a single stroke before the ink thought to stain you..."

"Still, I’m listening... so, tell me, darling, little mouse... what do you want," Mae asks. "If its Knowledge, I have that in spades. If not, I’m sure my Handmaidens can fetch it," she grinned broadly, "...or, would you like me to just leave? I can do that, too. Leave you to your wars. I’m sure you can handle them alone, eh?"

”Insufferable….”

”Brun, I also had her come here for you as well.” Arteus said, stopping her from making further outbursts. Brun looked over at Arteus, baffled at his statement.

”You remember what I promised you all those years ago, right? Well, even now, after everything we’ve built, I want to make sure we keep it. She can help with that, and with you.”

”Arteus…”

Mae was oddly quiet, as Arteus and Brun spoke; like before, when she contemplated on Damian. However, her chest was rising and falling, so she wasn’t lacking a pilot, so to speak. She was just... quiet.

”You've told me that you've started to hear the voice again, right?” Arteus said.

”...Yes. At first, it was only while I slept, but… As of late, it comes spontaneously.” Brun said, hesitant to answer.

”Damn. Will all that's been going on it may likely be her stirring again. I felt that she's been quiet for an odd amount of time.”

Same as before, Mae just seemed to be listening; being unable to see her eyes - or rather, lack thereof - made it impossible to really tell if she was even present in the moment. It was very clear that the woman that called herself “Maedelyn” was a puppet born of the woman named “Natalie”. That fact alone lent itself to question: How many puppets did The Maiden Abyss have under her thrall?

Just how high did her infiltration go? To the top of the Holy Church? To the ruling power of the Association? Just how many had she tempted with Knowledge, itself, and twisted to her power and decree?

Was it really just Scarlett, Lupina, and the unknown third?

”I've started to hear her voice again as well, so I believe that to be a safe assumption.” Brun grimaced. Her expression was especially dark.

”Mae.” Arteus said, now directly addressing her. ”The person we're referring to is someone who threatens all people, and she just so happens to be someone Brun and I know all too well.” His eyes had a distinct sharpness to them.

”In order for you to effectively help us, there are things I'll need to inform you of. I need to know that what we say won't leave this room.”

Brun herself, had a look of uncertainty, and seemed as though she wanted to stop Arteus.

”Arteus, can this being really be trusted? I mean, we don't know what she even is!"

”It's alright, this person knows that we are of benefit to her. Meaning, she and perhaps everyone else, has more to lose by not aiding us. Besides, she wouldn't breach the contractual vow we've agreed upon. I don't enter deals without insurance. He said, smirking.

Mae shifted, finally moving, which resulted in her rolling off her side, and slamming into the floor. "I’m awake! The answer is: Infinity equals Causality divided by Determinism squared!" Mae grunted, as she snapped into a cross-legged, attentive position, before yawning, and slumping back against the desk she’d fallen off. "...I’m tired... go to sleep..." she grumbled, before fading out of sight, and returning to her usual sitting position. "...talk too much... worrying... pointless..."

For a moment, the Deity was almost still; rocking back and forth by mere inches, before she stretched her arms and scratched the back of her head. "Haaaa...~Good morning..." she yawned. "Apologies... I feel asleep... Were you talking to me?"

Brun and Arteus looked at the scene that just played out before them with blank expressions, before eyeing each other for a moment. Brun appeared to be the more annoyed one, between the two.

”Who were you telling to go to sleep just now?” Brun asked cautiously. ”If I even dare ask?”

Mae tilted her head, before she raised her right hand; chains slammed into the wall, and twisting around Brun - snaking through her clothes, and nailing into the wall. Clenching her fist, the nails multiplied, and shackles formed around the nails - her wrists, ankles, and throat held tightly in place. Raising her left hand, she held her palm at Arteus, and turned her head to him in a regarding tilt.

"This is what she does to you," she almost seemed to ask, "It’s so simple to counter, childish in nature, and yet you allow her to do it, don’t you?" Mae scowled, "Pity, dear sir? A pittance for her nature? Or, is it mutual?"

Twisting her left hand, she formed a shackling gag over Brun’s mouth, and pinned her head in place. "Dare you ask? Sure. I don’t mind. However, I won’t answer. You don’t trust me, after all. Your disdain is like a sword, digging into my side - bleeding me; hurting me; wounding me..." Mae suddenly fell, and The Maiden Abyss stood on her body like a platform.

"I am no BEING," The Maiden Abyss snarled, "I live! I breathe! I think! I feel! Your words have meaning! More meaning to me than anyone else you speak to, because I GAVE YOU THOSE WORDS!" she shouted, "I AM the Goddess of Knowledge, the Diverged Divine of Learning, and I ask for no reverence, no worship, no sacrifice, only respect for my domain!"

The Maiden Abyss huffed, and tossed her hands to the air and her sides - breaking the chains, and freeing Brun. "Let’s be out with it, then, the truth," she says, "My end of the bargain with Arteus: to control swelling geyser, boiling in the depths of what you are, and what you were born to be."

"In short," The Maiden Abyss turned her eyes to Brun, "I’m meant to put a leash on you, because I’ve already failed to leash your other half."


Brun’s eyes sharpening into a powerful gaze, her eyes glowing with a bright crimson flare. She broke herself free of the shackles the Maiden placed on her, creating a sizable hole in the wall. Full of anger, she prepared another attack.

That was before Arteus stepped between them. His void serpent separated the two of them, distorting the space between them by continuously altering the distance between them to prevent any further conflict.

”That’s enough, both of you!” He declared. ”It seems that the two of you have gotten off on the wrong foot upon meeting one another, but this will cease. The point of our contract is that we’re all allies, and as I’ve already stated, she is here to help you, Brunhyldia.”

Brun, her energy now calming down, looked at Arteus with a more concerned look. She dropped her aggressive stance and sighed. ”Forgive me, Arteus.” She said, repairing the large crater she had made in his wall with alchemy.

She then turned to the Maiden. ”I also apologize to you, as well, all things considered. You do indeed, seem to know of my situation. The voices, the nightmares, the way it feels as though I’m about to lose control…. Sometimes it doesn't feel like I know who I am at all. And…I don’t even really know why.”

”You also mentioned my other half. Then, you know about…her?”

"I know everything; past, present, and future," The Maiden Abyss says, Though, the future is no such certain thing as to be predictable. It moves, like a pawn, promoted - unpredictable," she says, Spare me your tears, however, they aren't worth boiling for tea. I'm cleaning up, nothing more, nothing less."

"And, what I do know is something
you must earn, however... I'll gift you a nibble at the apple..." The Maiden Abyss narrowed her eyes, "Beneath God lies a coin with two faces; one advises the other, one lies to the others, and this coin is a penny."

Brun wasn’t sure what the Maiden had meant by her statement, having chosen to speak in riddles and metaphors. Apparently, perhaps due to the pact she made with Arteus, she couldn’t directly state information pertaining to certain topics and events.

”I…I don’t understand. Beneath God, and one with two faces?” Brun said, puzzled.

”That’s alright, we can discuss the riddle later.” Arteus said, reassuring the Chaos Witch. ”Brun, just know that for now, we can trust her. I promise, and when have I ever broken a promise to you?” His face now wore a confident smile.

Brun made a small scoff at the statement, but still had its intended effect of calming her. ”You really are such a lout, do you know that Arteus?”

”One last thing, Mae.” Arteus said, his attention back on the Maiden. ”You said you were on your way to bring back your final ‘handmaiden’, you called her? What can you tell us about her?”

"Right now, she's a corpse," The Maiden Abyss says, casually, as she stepped off Mae's body. "So, there is that. I'm so nauseated, I might throw up before I can revive her," she groused, "When have I ever broken a promise to you? Oh, you're such a lout, you know that? Gross. Not even using the damn word in the right way, for Divine's sake! Treating it like it's a term of endearment. Disgusting. Hate it. Humans, Fae, Belua, you Things in-between," The Maiden Abyss threw up her arms, as she ranted, "You think you're so smart, you can just change the definition of words to have different meanings. I worked hard, okay, for two goddamn centuries, around the clock, coming up with shapes and sounds, for all you ungrateful creatures, and this is the thanks I get TO. MY. FACE."

"Honestly, it's maddening. Truly. Lout. An uncouth and aggressive male. This prima donna pantywaist looking man is a fearfully far cry from that insult you are abusively using as endearment, " The Maiden Abyss worried her face with her hands, "It was so much simpler when you didn't have words. Just those silly grunts and groans, poking at things, like infants..." she sighed, "I miss those days."

The Maiden Abyss pulled down her lower eyelid with a groaned, "Maybe, a good cataclysm is what is needed."

Arteus and Brunhyldia looked at the Maiden with blank expressions on their faces, not expecting the sudden outburst of grievances; Apparently she was quite the stickler for words. The two sages shot each other a glance.

”A prima donna? Uh, yes, quite. I suppose I’ll take that as a compliment.” Arteus said cautiously, not wanting to start another outburst.

”Yes, well, you mentioned that the girl in question was a, corpse currently? Is…necromancy a part of your repertoire of abilities. I think it’s worth saying that such a thing is rather…unethical, shall we say? Especially in the eyes of the Church.”

"Is that what you call it," The Maiden Abyss asks, "I'm just holding her soul down with my thoughts, and reviving her heartbeat, while sealing her wounds. She was eaten by a Belua."

”Eaten?” Brun said, her expression becoming more alarmed. ”A cannibal Belua…” She looked at Arteus.

”It may not be the man we’re thinking of, or beast, rather. But it’s best we keep our guard up all the same.” Arteus said. ”We wouldn’t mind adding her to the Tower, so long as we got to speak to her first. I hope you can mend the poor back up to par.”

"Already done," The Maiden Abyss says, "I'll leave you to fetch her. News will reach you soon enough," she says, "Spring is coming, Arteus. Time to clean house. All three of them."

The Maiden Abyss leapt back and into a Void Portal. At the same time, Mae would disappear from the floor, and reappear at the desk; sitting and staring at the floor, as if powered off still.

The Maiden Abyss had vanished back to her domain, leaving the vessel known as Maedelyn sitting on Arteus’s desk like a lifeless husk. Arteus and Brun remained silent for a moment, processing the whole exchange.

”Arteus.” Brun was the first to break the silence. ”I don’t believe she informed you where we are to find this final ‘handmaiden’, did she?”

”It seems she didn’t…” Arteus said.

"Secretary, I'm out of chips. Run out and get me some," Mae says, sitting up with a groaning stretch, "Don't dally, however. Pick whatever is cheap and hurry back. I'll need to take your eyes for measurement," she says, " Lot's to do, if we plan to save the world and all that jazz..."

Mae looked up, and smirked, "I'm excited to see them again..."

A scorching memory.

A dangerous beast cloaked in flame walks amongst land, wielding its giant flaming sword, and leads an army of renegades who blindly worship him as if he was their savior. Its massive blade burns with hellfire equal to its fangs. Its scales forged in the depths of a volcano.

Its heat is so intense it can melt even the thickest icy terrains and boils down the entire sea, leaving it completely dry like the desert.

This creature is the embodiment of the sun. A ball of flame hovering above everything, devouring everything under its light, claiming what's his. A walking calamity. A kin murderer. An unquenchable flame that burns everything it touches to cinders.

I've never met anyone who has outsmarted the Sun itself. Let alone escape its reach.

A premonition suddenly flashes before Leon, looking at the blue-haired girl while munching on his meal.

What does this even mean? Does it have to do with Lapis being the sea and her brother, Ruecian being the ice?

”Damn, I hate having these visions. It leaves more questions than actual answers, really.

Still, I can't just keep this grim prophecy all to myself. Not what happened to my clan who ignored the seer's warning.

If there's a chance to save other people by telling them about their future. maybe just maybe I could change the course of this event.

"How very noble for a cutthroat. Involving yourself with other people's undoing even if it costs you your life. Heh, So foolish, just like my previous creator." The grimoire mockingly said in his head.

"Tread lightly my little fae harbinger, or I might find a new host from the path you're choosing"

"...."

~~

As they feasted on the Kitchen wiz's gourmet, The fae rogue couldn't help but to stop and stare at Evelyn and Lapis and started to mumble about the prophecy as if he was in a trance. Leon was so engrossed in what this riddle meant.

"The sun will dry up the sea and thaw the freezing snow," Leon audibly said after finishing his drink. Rapidly blinking his tired eyes to his surprise as if he shouldn't say what he was thinking in front of the others.

"Sorry, slip of the tongue, you must think I'm weird but I have the strangest vision about you and your brother." Leon said in a bashful manner to the girls. Embarrassed to spout out such enigmatic jargon.

"In any case have you considered having me as your secret bodyguard Mrs. Lapis? I'm not saying that you're not capable of defending yourself but I feel there is something out there to get you" Leon warned Lapis.

"Now, I'm not trying to scare you but my clairvoyance told me you will be hunted down by a malicious yet cunning fiery creature wielding a giant blade, whose scales is like the molten flame. Of course, I could be wrong but from what I've seen, it's far worse than I'm telling you." The fae said with a dire look on his face.

"Ugghh.. Wayyy to ruin our appetite fae boy, you and your weird jokes. I told you he's weird Laps. I swear you have the worst comedic timing." Evelyn slams the table with an annoyed look on her face, comically pointing and waving a piece of a drumstick at Leon's face as if she was threatening him.

"I wish it was, but the vision of what I saw was incredibly vivid even for me.” Leon remains serious even with the star witch’s childish outburst.

“Do you recall anyone who fits the descriptions of what I've just said?" Leon straightforwardly asked the Azure esper while chugging down another drink.

Lapis stared at Leon with wide eyes for a moment, remaining eerily silent for a moment. ”Lapis? Everything OK?” Eve asked, growing concerned for her friend.

”You…you’re talking about him…” Lapis finally said, breaking her earlier silence. ”No…I don’t want to remember! Why, why would you know about…” Her eyes had become bloodshot at that moment.

”You’re an Esper like me, aren’t you? You should understand the importance of a person’s inner thoughts! I don’t want to remember him! I don’t want to remember Kinnich!!” At this point, Lapis had tears dripping down her eyes. Eve, stunned by her friend’s bewilderment, couldn’t muster up the gall to speak.

”"What have you done you insensitive jerk!?" Eve turned her attention and scolded Leon. She and her familiar started comforting her while Leon just sat there, questions unanswered, and was like a deer in headlights. Still processing what just happened.

"HAHAHA.. this is quite the show, you truly bring absolute misery to those people around you. bringing her traumatic past and her unavoidable future. Well done my little harbinger." The grimoire mocks the Fae in his head.

"Not helping, grimy..." Leon muttered under his breath.

Maybe the direct approach isn't the best course for telling her fate, after all, she is still young and emotionally fragile. Perhaps I should delve into her mind and her familiar to shed some light on who this 'Kinnich' is. I never communed with the spirits before let alone diving into one's core memories. Leon deeply sighed, preparing to use the grimoire's powers once again.

Leon's eyes started to glow and began to telepathically link Lapis and her tiny octopus friend, Hachigan together. Diving deep into the thoughts of the blue-haired witch.

He enters Lapis's mind and into the rabbit hole of memories. He finds himself teleported and swimming in the middle of a vast beautiful underwater utopia. Her inner thoughts are represented as this lively and colorful sea filled with marine life inhabiting it.

The knife ear fae can see an abundance of memories playing in the background like movies playing on repeat. From Lapis's childhood until her time as a reaver.

From there, Leon swam and followed the tiny octopi which led him into the deepest part of the ocean.

The turmoil began to brew as Leon noticed the temperature suddenly rose drastically. It must be close.

"So this is where you store the memories of this so-called, Kinnich." Leon sees a dark cave with a barrier prohibiting anyone from entering.

"Unravel and Unlock the mind. Dissolve the mysteries of the earth: Elucidation!" Leon reaches out his arm and casts an advanced esper technique that lets its user infiltrate the inner thoughts of others, no matter how restricted it is.

"Sorry for trespassing into your past trauma, Ms. Lapis. But this is for your own good. You gotta face your fears eventually." Leon and Lapis's sea-fearing octopi traverse into the underwater cavern hoping to find answers about the sun beast.

Hachigan chirped with severity as both he and Leon delved deeper in the recesses of Lapis’s mental space. The cave that stored her most repressed memories resembled more so a volcano than anything, riddled with large cracks that spewed eruptions of vermillion molten rock. With his psionic abilities, it wasn’t too difficult for Leon to cut through the barrier that blocked the entrance to the cavern. Hachigan hugged Leon’s arm tightly as they made their way deeper into the cave; Their trek was made more and more uncomfortable due to the steadily increasing temperature.

Eventually, Leon would hear a baleful voice ring out. ”Lassie, what’re ya waiting for? He’s got no fight left in ‘em.” Leon would look to where the voice came from, and gaze upon a scene of Kinnich standing with an apparently younger Lapis. More alarmingly, he would see a beaten and battered man limping on the ground in front of them.

”B-but, Uncle Kinni…” The younger Lapis whimpered, tears starting to roll down her eyes.

”But what?” He boomed. ”Get this over with, kiddo.”

”He, he didn’t do anything wrong…” While standing over the beaten man, Lapis held an ice dagger in her hand, which she was reluctantly brandishing over him.

”P-please, don’t hurt me!” Pleaded the man. Both the man and Lapis were filled with dread and fear. A past version of Hachigan was in the vision as well, floating at Lapis’s side while he tried to comfort her.

Taking advantage of Lapis’s hesitation, the man attempted to make a break for it. He quickly got up and tried to run as fast as his damaged body would carry him. He didn’t get very far though…

Lapis’s face lit up with vivid horror as the vicinity with a bright scarlett hue, which was accompanied by the agonized screams of the man. His body was immediately ignited, and Lapis watched as his charred corpse plopped to the ground. The smell of his cooked flesh made her sick to her stomach.

”Uncle Kinni…y-you, you killed th-” Lapis was cut short, as she received a violent strike from Kinnich, sending her tumbling to the ground.

”I told you to kill that hairless monkey.” He said with irritation in his voice. ”Ya ain’t gonna get far acting all soft-like, lassie!”

Lapis attempted to get up, still whimpering.

"Uncle!? So this cruel monster is related to the Reaver siblings?" Leon gritted his teeth after this inhumane execution and the Sun beast’s cruelty against young Lapis. If this wasn’t just a memory, Leon would brandish his dagger, strike from the shadows and intervene without any hesitation.

If Leon recalls correctly, some Beluas have a notorious reputation for being the most violent race of them all due to their primal tie-ins with their animalistic nature. The esper fae have first-hand witnessed how vicious they are in this scenario. A monster teaching a child how to be a killer. I have no words. That's just messed up.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg. let's get going, eights (Hachigan). The flames from my foresight are more refined than what Kinnich displayed in his early years." Leon nodded and began to swim deeper into the mental space of the azure esper's miserable childhood past.

The wayward Fae would happen upon another vision as he ventured further into Lapis’s unpleasant memories. It was another sight of Kinnich with his niece. This time, though, they were sitting on some rocks and no human victims were present.

”Lapis.” Kinnich said. ”Do ya know why it is I often send yar brother out apart from ya?”

”B-because I’m…weak and would just get in the way?” Said the younger Lapis.

”You’d be right, lassie.” He responded. ”That, and I’m trying to wean ya off of always thinking someone’s gonna save yer arse when death decides to play. If I were to kill Ruecian, that’d put you between a rock and a shitty place, wouldn’t ya concur lassie?”

Lapis’s face lit up in fright at her uncle’s statement.

”Y-you would kill Big Brother, Uncle?!”

”That’s not the point, nitwit!!” He boomed.

Well, this is kind of a tender moment. Teaching your kin to be reliable and able stand up on their own two feet. Perhaps there are some redeemable qualities to him just yet.

Of course, Being the skeptic that he is, The fae esper can see and sense the utter horseshit Kinnich is spewing under his molten tongue.

I doubt this monster is capable of affection in his family. Underneath this life lesson teaching lies a vile ulterior motive.

From my observation, He's a manipulative bastard who likes to keep the Belua siblings under his thumb.

He wasn't raising his nephew and niece to be dependable. He was training them as his weapon. This cunning beast saw some potential in them. That's why he hasn't offed or disowned them just yet.

"Eh, I'm not buying it. let's go deeper." Leon dismissively went past this vision and continues to trek down memory lane. Finding the root of why Lapis doesn't want to remember this monster despite their bond together.

Effectively swimming through the murky sea of Lapis’s thoughts, Leon would bear witness to yet another unsavory scene: this time it depicted Kinnich along with the siblings together. Before the scene fully materialized, he would hear a distinct sounding of impact - the kind that a fist made when it struck flesh. With the memory now in full view, the Fae would bear witness to the source of the disquieting pounding: Kinnich was punching a young Ruecian, the former being more than twice the young Belua’s size, with a savage fury that surpassed what he had displayed while he trained Lapis. She herself was writhed with fear and concern for her brother.

Kinnich would call this simple training, but most individuals with any shred of humanity could immediately tell that this was simply an act of cruelty. The ground was littered with bits and small splatters of Ruecian’s blood; his breathing was labored and his face and torso were covered with bruises. Despite this, Ruecian did not back down, he made every attempt to meet Kinnich’s blows with his own. All of which were easily parried, and the young man received a painful counter for each in turn. Eventually, Kinnich sent Ruecian flying with a sudden kick, causing him to crash into a rock face near where Lapis was watching. The impact caused a large crater, where Ruecian layed gasping for breath with blood dripping from his face.

This didn’t seem to deter Kinnich in the slightest, as he quickly began to advance to his nephew, but not before Lapis stood in front her brother with her arms spread out.

”Uncle Kinni, that’s enough!” She shouted, tears rolling down her eyes. Kinnich did indeed stop for a moment, but his menacing expression did not change. ”You’re gonna kill him!”

”If the brat succumbs to this, he’ll die sooner or later anyway.” Kinnich said coldly. ”Yer fleeting tears won’t save him either. Now move aside, lassie.”

Lapis ignored her uncle’s directive, and stood firm. ”No!”

Not even a second after, Lapis left a bludgeoning pain hit her ribs, and she was sent flying off to the side, tumbling several times before she finally stopped. Not even bothering to look in her direction, Kinnich then continued back to Ruecian, until he noticed that the boy had vanished. That actually got him to change the expression on his face for a moment, as he honestly didn’t expect the boy to have anything left in him. In the next instant, Ruecian was at his uncle’s face, who barely had time to parry the icy blow that was aimed for his face. A dagger made out of frost had ran through his hand and scratched a bit of his scaly cheek,

”Don’t you…hurt…my sister, you bastard!” He snapped.

”Got a second wind in ya, boyo?” Kinnich said. He was about to say something else, until Lapis had suddenly appeared and mimicked the same attack her brother did, but aimed for his ribs. Perhaps returning the favor? Regardless, Kinnich used his other arm to block the attack, not caring that the weapon had impaled his hand.

”Y-you…you really DID mean it, didn’t you? You were serious when you said you’d kill Rue!” She exclaimed.

”Apparently that’s what it took to get ya little gits to start puttin’ up a fight.” He said unremorsefully. Kinnich began to gather heat around his body, the icy weapons the siblings generated began to quickly melt. However, just before it built up too much, the sibling pair unleashed a large torrent of rime, blasting him square in the face. This act caused him to recoil with a horrible hiss, the grip he had on them loosened.

”Lapis, run!!” He yelled.

The brother/sister pair then ran off for the hills, with Kinnich hissing in great anger, melting the onslaught of ice around him.

”Fucking little shits! As if you have anywhere else to go!”

The sun beast's intimidating roar rang true and violently echoed through the vermillion cavern. Hachigan shudders and clings to Leon's cloak for dear life, shaken by the vivid past of his master's suffering at the mercy of their uncle.

"..." Leon's throat dried up. His eyes widened. His body refuses to move from the horrific memory he has seen. Is this the feeling of dread I sense?

His fear and uncertainty slowly turned to rage and disgust at this display of injustice.

He clenched his fist so hard that it started to turn red. His cursed mark around his body became more visible. His thirst for vengeance seems to react to his emotions. The very thin line between Leon's sanity and insanity is cracking. A line an Esper shouldn't cross.

"You'd be doing the world a favor by severing the sun beast's fate. Although this mountainous obstacle won't be toppled that easy. The question now is how much are you willing to pay the price to change the course of the Belua sibling's grim future?"

With one final deep breath, The esper fae has seen enough.

"This is why I hate delving into one's thoughts. You get to relive both of their dreams and nightmares." Leon said solemnly and snapped his fingers, Both he and Hachigan are engulfed in a bright light. Shattering the aquatic scenery around them like a mirror cracking and breaking into pieces.

They return to the present time, back at the mess hall, escaping Lapis's inner head space.

"My apologies for prying into your deep thoughts Lapis, but you seem to be irrational and preoccupied by fear by the very mention of his name." The esper rogue said as his eyes lost their glow and disconnected the link between them.

"I just need some answers." He continued.

" For what it's worth, your uncle is wrong about you. You're not weak nor helpless." Leon nonchalantly said.

"My offer still stands if that fateful day comes. If your brother Ruecian is your sword and shield. Lemme be your cloak and dagger. The vorpal blade that will strike through the heart of hellfire itself by any means necessary." Leon swore an oath to the Azure Esper.

His unexpected voyage through the reaches of Lapis’s most repressed memories having come to an end, he and the tormented Belua girl regained consciousness in the outside world. For Leon and Lapis, it seemed like his trek lasted for hours. However, only a few moments actually passed. Eve was slightly shaking her friend, attempting to get a response.

”Laps, are you ok? Why weren’t you saying anything?”

”....Huh?” Lapis shook her head for a moment before turning to Evelyn. ”What happened…?” She looked at Leon, a bit of anger growing on her face. ”Y-you peered into my mind, didn’t you?! Moral Espers follow a code, y’know? They don’t just peer into a person’s mind without their consent!”

”Eww, you perv! Getting fresh just ‘cause you helped me out on that mission?! I’ll fry you for messing with Laps!” Eve snapped, a bit of lighting crackling in her hand. That was before Lapis placed a hand on her shoulder, getting her to stop.

”Going further from that, it is because we’re Espers that I could sense that his intentions were pure. So, you saw a premonition that Kinnich would soon wreak havoc on us. My…uncle…” Her face grimaced, writhe with a slew of horrible emotions.

”Your uncle…? I mean, what’s his deal?” Eve said, still rather confused.

”Since you only recently graduated, Eve, you probably wouldn’t have heard of him. The academies don’t usually try to speak of S-grade criminals to students. The staff members have all probably heard of him a few times. And, Master Arteus has met him personally.” Lapis answered.

Eve’s face lit up in shock. ”Your uncle’s a S-rank criminal?!”

”That’s right. And apparently, you wish to…protect me from him, Leon?” She said, looking at the tattooed Fae. ”I mean, you can understand that your offer is a little awkward, we’ve only just met! But, Master Arteus and Mistress Brun are always saying that members of the Tower should treat each other like family…” Lapis was clearly conflicted at Leon’s proposition.

”Laps, don’t listen to this perv! I’ll protect you from your uncle; I’ll blow him into sticky little charred pieces. Not to mention your brother has our backs too! Uh, it sounds weird to talk about your uncle like this, and this is the first time I’ve ever heard about it. What’s his name - Kinnis or something? Why is he a psycho exactly?”

”It’s…hard to talk about. He’s also caused my brother a great deal of pain as well…” Lapis said, eyes staring down at her glass. ”But, I suppose Leon already knows the gist of the matter. Since he would naturally pose a threat to everyone at the Tower, it only makes sense that we should help each other out. I don’t know if I trust you, yet, but I welcome you as a fellow teammate all the same.”

While the two lovebirds were washing up from their earlier mission in the waterways, they would hear a sudden knock on the door. With it, came a familiar voice.

”Um, hello? It's me, Rana. Is this a good time?”

Renee gasped, her cheeks reddening in an instant. Her fae ears were sharp enough to notice Rana's muffled voice through the door. She was indeed having fun with Lanus as they took a bath together — the latter currently scrubbing and washing the former, which was naturally accompanied by loads of groping as well.

It would seem that the couple forgot to lock the door after they went into their room. After not receiving an answer, Rana had inadvertently opened the door. ”Oh! My apologies, I didn’t realize that the door was unlocked. I had heard that you all were successful in saving those children lost in the waterways and -” She cut her sentence short when she noticed that neither of the Fae lovers were in the immediate area of the room, but she could hear movement and the sound of water coming from the bathroom.

”Um…is this a bad time?” She said, her nervousness building up.

"N-no! Not at all!" Renee shouted as she quickly separated herself from Lanus, grabbing the nearby towel to dry herself.

Lanus smirked. Unlike her, he wasn't shy at all by the sudden appearance of Rana. Hell, he wouldn't mind her seeing them having fun in the showers. He might even ask her to join in as well…

"Ahn! Cut it out! Rana's here!" Renee hissed. Lanus had just given her a pinch in her bottom.

He just could not resist.

Meanwhile, inside the room, Lana would be able to see a pile of clothes spread messily on the floor.

They were Renee and Lanus' clothes. Including their undergarments.
ᅠ
The couple soon finished putting on their towels. Lanus was the first to leave. With a confident smile, even though he was barely dressed at all, he greeted the woman.

"Good evening! Is something the matter, Miss Rana?"

Renee exited afterwards, her cheeks still maintaining their red shade. It only reddened further once she noticed that her panties were perfectly displayed on the floor right beside where Rana stood.

At the sight of seeing the couple’s clothes sprawled all over the floor, including their undergarments, Rana’s face lit up redder than Renee’s was currently.

”O-oh my goodness! Forgive me, I should’ve waited until you were decent and answered the door!” Rana stuttered out, practically flailing. She tried to look away from Lanus’s barely clothed body.

”Um, I wanted to congratulate you on accomplishing your mission, and to say that I’m glad you could rescue those children. Oh! I was wondering if you wanted to grab some dinner in the mess hall with me…”

Lanus, being the Casanova that he was, wasn't bothered in the slightest that he was showing his shirtless form to the woman. In fact, he found her reaction to be quite cute.

"Oh, don't you worry!" He proclaimed with a grin. "I don't mind showing my body to a beautiful woman such as—ouch!"

Renee stomped her right foot onto his left. "Y-yes, thank you!" The female fae replied to Rana. "And we'll take you up on your offer! Now please leave the room so we can change!"

Renee wouldn't want any other women to see Lanus's body after all.

Five minutes later, the Fae couple opened the door. They were now back to their decent self, fully dressed from top to bottom.

"Well, let's go, shall we?" Renee forced a smile.

Rana politely bowed and promptly left the room at Renee’s request. She held her hands together downward, staring at the floor awkwardly. She blushed as she tried to compose herself. I’m such an idiot… She thought to herself. I…should’ve just stayed outside and waited longer…

”Is…everything alright?” A voice suddenly called out to Rana, causing her to jump a bit and look every which way. ”Um, here.” Looking in front of her, Rana would be face-to-face with the Fae archer Giselle, the emissary of the Queen.

”I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” Giselle said in a soft tone, attempting to calm the flustered Rana.

”Oh! No, that’s quite alright, I was just a little distracted at the moment.” She replied.

”Are you perchance another member of this Tower?” Giselle asked.

”Ah, yes, that’s correct. My name is Rana Schuellen, operational services and administrative secretary for Eon. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Who might you be?”

”Giselle Kostovii, emissary of the Fae Queen of Ithaca. I’m mainly here to perform a ‘survey’ of sorts for the Tower.

While the two ladies were busy with introductions, The Fae couple had come out of their room, fully clothed. Renee let them know they were ready to head to the mess hall. Giselle immediately shot Lanus another look, albeit it was less menacing this time.

”Oh, was I interrupting something?” Giselle said, looking at Renee.

Renee's gaze hardened when she realized that Giselle was there as well. She quickly hugged her arms around Lanus's, replying with, "Yes, you did, actually. We were having fun in the showers just now."

”Having fun in the showers…?” Giselle responded with an exasperated expression. ”Is…that right…?”

"Yep," Renee replied with a slight victorious smirk, hugging Lanus's arm even tighter. "We're a perfectly healthy couple after all."

”Um, we were all actually going to grab some lunch in the mess. Would…you like to join us, Ms. Giselle?”

”I originally came to check on Renee to see if she was still doing well from the last outing. But, it seems my worries were…misplaced. I suppose that would be fine, as long as these two don’t object.” She responded.

"That's fine by me as well," Renee replied. "After all, I'm not the kind of woman who would be threatened by any woman who gets close to her lover."

Lanus smiled, his expression practically saying, "Yep, I'm hers now. And I can't really wiggle my way out from her grasp!"

Giselle was rather taken aback by Renee's sudden change of character, to say the least. It was almost as if she was establishing territory. Did Lanus perhaps…no! She shot a glare at the white-haired fae; That scoundrel must’ve told her about the past between them! She’d keep silent for now, so as to not ruin the mood, but she’d have some words when the time was right.

”Oh…well, that’s great then! Let’s be off then. It is to my understanding that Ms. Bellum’s cooking rivals that of any five star restaurant!” Rana said, noticing the tension building up, thus trying to change the subject.

It didn’t take long for the group to reach the mess hall. They would see Lapis, Evelyn, and Leon conversing about something, but they ultimately decided it’d be best to leave them undisturbed. Bellum greeted the group and made some fresh plates full of freshly roasted meat and mixed vegetables. Sitting down, Rana and Giselle sat next to each other, facing Lanus and Renee.

”So, Renee…” Rana said. ”I heard that you encountered a malfested Fae while on the mission, I hope things didn’t get too dire!”
”If anything did, I would take responsibility.” Giselle interjected into the conversation. ”He was an elusive fellow I had been tasked with hunting, perhaps he inherited some of the tendencies of the arachnids he kept as company, abilities that allowed him to be so evasive of my bolts.”

"We did," Renee replied. "And I…" She paused, looking down at her food. "I froze up."

After a short pause, she continued. "He… he was malfested, yes. And he reminded me of my father and mother. My family. They were… malfested as well… And that's why I.. I…"

Lanus, realizing what was going on, reacted in a flash, taking her left hand and gripping it with his own under the table.

"I'm fine." She gave a wry smile towards Lanus. "If just talking about it like this, I'm fine. It's only when you see one in the flesh that I… that my mind can't bear it…"

Turning to the others, she then said, "I'm sorry. It's… it was the first time I saw a malfested fae… after that day… I shouldn't have frozen like that…" She gave an apologetic look towards Giselle.

Rana and Giselle looked at Renee with concerned looks: both of them certainly weren’t stangeres of the horrors presented by the malfested.

”Renee…” Giselle said.

Rana reached over and touched Renee’s free hand. ”Losing loved ones, watching them turn into monsters, sometimes the pain never goes away. We can only thank the Scions that you were spared that fate.” She then turned to Lanus, giving him a look of gratitude. ”In addition to this gentleman, as well. I’m sure you had a hand in saving Ms. Renee as well.”

”I should be the one apologizing.” Giselle said with guilt in her voice. ”You were put in that situation because I let him get away. I made an oversight in a task I was assigned. The disgrace lies with me alone.”

Renee shook her head. "No. As a Reaver, it is inexcusable for me to freeze up in a mission like that. I swear, by my honor as a fae, I will never do that again." She looked firmly towards Rana and Giselle.

Silence fell onto the group, each person having difficulty deciding on what to say next.

Until Lanus abruptly lifted Renee out of her seat, placing her right on top of his lap.

"Eep! W-what are you doing, Lanus?! Put me down at once!"

Lanus gently hugged her from behind, placing his hands on top of her stomach.

"Shh. Stop being so serious, my cute little Renee. Don't forget, I'm always here to help you," he whispered with a smirk.

And then, shamelessly, he moved his right hand upwards, resting it right on top of her breast.

"S-stop it!" Renee blushed. "Y-you can't do this kind of thing in public, you know!"

"Oh, who cares?! Everyone already knows we're a couple!" Lanus grinned as he groped her. All the while giving a glance at Giselle, provoking her for a response.

Rana and Giselle looked at Renee with surprised expressions, which quickly turned into happy ones. Their main concern was whether Renee was feeling better, which she seemed to be. Rana was about to say something in response, until Lanus decided to be the one to break that silence by pulling his lover closer and groping her at the dinner table. A scene that caused both Rana and Giselle to shoot him exasperated glances.

”I swear, even after all these years you’re still the same scoundrel you were from before! Just because she’s your wife doesn’t mean you get to act like a hog whenever you want!”

"W-wife?! W-we're not at that stage yet…" Renee replied, stuttering with a blush.

"Why bother with marriage anyway?" Lanus chuckled, giving Renee's left nipple a pinch, earning a yelp from the female fae. "We're not settling down anytime soon. Raising kids is just not for me."

"Alright, cut it out, you shameless lecher!" Renee yelled before elbowing the man.

"Gah!"

She stepped off his lap, glancing down at his crotch.

"Can you believe this pervert?" She looked at Giselle. "He got a boner just from that! You were right, Giselle. He's completely unsalvageable!"

With a huff, she sat back down on her chair.

Rana looked at Giselle, then back at Lanus. ”Um, do you two…know each other personally?”

”Unfortunately…” Giselle responded coldly. ”It’s a long and unpleasant story. Very unpleasant, I should say…” She took a swig of her drink, before slamming the mug back down on the table. The impact made Rana recoil a bit.

”So, I’ll change the subject. May I ask what made you both decide to join Eon Tower in the first place? I know you two probably haven’t been here long, but what do you make of the staff here so far?”

"Well…" Renee was the first to answer. "I think Miss Roze is a nice person to work with. She didn't scold me for, you know, freezing up in our last mission."

"And she's quite the beauty, if I do say so myself." Lanus added nonchalantly, earning a glare from Renee.

"As for Sir Ruecian," Renee continued. "Despite his youthful appearance, he's really strong. I aspire to be as strong as him one day."

"What? You don't aspire to be like me instead?" Lanus gave the performance of an offended boyfriend.

"You're too much of a lecher for that!" Renee returned.

”Of that, we are in agreement.” Giselle said plainly, cosigning Renee's reprimand.

”I must admit, he even leered at me during our first meeting…” Rana added, taking a sip of her drink. ”That being said, I also agree that Ms. Roze and Sir Ruecian certainly are impressive combatants. But, you two are also powerful Reavers! Renee, I know what it's like to watch your friends and loved ones be killed in front you, to watch them…turn into monsters. When out in the field, just know that you won't be alone, all of us will be here to support you in any way we can!”

”I concur." Giselle said. ”Not to mention this lout as well. He may be a scoundrel, lecher, and an utter git, but he is no less a superb fighter. Even Her Majesty can attest to that."

"Thank you, you two." Renee smiled, a rarity for the normally reserved fae.

"Why, thank you for the praise, Miss Giselle!" Lanus smirked, before taking a gulp of his hot coffee.

After another brief, more lighthearted chat, the group had finished their dinner. Giselle and Rana had wished a good night to the Fae couple as they retired back to their rooms for the night. The other two ladies said their farewells to one another, and went their separate ways as well.

"Oh. Uh, sure, that's fine I suppose. Come to think of it, you haven't had a chance to tour the Tower, have you?" Roze said, looking back at the squid-like Belua. "Pretty sure we don't have any public washrooms though…"

Being led down the halls, Haaselle would be shown the ornate designs of the Tower's inner workings. One room they passed had its door open, and they would immediately be pelted with the smell of cheap booze and cigarette ash. To the side of the door was a plaque that said "Alchemy Lab/Arms Shop".

"The old man should know that not every person will be able to put up with that smell." Roze said. "This is Old Man Childes's workshop. Since you're an Alchemist, you may find yourself coming here often"

Walking her further down the halls, they eventually made their way to the private quarters. There, they stood in front of a door with an empty plaque. "This will be your room." Roze said with a smile. Opening the door, she led Haaselle inside. She would find the room was fully furnished and was nearly decorated.

"You'll find that you even have your own bathroom. You probably wanna wash up, since we just left a sewer." She said, chuckling a bit. "Think you'll be needing anything else for right now? After you're done, I can show you around a little more, maybe grab a bite to eat?"

An alchemy shop? She’d definitely need to give that a look at later, but for now she was dragged off to her own room in the tower. Strange, really. As she’d step into the room she couldn’t help but to think about…how boring it all was.

“Ah yes, the sweet water of cleansing. I suppose I do need a bath, but alas a bath can only clean the physical.” Haaselle responded with a grin. “I wouldn’t mind some food later, but i do have a question. Are we allowed to decorate our rooms? I think…its missing something. Perhaps a Piano, or organ. Maybe a music box? An art gallery definitely is needed.”

"My, I see you’re a fan of the fine arts!" Roze said. "While, yes, you’re indeed well within your right to decorate your room, uh, I’m afraid that we don’t have any spare instruments to accommodate…"

"There should be plenty of shops in town that sell them at a decent rate, though a piano or organ would be expensive regardless I imagine. Well, I guess since you’re an alchemist, you could just transmute your own instruments. I’m not too familiar with art galleries, perhaps Ms. Elaine or Mistress Brun could better help with that?"

“I see I see, as long as I have permission, then I shall renovate until I am comfortable.” Haase smiled. “Hmm…though I suppose…money is an issue. Alas, such a pointless object. How does one measure value in small coins? I do not understand. T’would be better to barter objects actual value for others of actual value…haaa.” A shake of her head. “Ah well. I’ll just buy some art supplies to make do for now. Thank you Miss~Roze~” The end of her sentence was inflected with a slight sing-songy childlike tone almost as Haase giggled. “I shall take the offer of bathing now. My robe is starting to smell a little, I think. I’ll be done in a mere trifling minute or so.”

"Sounds good, then. I guess I’ll just have a seat and keep myself company, if you don’t mind." Roze said, taking a seat on one of the chairs. "Oh, of course if you're more comfortable with me waiting out in the hall, I certainly wouldn’t mind!"

”No no, I don’t mind. I’d make some tea, but alas, out of fresh spirits.” She’d chuckle, stepping into the washroom.

And so, Roze would have thus been subjected to a lively performance of a shower orchestra. Haaselle’s voice echoing in the bathroom as she’d sing and what was presumably the sounds of dancing meeting Roze’s ears as she’d take a full fifteen minutes to get herself scrubbed, washed, and all prettied up…at least, it could be assumed she did as once she was done, Haaselle would step out of the shower, a little tooting trumpet horn sound announcing her arrival.

She was still wearing the robe though, but it did at least somehow look cleaner despite not being washed itself…

”Ah, there we go Roze, sorry for the wait I’m all pretty and proper now~”

"You look chipper and refreshed." Roze said. "Oh! I should probably clean up as well. Hold on"

Haaselle would observe Roze as she surrounded herself in streams of water, seemingly controlling it like a conductor as it cleaned away any grime or sewage odors that lingered on her clothes. Within a few moments, Haaselle would see that Roze seemed to be completely refreshed, along with her clothes that sheemed as if they were brand new.

"There we go." Roze said, with a satisfied smile. "Water magic can be quite useful, and it’s certainly quicker to use than having to walk down a room to take a shower!"

She then turned back to her magus junior. "That was quite the singing Haaselle, truly. Uh, I think I may have even heard some instruments in there, but that can’t be right. Were you a performer before coming here to Eon? At any rate, where would you like to go? Did you want some food, or to continue the tour of the Tower?"

”Ooh, lovely.” Haaselle clapped at Roze’s show. ”And actually yes, I was a performer of sorts. You see, my Esper abilities allow more than just for physical affects on things. I’m something of a minor illusionist, you see. I can,” A trumpet appeared in Haaselle’s hand, that would begin trumpeting without any input from her. “Make little tiny illusions, hehe. Well, as far as you are concerned it is. Until it isn’t. Then it becomes quite real, but for now don’t worry the trumpet doesn’t exist.”

The trumpet though, was completely still in her hand though even if she was now ignoring it.

“Shall we continue the tour of the tower? I’m not all that hungry right now truth be told.”

"Sure, no problem. I’ll just show you more of the staff members then." Roze said, motioning for Haas to follow her.

Leading her out of the room, they left the private rooms hall and made their way back toward the administrative wing of the Tower. After a few minutes of walking, they eventually made their way in front of a door that had a plague that read: “Elaine Gardner”.

"This is the infirmary." Roze said. "Hopefully, you won’t have a need to go here too much. But, if you do, just know that you’ll be in good hands." She then knocked on the door.

”Come in.” Said a gentle voice.

Opening the door, Haas would see a young-looking woman with some striking features sitting at a desk. She appeared to be reading a book as the pair entered her office; Taking a sip of tea, she sat down her cup as they approached.

”Ah, good evening you two. Roze, I imagine this is one of the new recruits?” She asked the Triad Witch.

"That’d be right.” She answered. "She came to us at a bad time, so I’m making it up by giving an impromptu tour.”

”I see.” Elaine said. ”Well then, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Elaine Gardner, the chief medical officer and apothecary of Eon Tower. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Hopefully I don’t end up seeing you here too much. Oh! Not that I mean that in a bad way, just that if I see you in here, it’s usually because something’s ailing you. And your name is?”

"“Haaselle. No surname. Had one, but I wrote a song about it once then forgot it. Do tell me if you see the sheets anywhere, hm?” She’d respond with a good natured smile to Elaine. "“Don’t worry, I have a habit of sending others to medical facilities instead of myself.” Honestly meeting people was an odd experience for Haaselle. On one hand, she liked meeting new people. On the other hand, new people mildly…concerned her. It was difficult enough deciding to come to the tower in the first place, really. "A pleasure, though, absolutely~"

Elaine giggled a bit at Haaselle’s “antics”, one could call them. ”I’ll be sure to keep an eye out.” She responded. ”I suppose the confidence you have in your skill is reassuring. I don’t really care for violence, but I understand what is sometimes necessary. Just don’t overdo it, okay? Sometimes taking a less aggressive path benefits you as well.” She took another sip of tea to clear her throat.

”Well, I should tell you that I also study various herbs along with Ms. Bellum, our resident botanist, fellow apothecary, and chef. I’m always in the habit of making new potions and concoctions to assist you all in any way I can, so if you happen upon any strange solutions or herbs while in the field, please do reach out. Ahem. Although, I would…much rather you reach out to Bellum if you need any poisons or bioweapons made. That’s more her forte.”

"Haaselle is an Alchemist like the both of you, so I’m sure you’ll have much common ground to work with." Roze said.

”Is that so?” Elaine responded, turning to Haas curiously.

”I’ve been known to dabble.” Haase responded with a toothy grin. “Granted I am entirely self-taught. I was not afforded the usual education or study most others have.” The squid woman sighed, a mildly bemused, pouty expression overcoming her features. “Really, I suppose that is why people tend to not trust anything I make. Make one person grow wings on his head once and everyone acts like you’re a terrible person. Tangents aside though,” One of Haase tentacles moved aside a strand of her out of place hair. ”Don’t worry, any poisons I make i’ll do it myself. Wouldn’t be the first time I had to get creative to remove an…obstacle. If you don’t mind though, perhaps I could come by and we could compare notes? Or maybe I could pester you for some pointers?”

”I see. Well, hopefully no one here ends up with head wings or any other strange appendages as a side effect of your concoctions.” Elaine said. ”Recently, I’ve had to deal with a lot of craziness in a short amount of time. As for comparing notes, as I’ve stated, I don’t really enjoy dabbling in poisons and toxins. I insist that Ms. Bellum would be a much better source of knowledge to pull from. Now then Ms. Haaselle, is there any other tidbit you need to know about me?”

`”Aw, I’m starting to think you don’t like me. Most of my stuff isn’t directly malicious! I make sure of it!” Haase responded with a playful grin, thinly veiling her mild frustration as she’d continue. ”Weeeelll, can’t fault you for that, no ma’am. I’d make a bad student anyways according to everyone that raised me…anyways. It was a pleasure to meet you. Perhaps I could paint your portrait sometime?”

”Oh no, my dear, you’re perfectly fine, teehee.” Elaine said, gently waving her hand to further illustrate her point. As for being a bad student, sometimes, it’s the teacher that needs to be held accountable. But, as long as you’re willing to learn, I’d be more than happy to teach you~” She mused.

Elaine was a bit roused by Haas’s offer of becoming a centerpiece. ”Oh my, you’re also an artist. We certainly don’t have a shortage of interesting recruits in the Tower. I just might take you up on that offer!” She said, giggling a bit.

"Apparently she is." Roze said. "She’s also an aspiring musician; I even found her outside blowing a trumpet until I called out to her. Perhaps she’ll put on a song for us one day. But, I think we should be done here, I want to show her the other areas of the Tower before it gets too late. Hopefully the other staff members are available. "

”I see, so you’re leaving then?” Elaine said.

"’Fraid so.” Roze responded. She began leading Haaselle out of the room.

”Have a good evening you two. Here’s to you becoming a wonderful artisan, Ms. Haaselle, teehee.” Elaine said, waving goodbye to the pair.

"You as well, Ms. Elaine. Now then…” Roze turned back to Haaselle, the both of them back in the hallway. "There’s Ms. Naomi, a magical beast and environmental researcher, although she’s not exactly very sociable. I thought I saw a sign on her door saying that she was out anyway.” She paused for a moment, thinking.

"There’s also the librarian Kiff. He’s the head of our repository of grimoires and magical artifacts. He’s honestly kind of a sketchy guy, but he’s pretty knowledgeable about a myriad of different subjects. There’s Old Man Childes, who mans the alchemy and magitech lab for Eon. He’s the one who designed and maintains my staff, so I often count on him. I can’t be too flattering of him, though, as he is somewhat of an old fart and doesn’t keep the lab very clean… Ms. Bellum, as Elaine already mentioned, is a botanist and environment magus like Ms. Naomi. She’s probably in the mess hall right now, being the Tower’s chef and all. There’s also Ms. Nadia: She’s an upcoming alchemic and invocation researcher, attempting to make a breakthrough in said fields that hopes to take off one day. She’s a bit eccentric, to let you know now, but you’re quite the character yourself, so you might get along. We could visit one of them as part of the tour. You’re probably already acquainted with Master Arteus, and perhaps Mistress Brun as well, I take it?”

"Atreus, yes." Haaselle paused for a moment. "Bruns, no. Afraid not." A small tentacle protruded under from Haaselle’s robe, holding her chin much like someone might a hand in thought. "Sir Kiff is knowledgeable in mysticism, hm? Or more esoteric things? Sketchy…hmhm~” She hummed an upbeat tune to herself. “Well he sounds like my kind of chap, ehehe. I have a question I think he could help with…could we meet him, then?" A mildly hopeful and interested look.

"Allow me to lead the way then." Roze said, again motioning for the Belua girl to follow her.

They eventually found themselves in front of the library’s double doors. "Here we are." Roze said. Stepping forward, she opened one of the doors, and Haas would see the sprawling line of shelves that filled the large room. Each of said shelves were stacked full of countless tomes and magical items. At the center of the room, sat a long haired man wearing a snazzy suit with an untucked shirt. He seemed to be fiddling with an artifact of some sort, making an uncouth yawn as he did. He had a bored look on his face until he saw that the two ladies had entered the room.

”Why Good Evening!” He said, now sitting straight in his chair. ”Rozemyne! It’s nice to see you! I also see that you’ve brought a friend with you, another edition to the Tower, I presume?”

"Your presumption would be correct, Mr. Kiff." She replied.

”Roze, there’s no need for such formality between us, just Kiff is fine.” He said cheerfully. Roze responded with a neutral expression, causing Kiff to make a cute frown.

He then turned to Haaselle. ”Evening. Name’s Kiff Luther, the proprietor of this library of grimoires and artifacts. There were actually some other new recruits who came in recently and already made use of the facility. Guess I shouldn’t say that like it’s a surprise, magus are usually bookworms. When you hang around meatheads like Xashan and Ruecian, it affects your perception haha!” Apparently, Roze didn’t think Kiff’s little jab at her friends was very funny. She squinted at him with her arms folded.

Taking the hint, Kiff cleared his throat. ”And, your name would be…?” He asked, addressing Haas once again.

“Haaselle! A pleasure to meet you, Kiff!” Haase replied with a friendly grin like she was addressing an old friend and extending a hand to shake, though if he’d take it he’d instead be met with one of her tentacles shaking his hand in place of her hand. “Rozie here has been telling me all about how wonderful you are and how she very much thinks you're an upstanding gentleman with no shadiness about you at all.” Haase flashed Roze a grin. “And tells me you’re something of an expert on the matter of more unknown and esoteric subjects.”

Kiff chuckled, clearly pleased with Haaselle's flattery. ”While I doubt those words came from Roze specifically, they're nonetheless true. The countless travels in my earlier days have allowed me to see things most don't in a whole lifetime. Were you needing information in a specific subject?”

”An unblinking yellow moon and a song that wrote itself.” Haaselle responded rather quickly, barely even waiting for Kiff to finish speaking. “Ever heard of either of these things?”

”Hmm. If I had to guess, you're referring to the Emperor in Arylide, no?” Kiff said, his interest piqued. ”You must be a fan~”

Leaning forward in his chair, Kiff's mood seemed to have improved considerably. His earlier boredom had all but vanished.

”I can't tell you how refreshing it is to meet another literature enthusiast among the new recruits. To answer your second question, I may have heard a tale or two of such lyrics. What about them has gotten your interest?”

”A fan? Oh certainly, I’m a fan alright.” Haaselle replied. ”In the same way someone might be a fan of the flu, or a termite, or a gremlin that steals your lunch while you’re not looking! Absolute fools, imbeciles, crass, coarse, unimaginative neanderthals!” Haaselle hissed, her usual grin replaced with a look of unbridled hatred, her demeanor practically doing a complete 180 in a matter of moments. “Can’t get it out of my head! They put it in there and it always follows me, dreams, night wherever I go-”

Haaselle stopped, frowning, pulling her hood further down over her head.

“...you know nothing useful, if all you know are stories. Stories are everywhere. Common. I could make one up on the spot better than that one.” Her frown was still present, but she’d give a rather theatrical, comical bow. ”Apologies, Kiff. It seems I’ve been put in a foul mood. I’ll…come back later.”

"Haaselle? Is everything alright?" Roze said, turning to the tentacled Belua with concerned eyes.

Kiff also looked at Haas with a bit of perplexity on his face. ”My goodness, looks like something’s really weighing you down! I thought you were discussing literature, but it appears that you may have been referring to something else entirely.” He said, rubbing his chin. ”Well, I won’t twist your hand, but, if you ever need anything you’re always welcome here.”

With Roze and Haaselle now back in the hall, Roze thought it’d be worth it to at least pry a little further.

"Haaselle, what’s wrong? You were very troubled just now…"

”Troubled, Rozie?” Haaselle responded with perhaps, unusual levity considering her small outburst. ”Oh who doesn’t have troubles? The pauper begging in the street…? Tch, no, no good. The dam, burst. Dark, yellow and crimson colored. Bah, I need a drink. Or a muse. Rozie, shall you be that for now?” The yellow clad woman frowned at Rozie. “...I suppose you don’t know why I’m here, do you? I guess that old man just took pity on me...”

"Haaselle, you certainly speak in a rather strange way, no offense…” Roze said, scratching her cheek. "I guess you can draw a picture of me sometime, if that’s what you want… As for why you’re here, that’s something you’d have to ask Master Arteus. He probably knows a bit about your past, and sees that you have talent and potential to make something of yourself. Also, Haaselle, whatever’s bothering you, just know that it’s a burden that you don’t have to shoulder by yourself. You have us as well, since we’re a rather small unit, it’s pretty important that we look out for one another.” She said with a reassuring smile.

”What may be strange to one, is but a commonality to another.” Haaselle responded. “No no, no painting for now, but rather a story. Boring, one, but if you want to listen…I suppose I can give you the abridged version.” Haaselle glanced to the side, one of her tentacles removing the hood from her face, revealing a messy head of dark colored hair. “There was a girl once, you see. Out at night. She saw something she shouldn’t have. Was…invited to a play house. She never came back. Those there did things to the girl. Little more than torture really, to see if they could get something out of her. And those there you see, have some belief that the book, play, whatever I asked Sir Kiff about are in fact, real.”

Roze listened intently as Haas gave her rather enigmatic tale. "Haaselle, was that girl you?" She asked.

”Oh come on, you’re smarter than that! You don’t need to ask me that.” Haaselle chuckled. “But…thanks for…looking like you care at least, hm? Maybe I will paint a portrait of you at some point…I forget if I’ve already said I would, oh well.”

Roze scoffed at Haaselle’s observation. "Haaselle, I said that we look out for each other at Eon, and I meant it!" She said with a tone that was solemn, but kind. When she thought about it, Elaine was the one Haas said she would like to paint a picture of. Having misunderstood what Haaselle had meant, and having not been chosen at first as a centerpiece made Roze feel oddly depressed.

"...So, were you wanting to visit some of the other facilities of the Tower right now?"

”You’ll forgive me if I’m not in the mood any more, Rozie.” Haase replied, pulling her hood back up. “I should go…focus on the music. A painting. Something really before these crimson colored words end up getting out, hm? But…thanks. For listening…” A small pause, and a small bit of hesitation as Haaselle would turn to leave but stop short. “...I don’t know…if more of those people are out there. I’m looking for them. That’s why I asked, but whenever I start looking I get so…feels like my head is being ripped open.” Haaselle quietly would speak before starting to walk again. “Perhaps you can help, if I do find more? Ta-ta, Rozie. Don’t trip on the way out, hm?”

"I’m sorry that you went through such an experience. It sounds like these people aren’t exactly well known, but I’ll be sure to let you know the moment any leads pop up." Roze said, as Haaselle walked off, presumably back to her room. The Triad Witch didn’t really know what to think of Haaselle at first, but now she felt empathy towards the Belua esper. Given what she’s said, she may very well have been a perfectly normal girl before…whatever happened to her.

When and if she does confront those who wronged her, hopefully she wouldn’t have to do it alone.

Baast and Lupina had the layout of Eon Tower memorized, insofar as what the tour guided by Bellum had afforded. It was more than enough to navigate to the Herbalist's office, as the halls were silent and empty - all the interest lay downstairs where the company had gathered. As such, entering the office was a matter of just bypassing the door, which was no challenge from the former drug runner.

"You've yet to dull picking locks," Baast comments, as they enter the office without raising future alarm.

"Just start looking. We don't have all day, sadly," Lupina says, as she started going through drawers. "It's very unlikely that she's kept the flowers in here, but I highly doubt they are off the premises. Too dangerous for that kind of risk."

"Yeah, yeah," Baast says, thumbing through books and journals, looking for notes in the margins, and the like. Bellum seemed like the jotting type. "I hate hunting for eggs," he groused, "It would be easier to find what you want by going into his office."

"I'm not going near her," Lupina says, "I'm already annoyed enough that I'm indebted to one Goddess, but at least I don't see her. I see enough of that Demoness in my dream," she crossed her arms, "The fact that I can see her in person is terrifying to contemplate, as is."

Baast shrugged. Mae was an unmistakable presence, as a Spirit and an Esper, but he didn't feel her, at the moment. It wasn't like she was gone, as he could smell her scent carried on Arteus and Brunhyldia, but not hers in pursuit or lead; she wasn't attending the meeting.

"Doesn't seem like she's moved much. Her scent is always mingled, never mixed," Baast says, raking his claws through his flouncy hair, "Maybe, she's sleeping, or doing something somewhere else. Her Espermancy is beyond anything you can do, so, in don't -- "

" -- have any common sense not to insult your big sister, you dunderhead!" Lupina says, while pulling on Baast's rosy cheek, before pulling him into a half-nelson.

"Gah! Brute! You'll never find a husband being such a neanderthal!" Baast groaned.

" That rich, coming from the alpha pretending to be an omega!" Lupina laughed.

"It's fashionable," Baast says, as he broke free of her hold by turning semi-solid. "I saw Xashan peeking at my ass."

"Don't tease the poor man," Lupina sighed.

"Some of us don't have the luxury of being Oppai Opposition," Baast says, wagging his womanly hips. "You're just jealous, anyways. I try to keep you on a good diet, but you just wanna feed those monster mammaries junk food."

Lupina bleated in annoyance, as she stamped her cloven feet. "You're such a little brat!" she whined, before something caught her eyes. A bit of disorder among the general neatness of it all; for a gardener with a penchant for cooking, Bellum was not as messy as her rotundity would impress upon people. As such, something that didn’t belong stood out to the Spirit Archer.

"Found it."

Baast tilted his head, and followed her gaze. It was a single book that stood out in its newness among the oldness of its fellow. To most others, it wouldn’t look any different than the others which it was shelved with, but Bellum had implied that her research had recently begun, as they had to work through red tape and third-parties. Pulling the book off the shelf, Lupina would flip through it, memorizing Bellum’s research and notations.

"She’s definitely worthy of her field," Lupina says. "I’m impressed, no lie."

"That’s just information, though," Baast says, "We need clippings, or seeds. That won’t be here, or her normal workplace," he hummed, before snapping, "Say, remember what she told us? She keeps the flowers underneath her atelier."

"Next stop, then," Lupina says. "Though, definitely not the kind of place that will be behind a simple door lock," she says, "Likely, it’s a trap door that opens with some kind of spell or password. Since, we’ve time for neither, we’ll need to figure out something else..."

"For now, let’s cut it here. Just because everyone important it downstairs, doesn’t mean the unimportant people will stay there," Baast says, "Plus, we’re missing. They might send someone looking for us. I say, we beat the heat before the fire turns on."

Lupina nodded, as she put the notebook back, and latched the door. "Let’s head into town. Better we keep distance between this place and us, once we have the flowers." Lupina opened the window, and climbed out onto the ledge, before Baast closed it, and locked it back; dematerializing on one side and rematerializing on the other - squeezing his wispy smoke through the small cracks where the wood couldn’t sit flush. "There’s a town out that way. Let’s go there, and look for an apartment we can work out of."

"A sound plan. We won’t need the money from this job for much, after all," Baast says, as Lupina hopped onto his neck, and took off for the Republic of Morgenröte.

Scarlett slipped into the city with little issue; the hustle n’ bustle allowed the cloaked woman to move without attracting undue attention, as she was no more important to the daily movement of the sidewalks and streets than anyone else with their faces buried in their phones, books, or whatever they would eating, while those on the road were minding it with varying degree of acceptance. Following her nose, Scarlett had backtracked the scents of the strangers that had passed through the gates of Eon Tower, and separated the scents into four - three of which were stained by the commonplace smells of the clergy.

Aware of which to avoid, Scarlett followed it forth to its source.

Having singled out the fourth of the scents she had picked up, Scarlett would quickly be on her way to its current location. While on her way, she received some strange looks from some of the citizens. Although, some simply presumed she was a Belua or halfbreed of some kind, allowing herself to be overtaken by her more primal side. That sort of thing wasn’t too uncommon in places like the Republic - places that allowed all races to commingle without barriers.

Eventually, she would arrive in front of a large towering building that had the logo “Krauser Industries” printed in bold, glossy letters on top of the entrance. The name was a dead giveaway as to who Scarlett had been sniffing out. She intended to pay the man a visit, but what her intentions were remain to be seen…

Scarlett kept her cloak on, herself covered, as the look told her what she suspected would be true: she was not inconspicuous. In order to function without attracting attention, she was going to have to be more normal, pass herself off as a normal person without a backstory or baggage such as hers. Passing by a window, Scarlett would look at her reflection, and take in her dreary doll-like expression and scarred visage.

"I’ll need to reinvent myself, if I’m getting close..." Scarlett would focus, thinking about the multiple functions of the Human body: the growth of muscle and bones; the division of skin and its pigmentation; the lengthening of hair and nails. It all felt neatly into an alchemical equation that she could bring under her control, and put to use.

Though, with no skill in Thaumaturgy, Scarlett was fixing to hurt throughout the initial process...

Ducking into an alley, almost an hour of trial and error with a dirty window as a mirror would produce a much different woman - stumbling into the streets like a newborn deer on clumsy legs from the underbrush with hazy eyes and dulled senses. As she did, she adjusted her transformed clothing which used the entirety of her cloak, resulting in a rather revealing outfit - which, ironically, helped separate identities.

"Do Ra Me Fa So La Ti Do..." Scarlett tested her vocal cords; the huskiness of her own voice was replaced by a childish lilt that wasn’t muffled by her face mask. "Sound like Milli," she says, mildly embarrassed.

Focusing herself, Scarlett would step to enter the building...

Scarlett would find herself walking into the main lobby, her new appearance doing its job as no one seemed to be bothered by her presence. At least so far. She would see a welcome/information desk further back from the entrance, with a few receptionists greeting guests and managing some paperwork. Making her way over, one of the secretaries would notice her approach and extend a warm greeting to her as well.

“Good Morning and Welcome!” Said the receptionist. “What can I assist you with, Ms.?”

"Valentina Ishval," Scarlett says, using the name of her unborn twin. "I saw an ad for a position. Ah've lived out in th’ countryside fer a long spell," she says, accenting her speech, before clearing her throat, as if catching herself, "I’m..." she made a visible effort of minding her tongue, "...am just looking for work, ma’am."

The receptionist was a bit taken aback by the incognito Scarlett’s awkward country accent, but her professionalism quickly took over as she tried to not let the alchemist notice. “Ah! I see, well thank you very much for applying. Yes, we were looking for a new administrative assistant, someone that could keep up with Mr. Krauser the CEO, so to speak teehee!” She said.

The receptionist began opening her draw and taking out some documents and a notepad. “I’m sorry, you said that your name was Ms. Valentina Ishval? That surname sounds a bit familiar, are you from an affluent family perhaps? Oh! But let’s not get sidetracked, can you tell me a bit about your experience and what you hope to gain from the position?”

"I'm told I'm pretty good at fetchin' an' goin', doin' this, doin' that, makin' tea, coffee, and the like. Whatever fixin's yer fancyin', really. Pretty good wit' mah numbers, pennin', and watchin' people," Scarlett says, speed-talking, allowing her accent to seep through endearingly, before she winced to acknowledge catching herself.

"Sorry... S'real hard, y'know, talkin' like city-folk. Ah'm tryin' my darnedest, but..." Scarlett bowed her head, internally wondering if she shouldn't have been an actor. "Ah'm sure th' head o' things 'round here would be embarrassed t' have a hick fer a secretary... Maybe, Ah ought go."

“Oh Goodness, certainly not! One of the most basic statements of our company is to accept individuals from all walks of life! I can assure you that accent would never be held against you during the process. I myself personally find your accent to be quite charming, as would others around the offices. If brought on, I’m sure you’d actually lighten up everyone’s day with it haha!” Clearing her throat, she tried again to maintain her professionalism.

“That brings up another point: Office life can be quite mundane and dragging. Of course, due to the unique services our company provides, your mileage may vary, but how do you deal with the grind?”

"Grind? Like, late nights an’ such," Scarlett asks. "Ah’m use t’ such things, iff’n Ah’m hones’. Bitta night owl."

The receptionist was a bit perplexed by Valentia’s answer. “I…see… Um, I meant more so how you deal with the often mentally taxing day-to-day goings on of office life. But, interesting to know that you’re a night owl. Ahem, but perhaps I shouldn't beat around the bush. We are a company that manufacturers and provides new innovations for methods that involve the extermination of apparitions. By the simple nature of the job, you may have to be put in situations where your life may be in danger. Are you prepared for that?”

"Huntin’ ghosts? Sounds easy enough," Scarlett says.

“Goodness, you make it sound so trivial!” Said the receptionist. “That being said, hopefully you yourself won’t have to be put in that situation very often. Your role will mainly focus on administrative, project management, and secretarial duties.” The receptionist then paused for a moment, clasping her hands noticeably tightly. “Well, at least as far as I can tell you. This is apparently a very ‘special’ role that Mr. Krauser handpicked specifically to help with classified duties. He himself will be the one to give you the rest of the information. I’m pleased with what I’ve heard so far, so you have my clearance to meet with him.”

Upon saying this, the receptionist would point “Valentia” towards a platform that had a unique magic circle transcribed on it. Valentia likely could tell that it was a glyph to invoke the power of the void.

“That is a conduit that will transport you directly to Mr. Krauser’s office in the building’s penthouse. He’s already aware that someone coming into his office in this way is a person who passed the first round of questions and is ready for a second interview. Unless you have any further questions, would you like to step on the platform and meet with him?”

"Sounds like a plan!" Scarlett says.

“Then please step this way!” Said the receptionist, getsuring Valentia to step onto the platform. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Ishval, and good luck on your second interview!” With that, Valentia would step into the magic circle and suddenly find herself being shifted through a shadowy veil, and within the next moment she was in the middle of a large office. Artifacts, magitek, and portraits lined the walls of the decorative office. There would be an older gentleman dressed in a suit sitting at a large desk just in front of her, he didn’t seem to acknowledge her sudden arrival in his office at first. He opted to file some documents in his draws and shift through some papers on his desk.

After a little bit, however, the man turned up at the woman, finally acknowledging her presence.

”Good Morning, Ms. Ishval.” He said in a friendly tone. ”I trust you didn’t have too much trouble getting here? Want to take you again for coming, but, honestly…” He rubbed his chin, as if thinking for a moment. ”I’m surprised that you decided to apply for the role. Or, perhaps I should say that someone from Eon in general decided to apply. Arteus gives his staff enough on their plate as it is, I feel. Can’t see why anyone would want to add more to their workload.”

Adjusting some more papers, the man had laid them flat on the desk after he was satisfied with their alignment. He began again after taking a sip of his coffee. ”So, tell me Scarlett, what about this role attracted you to my industry? I can’t imagine you have any particular interest in apparitions.”

"Exceedingly little, Scarlett says. " Aside from this lil'un, right here," she manifested Milli along her right arm, "Ah've little thought to spare towards ghosts. Mah mind is always engineered t' look forward, t' betterin' mahself."

Scarlett's body seemed to ripple, as she shifted herself between Valentina and herself.

"This arm is proof of that concept, and that drive, which is what brings me to you," Scarlett says, "I'm fine with something as demeaning secretarial work. In return, I'm looking for a lapse in overhead - a place to work, to put it plainly, unassociated with Eon Tower."

"Living two lives won't be an issue for me, as long as neither of my jobs have scheduling conflicts, so to speak," Scarlett adds, as something of an afterthought.

”Quite right.“ Donovan said. ”I'm all for individuals wanting to better themselves, as it benefits them and the people around them. However…“ He leaned forward on his desk, elbows resting on the table with his hands clasping, hiding his mouth from view.

”What about working here makes you feel it would benefit you in your path toward self-improvement? At first, I was just under the impression that Arteus doesn't pay his people well enough!“

"Humanity has ceased to value Evolution over Improvement, softened with technological advancement, and placing no stake in the betterment of the Self," Scarlett says, before engaging her Alchemy to form Neutrophil; the blade leveled at Donovan. "I don't need payment. My task is selfless, charity, in a sense. As proof of concept, I even intend to make you a prosthesis of your arm that is flesh and bone, as you once had."

Donovan inspected the sword Scarlett generated from her arm, gently rubbing it with the prosthetic hand he had. ”Goodness, this ability you have certainly surpasses the versatility and flexibility of my magitek limb.“ He said, rubbing his chin with curious interest.

”However, if I truly wanted a flesh and bone limb again, I simply would've when to Elaine by now.“ He said with a solemn tone. ”I've made peace with my circumstances, yet also I've developed a sentimental bond with my prosthetic. And, due to the nature of my injury, I wonder if Ms. Gardner would even be able to restore the wound.“

Staring at his arm, then at the sword, he then turned back to Scarlett. ”Well. To get more into the nature of the role, you'll act as my direct support in my direction of pushing for solutions of dealing with apparition attacks and injuries. As a company that mainly specializes in technology, having someone who can offer solutions that can strengthen the natural body will be quite useful for common folk and those who lack magical talent.“ Donovan got up from his seat and stared at the window for a moment.

”In addition, you'll also support me in the shadows by performing, less conventional activities. Not sure if you're aware, but there was a mission that your allies had completed for me that opened my eyes to just how many enemies my company and subsidiaries may have. Espionage, bodyguarding, play double agent: are these things you feel you would be willing to do?“

"I have only one standing rule: I won't experiment on someone unethically. My mission is benevolence, and malpractice would taint my progress. I've transgressed once, but only once," Scarlett says, "I gained perspective, then. Anything else is merely a matter of how much time it will take me to create an identity."

"Even murder should be no obstacle," Scarlett says.

Donovan made a small sigh, turning his head to her. ”Well, hopefully it doesn’t come to that. Often. “ He then looked up, his eyes widening a bit as if he just thought of something.

”There was supposed to be a summons from the Church today at Eon Tower, are you sure it’s a good idea to skip like this? I thought you wanted to keep a low profile? “

"I’ve already established that I don’t do anything I don’t want," Scarlett says, "I’m liberally employing the “come and go” nature of my employment. An employment that doesn’t come from the Holy Church."

Donovan made a jovial scoff at the woman’s dismissal. ”I see, well a woman that understands what she wants should be appreciated in her own way. I just hope you don’t always apply the same attitude when conducting business under my behalf!“ Walking over closer to Scarlett, Donovan held out his flesh hand in front of her.

”I welcome you to Krauser Industries, Ms. Ishval. I do hope we work well together. I’ll contact you in the coming days to discuss the more immediate concerns on my desk. You’ll usually see a request on the job board back at the Tower from the company as well. You can do those by yourself or with someone, it doesn’t really matter in that case. I am an ally of Eon through and through, and you don’t have to act as though you’re a double agent with conflicting allegiances. Of course, some things will need to be kept confidential between you and me. Do you have any questions for me currently?“

"Everything is clear enough," Scarlett says, taking his hand, "As far as things are concerned, keeping these and those separate makes things simple," she says, transforming half herself into Valentina, "What I do for Arteus is in the name of redemption for the lives I've taken in my ignorance of the darkness he aligns himself again," she narrowed her eyes, looking up, "What I do for you is to honour those I killed to get where I am today and bring out dream of a better tomorrow into the light."

"As for anyone I would bring into this arrangement, I do have... sisters, so to speak. I could arrange for one to meet you, but I'm sure she would rather keep things separated between this and that, as well," Scarlett says, "If she's anything like me, her secrets are best held in check without risking anyone finding out and corrupting held opinions."

”Sisters, huh? Interesting, perhaps I might. Although, I believe just one person will suffice for this role for now. Especially one with your talents.“ Donovan said, somewhat intrigued. ”If you’d like, I could give you a tour of the building, or do you have other matters you wish to attend to for now?“

"I have nothing but time to spare, at the moment," Scarlett says, transforming in full. She'd no interest in dealing with the Holy Church and that bullshit. "Aside from taking up a residence, since I'll need an address, and somewhere to experiment with that glyph that teleported me here," she says, "Instantaneous Transportation between my residence in Morgenröte and my room in Eon Tower would be invaluable."

”Hmhm, I suppose it wouldn’t be too difficult to have someone in accounting purchasing housing for you, Ms. Ishval.“ He said. ”Until then, we may have to book you a hotel, haha! Also, I can have someone give you the schematics for the void glyph; I’ve not doubt you’d learn how to construct the magic with little difficulty.“ Donovan would then show her to the door, and with it open Scarlett would be able to gaze out into the hallway.

”Well then, Ms. Ishval, why don’t I show you around for a moment? “

"After you," Scarlett says, with a soft smile.

As Lupina made her trek through the city, she would hear a particular voice that sounded like it was right beside her. It wasn't from Baast.

“Nice to see you're the type who's up and active this early in the morning. What's your destination?” Lupina didn't sense the presence until after she heard the voice, but she would recognize it as the one belonging to the benefactor who invited her to the Republic, Arteus Navarre Irvin. He was matching her trek with a leisurely stride.

“The Church is known to not be…forthcoming, toward magus who don't fall in line.”

"Anywhere that your friends aren't," Lupina says, giving an answer that was neutral, but direct, as well.

“I see.” Arteus said calmly. “I'm well aware of why you and your sisters would want to avoid the clergy at all costs. However, I give you my word that so long as you're part of my Tower, nothing will happen to you.”

"My sisters are dead," Lupina says, "I suppose there is some comfort in your statement."

“Really, that’s not what the provider of your third eye tells me.” He said. “Although, I suppose you may not think of them as your siblings. You may have to live life with a target on your back, but it’s not a burden you have to bear alone.”

Lupina's step paused, as her spiritual energy hiked; an arrow materializing in midair, sheerly out of instinct, before she seemed to grip herself, and bring herself under control. As she did, her phantasmal grasp on the air loosened, and it crashed into the ground; burying into it from its own weight.

"I cannot stand nosey men..." Lupina says, looking at Arteus - not from her own eyes, but the borrowed eye that seems to part her cerulean hair to gaze at him, or perhaps... into him.

It was hard to tell what the motivation of The Maiden Abyss were, even with their struck accord.

“My Goodness!” Arteus said. “My apologies, I didn’t mean to overextend. I simply want it to be known that I’m, along with everyone else at Eon, a friend. That’s quite the eye you have there, the Maiden offered something similar to someone I know.”

Arteus looked off for a moment, a serious expression was adorned on his face. His attention soon turned back to Lupina though. “I understand your wanting to stay away from the Church, believe me, and you’re not the only one. But, as stated earlier, as long as you're part of my team, it won’t be a worry. Err, although, I apologize as consideration for whatever you’re currently doing, but it’s best you pack up any essentials and make sure you’re ready to set out. We’ll be leaving the Republic for roughly a week or so.”

"Sounds like a hassle. I have no business with your trifles with the Church, nor do I trust that Goddess, but my Lady guides me along this path..." Lupina says, "As long as Lady Crystella wills it, so I shall lend you my botanical aid and my bow. If she asks me to step off this path, I shall leap without hesitation."

"Hrm..." Baast groused, as the serpentine wolf reared his head, before shifting from his Spirit Form to his Human Form, and sizing up Arteus, "He's stained with many scents, many lies, and equal truths, but... he's not misleading you..." he says, pressing close to Arteus, sniffing his spirit. "At least, not in a purposeful way. His confidence is genuine, frighteningly so..."

Baast stepped back, his button nose twitching cutely.

“I’m all for following the path you feel is best for you.” Arteus responded. He then watched as her familiar shapeshifted in a human form. Baast became petite, wearing rather modern clothes and had long silver hair.

“My, Baast, shapeshifting is a rather advanced skill for a familiar to have. It certainly speaks to the immense bond you and Lupina have!” He said, cheerfully complimenting the duo. Arteus wasn’t really offended as Baast invaded his personal space with a bout of sniffing his mana signature. “Haha! I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Clearing his throat, he thought to get the conversation back on track. “I’m glad to know that for now you’ll lend your bow as an ally of Eon. I apologize that I haven’t been around to officially welcome you within our ranks, but too much has happened too fast, and honestly? I’m…concerned for what the future holds right now. Forgive me, but in exchange for promising to aid in whatever your immediate endeavors currently are, I need you back at the Tower so we can prepare for the summit. You don’t have to get wholly involved with the Church, but it’ll making watching your back easier if you show that you’re under Eon’s wing.”

"A summit, hm," Lupina asks, as Baast drifted to her side, and draped himself off his elder sister's shoulder, "Seems needless, but... I shall entertain what I can tolerate of this charade."

“Needless, huh? Heh, some feel that way. These gatherings have their uses, though, and following through we’ll all of our lives easier. Let’s head back, shall we?”

With that, Arteus opened a deep purple veil from thin air. Walking towards it, he beckoned Lupina to follow him. Afterwards, she would find them back in the main hall of Eon.

Donovan had finished giving Scarlett the full tour of his company’s HQ complex, and for now she was mostly free to act as she pleased.

That was, until she sensed a familiar presence suddenly materializing before her.

"Quite the busybody, aren’t we? I wasn’t aware that apparition theory was something you were interested in." Scarlett would turn to find Brunhyldia, the other admin of the Eon Tower now standing in front of her. "So this is where you’ve been this morning. Elaine in particular must’ve been worried about your absence."

"Quite the nosey woman, I see," Scarlett says, zero pretenses. "Have you come to fetch me? Sent like a good puppy?"

Brun kept her smile, although her eyes narrowed a bit. "More like I had to find a peculiar stray " She responded. "It's good to know you're not getting into any trouble, and it's rather refreshing to see you building rapport with our main benefactor. However, I'm afraid that, for now, we'll have to cut the onboarding short. Your presence is needed back at the tower."

"Correction," Scarlett says, laziness in her tone, as if explaining this was beneath her, "I'm allowing you to do what you were told," she gazed back at Brun, placing her hand against the wall, and spreading iron across the surface, "If I wanted to leave, it would be no trouble to escape you..." and created a surface that Scarlett could sink herself into, as she demonstrated by dipping her arm into it, as if it were water.

"Additionally, my presence isn't needed. It's wanted..." Scarlett says, "Make this desire of Arteus's worth my interest to follow you..."

"Oh my, is that right?" Brun said. "I'm aware of how skillful your alchemy is, we did invite you to the tower after all. As for interest, not worrying about having a target on your back and this being a burden on Donovan sounds good, no?"

"You are very unaware of how skillful I am," Scarlett says. "As for the rest, if you supposedly know so much about my alchemy, then you know the horror stories of Scarlett the Wendigo, and that there will always be a target on my back. As for Donovan, is he not a grown man with agency of his own and the wherewithal to understand the dangers of his decision?"

"Indeed he is a grown man, and therefore doesn’t have the time nor patience to deal with a problem child." Brun said firmly. "And yes, I’ve indeed heard tales of a ravenous beast that felled many, feeding to satiate her feral hunger. However, that needn’t be your life. Perhaps it’d be better to look at yourself as being given a 2nd chance."

Brun folded her arms, her expression now a more serious one. "As I’m sure you’ve already heard, we’ve no desire to direct your life’s path with a heavy hand, and in addition I am pleased that you’ve decided to assist Donovan in his endeavors as well. However, in this particular case, it is within our best interest to maintain a semblance of diplomacy with the powers that be. Some…don’t like the idea of Eon in of itself."

"I see..." Scarlett says, looking at the ground. "A feral beast, surely, is what I am; infested with miasma, soaked to the bone, and poisoned to the soul. There's no second chance for me..." Scarlett's hair framed her crestfallen face, as she held her gaze, "I'm doing everything I can to overcome the damage I've done, resolve the deaths I've brought in my ambition... I cannot repent in the eyes of the Six Scions, and can never be forgiven by the Holy Church..."

"Why should I believe you over anyone else..."

"I’d say your first statement works well enough for me." Brun said, her warm smile returning. "The fact that you feel such remorse, empathy for those who have fallen, is proof enough of your humanity. Repenting before the Scions is something that the Holy Church would indeed consider. However, of course the Church would never hear you out. You are condemned in their eyes by the simple process of what you are. "

Brun unfolded her arms and began walking toward Scarlett until she was only about a foot away from her. "The way I see it, the Scions encourage us to seek out our own answers, and ascribe our own meaning to our lives. You have miasma flowing in your veins, yet you still remain your humanity. I feel that’s what would truly matter to them. You still have a choice in what path you wish to take. I would like it if you were to think of us as helping hand in that path."

Scarlett looked up, silver-red tears streaming down her cheeks, "Why would you... care about some thing like me...?"

"Because you're a person, not a thing, Scarlett." Brun responded. "You laugh, you cry, you rage, and you feel empathy for others. From the sound of it, you want to make the world better in your own way. I’d say that’s something worth caring about, wouldn’t you?"

"Maybe, if I knew how..." Scarlett says, her tears dripping on the floor; Brun would notice, Scarlett was suspended off the floor by the iron surface - her arms extended with her feet crossed at her ankles...

...crucified by her own Alchemy.

"Goodness. You’ve suffered so much haven’t you?" Brun said. Walking until she was mere inches away from Scarlett’s face, she created a veil of glowing water to clean the red tears and blood that began to cover the floor. "It’s alright. You needn’t feel like a monster that can’t repent. You’re just a person that’s trying to find their way. I’d say you’re doing well so far, saving a village and taking care of a gang of ruffians is certainly a good step."

She was holding Scarlett’s shoulders, looking into her crimson, soaked eyes. "it’s alright to cry, but there’s no need to feel sad for now. You’ve got a lucrative new position and found a new home at the Tower. But, for now, there’s a summit at a neutral state near the Holy Capital that we have to attend. I promise it’ll be over before you know it, and as I’ve said, you can trust us to watch over you."

"I see..." Scarlett says, sliding out of the wall; pitching forward, seemingly weakened by the technique.

"I imagine Donovan’s already given you the full tour?" Brun said, soothing Scarlett's aching body with her Thaumaturgy. "Come along now, I’m sure Elaine would be happy to see you return. Try to keep a chin up, she has a habit of being something of a worry wart, teehee!" She said in a jovial tone, attempting to lighten the mood.

"Ready to depart?"

"Y-Yes..." Scarlett says, falling asleep.

"Oh my!" Brun said, catching the drifting Scarlett. "From what Elaine told me, your abilities are as much a curse on you as they are a blessing. They’re quite taxing, aren’t they? Allow us to help shoulder your burdens."

Brun teleported them both through a dark blue veil, and after a few moments, they arrived back at the Tower. They were back in Scarlett’s private quarters. She laid the passed out Scarlett on her bed. "I believe you have some time to rest before we head to Cambridge, I’ll be sure to wake you when we do. I can see why Elaine has taken such a liking to you, you’re a good person Scarlett. Even if some don’t seem to think so."

Scarlett didn’t respond, simply curling into a fragile ball; holding her pillow close to her chest.

---

"I believe you have some time to rest before we head to Cambridge, I’ll be sure to wake you when we do. I can see why Elaine has taken such a liking to you, you’re a good person Scarlett. Even if some don’t seem to think so."

"A good person, huh..." Scarlett asks, as she sat, legs daintily crossed, a clipboard settled in her lap, as she held a pen in one hand, and a numbered ticket in the other. "Hardly..." she says, "I’m nothing more than a liar..."

“Miss Ishval, we’re ready for your interview.”

Scarlett popped her head up, and stood up hastily - "Comin’!" - as she gathered her clutch and everything that she’d been saddled with to properly immigrate into Morgenröte. She’d need the identity she created for Donovan to be able to own property and business. Her little dallance with Brun had opened the opportunity to divide herself in two, and distract the watchdog with her little song and dance. The woman was so earnest, so genuine, it hurt -- her head, that is, to pretend to emote and emphasize.

Emotion was lost on Scarlett, her heart was an alchemical engine; a forge powered by the Void.

Brun felt for her.

...regrettable, that.

However, Scarlett felt some security in her words. Perhaps, abandoning the tower outright wasn’t the best course of action, after all? She’d determine that after this so-called summit. Until this, she was just hoping to pass this naturalization test; being employed by Donovan carried a good bit of weight in fast tracking her bid. Surely, he’d forgive her for claiming him as an employer despite only JUST finishing her building tour.

“You have an hour, everyone. After that, pencil down, turn your papers over, and pass them forward.”

"Sorry, Brun..." Scarlett says, "I’ll be the one you wake up..."

Brun was standing just outside in the hall, a few feet away from Scarlett’s door. Her arms were folded again and she also had a tired, rather melancholic expression on her face.

"Honestly. You really ARE a problem child, aren’t you?" While she had heard everything, she was actually able to deduce that the Scarlett she took back to the Tower was little more than a doll of sorts. The real Scarlett’s location was easy to guess.

Twisting her hand would go against her words, but moreover, she made a promise despite her attempts to deceive her. So, for now, she would place trust in her words. She guessed that a morning’s worth of onboarding shouldn’t take too long.

"Arteus. You certainly know how to choose some interesting individuals…"