Morning.
Rexar is lying on a pillar near the tower watching the scene before him pass by until he sees a trail of stars flow in from the entrance. He follows it out to the tower and sees Arnwall surrounded by them as if guarding him. Rexar follows him inside as he heads to the treasury nervous of what John said.
John: I'm going to send a friend to you to help you. Before you open the door, just whisper this to yourself.
Arnwall: (whisper) .... Red said to ask for your help, Rexar. The stars will tell you the rest.
He opens the door. The treasurer, Valura Clouds, was throwing documents and paperwork all over the room. The ambassador and his secretary are hiding behind their chairs.
Clouds: GYAAAH!!! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU BLOCK HEADS?! YOU CAN'T FIND THEM?! ANY OF THEM?!
The ambassador looks to Arnwall.
Ambassador: S-stop her!! Don't just stand there!
Without a second thought he rushes to grab her and makes her drop everything while she still screams at the top of her lungs. He sees Basell at the corner of his eye behind her desk shaking and bleeding. She finally stops moving, but not screaming.
Clouds: let go of me!! Let go right now, you ugly bastard!
Arnwall grips her closer in anger from that insult. But he controls his emotions.
The stars leave Arnwall and got to Rexar, who immediately knows what to do next. She struggles again and hits the desk, scaring Basell from underneath and out the room. The ambassador and secretary follow after.
Arnwall: madam, calm down. You'll hurt yourself.
She continues screaming and kicking until she hears a tare. She stops moving and looks down to see her stocking caught on the desk. Her leg was bleeding.
Arnwall: see? I told you, madam.
She punches him in the face, making him bite his lip. He doesn't loses his grip though.
Clouds: Why.... Why won't you go away? Why are you here, Arnwall?!
He only looks at her as blood drips from his lip. He continues to hold back his anger. He knew from the start she didn't like him or trust him. It made him wonder why she bothers to keep him around. She finally stops tensing and falls limp in his arms.
Arnwall:.... Are you calm now, madam?
She doesn't answer. She turns around and hugs him. It shocked him a little, but after hesitating a little, he hugs back.
Clouds: Why did you know he was going to marry that whore?
His anger grows, but he remains expressionless, knowing she was trying to get under his skin.
Arnwall:.... She's not a whore, madam. She is my friend, and the main reason I am here now. Please sit, madam. I'll treat that.
She does as he says.
Clouds:.... Why can't I get you? The only one of all of you guards. I got to them easily. Zao, I got to him the minute I mention her name to him just today. All of them I have at the palm of my hands. But you... why do you remain hollow to me? Why don't you react?!
Arnwall looks up at her as he cleans her wound with a clean cloth.
Arnwall: should I? I hear the same things you say since childhood. "Zao is a good boy." "Zao is very handsome and brave." "Zao this. Zao that." Zao. Zao. Zao. I'm with him almost every day of my life. And when I'm not it's "What's wrong with Glace?" "Such a beautiful name. Too bad he's not cute at all." "Why is he here?" " I don't want to see Arnwall today. He always makes my day feel bad." "Why is that bastard, Arnwall patrolling today? I thought Zao was coming today." It's nothing new to me. Your insults are nothing but a puff of air to be honest, like everyone else. The only thing I must do is my job as a guard. My emotions should mean nothing to you, madam.
Clouds:..... nothing to me?
Arnwall: I'm done. I came in to report as always.
He stands and she grabs his arm.
Clouds: I know what I say gets under your skin everyday. I know when I talk about Zao you cringe on the inside! I know you hate it when I treat you like some low class bimbo from the slumps!! Don't you dare tell me my words are nothing to you!!
His gaze meets hers. All she saw was the same hardened expression he always shows her. Empty, uninterested, and uncaring. It was as if he didn't see her at all, and she couldn't figure out why. This frightened her to the depth of her heart.
Clouds:... Fine. Get out of my sight. And don't come back.
Arnwall: Then I will excuse myself.
He walks out and closes the door behind him. The secretary and Basell still stood nearby. Basell stood in amaze. The secretary's eyes begging for some secret. Arnwall only walks on. All the while no one notices Rexar run off with a vile of red liquid. Later Zao wonders the hall as if he were dying inside. He sees Arnwall walking from the treasury. The secretary following close by. For some reason, this sight made him chuckle. His heart soon felt lighter.
Zao: You got a mouse tailing you.
Arnwall: Eh?
He looks at Zao then to the secretary.
Secretary: Heh!?
Arnwall: the hell? Aren't you suppose to be with the ambassador?
Secretary: .... Uh... well. I... Just thought you were so brave at the treasury. I-I just wanted to know your secret.
Arnwall: cut the crap, man. What do you want?
Zao: he looks like he's got a crush on you.
Arnwall: Not funny, general.
Secretary: my god you're even friends with the most terrifying man in town.
Zao: Te!? Terrifying?!
Arnwall: Yeah. He is kind of scary with that thing on his head all the time, huh?
Zao: what?! I am?!
Secretary: Now I really need to know! How do you do it?!
Arnwall: hm? What? What I do?
Secretary: How do you deal with her bullshit?!
Arnwall: Ah... I don't. I've only been honest with her since the first day I was assigned to her station.
Secretary: .... Eh?
Zao: Yeah... I definitely can't.
Arnwall: to her, I don't really have anything to lose but my life. It's just me I guess.
Zao: Yup. Glace always has a way with people.
Arnwall leaves, ignoring Zao's statement.
Zao: it's kind of scary how he can get people to open up to him. Like a book reading itself to him.
Secretary: uwah~... you should have seen it earlier! That woman gave him a hug after she got done losing it in the treasury! That crazy woman! And he just brushed her off like a speck of dust! I thought their roles of master and servant had switched at that moment.
Zao: whoa... what?
Zao looks back to Arnwall as he continues down the hall. He then sees Rexar for a second trot behind him and disappear. Arnwall turns the corner. Zao rubs his eyes confused.