Early the next morning, when the sun had just risen and the morning dew on the plants began to drip from the leaves, Lilith and Aylin stood alongside me in front of Eirlys' door.
Lilith had obtained a piece of paper allowing her to recruit Eirlys as a guide on the premise that the Fivindus family had no reserved guides.
But no one came to open the door, and when Lilith tried, it was completely locked.
After finishing lunch at the restaurant, we returned to Eirlys' door and knocked again. Once more, we were met with the same empty silence as in the morning.
We came back a final time at 5 p.m., and this time, when we knocked, we heard faint groaning behind the door. Miraculously, the door opened.
The girl who appeared was the complete opposite of the Fivindus ideal.
She rubbed her sunken eyelids, drool dried at the corners of her lips. Her blue hair was a complete mess, and her pajamas barely hung on her, the button strings almost torn. A quick glance into her room revealed a scene worse than her appearance: garbage and old clothes scattered across the floor, with strange white stains marring the carpet.
"Good morning…" she croaked.
"What do you mean good morning? It's evening already, Miss Eirlys."
Aylin and I stared at her, then at each other, completely dumbfounded.
Eirlys excused herself past Lilith and went into the bathroom. She emerged scratching her back, now somewhat groomed, and passed Lilith again before opening the door fully.
"Ahem! Salutations, my esteemed guests! You are in the presence of the one and only Eirlys Fivindus! How serendipitous that we cross paths! So, how may yours truly be of interest?"
Aylin and I whispered to each other.
"Pst… she sure speaks fancy while being a complete slob…"
"I agree… even a guy takes better care of his room than her, psst…" Aylin whispered back.
"HEY! I HEAR YOU TALKING SHIT ABOUT ME!!!"
Aylin and I pretended to whistle, averting our eyes.
"Anyhow," Lilith cut her off.
"Miss Eirlys, would you be interested in being a guide for the Fivindus family?"
"No," she said, deadpan, without hesitation.
Lilith dramatically clutched her heart, pretending to be wounded by Eirlys' sharp words.
Eirlys' eyes narrowed suspiciously as Lilith approached with her hands behind her back.
whisper whisper… whisper whisper…
"Hmm… quite a tempting offer you've got there. But Eirlys Fivindus doesn't get swayed by temptations so easily!"
Lilith smiled before asking if Erich von Stapel was the greatest in our time.
Taken completely off guard by the random question, Aylin and I turned our heads in confusion. Eirlys, however, remained silent.
"Or who do you think was the greatest general in history? The Prodigy of Rhene, Nalé? The Prince of Guilt, Uryo? Krawokski, the White Death?" Lilith probed.
Eirlys finally opened her mouth and launched into a rambling lecture so long that Aylin and I collapsed against the wall, exhausted. Fifty-five minutes passed, and she still continued, discussing war tactics, geopolitical issues, and the collapse of kingdoms. Just as we thought she might stop, she moved on to war heroes and saviors of nations. Somehow, Lilith stood there smiling and nodding through the entire ordeal.
"To put it simply, I believe their system would temporarily work for now, but long-term, due to economic strain and public dissatisfaction, it could lead to a revolution in the Luvian Empire. But that is merely speculation, and very much simplified," Eirlys said, content, her hands on her hips.
"Oh, right, I forgot I had breakfast! It is time for me to depart. It was a pleasure becoming acquainted; now I bid adieu!" With that, Eirlys vanished down the corridor.
Lilith collapsed onto the floor with us, leaning her back against the wall. She let out a loud moan while stretching, then sat upright again.
"I forgot to ask her to become a guide a second time."
A look of fear began to creep across Lilith's face. Aylin and I started to back away.
"Yeah… you're on your own…" we said in unison and ran from her.
"No… NOOOO! COME BACK! DON'T LEAVE ME HERE!!!" Lilith cried.
A dark cloud loomed over her as she heard footsteps behind her. She closed her eyes and smiled, knowing she was doomed.
Eirlys appeared behind her, holding a bowl of cereal, utterly unimpressed.
"And to continue where we left off…"
Lilith was subjected to four hours of brutal verbal torment.
—Rip Lilith—