Solitary: Compass Of Fate

"I beg your pardon?" Lucille asked, her voice laced with worry. The thought of her exposure bringing more trouble—and another scolding—haunted her.

Sephro's appearance was contrary to his nature as he revealed Lucille a soft smile, "I have met you before. But to set your mind at ease… I have no intention of notifying your family," He paused and waited for Lucille's expression to change before saying, "I have no obligation to."

It took a moment before Lucille finally relaxed and prepared herself for questions.

"Returning to my question…" Sidric put down his cup and interlocked his fingers near his mouth. "What were you doing in that villa?"

Lucille's nerves tensed up again, nervously collecting her thoughts and filtering out the troublesome truth, and leaving safe parts of it.

"I had fallen asleep in my chamber just to wake up somewhere foreign."

Sephro remained vigilant, asking, "What business did he have? I'm aware he realizes that traveling between settlements without a permit can cause several penalties, to a family of such esteem no less."

"I wasn't informed about anything except the travel." Lucille retorted almost immediately. So nervous, she had left her cup untouched.

Sephro relaxed and took another sip, each sip he took increased the tension for Lucille. 

"Let's say I believe you for the moment, what kind of scoundrel would send his daughter to a place she doesn't know anything about? It's almost like throwing meat in a cage full of hounds." 

Lucille's eyes widened, recalling terrible memories of the past, the scar at her right shoulder began to ache which she had to ignore while forming a grimaced reaction.

"I don't know…" was all she could muster to say.

But despite that, Lucille had heard about the Wainwright Settlement from one of the maidservants at home as one of them had come from there but all she knew was the fierce weather and nothing else.

He took a sip once more, saying, "But I have a better deduction…"

Lucille couldn't even face him, giving into his psychological play, "A maiden of light…" Lucille felt a jolt traveling through her body.

Sephro took one final sip, finally emptying his cup. "Using his daughter to seek out an anthological successor…"

Sephro looked to the side, covering his mouth with his hand. "I suppose Gladius was… defective. not good enough for that avaricious man."

Hearing her brother's name awakened something within Lucille, her quietness came to a break as she slammed both of her hands on the table and began speaking in an aggressive manner. "Not another word about my family! I'm the one who's here…!" 

A jolt struck her vocal cords again but her rage subsided the pain.

Despite her normal appearance, Lucille had been born with a fragile body. A lot weaker than most Maidens that came before her.

Sephro, who remained in his original position, glanced upwards without moving a muscle.

"A mere commoner has no right to speak ill about my family, He can take on three or four of you at once!" Her voice slowly became raspy and came to a sudden close after the last sentence.

All of a sudden a dark aura surrounded Lucille and dispersed immediately after.

Sephro's eyes widened but returned to normal not much later but his guard was up.

After observing Lucille like an adult to a child, Sephro finally lifted his index finger to make a point, "Raising your voice only signifies your uncertainty in what you say."

Her rush of anger had made her impervious to the truth to the point where she had no choice but to sit down obediently.

She realized this wasn't the palace anymore, and even where she lived, her threats meant no more than a servant's did.

Sephro gestured for Lucille to drink her tea to help her calm down and relieve herself of the jolt, somehow aware of her condition. 

Hesitant at first, Lucille ended up drinking it and felt a sense of relaxation surging through her mind and throat.

"If you're here to preach about anthology then I suggest you leave." Lucille quietly listened.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Sidric spoke from the outside, "Walker is here!" he said before heading downstairs, leaving muffled stepping sounds in the room.

Lucille's gaze fell towards the room and she attempted to leave before Sephro cleared his throat to turn her attention back to himself.

Adapting a gentler tone, he apologized and continued, "I apologize for provoking you but it was needed and as for your goal in coming here… I suggest you be careful of what you teach, Lady Beatrice is less merciful than I am."

The door creaked open, revealing a man in a white shirt beneath a black vest, matching trousers completing the formal ensemble. His hair was white and unkempt, and his skin bore the rough texture of a war veteran—weathered, worn, and hardened by time.

"Heard you called for me… Sephro, you knave!" Walker's voice was friendly yet annoyed.

Sephro released his fingers and asked, "What happened?"

Walker scoffed, leaning on the wall while crossing his arms. "Don't act like you didn't ignore my last two letters, I know you received them!"

"You do know I'm usually busy right?" 

"Busy attending to your little princess? Well, I don't care! I've told you I find it really obnoxious when you do that."

After sighing, Walker drew steps closer to Sephro's desk. "But to answer your question that you wouldn't even have to ask if you read my letters… I kept asking you about the villa but you never answered so I decided to take it upon myself since Bernard Relené kept nagging me to see what was up." 

"Hmmm…" Sephro was left in thought, then remembered what he wanted to ask Walker initially. "I am well aware of your reasons but there's still the question of 'what did you fight' that you haven't answered."

Walker had already moved towards Sephro's shelf of books, wondering if he could find anything similar to Zalure in there. While still examining he answered, "I don't ask the name or kind of what I hunt. If I see them, I kill them. That's all." 

Should've figured… truly Zulfiya's disciple. I guess my only hope resides with the Erfinders. Sephro was left in thought as it had been a while since a case had come up with this many holes.

Lucille listened quietly as the adults spoke. This was a new experience for her since back home, she wasn't allowed anywhere near their discussions.

Walker stopped looking at the shelf after a while, finding no clues relevant to the mysterious book he had found at the Relené Villa.

"By the way… if you ever happen to find a book with strange and unreadable letters, make sure to send me a letter." Said Walker but he felt his words were missing something… "Although I find it hard to believe you can actually write letters as of recently." He quipped, not even meeting him in the eye while heading towards the door.

Sephro gave him no answer, quietly watching as he opened the door but Lucille still had something to say.

"Mister! About this morning-"

"Don't sweat it, I'm still not interested." Walker looked over his shoulder with a cold gaze, one exempt from any particular emotions.

"Please!" Lucille gasped—her body like iron catching thunder… a jolt of pain rushed inside her body. Her heightened emotions and desperation, unlike her rage, amplified the pain. She fell on the ground. One hand clutched her skirt, the other bracing her trembling form on the cold floor.

Watching her draw in heavy breaths, Walker felt as if another responsibility was approaching him and he did not know how to avoid it.

Fine… he walked closer but Sephro beat him to it, helping her up. "Are you okay?" He made sure to be as gentle as possible.

Lucille's breath gradually returned to normal and she nodded. She continued to persist on her request, asking once more, "Please reconsider… you're the only one."

Before Walker could reply, Sephro chimed in with a suggestion of his own. "Walker, I'm unsure how to deal with her situation right now, so… I also believe that you should take her with you for the time being, or to Zulfiya. I'm sure she has a place for Miss Lucille."

Walker's expression changed, he was baffled but also slightly frustrated. "Have you lost your senses? Are you aware of how many are after me… both human and spirit. You expect me to babysit a fragile lass while I hunt? Not a chance."

Walker sighed and calmed down, "It's dangerous." 

"I wouldn't entrust her to you if it wasn't." Sephro gave Walker a familiar glance, one that he always gave before a job.

Walker stood there silently, considering for the last time. He eventually came to a decision, "Fine! Just don't put it on me if anything does happen."

"I won't." Sephro let Lucille stand on her own after asking if she could. 

Walker gave the blonde-haired girl a long, unreadable look… before turning towards the door, knowing Lucille was following.

"Walker!" Sephro shouted from behind. Walker felt something approaching him and right before it hit his face, he caught it.

It was a pouch full of money. Walker didn't bother counting it and stuffed it into his pocket, giving a nod of acknowledgement.

They left the Blazehearts Headquarters.

Walker was forced to rent a carriage due to Lucille's physical condition. They traveled quietly, only hearing the horses sprinting and the wheels spinning.

Finally arriving at their destination, Walker helped Lucille down, still wondering if his decision was right… dismissing the thought right away, Walker stood before the extravagant restaurant.

The carriage drove away, its sound lost in the noises of the townsfolk the further it drove away.

Walker looked to his side at Lucille and raised a corner of his lip, revealing a smirk. "Life's about to get a lot worse… young lady."