"Sorry, I'm late!" I gave my apologies to the circus' members who waited for me.
I added, "I've met with the Knight Captain of the 2nd Division, she promised she would help me look for a clue."
The circus' members stared at me wide-eyed. Dorian looked at Doe-Ritter, asking, "Did I hear wrong? Or did Layne just say he asked the Knight Captain of the 2nd Division about housing problems?"
Doe-Ritter replied to his brother, "You didn't hear wrong, He did just say that."
Robert mused, talking quietly, "Well, from what I've heard, the Knight Captain is indeed taking a holiday in this city. So, it might be possible for Layne to meet her in his walk."
Continuing, I said, "She doesn't have any clue about housing availability at this time, but she will ask her subordinates for it."
After I gave my piece, the circus' members shared the results of their information gathering. Robert managed to find an available place, but it was shared with five other patrons, in the same room. I decided against renting that place since I might as well camp out near the forest outskirts.
Dorian and Doe-Ritter didn't really find anything of note except for some contraband, that is mushroom syrup. I still don't know how they get their hands on it. But, since they don't even know it's contraband, I'll take it off their hands and dispose of it later.
Meanwhile, Ciel did find a clue that would lead me to get lodgings. There were rumours of a detective idling his life away under the Great Clock, a landmark near the Eight Path district. It was said that he'll give you any information you want as long as you provide him with contraband.
Feeling amused, I said, "That rumour might be something the addicts concocted to get free stuff though."
"Still, it might lead us somewhere," Ciel replied, intrigued and fully ready to go.
Seeing their Young Lady fully geared and ready to go, Robert interjected, "You won't be going there alone will you, Young Lady?"
Ciel looked at me for a while, before saying, "I'll go there with Layne then, since he's the one who needed the information."
Accepting the fact their Young Lady can't wait to jump head-first into everything she finds interesting, Robert sighed, and looked at me, saying, "Layne, please take care of the Lady, okay?"
As I knew I can't get away from this task, I accepted it and vowed to accomplish it perfectly.
"We'll leave Lady Ciel in your capable hands," the circus' members requested.
=======
Walking from the meeting place to the Great Clock took about twenty minutes. To keep boredom at bay, we conversed about all kinds of topics. Ciel started first with her likes and dislikes, while also sharing the tales of her journey with the circus.
"So the ringmaster was your foster grandfather?" I asked incredulously.
Ciel rolled her eyes, "I already told you three times, I am an orphan grandpa took in."
"But I could see your similarities though, especially when you're teasing someone, or thinking something sly. Both of you let out the same smirk!" I pressed.
She chuckled, slapping me lightly on the shoulder, before playfully saying, "I've been with grandfather for the longest of times, it's no brainer I picked up something from him."
Adding in, she asked, "What about you? How's your childhood like?"
Seeing her opening up to me, even sharing her most treasured childhood memories, I decided to reciprocate her. Not to mention, I've vowed to take care of her, and every vow I took, I took seriously.
As our walking pace slowed down, as if we were trying to appreciate each other's presence, I started my tale.
"I can't really remember most of my childhood. Only the bleak sky that was ever-present in front of my window. I remembered one thing, however, not the maids who tended to me, but my second elder brother who always came to my room bringing tales and stories with him."
"Wait a minute," Ciel interjected, before continuing, "Did you say maids? Are you from a wealthy merchant family or something?"
"As a matter of fact, I was a noble, my name was Loyd Carter."
She stared at me, saying, "No way, you're kidding. You're one of the Carters?" She said disbelievingly.
I corrected her, "Was. I was one of the Carters, now I go by Layne Karlott. Anyway, where was I?"
"You said your elder brother always came by your room," Ciel replied.
"Ahh yeah, I don't really remember that much about anything else but the tales my brother brought me. That sparked a desire within me to look and search for more tales out there, and share them with everyone I cared about,"
Realizing the connotation of my wording, I immediately added, "Of course that includes everyone in the Circus," before sneaking a peek at Ciel who tried her hardest not to blush.
Because the conversation turned into a lull after that slip-up of mine, I restarted it, "Anyway, time passed and I got disowned, although I was still accepted inside the manor somehow."
The gears in her brain started working, and she reached a conclusion, "So that's why you could get in contact with the second division's Knight Captain, because you're siblings!"
Shrugging, I answered, "You got me there. Also, looks like we're here."
In front of us was a gigantic tower with clock faces at the very top on all of its sides. It was the Great Clock. A feat of engineering where bells automatically rung at set times, informing the whole town of the time.
It was quite empty here, apart from the few homeless. True, I had said that this city of mine was beautiful, but in the end, homelessness was a problem that mankind won't ever resolve. It already appeared in the annals of history and it will continue to appear through the endless future until the eventual decline of humanity.
Observing the people present, we found one that was different from the others. He wore a brown trench coat that looked well kept, and although his face looked intoxicated you could see his cleanly trimmed beard and moustache. The man was dipping his fingers into a sticky, blue liquid, before licking them clean and making a satisfied expression.
Ciel nudged my sides, before saying, "Looks like we got our guy."
I nodded to express my approval.