Meanwhile

I was walking with Fisti through the opulent mansion. At first it was just to give the two some space, but now that I think about it…

Just gallivanting around like this is kinda rude, isn’t it? But for some reason there was no escort around and waiting in the hallway, knowing what was most likely going on behind these doors would be rather awkward.

It has been quite a while since I was last here, but the vibe felt somewhat off. Perhaps it was just because I was now more sensitive to these sorts of things but everything we encountered seemed to be rather on edge. I hope this wasn’t because of the stunt Sylphid and the rest pulled.

“This bloody mansion looks the same everywhere”, Fisti complained. She just seemed to get grumpier by the minute “What’s even the appeal in living in such a huge house? Even finding the can takes forever!”

Oh right, I suppose that is what we are doing. Fisti was in need of the restroom.

“Yeah”, I agreed. “Lets ask one of the maids for help.”

But as luck would have it, we ran into a familiar face first. I spend quite a bit of time in his company so I recognized Deltz’s burly face right away.

He did not appear to be particularly busy. In fact he seemed strangely out of place just staring out a window like this. At any rate, ignoring him would be way ruder. “Oh, good day Mr. Deltz, long time no see.”

He didn’t react.

Well.

Maybe he is busy after all.

“Ey! What yer think yer doing ignoring us! Yer bogging radge gangsters never learned some basic common courtesy or what? Need me to wallop some manner into ya?”

Unfortunately, Fisti was very irritable due to full bladder.

This did indeed get the intention of Deltz, as he slowly turned his big frame towards us. “Not that long.”, he grunted.

“Uh, pardon?”

“We saw each other three days ago.”

Oh right, That time spend in the void really messed with my inner clock. Crap, did I already screw up? Deltz looked kinda annoyed now. And so did Fisti. These guys won’t just start punching each other, right?

“Want something?”

“Oh, right of course!”, I explained our quest or the bathroom, perhaps in a bit more words then necessary. Deltz responded to that by walking away. I guess that means we should follow him? Maybe?

We ended up walking for another sizable distance before our escort stopped in front of a room.

“Don’t make a mess.”

“Excuse me!”, Fisti huffed and entered, leaving the two of us alone.

Deltz seemingly was in no hurry to get back to whatever he was doing, so he just stood there, staring at me.

This was kinda awkward.

Right, If I recall correctly Deltz actually has a bit of a history with Cassandra. Perhaps I can engage in a bit of smalltalk to break the ice?

“So...you and Cassandra go way back?”

“hm.”

“You used to date her, right?”

“nah.”

“Was she always so...uh...rather crass?”

“uhu.”

“S-She sure is a handful”, I laughed nervously. “I do hope she can make up with Ojou-sama and Feena though.”

“Not gonna happen.”

This response caught me off guard by how it was almost a full sentence. “You don’t think so? But if she earnestly apologizes…”

“Can’t.” Deltz casually lighted himself a smoke before elaborating further. “Kids fundamentally broken.”

“B-broken?”

“Aye”, he took a puff. “Can’t forgive herself for what she did. Never will.”

Right. That was my own reading as well. But I’m glad this proves one thing. “So, you agree that the issue is on Cassandra’s part?”

“Course it is”, he stated.

“Then that’s all the more reason I can’t just let things fester like this. Please, can you let me talk to Ojou-sama?”

Deltz merely laughed.

Ok, I take it that means no. I certainly can see where Cassandra got her manners from.

“You’re a good kid”, he eventually stated. “Get out of here, while you still can.”

Yikes. Was that a threat? No, I didn’t sense any malice from him. “Is something about to happen?”

“Might be”, he took another deep puff. “Take the kid and leave Rasheul. The sooner the better.”

There was a strange look in his eyes and I wasn’t exactly sure how to respond to that. Right, if I remember Sylphid roughed Ojou-sama up pretty badly. Was this about that? Well, it’s the plan anyways. This only gives me more incentive to wrap things up with the semi finals.

“How long are you staying behind that door?”, Deltz asked, which was followed by a small eep before Fisti sheepishly exited.

I guess we should head back.

…

..

.

All in all our excursion through the mansion really couldn’t have taken more then an hour but it still coincided with the two girls finishing up. Whatever they were doing.

“So...uhh...did you have a good time?”, I asked.

It seemed a ridiculous question. Feena’s face sported numerous prominent bruises, but despite that she was smiling. “I would say so, yes. “I think we both learning something from this exchange.”

And while Cassandra may appear in better physical shape her dark complexion felt surprisingly pale. I will have to ask her later what had happened.

“Oi”, Deltz, to my surprise, addressed Cassandra directly. She didn’t seem particularly pleased to see him.“Don’t give him too much trouble, kid.”

“How about I shove some trouble up your fucking ass, cocksucker!”

Right. It was high time we departed. I still had that meeting with Sylphid in the evening after all. And I like to still be alive by then.

“Your suspiciously quiet”, Cassandra addressed Fisti as we were back in the carriage.

“W-Well..I”, Fisti stuttered. “Look, yer having yer circumstances and all and...yer know what they say. Whit’s fur ye’ll no go by ye.”

Cassandra gave me a confused look. Hey don’t look at me, I’m not fluent in Fisti either.

“Sometimes it’s just a dreich day. Look what I’m trying to say is...”, she took a deep breath. “I forgive ya.”

…

For a few, nice seconds, Cassandra was silent. Then she bursts out into laughter. “Forgive me? The fuck do I care about your forgiveness?”

“H-hey Cassandra, come on...that’s a bit…”

“Haud yer weesht!”, Fisti barked back. “I’m trying to be nice here!”

“Aww, ain’t that precious?” The huntress was cooing. “Who’s next? Gonna forgive the fucking devil too, miss leaky tits?”

Fisti jumped Cassandra so hard that the carriage was shaking. “YER ROTTEN BAG OF DIRT! IL GIE YE A SKELPIT LUG!!!”

Meanwhile, Cassandra fingered something out of her bag that looked very suspiciously like a bomb.

By the grace of the Goddess, please let us make it back to the tower in one piece.