Time flew by and Tingen bade farewell to the end of summer. The temperature hovered between twenty-six and twenty-seven degrees Celsius.
Whooosh!
Selina left the bathtub with two towels coiling her hair and body, sending droplets of water to the floor.
She looked at her image from the mirror and loosened her drape to reveal four streaks of lines.
They were now darkish-brown, receding to her silky snow skin. Apart from that, her body was prominently more slender and toned.
There were no muscles, but one can tell she is now more flexible, light and agile.
She doesn't need to heavily rely on brute strength. What she lacked in contrast to Klein was charted to efficiency and precision.
The ability to quickly end the fight is what mattered, this is her belief and Gawain delivered it perfectly in her training.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Selina stepped out of the bathroom barefooted, feeling refreshed. At the hall, she stopped and took whiff of the air. It had a soapy rich, lavender aroma, she tightened the towel over her body.
After the meeting with Klein and their shared secrets. Matters such as the Halzter Van Retrieval Company's involvement with the Rose School of Thought, Huddsman's accomplice Marik and the echoes of Milo have all seemed to postponed, thinking about it now it all seemed a coincidental chances that she escaped for this two whole weeks.
Without the constant beyonder related matters. It brought peace to her life. She was able to focus on her mysticism research in-depth, received her paycheck on time, trained her marksmanship, slowly learned mandarin thanks to Klein, developed new recipes from Martha, figured out parenting, asked her teammates about supernatural cases in the past, give attention to the growing commissions for medicine and health turning the company to a semi-pharmacy, as well as strictly following the principles she figured out.
This made her more settled. If not for the late nights that which reminds her of Earth, the Halzter Van Retrieval Company that had yet to trigger an investigation, her disharmonious fate told by Professor Azik or the occasional thoughts of her near-death in the hands of Morroy, she would've started getting used to her current life and think of it more affectionately.
During that time, three Tarot Club Gatherings were convened and had yet to submit a page of Roselle's diary herself. This led her to divulge the situation of her allies, which The Fool acknowledged and the meeting between Klein and her were discussed discreetly.
Meanwhile, Justice had succeeded in scaling her circles. According to her explanation, she had gotten to know two Beyonders and she was getting in touch with them consistently as well as proceeding to acquaint herself with the people she suspect of relating to the study of the mind, the Psychological Alchemists.
On the other hand, Hanged Man expressed that he had hinted of Senor's stay in Bayam. Considering of his significance in the status quo of the four seas, the Church of Storms are likely to take notice. That wasn't a reliable result, but thankfully, Hanged Man is willing to wait.
For her believers. Yesir, Greg and Piolo are all trying to process the money by working on a small pharmacy separately. Catherine deployed her own circle of acquaintances as a medicine doctor to speed up the process. It would likely take months for the company to be realized, but it's an issue for Selina, what mattered is how willing they are in changing.
However, for her other two members. They chose different tasks. Kothe was sent to investigate the Rose School of Thought's presence throughout Backlund, including their whereabouts whilst monitoring the other secret organizations in exchange of abandoning his profession. In contrast, Judius wanted to return to Intis, perhaps starting a branch there as well.
Orola who's with Jean in the vessel heading to Admiral of Blood had not once contacted her again. She wanted to check if they're alright but feared that it would instead endanger them.
Fortunately, her anxiety was lessened. Isabelle, the girl that she guided while forced to be a Primordial Moon believer, found the man she told her to look for. A stern, almost hollowed expression that she saw hesitating with the massacring rituals, is named Dylan. Thankfully, he was the reason that she was exempted from the sacrifice. The blood symbol that appeared when she was pulled into a dream became a contradiction that allowed her to be put aside.
"Dylan Hawkthorne. I didn't expect that I'll be needing your help again..." Selina let out a heavy sigh, feeling helpless and could only place her hope to a fellow human.
Of course this doesn't mean that she's safe. Dylan is a temporary solution. What it demands is her escape, but that is easier said than done.
"I can only just hope. As for me, it won't take long for me to digest my potion. In fact, perhaps a week from now. Miss Justice also said that she clearly feels the signs of the potion digesting. She might need another three to four weeks until she completes her acting as a Spectator..." Selina placed her towel to the mattress and walked up to her wardrobe.
As she thought of the Tarot Club, she turned over a long-sleeve hanged by the closet racks, picked a trouser and dressed up with a windbreaker. In the process, another matter came into her mind.
"Disharmonious fate... How is Klein's professor able to sense that just by sizing me?"
Her colleague Klein invited her for a walk to his university during the time. She and him conversed trivial topics regarding the school system, the hierarchical positions of advisors that needed to reorder and the original Klein's past.
Naturally, they would chanced upon his professor, who's notable trait is a wise pupils and bronze skin. He looked calm and amiable.
Her obliviousness before was now eclipsed with the awareness of coincidences that Klein brought during that.
"Strangely, professor Azik's first impression of me was my fate. However, beyond that he's actually kind and approachable. Maybe that's why Klein was eager to introduce him. If only I could introduce my own acquittances..." Selina looked down and gathered a chunk of her hair until one thick strand stood out.
Using her skills, she meticulously braided it in under a minute, she did it again on the other side. Now with two braided sides, she lifted them behind and coiled them—forming a bun.
After styling her hair in a habit, she left. Her steps tumbled her hair into having loose strands.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Selina walked down the stairs and while she hold the railings, she turned her gaze to the entrance.
There, she saw Klein, formally suited and waiting with his top hat held over his abdomen. Seeing him in a hall that was once always been empty each morning, brought consistent softness in her chest.
Before going, she suddenly stopped at a stair level and smiled. "Sorry you had to wait."
"That's really no issue at this point." Klein returned the expression in a manner. "You haven't had breakfast right?"
"Mhm you're right." Selina nodded with a glint in her eyes. "Should we detour a bit to Smyrin's?"
Klein watched her walk over before quickly opening the door. As they left to the porch, he agreed, "That wouldn't be a problem."
...
Rinsing her face for a minute, she later put on her white shirt and trouser back, proceeding with the tuck-in style. She then picked up her knight's training suit from the floor and tossed it to the laundry basket. She opened the door and exited the bathroom. Selina and Klein had just finished their Tuesday afternoon combat training, and was still at their teacher Gawain's place.
"How are you feeling?" Klein's voice spoke while waiting for her.
Startled, Selina turned to him, standing by the entrance and replied, "I'm alright."
"Hello, Mr. Moretti, Ms. Roy." Gawain's maidservant happened to pass by, and she quickly bowed.
Klein nodded slightly and pointed at the messy bathroom.
"Could you clean this up, please?"
"Of course, sir. The clothes will be taken care of by the laundry maid. She'll come over at six." The maidservant held her head low when she answered.
Laundry maids had no accommodation or food included, so they weren't hired by only one household. They were normally contracted to handle the laundry from several households. Either they rushed around daily, washing one household's clothes before going to the next, or they would gather all the clothes from different households and take care of it all at the same time, before sending it all back. Only then could they barely make a living.
Selina had thought of having a maidservant to help tend the house. Sadly she abandoned it after receiving an eviction notice.
As her stay ends near, she had begun to pack her belongings. The fake identity documents, the tin card given by the Mandated Punishers, and her father's revolver to a suitcase.
Multiple thoughts surfaced in her mind and as they leave, Selina and Klein bade farewell to Gawain, resting by the living room's rocking chair.
On the way to the station, just a few meters from the exit, Selina slowed slightly, her thoughts drifting.
"You really intend to invite me into your home?"
Klein Moretti adjusted his pace, cane tapping lightly against the ground. After a brief pause, he replied,
"Yes. it'll be easier to keep track of our disharmonious fate. I reckon it's going to be just the two of us, but if I observe it from a different angle, I might understand it better."
Selina lowered her gaze, the earlier lightness fading.
"Your siblings… Benson and Melissa." Her voice softened. "Won't my presence trouble them?"
"They'll manage," Klein said calmly. "You'll only be staying temporarily, until we figure things out, or until the Captain arranges somewhere else for you."
He hesitated for a fraction of a second, then added, almost offhandedly,
"I've mentioned you to them before."
Selina's lips curved faintly. "What an honest gentleman. That shameless senior would've learned quite a bit from you."
Klein let out a dry chuckle.
"What did you tell them?" she asked.
He glanced at her, composure returning. "That I have a colleague who enjoys teasing others… and occasionally treats herself as a test subject."
Selina halted mid-step.
"…How rude."
She turned away, though her steps remained measured.
Klein leaned slightly, unable to hold back a laugh. "But it's not inaccurate, is it?"
Selina shot him a sharp glance.
"Eh—" Klein felt a faint chill run up his spine and immediately straightened. "I didn't actually say that."
That, of course, wasn't entirely true.
One of his past references had indeed hinted at her peculiar tendencies. His siblings hadn't pressed the matter—but the implication likely hadn't gone unnoticed.
After a moment, Selina's expression eased.
"How's your progress on the red chimney?"
"It's steady." Klein faced forward again. "The detective I hired on Basik Street—Henry—said he'd have results before the end of the week."
"I suspect this has relations with our current situation."
My private stash of money has returned to slightly more than seven pounds, so at least I don't have to worry about making the final payment... he added with relief in his heart.
Selina nodded slightly and raised another matter. "About the Rose School of Thought vampires that chased me. Dunn told me that the leads led them to the Red Light Street.
"Galopin was the name of the man you've sought before right? Do you have any suggestions on how we can lead the investigation to the company?"
Prepared, Klein didn't take long to reply.
"I'll provide a photo of him using you as the medium. That way, you and I can lead the case. Following that, we'll naturally encounter the Halzter Van Company. Though we have to be careful on making the formula known."
Selina nodded. "That won't be an issue."
The formula came from Yesir that was compiled from what the Child of God's faction have recorded. Seeing as they've once integrated with the Rose School of Thought and that it's of a starting Sequence. It's likely that they have the formula...
After reaching a station and boarding a public carriage. Both of them found a two available seat near a window.