"Why are we still here? We found Wanxi, so we can go, right?" Lulac asked while leaning against the stony wall, scratching the back of his head. He was bothered by the fact that they had to stay here, the judgement of the man inside unknown until he emerged. This question was aimed at Bie, who sat without a trace of restlessness and was calm and collected.
Bie's eyelashes fluttered as his normally cheerful smile shifted, his lips threatening to return to a flat line. His eyelashes fluttered as he brought his right hand over his mouth, his beauty becoming even more unnerving underneath the flickering light. It was as if an otherworldly being had descended down to bewitch mortals in one breath, and pass judgement on them with the other, the appearance of it so alien in allure that it could only come from a separate plane of existence.
"Do you think so? These Demon Hunters are quite powerful, and I think they have the means to track us if they really wanted to." Bie laughed a bit as he said this, mesmerizing Wanxi who watched his every move closely. Lulac revealed an exasperated look at this answer, wanting to hear something else.
"Fine, then. Why are YOU okay with staying here? We are restricted and can't do anything we want!" Lulac's sheepish look turned even more meek in his befuddlement, questions still based on the fact that Bie was cool and reserved in this moment. It simply didn't make sense to him.
"What do you want to do, then?" Bie looked straight at Lulac, politely waiting for an answer. Lulac stopped as his face turned blank, his eyes opening wide as he thought about it for a moment. He soon realized that there was no real use in arguing with Bie on this, though, as the boy before him would simply disarm his argument each time. Lingering on the silence for a bit, Bie continued.
"I don't have a problem with following orders if they'll benefit me, and I see no other beneficial options as of now. There should be a reason why the Path placed us in these positions, after all. What's more, these hunters should have the information we need in order to find things to Graft." He didn't bring up the thought he held in the forefront of his mind, though. The fact that he wanted to hunt down demons while he was here.
Bie pulled his hand back down to his lap as silence resumed once more. Lulac simply shook his head, disagreeing with their predicament but acknowledging the fact that escape would be rather difficult as of now. Besides, Gyuho didn't seem to mind at all and Wanxi seemed to be content as long as Bie was there...
--
Inside the room behind the closed door.
"So, you say they hail from Gantria? That explains enough, I suppose. However, they can't just be wandering around, Casmere." The man revealed a stern gaze, his elbows pressing down on the table as they rose up to laced together fingers. Casmere's chair creaked as he leaned forward, meeting the man's line of sight with his own gaze.
"Give them a chance to prove themselves. I have not joined the Fall Brigade, but I will if I must." His eyes were locked behind almost closed eyelids, his look steely and resolute. Balir revealed a surprise smile as he ran a hand over his stubble, mulling over Casmere's offer.
"You must owe quite a debt, to employ yourself like this. Very well. They will be inducted under a new squadron as long as you are part of it." Balir gave a mighty laugh before rising up, walking oast the table and opening the heavy door with ease.
"There are no records of your existence, and so your presence is quite suspicious," he said to the four, his eye softening as he spoke. "But under the convincing of Hunter Casmere, I will allow you to disprove any suspicions by joining the Fall Brigade along with him. What do you say?"
"We'll do it, mister." Bie stood up and walked to the weathered man, his comparatively small stature offering a handshake. Balir looked down, revealing a toothy grin as he clasped the boy's hand and shook, surprised that he was met with the same strength he had used!
"Right, then. Your first case is tomorrow, and you will sleep in that room over there." He pointed down to a cozier looking passage, and then promptly stepped away. "I will have to file some paperwork for the lass, since those temple bastards will be resistant to this..."
His large frame swiftly moved down the corridor and turned to the left, disappearing. Casmere emerged from the open doorway and closed his eyes in an attempt to smile, before ushering the guides towards the more inviting places of the building.
The five moved into a large room, with bunkbeds lining the sides and a lone mattress on the floor. It was torn and the stuffing inside was splayed on the floor, so Casmere took it while Wanxi, Guho, and Lulac took a bunk. Bie stood at the doorway, reminding them all about the fact that he didn't need to sleep.
"But isn't it refreshing if you do so? The guy who mentors me would often nap too..." Wanxi spoke up, concerned over Bie. The boy in turn shook his head, denoting that there was no need and he felt rather indifferent towards it.
"Thank you, but I'm fine. Really."
"Ah, okay..."
Casmere took his turn to speak since the matter was resolved. "Then if you'll permit me, do you have a name for us? All squadrons are required to do this, and I have to go forth and register."
"...Pinions of Ire." Gyuho's gruff voice sounded out, the boy trying his best not to grimace even though he was on the section closest to the roof. Casmere flinched, his eye flickering, before he slowly nodded as he looked at Wanxi's lightening face.
"...Right...I shall see you later, then." He walked out of the doorway, going to report the name and hopefully acquire an easy case for his team.
"Hehehe..."
"Hehahaha..."
Both Bie and Wanxi laughed for different reasons, the prior considering the hilarity of Casmere's movements and the other in pride for her name choice. Regardless, the other two Guides groaned under their breath as they shifted in their beds, Lulac hugging against the wall in an attempt to avoid the discomfort that lousy name filled him with.
Bie walked up to the torch on the wall that illuminated the room and snuffed it out, his hands only slightly burnt underneath the crackling heat. No one had time to complain though, as he did it rather quickly, and they could see nothing afterwards.
'Hmm...well, I'll wait until they sleep. I need to check up on Silkie.' He waited for about an hour, and there were still no signs of Casmere. With a glimmer in his eyes, he sat down and entered his Inner World, seeing the creature form of Ekulech taking bites out of the corrupted Remnant with two fangs that sprang from the side of its face.
The Remnant barely had any more of it left, Ekulech about to finish the mass when it realized the spirit body of Bie was standing over it. It inched closer to him, settling its head underneath his hand as Bie pet it, contentedly munching on its meal as it seemed to hum.
Bie felt as if its presence became stronger, noticing that it could emit even brighter glows if it wanted to. The Remnants of Ulun and Uris hung about as well, floating towards the scraps of the corrupted orb and wanting to envelop it as well. This led Bie to wonder what would happen if he collected more and fed it to the orbs...though he could feel that he could also combine the aimless orbs in order to make them stronger as well.
With many considerations in his mind, he withdrew himself from his Inner World. He didn't do anything as of now, but he thought a lot about his options long into the night. At his side, the shimmering phantasm of Ekulech laid down, resting its slightly feminine slate face on his lap.