"So, you might have your doubts about me and my intentions but trust me when I say that I only want to help. And the only way I could help you is for you to talk to me about it, okay? So, let me ask you again, how are you feeling?"
Ingrid narrowed her eyes, still stubbornly refusing to lower her guard.
"I said I'm fine. Just because you're that famous Bertrand doesn't mean you have gained my trust so easily. Instead, it just makes me feel more suspicious as to why I even arrived at such a prestigious place in the first place. Were you the one who brought me here? As I've said, my memories ended in the Miasma Forest so how is it possible that I've woken up here?"
Solomon looked at her with a conflicted gaze. Then, after a short pause, he finally found the right words to use.
"You were… wounded and I decided to take you in. I had you patched up properly with all the medicines present in this land. You really frightened us there, huh? Sleeping for three days straight, barely moving or even breathing... I was so worried I actually had to have numerous physicians monitor you every hour just so that they could inform me if anything bad would ever happen. Whatever sickness you had, it wasn't something that can be healed with magic nor something that can be easily cured with medicine either. Heck, I had to search every book I had in my library for any medicine that I could try and give just so you could wake up again. Heavens, you really had us worried, Inna."
"Inna?"
Ingrid pointed out with a confused tone.
Who was Inna?
Or maybe… he just mispronounced her name?
With eyes as wide as saucers, Solomon finally realized his mistake and he unconsciously clamped his mouth shut.
Heavens, he messed up!
His exhaustion must be taking a toll on him already that he can no longer control what he's saying.
"A-apologies, I got confused. You are called Ingrid, yes? I knew someone else that was called Ingrid as well but she… she preferred to be called Inna. Sorry, it was a slip of tongue coming from my exhaustion."
Hearing such an interesting discovery, Ingrid had her curiosity peaked and so she couldn't help but ask.
"She had the same name as me? Where is this Inna you speak of now? It's not every day I find someone with the same name."
Solomon held a somber smile as he stared at her with a strange expression.
"Let's just say she's… away for now. Hopefully, she'll come back healthy and unharmed. I'm beginning to miss her abusive behavior."
Ingrid gave Solomon a look that held a mix of disbelief and confusion.
"Abusive? A woman with an abusive behavior is quite… strange. And much stranger for one to miss such behavior. I'd hate having to be mistaken for such a disrespectful and savage monster."
Solomon chuckled at her statement.
"Fret not for it is not what you think. It seems I was misunderstood."
Solomon released a series of chuckles again.
"The word 'abusive' must've meant a different meaning given its different tone in your tongue. The word I am using is used in the context closer to a 'playful' tone rather than 'spiteful.' So, don't worry about her sullying the sacred name, Ingrid. She just has a tendency to playfully hit people when she becomes excited or active. But it would've been harmless if it weren't for the fact that her raw strength alone rivals that of ten fully trained men."
Ingrid raised her eyebrows in surprise but she hid it well with a prideful expression.
"Well, that's one thing we have in common. But it's not a surprise since Ingrid is truly the name of the strong, after all."
Solomon nodded in agreement and was about to talk about Inna when suddenly, he felt a distortion in his barrier.
Since he had his office protected from any forms of teleportation without his permission, he could feel the barrier around his office distort when someone casts a teleportation spell with his office as its destination or when someone from his office wishes to teleport somewhere. Usually, he can figure out who it was from the signature magical particles the user holds. And so, to let them enter or leave, he alters the barrier so that it can let those particles in or out while still preventing others from going in or out.
Hence, he immediately knew that it was Granny Zai, and so temporarily lifted the barrier for her to enter.
In a second, Granny Zai appeared beside Ingrid and bowed briefly.
It scared Ingrid to the bone, making her jump sideways into a fighting stance.
Granny Zai wasn't phased by her reaction as she slowly walked towards Solomon to offer the black spatial pouch with both hands.
Solomon thanked Granny Zai briefly before burying his arm inside the pouch.
Moments later, Solomon finally finished taking out the last of her armor and weapons and he gestured for Ingrid to come closer so that she could get them.
With the excitement of finally getting her armor back, Ingrid didn't seem to mind coming closer. And so, she hurriedly made her way to Solomon's table where much of her armor rested.
"That's the last of them. And of course, your identification card as well. Ingrid Lidden, huh. The last name feels quite familiar."
Solomon stared at Ingrid curiously as he handed her the small card.
Ingrid looked deeply at the name written on it and couldn't help but grip it with a bit more force. Her eyes grew as cold as her voice when she brushed Solomon off.
"It must be your imagination. There's no way that the name of a common adventurer would ever pique the interest of a man of high standing such as yourself."
Solomon hummed as he observed and mulled over her reaction.
It certainly seemed like a big deal for her.
Perhaps her name might unlock the answers he badly needed?