Just over an hour later, they were in front of Ela's tavern. Laughter and joyful cries resounded from inside. Bronya turned her head slightly, both of her new companions looked nervous, and confused. As reassurance, she chuckled alongside a thumbs up.
Inside, all the waitresses surrounded a chair, Ela stood just outside the encirclement. Dabbing her eyes as a grin glued to her face. Fei's and Lucian's puzzlement increased when Thran caught their eye. Right of the door, he was in a casual button up shirt, watching the scene unfold with a warm smile.
"Good mornin', we got here in the nick of time, huh?" Bronya said to him suddenly. He only responded with a nod. "Fei, Lucian, just give this a moment, m'kay?"
"W-What's going on?" Lucian stammered, he felt a slight warmth in his chest. Internally, something ate it away.
"You'll see~"
Before anymore was said, Fei froze in her spot. A familiar voice echoed inside her head, causing a chill to trickle down her spine. Then, without any warnings, she dashed into the crowd. Splitting it, a startled yelp rang out.
"W-..." Lucian's eyes widened at the sight. Everything ceased to function. Without any thought, he ran as fast as he could. He held as tight as he could, wrapping his arms around 'that' person's head.
"L-Lucian…? I-Is that you, F--Fei?" Aiko mumbled. She raised her hand, grabbing his forearm. Her hand wandered down to Fei's back. Hot and slippery tears built up in her eyes."It really is." She mumbled with a beaming smile.
For many minutes, they stayed in their positions.
"I-I thought you were gone…"
"You don't need to worry, okay? I'll fight with everything I got to come back." Aiko muttered, she moved her head further into his arms. 'I won't let you guys lose a loved one again.' Her thoughts were told from her expression.
So warm… Fei thought whilst clutching her tighter. I don't want to let go…
"Hey! Don't hog her to yourself! We were worried to death too!" A waitress exclaimed, albeit in a playful manner.
"Didn't you complain and wish Miss Aiko was here so you can slack off?"
"That'- That's not true!"
Their banter warranted an audible chuckle from Aiko. She looked in the direction of the sound, and with laughter filling her voice. "Don't worry, I'll take care of what I left! Even if it gives me more trouble than usual!"
"NOT HAPPENING!" Ela yelled, causing every individual to jump out of their skin. "You take a lot more time to recover! You're going to use your stinking sick days to bring yourself back in top shape!" She stomped up to Aiko, pointing her own pointer finger at her. Such a stern voice repelled Fei and Lucian away.
"B-But, I'm perfectly fine now!" Aiko raised her arms as if she's being interrogated.
Ela squinted in suspicion. Knowing Aiko's resilience, she could be telling the truth. But her gut rumbled in unbelief. Could it be her unfocused eyes, that seemed to be looking at the wall behind her? Or it's barely been over a month since she up and disappeared?
"You're still going to take time off, Aiko. I have a feeling you're not one hundred percent!" Ela huffed after taking a few steps away. "Girls, go back to your stations, let Aiko and them get caught up, you hogged her enough!"
"B-"
"NO BUTS!"
"Fine…."
Aiko sighed, her hands itched to help out. But a flame entered her heart, and every worry exited her body. 'It's good to be back.' She thought, despite what she had gone through– That never wanted to bring back, all those worries washed away.
After all tears were gone, they sat around the table she was already at.
"It's finally nice to meet you, Miss Aiko." Bronya was the first to speak. "I was afraid you were gone when Rothie and I found you."
"It's nice to meet you too! Thank you for saving me…" Aiko responded whilst smiling bitterly. Did she have to mention 'that'? "Thran already informed me… Is Roth here?"
"Don't mention it."
"Um Aiko, are you feeling alright?"
"Hm? I'm feeling better than ever! I told you don't need to worry~"
"I know… But why are you staring at the table?" Lucian couldn't help asking. Ever since they all seated she never took her eyes off there. His head tilted seeing her lips suck in.
"Ugh…" Aiko let out, she covered her face for a moment. "Please don't freak out you two, okay? I can't see anymore."
"...Wait, what?"
"E-Eh?"
"Hold, hold on you can't see?"
"Mhm-"
From kilometers away, layers of pens dropped. Visibly Lucian's jaw clenched, alongside his hands.
"They did that?! What the f-" His words were cut short by what felt like bugs crawled across his skin. "What the hell did they do to you?!"
"...Lucian, please calm down. I'm seriously fine, do you see?" Aiko tried to reassure him with a smile. Exaggerating it further by pointing towards her mouth. "I'm alive, I can walk, breathe and talk to you and Fei. Even if it meant losing my eyesight, I'm still here."
Wordlessly, Lucian's mouth flapped open and closed. Instantly his hostile demeanor relaxed, causing his body to shrink into his chair. "..."
"I-I-Is there- Anyway we can hea- heal your eyes…?"
"It's expensive… And-" Aiko sucked in a breath, and shrugged. "It won't save much of my eyesight, from what the healers told me; it'll only allow me to see what's directly at my face." She waved her hand in front of her face.
"That's…"
"How expensive is it?? If it could happen, we'll make it happen!"
Everyone at the table, aside from Fei and Lucian, let out a chuckle. Thran, who sat closest to her, raised five fingers. "Five gold pieces, those are the bare rates they charge. I have tried to convince them to lower it, due to her being a victim… Of unspeakable things." He let out a mellow sigh in toe with his hand lowering. "They would not listen, unfortunately."
Both of their faces contorted into disturbed, horrified and lastly, depressive. It was common amongst every place- From word of mouth, healing was exceptionally rare. In addition, expensive. But five gold pieces?
Can that even be allowed? Another horrific expression took over Lucian. An epiphany struck the back of his mind, is he now in debt?
"Don't worry, Sir Lucian. All expenses were paid by the guild themselves." As if he was a mind reader, Thran answered his question. With a tap of his temple his smile grew. "Ah, how are your injuries? I heard they were horrendously bad."
"They- They're fully healed."
"Already? That's good."
"..."
"Wait, Lucian you got hurt?! Thran, take me to him!" Aiko frantically stuck her hand out to him, waving in an eccentric manner. Thus, ensued a many minute rant exiting her mouth once in front of Lucian. She gave him a signature disproving point of her finger- Only one a mother could give, if it was in the right direction.
All who watched- Including Fei scooted away from them.
"You have to be careful! Do you understand that?!"
"Y-Y-Yes… I do-" Lucian muttered, a deadpan look glazed over his eyes. He tried his best, maintaining eye contact.
"Hmph, good. Now…" Aiko turned her "sights" to Fei. Only to be guided by Thran. "Did you hurt yourself?"
"N-No… I-I didn't." Fei stuttered, polar opposite of Lucian, She shrunk by her glare, devoting Aiko of any contact.
"Hmph, is what she's saying right? Roth, Bronya?"
Fei felt her face turn steaming red, just by a glint in Bronya's eyes screamed to shut her up.
"N-"
"Oh well~ When Little Luci-"
"SHH Don't say anything!"
"Fei…? Let her talk!"
"I swear, swear I didn't get hurt!" Fei exclaimed, her face turning redder by the nanosecond.
An audible cough reverberated in her ears. "Ahem, anyways, once we brought Little Lucian's body out, she s-"
"I DID NOT DO ANYTHING"
For many minutes, they kept going on. Until she completely covered her head in embarrassment. Quickly, laughter filled the tavern. From Fei turning into a cherry; Bronya getting multiple specks of food splattering across her forehead.
Their joyous reunion ceased as midday ended, turning to the afternoon. From then on, Bronya and Roth went along their own path. The rest left towards the Adventurers' Guild.
With Thran's guidance, they made it through the receptionist table. Alongside her note, they proceeded to a room on the furthest point of the hallways. Above its door, the words: Guildmaster were carved into it.
"Noelle, why do you bother calling her here?" A familiar voice rang out from their designated room. Both of them locked eyes, what could that voice be talking about?
There was silence, then Noelle's voice followed up. "I am curious if she knows the circumstances… Of her body, that's all."
"Hmph, why do you think she hid it?"
"Teacher, do you think she's hiding it?"
"Duh?" Alice snorted.
Both Lucian and Fei's eyebrows furrowed, who and what are they talking about?
"'Duh' What?"
"I'll tell you later, my spirits are informing me 'that' person is outside." Once her words came out, the door flew open. "Buh bye!" She twirled around, ignored the bewildered looking duo, walking off with a few blue lights surrounding her.
Their baffled looks quickly dissipated by Noelle's loud voice. "Come in!" Unconsciously they followed her orders. "Ah, it seems like we have an extra member. Please, take a seat both of you."
"U-Um, thanks…" Lucian stammered. Inside was a small but tidy room. In the middle, Noelle sat across a desk. With both hands wrapped into each other, with her chin resting on them.
"Although, I dislike having you here, since you were not mentioned Mister Lucian, you're welcome to stay here." Noelle bluntly said after both took their respective seats. "I'll be blunt and honest with you Miss Lirong. Lady Kazusa invoiced me an interesting letter, it was about you."
"Eh-? Am- am I in trouble?" Fei stuttered quietly, her anxiety levels at an all time, shot through that meter. They calmed as Lucian set his hands over hers.
"Is Fei in trouble?"
"Mister Lucian, I recommend you not answer for her."
"..."
"Miss Lirong, you can speak for yourself here. I won't listen to what Mister Lucian says."
"A-Am I in trouble…?" Fei blubbered out, her voice a tone higher than before. Her ears vibrated immensely.
Her question caused Noelle to sigh. "No, Miss Lirong, you aren't in trouble. Lady Kazusa simply took an interest in you." She sat upright 'Even though that's trouble incarnate..' she commented to herself , grabbing a small paper next to her. Graphs and data were written on it. "This may be an ignorant question, but have you delved into the Hoffman Experiments?"
W-What's that…?W-W-Why does it… Sound so familiar?
"Hm, seems like you haven't."
"N-" Lucian tried to speak up, but his voice silenced itself. An air changed around Noelle, turning from calm to a major sense of irritation.
"I Told you to quiet yourself, if you don't listen I will escort you out of this building."
There was but a moment of silence. Noelle tapped her temple twice, then brought out another question. "Miss Lirong, are you willing to travel to Nuwanushi?"
"Eh…?"
"Lady Kazusa… Ah, nevermind…" She shook her head, tossing her data sheet to the side. 'If Miss Lirong seems this ignorant, she won't know what's going on with her body…' A singular question popped inside her mind, how does she seem healthy? How? Hoffman's experiments left no survivors, how is she defying all logic? "You have a choice, yes or no… I encourage you to go, seeing your bewilderment here. It will answer all your questions."
"Hold, hold on. I know you told me NOT to talk, or answer for her; but, you're not giving us any answers OR anything!" Lucian spoke up, although his body is telling him to quiet, he kept going. "Why should WE go just by your questions?"
"Mister Lucian, if you want some explanation I can't give you any."
"Then why the hell-"
"The only UNDERSTANDING I do have- Miss Lirong should not be alive." Noelle slid her data sheet hard towards them. "That data tells us that her cells are at a constant war, constantly building up and destroying each other. I don't know how, but Lady Kazusa took some of your blood."
What she said drew no sense, even on the data she threw over. Left of the paper showed two bars, one twice the size of the other, labelled each in an unknown language to Lucian. Fei knew what it was but didn't understand. Directly in the middle, a pie chart, representing the same. It looked as if one side was consuming the other.
Lastly, a messily written note was on the right. [The test subject's cells can't be understood. This small sample needs more time to be researched. They shouldn't be alive, they should've died so much earlier. Lady Noelle, please send them over to Nuwanushi so we can learn more.]
"As you can see, I highly encourage you to go." Noelle once again leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. "If you wish to understand your own self, Miss Lirong."
"H-Hu–"
"The lead researcher in Nuwa, he has your answers."
I-I don't understand what she's saying…?
'I don't understand either… What does she mean you shouldn't be alive?'
I-I don't I don't understand?
"I wish I could tell you two more, that's all I can tell you." Noelle said, she pointed towards her little data sheet. "Those words written in Nuwa, I don't understand. Mister Sai, he's on vacation. He will translate that for me, and I'll have Mister Thran inform you."
"H-How can we trust your word in that? No one in the guild has told us anything from the truth, or-"
Lucian's words cut off when Noelle fished in her jacket pocket, then pulled out a blue communication orb. No more words were spoken, her explanation was clear. With a small toss, Lucian caught it in his hands.
"That it will connect you to Mister Thran. Just say the number, two. It will allow you to speak, and communicate with you and your party."
"Thank you…"
"Don't mention it, you are free to leave."
With a dismissive gesture of her hand, they quickly left the room. Although their steps stopped just outside.
"What do you think she meant… By all of that?"
"I can't tell you…"
'Although I wish I could…'