Thud!
Selina closed the door gently and walked toward Klein and Leonard, standing by the stairs. She saw the latter waving his signature flair while the latter had just withdrew his pocket watch.
Right, why do I always forget about having a pocket watch? I thought I would buy one yesterday? Selina made a complaint of herself.
"So what's the issue with him?" Leonard finally spoke up with clear puzzled face.
Selina drew a slow breath and she faced Klein, who in turn met her gaze. She said, "Do you think..."
"Seems like it." Klein nodded without further context as he answered while smiling.
Hearing that. Selina's mood spiked. "I see..."
Then she enlightened Leonard. "It seems like Ademinsaul and him have similar characteristics upon seeing us."
"Ademinsaul..." Leonard pressed a finger to his chin. "That so-called lunatic from the underground market... So you mean that beyonder inside that room is from a Monster pathway?"
It's common among their agency long before Selina got informed that Ademinsaul was different. He was a born half-Monster which constantly subjects him into an unfavorable encounters with fluctuations in fate.
Simply put, his spiritual sensitivity is what driven him into that lunatic, mind-broken state being tended in a foster home, which in this case is the market.
"Yes." Selina nodded in affirmation.
Klein collected his thoughts and explained, "When I met him for the first time. It seems he had gone deeper into a lost of control or becoming rogue in the mind."
"So when he broke down seeing you. It's because he's from a Monster pathway?" Leonard grinned.
Klein gave a perfunctory smile.
Seeing that face from their Seer. He also addressed Selina being with them. "Heh, I was right."
Sighing, Selina glanced at the door from far away and added in a low voice. "Perhaps he also holds the formula around his house. Particularly his safe."
Leonard withdrew, "Why do you want the formula?"
"We..." emphasized Selina before following up with, "It's actually for curing Ademinsaul."
Leonard was then taken aback. "Why are you telling me this?"
"You're talking about 'protagonists' right?" Selina shot a glance at him. In turn, Leonard jolted slightly.
With a sighing breath, she added, "I'm not a threat... and neither is Klein.
"If you're also an ally. It would be best for us to be open and cooperate."
Klein's gazed deepened at Leonard.
Leonard had a moment of delay before lifting both corners of his lips. "I was the first to suggest that with Klein. It's nice that he relayed it well."
Selina nod in relief. "Great."
Then at that moment. She turned to Klein, tilted her head and smiled.
During this, she noticed that he was being quiet.
Klein noticed her and fell into a brief daze before briskly asking, "Do you want me to divine the safe's lock?"
Selina exhaled and suddenly chuckled. "I can tell you're exhausted."
"Yeah." Leonard joined in the bickering, unusual from his habits, "You made two, no three consecutive divination this day. That must've took a toll huh?"
Instead of taking that as a concern. Klein's mouth twitched, intending not to add further.
...
2 Daffodil Street. 10:11 pm.
Selina watched as the carriage drove pass. Carrying a blindfolded gentleman, later discovered to be Warl Hapherlyn, the steward of Halzter Van.
She exhaled, knowing that her epiphany was right. That man was the steward she saw in the Ivory Manor!
During that time, as the influx of the past Selina carries onto her memory. She quickly became familiar with the manor's servants and tenders.
She didn't placed much attention into the reasons why it led into the manor's invasion. Her mind was occupied on her own survival. But perhaps due to the mental strain of the clustering atmosphere of the manor. She could only have glimpses of the staffs.
He's apart of the Rose School of Thought, not a Child of God's believer... Selina muttered inwardly before following Klein to the porch.
As she watched him fish the keys out. A sudden noise reverberate in front of her.
Growl~
Klein stiffened. At the same time, he finally had the keys on his hand.
"Hungry?" Selina chuckled, having a hand pressed to her lips.
Klein's ears was slightly red. He let out a wry laugh before saying, "Heh, I'm sorry if that scared you."
Selina shook her slowly and replied softly, "Not at all. I'm very tired too."
Both mutually thought that yet again, Dunn forgot to treat them for different.
Growl~
For the best of everyone. Selina's stomach also grumbled. Her eyes widened in shock.
"Pfff... Hahaha." Out of nowhere, two voices break out in laughter. In this empty street, only the moonlight occupies a place in their company.
Soon it passed and Klein said while recovering, "Heh heh, I hope dear Melissa reserved a few meal for the two of us."
"Mhm." Selina lowered her hand from her lips.
The door clicked opened.
In the hallway that was unlit. They tiptoed to the kitchen and arriving before the table, Klein lifted the wooden lid covering the food.
There was a lamb chop, a thick bowl of vegetable soup, mashed potato, and a few sticks of bread. They were all cold now if eaten.
With this amount of food, Klein quickly figured that it wouldn't be enough to satiate two people. He know himself to be a foodie, apart of the Foodaholic Empire. As much as he wanted to satisfy himself, he couldn't get the thought out that a lady is also going to eat with him.
So gulping his saliva. Klein turned, "I'm actually full. You can have this and..."
Clang! Cling!
Sounds of colliding utensils echoed in the room. Laid out next to the stove where Melissa usually goes to prepare, are a set of vegetables, lamb meat, oil and seasonings.
"That much won't do you know?" Selina smiled as she takes Melissa's apron from the rack. "Can I borrow this for a moment?"
Klein dazed for a second before snapping back. "You're cooking? I thought you're tired?"
A slow breath escaped Selina's lips as she began chopping the onions. "Klein, I've lived alone for months without issue. As much as I wanted to just order my food, I also take note of my health.
"If you're concerned, how about helping me with the ingredients?"
Klein was greatly taken aback. He went silent and processed it for awhile.
A couple of seconds later. He said softly, "Alright."
Instinctively, when he took the knife from her hand. He subconsciously traced her skin, to her arms and finally her face.
Klein felt something was different. Strange but familiar.
She is stunning.
Her pale skin looks brighter, radiating even. Her eyelashes seemed to have gone longer, the contours of her face accentuates the posture she's in, focused and elegant.
Whether her hair is tied to a braided-bun, just like now or its silver strands cascading down. It never fails to force his chest skipped a beat.
"How beautiful." he said blankly.
At that moment, Klein's pupils constricted. Thump! Thump! Thump!
His hands that occupied with the pepper and knife quickly went into chopping.
Luckily, Selina seemed to have her attention on the sizzling pan. Producing sparks of oil in stark contrast to her delicate frame.
"Did you say something?" she addressed Klein's mutterings after sautéing the onion and garlic.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Klein hastened his task to appear busy. He noticed her and immediately answered, "It was nothing."
"I see..." Selina finally added the meat she purposefully smeared with spices and seasonings. "Uhm, could you give me the meals Melissa and Benson reserved for us? I want to heat them."
"Yeah..." Klein quickly complied and left her.
Sensing him walk away. Selina, perhaps having her face beet red from the smoke, secretly exhaled.
...Beautiful?
...
In the afternoon.
After the escalation of Gawain's combat training and practice spars. Selina and Klein returned to the 36 Zouteland Street and quickly headed to a room next to the Chanis Gate without much issue. Primarily because of the former's medicines allowing alleviation of fatigue.
Today is Thursday and as usual, the Nighthawks proceeds with the meeting.
The light of the gas lamp glowed through the glass, illuminating the Nighthawks gathered. Selina sat next to Royale and Seeka, while Klein took Frye's side and Leonard chose the sofa's armrest.
Dunn swept his gaze from everyone and deepened his voice, "The reports returned regarding Warl's identity. His original name is Elkewan, he comes from the South Continent with mixed linage of Intisian and Highlander.
"He's apart of the Rose School of Thought and was an associate in the Milo disaster along with the Halzter Van Retrieval Company. Being the primary imports of rations and necessities.
"He's also a beyonder of the Monster pathway. Through our divination specialists, the church managed to unlock the safe and retrieve crucial information regarding the Rose School of Thought.
"As of now Warl is in the church's custody. But he refrained from divulging anything regarding the 'Bliss World'. Claiming that he only got informed slightly by the administrative."
Bliss World? Selina echoed the word.
Klein subconsciously creased his brows, Leonard straightened and the others quickly assumed a solemn air.
"Although the safe from Halzter Van was already devoid of anything. Warl's textbook of beyonder knowledge gave a much beyonder scope of intel regarding the secret organization. The Bliss World was mentioned as the god's path to true temptation." Dunn continued.
"Regretfully, that was the only the description among the rituals, assets, schemes and formulas the textbook contains. Now the church have the Prisoner pathway's Sequence 8-7, being Lunatic and Werewolf.
"Finally, the Monster formula. It's been verified. Heh, if anyone wants to be a Monster, we can file for your potion." He snickered a humor.
At that moment. Leonard's lips lifted and he raised an arm to request permission. He said, "I petition for the formula's applicability to be granted to someone living in a pitiable state in the underground market."
Huh? Selina was stunned by Leonard's act. Is he trying to aid us?
Klein agreed with a nod and stated, "I have crossed paths with him and I agree on Leonard. As Old Neil said when the first time he guided me there, if we acquired the Monster formula, perhaps we can cure him."
With two members suggesting for the formula's application. Everyone seemed to immediately gave their tacit approval.
Dunn thought carefully, "But it'll require him to be a civilian first. With that state of mind he can't act properly. Perhaps we can have him as a beyonder first then Nighthawk second.
"Yes, it's better than where he currently is now."
...
The meeting progressed for an hour and later ended. Leonard resumed his notes of poems in the entertainment room and the others went separately, Seeka with her drafts and Frye visiting the Raphael Cemetery to patrol.
As Selina walked in a normal pace, she said to Klein. "You're now a true Seer Klein, how are you feeling?"
"Better than I've ever had. I no longer had to be burden with a lost of control." Klein was elated. He pumped his fist and continued walking.
Then he turned to her and asked, "What about your digestion?"
"Soon as well." Selina smiled with a glad expression. "Were you successful in hinting Captain about this?"
Klein nodded. "I've set up an underlying reason for when we can hint it better."
Arriving at the partition. He deliberately shared to Selina his intention of visiting the local underground market later. Intending to look for ingredients in crafting a practice charm before transitioning to using the seed Mrs White gave him. Upon receiving a positive feedback, Klein left for the archive.
When she turned and saw Rozanne. A familiar customer greeted her again by the desk.
Wearing a saggy coat, with prominent sewn linings and a cap. The man was none other than Marvik, who had constipation problems the last time he visited.
"Oh Selina!" Rozanne was pleasantly surprised. "I expected you to be busy."
"It's alright. I plan to apply more attention into this growing sub-business of the company." Selina explained with an impeccable tone while adding inwardly.
With Klein's fully digestion, I'm determined to become a true Apothecary by the end of this week...
She smiled seeing Rozanne fawned and telling, "This gentleman is back again for another issue!"
"Really?" After walking over, Selina turned to confront Marvik.
The man had a frazzled hair, dark eyes and rugged face. He seemed to be from the lower class street visiting the Indus Region specifically for aid.
Looking back on how many clients they've brought in. Selina could hardly account for the accumulated wealth of the company.
I wonder if Rozanne wish for that extension of the lounge? Reigning in her thoughts. She feigned fatigued while secretly pinching her glabella.
Then shortly after, a myriad of colors washed her vision and she quickly figured out Marvik's problems.
"I'll need to inspect you again first. Come right this way."