The three sat in silence, Yossarian casually taking sips of his tea before grimacing every time, the mysterious person looking around in a casual gaze, Georgia blankly staring at the two. Georgia's second cousin – Deamon, Georgia believing to be his name – was still hiding behind the rocking stool. The frail nature of her uncles family – besides for him - was the one reason she dreaded the coming trip and to see it in person again, filled her with annoyance.
"So how did you figure me out?" Yossarian questioned the mysterious figure, putting down his teacup.
"Truthfully I didn't. As you said previously us secretariat's that operate the local party cell's don't typically worry about the interviewing travelers. However, this isn't any typical village." They said, moving their thumb up, indicating upwards, Georgia guessing towards the Titan towering over the small village. "And as a result of this villages peculiar nature, I built up a bit of an interest towards it. So when an informer told me that a young girl and a simple drunk – with an interesting appearance – turned up, I was rather intrigued. And when I confirmed your appearance myself- well let us just say it wasn't hard to guess your actual identity, being dressed in enchanted gear and all."
Yossarian sent his head back laughing, "Very perceptive. I didn't think the runes were rather obvious to the common eye."
Georgia studied the two incomplete obliviousness, her mind swirling on the word's 'enchanted' and 'runes', the image of his morte entering her mind. She inspected Yossarian's clothes, focused on finding these runes. Her eye's were unable to find anything abnormal on his coat, so they drifted to his shoes. That's where she noticed a small glint of light, that quickly receded back into a small etched in shape of two lines intersecting each other.
"My turn," They said. "Why did you let me in knowing I'm a part of the party, knowing that the Spiritual Reformation Party and those in your profession don't get along?"
Yossarian tossed back his head as if in thought before replying, "Firstly, you basically invited yourself into a hostage position, which would be rather desirable in case you had the place surrounded."
"And Second?" They asked, nodding their head at his response.
"Secondly, You said you had a request for me, and that picked my interest. Is that satisfactory for you?"
The Secretariat sat silently before responding, "For the moment. Now what I want to know, are you a witch?" The Secretariat asked.
"That's a rather tough question to answer," Yossarian responded, his smile vanishing.
"And why's that"
"While I am trained in the craft, I've- I've forbidden myself from ever practicing them for private reasons." Yossarian answered dryly, a sombre tone in his voice. The secretariat seemed perplexed for a moment before standing up and moving to the door.
"Then I believe our business is concluded," They barked in a harsh manner.
"Sit back down," Yossarian responded, taking another sip of his tea.
"If you're retired then our business is done, I don't need someone who is no help." They retorted, reaching for the cottage doorknob.
"Sit back down, I never said I wouldn't help," Yossarian yelled, winking towards Georgia. They stood at the door for a moment before sitting back down.
"Now whilst I'm prohibiting myself from using witchcraft, I'm still trained in alchemy. Thus still be of use to you." Yossarian told, his common smile returning. "So spill."
The Secretariat again waited in a moment of thought before replying, "My name is Ruby, Ruby Restrotte." They took their glasses off, revealing light blue eye's, Georgia realizing them to be a female. "The town has had repeated cases of missing person reports over the years, most of these cases being young adults aged between 16 to 20. I've tried to ask the locals for witnesses and information surrounding the cases, yet they were rather tight-lipped around the disappearances."
"That's not unusual, sometimes villages have high cases of disappearance due to –" Yossarian commented, hands swirling in the air looking for the word, "Divine reasons. What makes this case different?"
Ruby narrowed her eye's before responding, "Because this village isn't the first original site. Further north, nearer to the base of the Titan, is where the original village stood. It's been abandoned for the most part of three generations."
"Then how is it related to this issue?" Yossarian questioned.
"It's related due to the conflict during the time." Ruby stood up, strolling around the living room, past Deamon's cowering statue.
"Back when the Spiritual Reformation Party was still in its initial phases, and these lands were owned by a different ruler. The party conducted an experiment of sorts. An experiment that is rather secret and sadly, I wasn't able to find anything about it. However, from what I heard from some locals in other towns and villages in the area, the people in the old village were apparently massacred. Many fled the site and rebuilt upon these lands, the others –" She trailed off, the message received by everyone at the table.
"An experiment involving the slaughter of civilians, never a good sign." Yossarian comment, hand on chin, deep in thought.
"Indeed, however from what I could get from my informants is that something unexpected happened. Something that continues to haunt the people of this town to this very day. Thoughts?"
"Nothing good, but it certainly narrows down the target. Now I'm even more certain that the Titan is involved within this. The random slaughter of many for an experiment may be a ritualistic sacrifice towards this petrified deity for a Boone of power of sorts."
"Doubt it. Chairman Pan dislikes the concept of using Titan power for party reasons." Ruby retorted, Georgia noting to be similarly in thought.
"Doesn't mean those bastard noble witch and alchemist families of yours wouldn't do something behind his back. Hell, I wouldn't even be surprised if the godling knew of it and just didn't care." Yossarian answered back distastefully. Scorn obvious in his voice.
Ruby stayed silent, Georgia believing her to acknowledge the plausibility behind Yossarian's point, a slight bit of embarrassment worn on her face.
Georgia heard the sounds of voices and steps coming from outside the house, noticing the other's too lost in thought to hear it, went towards a window next to the door. She saw Her uncle and aunt discussing beyond the porch. Her uncle looked towards the parked truck, said something to her aunt, whilst moving towards the door.
"Yossarian." She said, looking back towards her lost in thought companion, "Yossarian!"
He looked back at her now, expressing both shock and confusion, "My uncle's coming now."
He didn't seem to realise what She said before the door was pushed open, revealing a shagging looking man, with a rough brown muddy beard, bald head and a heavy scowl on his face. His dirty, worn overalls were wet by a sudden downpour of rain on the outside.
"Ahhh, well Ruby it seems our debate well need to be scheduled for another time," Yossarian said, standing up, arm stretching up towards Georgia's uncle, "Yossarian, nice to meet you."
He stared at his hand, looked at Ruby then back at Yossarian. "Greg, nice ta meecha," He replied, in a gruff voice, walking past him and towards Deamon and putting a hand on his shaking head. He glared back towards Ruby, "Get out you rat."
Ruby didn't respond and merely exited the cottage in silence.
"So Yoss, mine explaining what you're doing in my house?"
Georgia knew her uncle fairly well. He was a practical and plain farmer. Yet one wrong move, She glanced towards his thick and bulging arms, and he would kill Yossarian.