The barrel of Leonard's revolver pointed at her head was too much for Irina to comprehend. "It's a shame that poems don't work on you, I could have at least made it painless."
She stared death in the eyes as the click of the gun's safety echoed in her ears, accompanied by his regretful voice. "Forgive me."
The once calm atmosphere shifted abruptly, icy gusts of wind blowing as Irina's shocked gaze remained locked on the weapon aimed at her.
... why.
Both of them froze in place, only their hair blowing in the wind, coated by the warm light of the sunset. "Can't you bring yourself to pull the trigger?"
It was the poet's turn to be shocked now. "... what?"
'What' my ass.
Irina's gaze changed to a serious one. "You heard me loud and clear. What are you waiting for?"
Before Leonard could reply, she continued. "Unless you're waiting for some dramatic last words from me, hmm?"
His silence was enough of an answer for her. She sighed with annoyance. "Sorry, but I'm NOT a fan of the miscommunication trope!"
Leonard's face contorted. "Now is not the time—"
Irina interrupted him quickly. "Hey buddy, bro, my man, listen here. Something went very wrong in this conversation. I'm very much pissed, and I've been for the last few days, that's true."
I don't have any other choice do I?
"But I'm working alone here." She looked him dead in the eyes, saying, "While you have that little 'friend' of yours helping you out. I will NOT say 'His' name but let me tell 'Him"' this."
Leonard's eyes widened, "Who are you talkin—"
I'd bet my entire fortune it's Pallez's fault we're in this situation.
"No need to beat around the bush." Her voice was harsh. "Listen here, if I were to tell you what is causing all of this, the coincidences as well as the upcoming danger, 'It' would plan ahead. The more you know 'it', the worse 'it' knows you."
His confused expression didn't deter her from continuing. "Now that I said this, the situation will surely become worse. I try not to think too much about it when not in a protected place, but you gave me no choice."
Leonard's confusion was answered in his head with a steady tone "I think I understand, the problem is—"
Huh? Why did he interrupt himself? Also, how does she know about Pallez?!
"I forgot."
The poet couldn't help but blurt out, "What?"
"Nothing. I removed my own thoughts to not think about 'it'... I did it for our safety, but if she really keeps thinking about that, and knows so much... she's playing with fire."
Irina hadn't uttered a single word since her reveal.
"You still shouldn't fully trust her, but it should be fine for now. She clearly knows more than she lets on. If great danger is truly coming, then let her prepare what she thinks is needed in advance."
Leonard sighed as he finally lowered his gun. "I still don't get it—"
She finally spoke again. "Nor do you have to. It's better for everyone if things stay like this, the less people know, the easier It is for me. Now hush. My protection is not omnipotent and I just realized my spirituality is almost completely depleted."
The poet looked at her for a long time before speaking again. "Soo... you advanced?"
I swear this man will make me go CRAZY!'
She groaned loudly. "LEONARD. ROSALYNE. MITCHELL. What did I just say about shutting up?!"
Just forget this WHOLE conversation for GODS sake!
The poet looked astounded. "WHY are you adding strange middle names to my name!?"
'cause it's fun? Duh.
She shrugged before looking around. "Why not. Where's Frye by the way?"
I haven't seen him in a while, since leaving the carriage actually.
Leonard turned in a specific direction, pointing at a house quite far away. "All the way over there. I told him I wanted to talk with you alone and see why your mood was so down in the last period."
He started laughing. "He said, and I quote 'Your argument this afternoon was more than enough for me'."
Irina crossed her arms. "Oh come on. That was no argument, you were just ruining my beautiful view."
The Poet's eyebrow rose. "Of the ceiling of Klein's living room?"
What else man?
She replied curtly. "Yes, obviously."
The two looked at each other shortly before they both burst out laughing. "You know what? Fair."
It wasn't long before Klein came back together with the Captain.
The two support-type Nighthawks watched as Dunn, Leonard, and Frye moved carefully toward the target building, blending into the darkness.
The mission was soon over and, just as Irina predicted, her help was not needed. The altar was dismantled safely and the group finally learned about instigator Tris becoming Trissy.
At Dunn's request, Klein shared his opinion on how he would've handled the mission. Bombarding the whole building would have been a nice, yet pricey plan.
Maybe you should've joined the Machinery Hivemind and not the Nighthawks... solid plan nonetheless, approved.
Leonard, Klein, and Irina took the carriage back, going to the police station and home respectively. They shared a long path together until they parted ways with Klein.
At a more distant street, just before Irina went her separate way, Leonard asked. "You know... Earlier you said you were doing everything alone. Is there anything I can do to help? Since the dang—"
One day, one DAY, I'll lose my mind and it's going to be Leo's fault.
"Seriously man." Irina sighed in clear exhaustion. "What part of, don't think about it, let alone talk about it, didn't you understand?"
She fixed her jacket, making sure it covered her whole upper body from the cold winds. "Just act. You've been stuck a bit too long as an eight. Ne?"
Leonard's lips curled upwards at her words. "Act huh? Sure, why not."
Irina smiled tiredly at him. "You've been slacking off for a while now, it's about time you take matters into your own hands, you know? You don't want to be at the bottom forever."
Before he could answer her, she bid him farewell and almost ran the other way. "See you tomorrow Leo! Don't make me as angry as today or I'll prepare another glitter bomb for you!"
The next day unfolded as smoothly as usual. After hearing Leonard's thoughts on Irina's behavior from the previous day, she decided to take the morning off to ensure she could get more sleep that night.
Her plan worked nicely and she felt refreshed for the first time in weeks. Her lunch was spent in the lounge, chatting enthusiastically with the other Nighthawks.
The afternoon was something Irina would have gladly skipped, but since the plot demanded it, she had no other choice but to go to hel—training together with Klein.
I'm clearly stronger now, but I have to fake having low stamina if I don't want someone else finding out I advanced.
At the end of it, Irina had the privilege of being the first to shower, bless being a girl, and later waited for Klein to take one as well. They changed clothes, bade a silent Gawain farewell, and took the public carriage to leave.
Irina looked out the window absentmindedly. "Remind me again why I'm coming with you, Mr. Protagonist, and not home to my sweet sweet bed."
Klein sighed in exhaustion, both physical and mental. "First, you offered to tag along. Neither of us expected today's training to be so hard."
Talk for yourself, I read the novel.
He continued. "Second, please stop calling me 'Mr. Protagonist'. There's no need to remind me of that conversation with Leonard."
She snickered loudly. "Absolutely not. Till the day I die, you're Mr. Protagonist~"
If only you knew the irony~
He spoke softly in defeat. "What did I ever do you?"
Making me attached to a very long and extremely dangerous novel. But let's not talk about it now.
After staring outside for a long time, Irina abruptly asked. "Hey, how is your potion digestion going?"
Klein was taken aback. "Hmm? Well good—"
Irina turned abruptly and interrupted him. "Between the two of us, be honest."
The seer exhaled. "Well... I fully digested it actually, this morning to be specific, before Old Neil's lesson."
Good, this also flows according to the novel.
"I'm happy for you." She smiled warmly at him. "When are you going to apply for the Clown potion?"
Klein replied calmly. "I'm still not sure, I wanted to give the Captain some hints about the actin—wait, you know about the acting method, right?"
Irina laughed in his face. "Obviously, I do~"
He lampooned in his head for a while "So that's why you were 'teaching' at the library... wait! You stopped doing it! Did you also digest yours?"
She winked at him while turning to the window once more. "Yep, but... the church doesn't have my following Sequence. So I'm stuck, what a pain~"
Klein showed clear interest in the topic. "Can't you find some information in the library?
The two of them knew clearly of which library the seer spoke about. "Already did. I know the name but not the formula for the potion."
Not that I need it as of now, I don't actually need to digest a single potion, only 'act' to break the seal. Everything that comes after is a problem for future me.
His voice poorly hid a sad undertone. "I wish I could help you."
Irina froze shortly then turned to look at him with a serious expression. "Hey, don't take it personally but don't bother with my Pathway. I have everything under control, I'll tell you once I finish the preparations."
Think about your own problems, I can deal with mine... and yours in the future once I advance to a stronger Sequence.
Klein's confusion was clearly visible on his face. "'Preparations'? For what exactly?"
The custodian smiled tightly. "Don't worry, once I'm done, I'll tell you."
The two soon arrived at the Evil Dragon Bar near the harbor. The sun had already begun slipping below the horizon, gradually tainting everything with a twilight luster.
After passing through the billiard and numerous other rooms, the two finally entered the underground market.
Irina turned to Klein and said, "While you go and ask for whatever materials you need, I'll stroll around. Maybe I'll find some ancient scriptures, who knows~"
The seer nodded and the two parted ways.
Later, Irina noticed him standing off to the side, unmoving, his gaze distant. After a few moments, he sighed, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. Curious, she approached, her questioning look not escaping the Seer's notice.
"The prices," he murmured, almost to himself. "They're... high. All of them are in the hundreds."
Oh, Klein...
She smiled, patting him on the back for comfort.
Wait until they go in the thousands.
He picked and purchased ingredients to make the charms with Irina slowly trailing behind him. Curiosity took over him as he asked "I wonder..."
Irina stopped just as Klein did, "Yes?"
He continued, looking her in the eyes. "What happened between you and Old Neil?"
Not that man again! Her irritation started to slowly come back.
Irina's demeanor flipped. "Leave it Klein. I'm just angry at him for being an idiot at his age, that's all."
The seer looked confused. "'Idiot'? I'm sure whatever he did he would be happy to apologise. I remember the two of you being on good terms. Yet, now..."
She tried to wave the topic away with her fan. "Seriously Klein, leave it. There's nothing you can do about it. It's between him and his idiocy."
He looked perplexed. "Those are strong words. Irina, he's a good man, he'll understand if you two talk with each other—"
I'm not saying he isn't. He'll just do something foolish in the future and I'm still working on how to stop him.
Just then, Irina saw Old Neil in his classic black robe entering slowly. "Speak of the devil..."
Klein turned and smiled politely as Old Neil greeted them with a chuckle. "Got everything?"
The seer answered frankly. "Yes. Irina was also great company."
"You two came really early."
Klein chatted casually with him. "That's because we're still hungry, but you've already had your dinner."
Neither of the two missed how Irina didn't participate in the conversation once, not even when personally asked something.
After a while, the boss of Evil Dragon Bar, Swain, walked in with his navy officer uniform draped over him.
Here we go.
He approached the three of them with a mask of solemnity and lowered his voice "I need your help."
Old Neil suddenly turned serious and Klein couldn't help but feel a tug at his heartstrings "What happened?"
Swain's brown hair was messy and there was a strong smell of alcohol in his breath.
He replied in a low voice. "A member from the Mandated Punishers has lost control nearby. We have to finish him before he harms any commoners!"