Alastor sighed with a mix of relief and amusement at her words. 'You have no idea how close you are to the truth,' He thought to himself, hiding the smirk that threatened to appear at the corners of his lips.
"Please, come in," Grace said, pushing open the door to her modest home. "It's not much, but I can offer you a drink and a place to rest for the night. You've had a long day, no doubt."
Alastor nodded, his body language relaxed as he stepped inside. His eyes wandered around the house, taking in the sight of it. The interior of the house, while still foreign-looking to him, had an undeniable warmth to it. A stark contrast to the cold, harsh, and depressing space he was asleep in the night before.
"This is much more than I expected," He said, his voice thick with false gratitude. "I don't know how I could ever repay you."
Grace smiled, "No repayment is needed, Mr. Alastor. It's my duty as a servant of my faith to help those in need. Now wait a moment as I prepare tea for you."
Her words lingered in his mind like a sweet poison. Oh, Grace. So innocent in her beliefs. The purity radiating from her was truly intoxicating. It almost made his mouth water, but he knew that he had to wait. He needed to play this carefully, lure her in, and slowly make her trust him completely.
"Would you mind if I asked you a question, Sister Grace?" He asked, his voice soft and almost tentative. "What made you choose the path of faith?"
Grace paused, her hands hovering over the cups before she looked up at him. "I didn't choose it, Mr. Alastor. It chose me." She smiled as she poured the hot water. "I grew up in a small village far from this city. The people there were kind, and always helped one another. When I grew up, I felt a calling for something greater than myself. So, I became a nun, dedicating my life to helping others and spreading kindness."
The sincerity and conviction in her voice struck something in him. He had seen many people claim to be selfless, but few had ever been as genuine as she seemed to be. It was a quality that made her more delicious in his eyes.
Alastor stepped closer, leaning slightly on the table as he examined her beautiful face. "That's... truly commendable," He said, his tone soft, almost tender. "But doesn't it get difficult? To live with so much kindness, to always give something and never ask for anything in return?"
Grace's smile faltered just a little, a flicker of doubt passing through her eyes. Something which caught Alastor's eyes. "It can be difficult, yes," She admitted. "But I find strength in knowing that my actions can make a difference, even if it's just a small one."
Alastor felt his glee widening internally. "I see," He murmured, watching her as she busied herself with making the tea. "But what about when you've given all you can? When there's nothing left to give?"
She paused, the question clearly made her think for a moment. "I... I suppose that's when my faith truly matters most. It reminds me that I am not alone. That there is always something greater than myself to guide me."
Alastor tilted his head, fascinated by her words. "And do you think faith alone will protect you from the darkness? From... those who would take advantage of your kindness?"
Grace turned to face him fully, her hands stopping for a moment. Her gaze met his. "Faith isn't just a shield, Mr. Alastor," She answered softly. "It's more of a guiding light. It doesn't stop the darkness entirely, but it helps others find their way through it should they get lost."
"I admire your conviction, Sister Grace," He praised her. "It's... rare to meet someone like you. Especially in this city no less."
She smiled again, her innocence shining through. "Thank you, Mr. Alastor. But you should rest now. You've had a long journey, and I can see the tiredness in your eyes. I'll make sure you're comfortable for the night." With that, she set down the tea that she had prepared.
They both fell into a brief silence as the warm, fragrant tea filled the room. Grace gestured to the table, inviting him to sit.
Sitting across from her, she offered a cup which he gladly took. He took a moment to look at the tea. Enjoying the delicious smell it emanated.
"Thank you," He said before taking a small sip of the tea. The taste of it almost made him moan at how delicious and sweet it was. He was pretty sure nothing in his old world was ever this flavourful.
Grace nodded, taking a sip of her tea. She watched him for a moment, curiosity flickering in her gentle eyes. "If you don't mind me asking, Mr. Alastor, what brought you to the city of New Raven?"
New Raven. Alastor finally had the name of the place that he was teleported to. Taking a moment to compose an answer, he answered her question. "Let's just say that it was not my choice to be brought here."
"Oh, it must have been a bad memory. Sorry for asking." She apologised which he just waved off.
After finishing their drinks, she led him to an almost empty room safe for a fluffy bed with a simple but inviting cover waiting for him, Alastor allowed his smile to soften into something more genuine.
"Sorry if this room is a bit lacking Mr. Alastor, but I didn't expect a guest today."
"No, no. This room is more than enough."
With that, she bid him goodnight as she went toward her room. With nothing else to do, he lay on the comfy and soft bed.
Today had been a very productive day for him. Although he didn't get much information about this world, he still got something as valuable.
A delicious victim.
He had to be patient though. If breaking her might take a couple of days then so be it. He could wait a few more days without nourishment.