Suspicious quests (5) - Handling the aftermath

-22nd day of AC, 22.04.1052-

-Time: 12:33-

-Location: Aria's apartment-

Travis's hand instinctively rose to his cheek, his fingers gingerly tracing the spot where Aria's slap had landed. The sting of impact lingered, and he felt the heat of his skin intensify, casting a rosy hue over his flesh. Across from him, Aria's gaze softened, a glimmer of remorse dancing within her eyes.

"S-Sorry..." Aria's voice trembled. "I-I was just ch-checking..." tears continued to flow down her cheeks as she slightly lowered her hand.

"...it's alright, Aria," Travis reassured her. "It's all real. I'm fin--"

*SLAP!*

The **** of the second strike blindsided Travis, sending a sharp jolt through his cheek. Aria's features contorted with a mix of anger and frustration as her hand recoiled for another blow.

"You fool! Scoundrel! Why did you do that?!" she demanded, her voice raised between her strikes. "Do you know how worried I was?!"

"Aria, liste--" Travis attempted to interject, but Aria's voice remained firm.

"No, you listen! Don't you dare do something like that to me ever again, you idiot!" Aria's voice erupted into a scream as her fist struck down at Travis's head. "First that stunt with your MID, and now this?! Does anything but air flow through your head?! D-Don't you value your own life? Do you not care about me?"

Travis closed his eyes, not blocking any blow aimed at him. His heart felt heavy hearing her sorrowful voice. "I'm sorry, Aria."

"Sorry?! Do you really think 'sorry' is enough?" her hand moved as if to strike him again, but she hesitated and lowered it. "I-- I can't understand... Why did you do that? Why didn't you confide in anyone? Why keep me in the dark?" her voice wavered with a mixture of frustration and pain.

He looked to his side, a slightly glum expression painted. 'I can't tell her it's a quest from RALS... but I should justify my decision somehow...'

"W-why did you do that?! Do you know w-what position you put me in?! W-Why did you ask that guard for help? I... I-I--"

Suddenly, Aria flinched, her breath halting as she felt Travis's arm on her left shoulder. His touch was both firm and gentle. The man put a bit of strength into his grip as he pulled the woman closer. She kept on sobbing for a long while as they hugged, her face buried in his chest. Her cascade of white hair tumbled into disarray, forming a chaotic halo around her head as he tenderly ran his fingers through the strands. Her hands gripped him with a ferocity that could only be compared to a wild beast. In response, Travis's hold only became gentler as he calmly caressed her back. For now, he was glad that he was alive. Hot tears soaked his shirt as Aria's breathing grew more ragged with each passing wink. It was like he was consoling a five-year-old. A distant memory resurfaced in his mind.

'It's like that time I had to cheer Crystal up when I was about to move. It's been over a decade ago.' he reminded himself of that time, a fleeting shadow crossing his expression. It was... very similar. Switch white hair of chin length for blonde elbow-long ones, remove the slaps and this talk was more or less what happened back then. '...she didn't forgive me until three years have passed... I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Aunt Gertrude was not here, but I stubbornly kept on looking for her even after Uncle Pram had to move on...' a heavy sigh escaped his mouth at the thought. A person he's only ever heard of from his sewn family. Kanya told them about her, and they only told him a few years after adopting him. His drive to reach this place was unyielding, his determination driving him forward. And yet... even though he's looked for her for years, Travis never even got a glimpse of a person called Gertrude Salliv. It was almost like she never existed.

...

But that didn't matter at the moment.

"...better?" he asked softly.

"...no," she replied sharply before sniffling, a slight glint of hesitation in her tone. Her sobbing stopped as Aria slowly made a bit of distance from him. "...you... why? Why did you do all that?" she asked, her tone softer than before.

"...because of Chris."

"I... I know, Travis, but... why go to such an extent? You almost..." she didn't dare finish the sentence.

"...did you... did Nimmel let you listen to the recording?"

Aria nodded hesitantly. She swiped the remnants of the tears from her cheeks. She appeared to want to say something. Yet, her lips only managed to tremble a little. Her gaze dropped between them.

"I know. It must've been hard to listen to," he said slowly, reminding himself of the contents of his talk with Chris during the fight.

She clenched her fists as she hit the mattress lightly. "He's been... deceiving us all. I... I can't believe he's been able to do this."

'Having a backer must've helped him a lot.' thought Travis but didn't voice his thoughts.

"But... o-on the bright side, the reinforcements will surely deal with him and his group. I-I'm sure of that."

"Reinforcements?"

"Y-Yeah. When that guard who helped you alarmed Captain Nimmel, she immediately called for Enforcers from Guill."

"Enforcers?"

"Yeah," Aria nodded lightly. "They arrived soon before we stormed the place. Just in time, I suppose..."

"..."

"T-Travis... there's something more... I wanted to talk a-about with you," a subtle tremor tinged Aria's voice as she spoke again.

"Yeah?"

"I... when the Healers left after healing you, I've tried to check your HP... y-you know, to ensure that you were doing fine. You can never trust them... b-but..."

"...but?" Travis realized the direction of her thoughts. 'I didn't expect it so soon after waking up...'

"I... maybe it's better if I show you," Aria moved slightly away from him, planting her feet on the floor.

With purposeful steps, Aria crossed the room, her fingers brushing over objects as if searching for a specific one. Her fingers found purchase on a small table near the exit. On its surface sat a communication sphere, standing on a delicate pedestal, surrounded by scattered pieces of paper. The white-haired woman traced her hand along the wooden surface, her touch gentle yet searching. Within seconds, her hand closed around two small pieces of silvery metal, each forming cards that fit snugly in her palms. MIDs.

"I..." she started, taking her steps a bit closer. "I swear, I only wanted to check your HP. But... this happened," she said, tapping on the silver card in her right hand. As Travis expected, its displayed information appeared heavily distorted, to the point of it being unreadable. "A-And... it happened on this one, too," she continued, activating the other one.

"...what does it mean?"

"...I don't know," Aria replied hesitantly, her expression revealing uncertainty. "Something... seems to have affected your mana."

"Are you sure the MIDs themselves aren't malfunctioning?"

"They were my official MIDs for work, Travis. Malfunction is out of the question. It's more like an anomaly... perhaps beyond a MID's capabilities."

"...did you tell anyone about that?"

"No. I pushed it off for now. You staying alive and well took precedence."

"I see," he breathed a small sigh of relief.

"...you know something, don't you?" Aria asked a sudden question, her voice seeping with curiosity and suspicion but also hesitation.

"...what?" Travis's heart skipped a beat, leaving him momentarily breathless.

"I've seen that look on you before, Travis." the white-haired woman replied, frowning slightly. "It's as if you hold secrets. Like the time in Lodiz when you seemed unfazed by the news of a high-level vampire in Quear Mountains. I don't mean to accuse you, but it's hard not to think that you know more."

He remained silent, closing his eyes momentarily as though to think about her words.

"T-Travis... I get it. The events from yesterday must've broken your trust in the authorities. Believe me," Aria's voice softened, "they deeply shook mine. I'm not here to pressure you into revealing this to Nimmel or anyone else. I just want you to know that you can trust me. We've been through a lot together. I know you won't believe me easily, but I really want the best for you. Please, don't shut me out," her gaze held a hint of a plea, and her eyes were brimming with tears. "I'll do whatever I can to support you," Aria's voice carried a resolute determination, but also deep concern. She was most definitely sincere.

*Ting!*

[You have received a new message!]

He turned forward, looking toward the sudden notification with a mostly neutral look, doing his best to not give anything off lest Aria picked it up as well. Quickly reading its title, a small sigh escaped his mouth. "Can I have a moment to... gather my thoughts?" he turned to Aria.

"...alright. I'll prepare something to eat. You must be famished," She cleared her tears and tucked the MIDs into her pockets. Adjusting her blue shirt and white pants, Aria moved gracefully toward the room's entrance.

"Thank you."

...

[Be cautious.]

[You barely scraped through. Well, congrats on that.

However, consider your next steps carefully. The aftermath could have lasting consequences. Avoid hasty decisions you might regret later.]

'...Redion's right.' Travis conceded. 'I just barely got by, but it's hardly over. Authorities will undeniably ask questions. If it's Nimmel, I'll really have to pick my words carefully. And about Aria...' he raised his eyes. He wasn't sure what to think. On one hand, he felt worried that his class might be leaked. Yet, on the other... there was hope welling up in him.

'I can't have an MID, but... with her on my side, I will be able to bypass the guards...' he pondered. 'Chris probably has a way out. I will have better chances of keeping her safe.'

...

A sigh escaped his mouth. He decided to not ponder on this at the moment. His gaze escaped downward as he shuffled a little under the duvet.

Inspecting his clothes, he could confirm that they were different from what he wore to the fight. Right now, he had a large, gray tunic on his upper body while black pants covered his legs. However, what was completely amiss were the items he had.

'I'm not really sorry about the pebble or the perfume from Rulebreaker. But losing that pearl would be a big loss in the long run. Moreover... I should look for a way to get Thunder Blade back. The Shard of Nihhelar is a lost case, that much is obvious.'

Then, he relayed his thoughts toward the newest skill he obtained.

[Undying Will lvl.1

Persistent passive.

Combat stirs your body, allowing better regeneration.

*Regenerates 4HP/minute when fighting. For every 20% of max HP missing, this effect is 40% stronger.

*This regeneration ignores the normal mechanics.]

[**Acquisition conditions: Endurance of 100 or higher. Survive at least 5 distinct near-**** experiences since the class change.**]

'...huh. It's... actually good. Since natural regeneration is not immediate and resets when taking damage, anything that ignores that is amazing.' he nodded to himself. 'Too bad it only affects HP. Extra WP regeneration would be incomparable. At this rate, recovering to full will take me at least 2 weeks.'

...

'But... I never heard of this skill. With conditions like these, it should be at least somewhat known... how distinct does it mean?'

...

A defeated sigh escaped his mouth as the Apostle roused his muscles. It was pointless to keep wondering. He moved to the side of the bed, slowly planting his feet on the wooden boards beneath. A sensation of cold sent a slight shiver through his body.

As a minute or so passed, Aria entered the room. Her emerald eyes traveled to his position, and he could notice the faintest smile appear on her face. She was happy to see him fine. Her light steps came closer. She handed him a small plate of bread and a glass of a black, steaming liquid.

"I... I only have coffee," Aria's voice held a tinge of apology.

Travis accepted the cup with a grateful nod. "It's alright, thank you," he took a tentative sip, the warmth spreading through him as he savored the bitter aroma. The fragrance of bread and meat filled his senses, and his stomach rumbled. It had been over a day since his last meal. Without thinking much, he took a large bite. Looking at Aria, he saw that she quickly skittered to the kitchen and returned with a second set of a plate and a cup of coffee, for herself no doubt.

...

Aria settled herself right next to him and began eating as well. Her eyes bore traces of worry and uncertainty as she patiently watched him whilst quickly consuming the bread.

As both of them finished, she put the things to the side and looked at him.

"So... can you tell me anything?" she asked with a tender voice.

"...yeah," Travis nodded. "But I want you to promise to not speak of it to anyone. It's... very important to me."

"I promise. Then, tell me everything. Don't hold back," she implored. Her emerald eyes locked onto his with an intensity that conveyed both vulnerability and fierce determination. She was bracing herself for whatever he would tell her.

...

He took a deep breath. Unlike when relaying the events of the 17th of March to Nimmel, Travis barely felt any nervousness. Contrary to what it felt like when he was speaking of his class with Leaf, the man could easily feel that Aria was listening and processing all the information with a bit of reserve, yet with a glint of eagerness to believe his words. Compared to when he spoke of RALS with Violet, he felt no foreboding feelings. He was... free. A surge of catharsis swept over him, a rare sensation that seemed to cleanse his spirit as he unburdened his truths, unchained by any constraints of RALS or his cautiousness.

He wanted her to understand. She deserved to hear the truth.

-About 15 minutes later-

Rebecca's brown hair cascaded down her back, the morning breeze ruffling it gently as she gathered the strands into a simple ponytail. Her movements were mechanical, a stark contrast to the weariness evident in the slightly uneven rhythm of her steps. Fatigue had etched itself onto her features, leaving a faint shadow beneath her eyes that the sunlight failed to reach. She attempted to mask her exhaustion, but the facade was not lasting. The allure of stepping into a nearby inn and surrendering to sleep, even for a short while, was becoming harder to resist.

A barely suppressed yawn escaped her full lips, and her eyes scanned the bustling marketplace. Life went on as usual, the people weaving through the stalls, ignorant of the midnight events. Despite the odd glances thrown at the Enforcers substituting the guards, the citizens chose not to pry. Frustration welled up within Rebecca; it was maddening how unaware they were. It was infuriating just how complicated the situation was right under the surface. She paused, leaning against a wall, arms crossed, and released a sigh of vexation.

'How the hell did I allow for this to happen... they even got to Huran... I thought that guy was too dense to accept a bribe... This whole situation is a disaster, all because of one man…' her lips curled into a grimace as she continued her internal lament.

Resuming her stride, gray eyes scanned the streets, noticing the Enforcers going on and about their business of keeping order. Even though they were a rank below her, unease stirred in her at their formidable presence. 'I wish this were just a dreadful dream.' she thought, her steps faltering before an entrance. Aria's apartment was either on the second or third floor, she couldn't remember exactly. Without hesitation, the dark-skinned woman entered, beginning her ascent on the stairs.

Suddenly, a woman's voice, sharp and intense, pierced the air from upstairs. The muffled words carried echoes of anger and devastated emotions. Rebecca's arched eyebrow conveyed her surprise, but she continued her ascent up the stairs. Each click of her boots on the wooden steps resonated faintly, an audible precursor to her arrival.

"I hate you! You should've died!" the voice rang clearer now, Aria's fury punctuated by a hint of vulnerability.

"...?" Nimmel raised an eyebrow, her gray eyes glimmering with confusion that danced within. Her slightly pointy ears twitched slightly. 'She's really thrashing out at him. I could expect as much. But it does mean he's awake. Spares me the waiting game.'

Purposeful steps brought her to Aria's door. As Rebecca's hand brushed against the metal handle, she could hear the sound of glass shattering coming from the inside. Simultaneously, a primal roar seemed to emanate from within. Deciding against waiting, Captain Nimmel pressed the handle, entering the kitchen part. One hand raised and ready to cast a restraining spell, she advanced, closing the door behind her.

But chaos awaited her. Aria stormed into the kitchen, her red face streaked with tears and her sobs unchecked. Her emerald eyes, red-rimmed, met Rebecca's gray gaze, and she swiped at her face, her attempt at composure falling apart.

"...is he awake?" the taller woman asked, feigning obliviousness to what she'd heard.

Aria's lips moved, but no words emerged. She turned, her steps leading her to the right and into the bathroom. Her departure marked the arrival of the dark-skinned half-elf into the space that was charged with raw emotion.

Immediately, Rebecca noticed some shards of glass lying on the ground amidst what looked like grounds of coffee, a shattered remnant of the previous outburst. Seated on the edge of the bed was the man, Travis Salliv, with golden eyes fixed on her. Regret seemed to ripple beneath the surface, a hint of sorrow in his gaze.

"Do you feel alright, Mister Salliv?" her voice carried a hint of exhaustion veiled beneath her determination, gray eyes locked onto his golden gaze. 'Let's just get through this quickly.'

"I suppose," Travis answered, his voice lacking some of the liveliness he had shown the day before.

The captain took a steadying breath, steeling herself. "Mister Salliv... I know this situation has affected you deeply. The Silvana authorities extend our apologies. We will ensure those responsible are held accountable, beginning with Sergeant Innel. We will also provide adequate compens--"

"Captain Nimmel," the man suddenly cut her off. An eerie feeling traveled down the half-elf's spine as she felt quite a bit of pressure being exerted over her. "An apology has no meaning to me," he continued, his stare emanating anger as he clenched his fists. "Because of Chris, I almost died. Actually, no. It was because of the negligence of the authorities that this situation was allowed in the first place. I was only able to make it out because of Clint. What do you have to say about that?" he asked, his voice seeping with a wave of determined anger. For a brief moment, Rebecca felt... small in the presence of the short man.

Nimmel's eyebrow twitched, as she felt her control over the conversation slipping in an instant. "If you had informed us sooner, we could have intervened," she countered.

"You saying those words proves that you have no idea what was happening right under your nose, Captain," he replied sharply. "For two years no less. Did you know that a few guards tried to tell you? Did you listen? Did you care?" he raised an eyebrow, but there was no need for Rebecca to answer. "You are trying to blame me, but this is entirely your negligence that allowed this situation."

She bristled at his accusation. "I did my best--"

"Your best? From what I've heard, your 'best' is delegating to your subordinates, neglecting your duties. Allowing Aria to don the uniform when she wasn't qualified. Making her do your duties," his words struck her like a blow.

A disquieting realization washed over her. 'He knows about that too?!' her heart skipped a beat at the sudden revelation that this man, a seemingly random companion to Aria, held knowledge beyond her expectations. His confidence had grown, fueled by his rising anger.

"Mister Salliv, what you are talking about bears no significance to your predicament from this night," she attempted to redirect the conversation. "Let us not stray from the topic. I came in here to ask you about your conflict with Sergeant Innel."

"You already have the recording, don't you?" he asked whilst getting up in a somewhat valiant stance, ready to stand his ground. As if he was challenging her.

"Having it doesn't mean knowing the tale, Mister Salliv." Rebecca riposted lightly. "Sergeant Innel refused to give any insight on how the conflict started. And we both know you didn't go into that ring voluntarily."

"Alright," Travis nodded lightly. "I'll tell you if that's what you want. However, I want something first."

"...what would that be?" she asked, a glint of curiosity overshadowing her caution.

"You spoke you would give me an adequate compensation. I'd like to first hear of it."

'I need to tread carefully...' "We are looking for the items on the list you provided to Private Ylan. Although searching is taking some time, we believe that most of your items (and the money) will be in your hands by this evening."

"...and?"

"We will provide you with a new MID, free of charge, given that your last one broke. We will also not pursue you for going about without one lately."

The pause hung in the air, the room holding a delicate balance between expectation and doubt.

She waited for his reaction, sensing the tension in the room escalating. The unspoken exchange seemed to thicken the air around them.

"...that's it?" he asked, his voice betraying a sense of incredulity. "That's 'adequate' to putting my life in jeopardy because of your neglect? A piece of breaking trash?"

Nimmel's frustration swelled, her authority challenged by the man. "Mister Salliv, a life can't be quantified with material possessions."

"Shallow thinking," he countered. "Your actions almost cost me mine. If that's the most you can do, 'negligence' can be swapped for 'ineptitude'."

The room seemed to shrink as their clash intensified. "Mister Salliv," Nimmel's eyebrow twitched as she felt the insult hit her a tad too deeply. "Please watch your words. I may be lenient to you right now, but I AM a Captain of the authority service."

"Then act like one. Or is your position also managed by your subordinates?" the smaller man did not relent from his position, his gaze fierce. It looked almost as if he was prepared to jump her.

'You...' Rebecca gritted her teeth, channeling a bit of magic into her hands. Strands of mana formed, ready to be shot and restrain the man. "I am warning you, Mister Salliv. Do not cross this line, or you will be held responsible for it."

"Is it really crossing a line?" he asked, his tone betraying the rhetorical nature of the question. "Then let me stomp on it on the way. Because there's one last thing I wanted to give you my piece of mind about."

"...?" 'He's... not backing down? Is he crazy?' Nimmel felt her hands shake slightly, noticing that her attempt at intimidation was failing tremendously. 'I'm nearly level 150, yet... I'm the one being intimidated?' her lips twitched nervously at the realization. Just... who was this man? Was he really not afraid?

"When I and Aria disappeared, we went through literal hell to get back alive. And yet, when she reported it to you, you shunned her. When I came back from personal business, I expected to find anything except for the wreck of a person who welcomed me. And you want to know the best part? I was the only one who consoled her. She showed you all clear signs of what that place did to her, but none of you reacted. For a month, you kept bothering her with work even though she could not sleep at night. She had rather turned to ME, a stranger, than her own colleagues. It took ME relaying the events for you to believe her. You ruined her mental state, all because you didn't want to add some more work to yourself."

Rebecca was unable to answer, feeling her hands shake with anger and... remorse. She didn't want to admit it, but this man hit the nail as cleanly on its head as it was possible. Yet... she wasn't going to just stay there. "Mister Salliv. You are but a commoner. You cannot imagine the extent of work a Captain has to do." she glared at him.

"'Officer Captain, called 'Captain' for simplicity. The 4th position in order of ascension in workings of Forna's internal authorities'," Travis replied without missing a beat. Seemingly subconsciously, he spread his legs ever so slightly and tied his hands behind his back, almost as if he were a teacher scolding a student. "'It is a promotion from 'Inspector' rank, and the first Officer rank that oversees an area instead of individual cases. Their tasks include watching over their subordinate Inspectors, handling promotions up to 'Inspector' rank, and working with 'Militia Captains' to handle all disputes happening between Militia and Officer forces in the city where they're stationed. Moreover, they handle the internal matters concerning surrounding areas, as well as communication between Captains of neighboring cities.'. Cited from 'Forna's Authority Forces, Shortened Edition'. Should I continue?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Though barely visible, a faint flicker of victory danced in his golden orbs. He knew he had her.

Travis's sharp question hung in the air, his gaze locking onto Nimmel's with a mixture of challenge and expectation. The room was filled with a charged silence, broken only by the sound of their breathing.

Nimmel's facade of authority wavered as she processed Travis's words. She clenched her jaw, her fingers twitching slightly as her magic-imbued hand remained poised. A mix of anger and realization flickered in her gray eyes, and she found herself grappling with a surge of emotions she hadn't anticipated.

"You..." Nimmel began, her voice losing some of its assertiveness. She hesitated, her gaze briefly dropping as if to gather her thoughts. When she looked up again, there was a shift in her demeanor. A hint of resignation and humility crept into her expression, faint yet visible. "You are correct, Mister Salliv. But you are in no position to be schooling me," she added.

"...very well," the man let out a light sigh, and nearly immediately, some of the pressure he emanated dissipated; he appeared to be calming down. "Let us finish this talk quickly. Here is my idea of compensation: By the evening, I want every last item from the list that Clint has. For every one you don't find, 30 gold pieces."

Rebecca frowned in an instant as she took a step back, visibly aghast. "Per item? That is just too much."

"Hence it'll be a good incentive to find them all," he riposted. "Get me them, and I'll tell you what you want."

'This man... I can't believe I allowed myself to be driven into a corner... I'm too tired to deal with this.' "So be it, Mister Salliv. I will return here in the evening. I would advise not straying away from this place," she nodded her head a little and relaxed her hand, letting the magic disperse.

Travis appeared to breathe a small huff. In an invisible motion, he relaxed the fingers of his hands. The stare of his golden eyes, however, remained tensely aimed at Rebecca, awaiting what she was going to do.

The dark-skinned half-elf took a quick step backward before turning on her heels. Her gray eye met his presumptuous gaze as she stopped midway. Her heart was beating in a hasty rhythm. The sleepy haze was still present but for a brief moment, Nimmel was able to see through it, casting a quick skill. To an observant watcher, her eye would've glimmered with a faint, blue outline, present for but a fraction of a second. Immediately after that, she walked out of the room. Stopping briefly by the exit door, her gaze escaped to the closed room within which Aria had been present up until now. Hearing that the woman's sobs had died off by now, the half-elf sighed. Rebecca felt a bit of unease stir inside of her again. She left her subordinate's home behind and descended the stairs.

'How can his presence be this strong if he were just a level 1 last month? Moreover, how can his magic rival Aria's so easily? What... is his class?'

-Meanwhile-

Travis felt his blood pressure go down steadily as his heated exchange with Captain Nimmel ended. Her hair swayed in a pendulum motion as she turned away from him completely, her steps going away. As a few extra seconds passed, he heard the sound of the door clicking - a clear sign that she left him and Aria alone.

Suddenly, the man felt his legs give, and he slumped onto the bed. His mind was slightly fuzzy as he did his best to fight off the wave of adrenaline.

'Holy... I really thought I was done for in there.' he thought, a hand clutching his chest as he tried to calm down his raging heart. His breathing turned to light panting. He swallowed his saliva slightly audibly, barely able to contain his nervousness. 'I never expected Jocelyn's nagging about reading that brick to be useful.' he almost chuckled, feeling his head becoming light for but a moment.

Suddenly, a bell's ringing sounded.

[Quest 'To battle with authorities (4)' is finished.]

'Good. At least RALS is happy with the results. Though playing a tough guy was rather unnerving...' the man thought as he began slightly relaxing. 'Her expressions and reactions were actually worth it a little.'

...

A heavy sigh ensued as he relaxed slightly. His work was still far from done.

[You have received a new quest!]

'Dammit. Not a moment's respite, really?' he groaned at the thought, summoning the newest panel.

[Quest: To battle with authorities! (5)]

[The situation looks like it's about to become stable. However, the information you've gathered suggests that Chris may have something to do with the situation in Icla. If you try hard enough, you might squeeze something out of him.

Objective: Interrogate Chris.

Optional: Successfully extract some vital information from him.

Time remaining: 11:11:40

Failure penalty: Lower your level by 15. Lower all stats by 20. Lose 2 random skills.

Rejection penalty: ****]

'Interrogate him? How will I even get to him? I'm sure he's under a lock and key, probably with other guards.' the thought sent a wave of unease and nervousness down his back. It tickled him at the very base of his stomach, the cold hold of dread holding him forcefully. But... surely, there must've been a way, no?

Travis only had RALS for about a month, but he's had several quests aside from the daily ones. Every single one could be completed. There consistently was a way to strive through. The optional conditions were usually what elevated the difficulty. Therefore... his eyes darted to the table nearby. Aria's communication sphere was standing on a small pedestal, its blue insides motionless as though frozen. A thought crossed the man's mind to use it, followed by a gaze toward the arch that led out of the room.

A bit of guilt welled up in his heart as he walked over to the room's entrance. Staring at the bathroom door across the kitchen, he could only imagine what the woman behind the wood felt like. Slowly, his steps approached, quiet yet bearing a great weight.

Reaching out with his hand, he softly knocked on the surface.

"Aria?" he asked, leaning on the door a little.

Only silence answered him.

"...hey, I'm... I wanted to say that I'm sorry."

...

"I know my words don't mean much, but I... I never meant for any of this to happen," he said, a thick knot of emotions swirling up his throat. "I promise."

No voice answered him, but the man could've sworn he heard her stepping closer to the door.

"I need to use your communication sphere. There's something I have to do."

"...just..." Aria's voice sounded weak as she barely could **** herself to quietly speak in response. "Just... leave me alone."

The man closed his eyes momentarily with a heavy sigh. "I will come back in the evening. Please stay safe."

"..."

He turned around. A momentary thought crossed his mind, telling him to send a <Suggestion> toward her mind, to try and make her calm down at least a little bit. However, just as it appeared, the thought was squashed into oblivion, a quiet voice deep within him telling him to give her some time. She already had enough on her mind.

-About 2 hours later-

The dark interior of Chris's cell was cold and certainly uninviting. The stone laid in the place was uneven and matte. A lack of window and steel door to the place made the air stale and smelly with his sweat.

The huge man was sitting in a chair, cuffed to it completely with enchanted cuffs that made his strength as low as it was possible. All four of his limbs were done similarly, fully immobilizing the man. Yet, despite his circumstances, the man scarcely felt bad about his situation.

Seconds ticked by slowly, only measured by his steady heartbeat. The flickering light of a torch under the door's line served as the only way to entertain his moments.

However, he did not yet know what awaited him. Captain Nimmel wasn't kind enough to provide him with a rundown. Still, Chris felt a bit of inner pride. A smirk entered his mouth.

'Fools. You do not know who you dealt with. Commander definitely already knows of the situation. In just a week, I'll be set free. And once I am, I'll crush that Salliv guy into dust. Not a shard of his bones will be found.'

Chris's inner thoughts abruptly ended when he heard someone approach his cell. Was it Nimmel? Or time for a meal? He wasn't sure.

However, his questions were quickly answered as the lock on the door was undone. The door swung on its hinges with a low creak, a burst of light blinding him.

A short figure walked inside, quickly closing the door behind itself. Unable to focus his eyes, Chris studied the newcomer, seeing that the man appeared to be much smaller than most of the guards he knew. His attire was out of place for a guard or an Enforcer, consisting of a gray tunic and black pants, both of which appeared slightly too large for him.

But what dragged Chris's attention in an instant were his eyes. Those golden eyes...!

"You?" the sitting man asked, disbelief in his voice. "How did you get through the Enforcers? Did Nimmel give you a position?"

"She doesn't know I'm here," Travis answered somewhat sharply.

"Hah... so you've come to finish me off."

"No. I want answers."

"Hahaha..." Chris let out a chuckle. "And you think I'll comply?"

"Heh. Am I a bad person for saying I was hoping you'd say that?"

"...what?" the sitting man raised an eyebrow. Scanning over Travis, he immediately noticed how his mouth appeared to bear a small smirk on its side. The pressure oozing from him appeared to grow as he approached with slow, deliberate steps.

Finally, the Apostle stopped when Chris was just within hand's reach.

"You know... I've always questioned the morality of this. It always felt... wrong. But..." he halted for a moment, pulling out a small, silvery dagger. "I think this is the first time I'm about to enjoy it."