"You sound like my mother when she wanted me to eat onions," complained Élodie. She sensed that there was something hidden in the witch's words, but she couldn't identify it.
"My mom used to trick me that way, too! But she used peppers!" Tania added, and the atmosphere among the three girls became more relaxed.
"I still don't believe that strange cocoon contained the Werewolf woman's husband," commented the policewoman, making Séraphine feel sad when she thought about it.
"Imagine degenerating voluntarily for your lover, organizing a sectarian cell, being possessed, and starting a ritual, all to save your husband, and in the end..." The witch didn't finish her sentence, but Tania, who had heard about the affair, did.
"All so that the person you loved and sought to save would become a being completely corrupted by spiritual energy and transform into a monstrous spider." She still couldn't quite believe the convoluted situation her friend had gotten herself into.
It began as a simple task to identify a cheater and ultimately led to a highly problematic affair. This was especially true because of Miriam's final words, as well as the notes and diary she had left behind.
How did Tania know? When she went to pick up Séraphine, she easily learned all of this from the witch and one of the snooty paladins she knew from working at the O'Connor bar.
"Even I know better than to trust unsupervised rituals or promises from spirit creatures," commented Élodie, who remembered Miriam's final moments.
For the first time, she realized that her duty as a police officer extended beyond simply defeating enemies or imprisoning people. Their purpose was protection. This experience served as fertilizer for the future growth of both the witch and the warrior.
For those who listened to her, the whole situation was a clear warning: no matter how good or attractive something in the spiritual world may sound, always be cautious. Realizing that the subject had become obscure very quickly, Séraphine chose to chat about trivial topics, making the return trip more enjoyable.
As they returned to the city, the sun began to set. The darkness, dimly illuminated by neon lights, stood out the most. Blume had a different charm at dusk, but today was not the day for them to appreciate that.
When Tania's car arrived at Séraphine's detective agency, the three girls saw another vehicle parked nearby. The witch easily recognized it as belonging to her client, Elizabeth Schwan.
"Hadn't we called earlier to let you know what you are doing here? I thought she'd be home," Tania muttered as she got out of the car.
"I hope it's money," Séraphine replied dryly. She didn't want much contact with Mrs. Schwan right now because, despite having accomplished her task, the whole situation left a bad taste in her mouth.
"Is that the wife of the guy in rehab at the Tower? She looks pretty rich," said Élodie to the witch in a low voice, causing her to nod.
Elizabeth Schwan had gotten out of her car with the help of her driver and started walking toward the trio of women. Unlike several hours ago, she was wearing makeup and a beautiful red evening gown, as if she were about to go to a party.
"I just wanted to thank you in person, Miss Rohan, for your service." After approaching, Elizabeth said those words to Séraphine. Although she looked sad, a relieved smile was on her face.
"You don't have to do that. I was only doing my duty," the witch replied, waving her hand to play it down.
"Never mind. Now that my husband is in treatment, I hope everything can go back to normal. Here, I know it's trivial to reduce everything to money, but I don't know how else to pay you." Elizabeth rummaged through her expensive purse and soon pulled out a check she had prepared in advance.
At first, Séraphine wanted to decline. She had already received her payment, and although she wanted the money, she felt it would be improper to accept it. However, when she saw the amount, she held back her words and smiled genuinely as she gripped the precious check tightly in her hands.
"Don't worry, this is fine," the witch waved her payment, happy to have made an extra profit. She ignored the strange looks Tania and Élodie were giving her.
"Well, I must go. I have a banquet to attend. By the way, do you have my number? I want to invite you to my house one of these days." Mrs. Schwan's tone at the end of her words made Séraphine tense slightly. With a somewhat stiff nod, Séraphine replied,
"Yes, that would be a good idea. I won't keep you any longer. Have a nice evening." After saying goodbye, Elizabeth waved to the two women next to the witch and got into her car.
It was only when the car turned and disappeared from view that the three girls finally felt comfortable enough to talk.
"Did you see how she was ogling you?! The rich are decadent." Tania clicked her tongue in complaint. She had never liked that woman.
"Was that a married woman flirting with you? I thought she wanted to be nice!" commented Élodie, making Séraphine frown.
"It was me being nice. While I admit I'm somewhat attracted to her, perhaps she misinterpreted my intentions. I wouldn't get involved with a married person," the witch replied, carefully tucking the check inside her hat.
"Does she get your attention like that? She's so smug!" Tania approached Séraphine. Because of the height difference, Tania had to stand on tiptoe to meet Séraphine's gaze.
"Aren't I better?" the girl asked in a mocking tone. Séraphine put her hand on the girl's head and pushed her down.
"You'll make Élodie misunderstand our relationship," the witch pointed out to the policewoman, who was watching their interaction curiously.
"Don't look at me; we barely knew each other today." Noticing how the girls were watching her, Élodie fought back, not wanting to be dragged into whatever was going on between Tania and Séraphine.
"Come on, you fought alongside Séraph; you can be trusted." To prove her point, Tania approached the policewoman, slipping her arm around her neck in a hug that only close friends would share.
"You protected her. That makes you important, you know? Otherwise, I'd miss the chance to go to her house today!" the brunette commented, making Élodie blush as she understood the subtext of her words. Meanwhile, Séraphine coughed slightly.
"Looks like you got too excited. I just wanted to hang out with you; nothing weird." Séraphine excused herself, but this only made her smile more aggressively.
"I thought you kept seeing my butt before!" The girl partially turned her body and spanked herself, making the situation even more comical.
"Is this how girls get along outside the army?" muttered Élodie. Séraphine moved closer to her and put her hand on the policewoman's shoulder.
"Sort of. It seems you've wasted a lot of time in the army. We need to organize a trip together one of these days." The witch's eyes lit up at the thought, and even Tania raised an eyebrow when she heard her words.
"Would you like to take her to meet the boss? Or would you like to visit Francisca's casino?" Tania asked in a low voice. They were still on the street in front of the detective agency, and she didn't want someone else to overhear them talking about it.
"Taking her to Francisca's would be weird. Isn't her casino illegal?" said Séraphine, not caring that Élodie was a cop.
"Hey, they can't talk about that in front of me. I have a hard time ignoring it," the blonde complained. Tania burst out laughing and lightly tightened her embrace around the policewoman's neck.
"Everyone knows about Lady Zhang's casino! I've even seen the police captain visit it. After all, the owner is an alchemist." The brunette's words made the policewoman briefly go blank.
"What's an alchemist doing running such a place?" the policewoman asked incredulously.
"Money, connections, and regulation. It should be her than a gang. Plus, it allows her to get the materials she needs with relative ease." Séraphine answered her question before continuing.
"You should know, but an alchemist consumes a lot of resources. If I, as a witch, manipulate the aether with gestures and cognition, then you, as a warrior, empower your body with this energy.
Francisca, as an alchemist, uses it to provoke various reactions in materials. That's damned expensive." Séraphine's words revealed a stark truth that the rookie cop had not yet faced but was learning firsthand.
Money is the basis of everything: problems and solutions alike. But at the time, Élodie did not dwell on that point; instead, pondering the witch's words. Wanting to show that she was not ignorant, she answered,
"Yes, I know that. We resonate our souls to produce the aether, and depending on our affinities, there are the 'three paths.' Considering what I heard earlier... Sophia's resonance allows her to channel the power of Mother Light. Looking at it this way, it sounds so simple."
Élodie scratched her head. She wasn't dumb, but it was clear that the army hadn't covered her cultural bases well.
"Hehehe, Aether is an interesting topic, but I'm bored. Shouldn't we have some fun?" Tania asked in a languid voice. She lightly touched the gem embedded in her forehead before speaking to change the subject.
Both Séraphine and Élodie noticed these gestures, but they decided to remain silent and play along. Why would they berate her about this? The time and atmosphere were not right for broaching personal subjects, so the girls finally entered the detective agency.
In her office, Séraphine quickly gathered a few books containing many basic concepts commonly known in the spiritual world. However, when she saw that the tower contained only four thick books, Élodie felt a sense of dread.
"Aren't there any finer ones?" the blonde asked, holding out a little hope, but Tania's laughter and Séraphine's refusal made it clear that there weren't.
"If you want to learn, you must make an effort. Don't worry; there are plenty of illustrations," Séraphine said with a small smile. This made Élodie tighten her grip on her hammer.
"You think I'm foolish and reckless, don't you?" the policewoman said between her teeth.
"You're a cop; that's the lowest for you," Séraphine attacked. Élodie had to take deep breaths to calm down.
"You're attractive, but your hurtful comments ruin it," replied Élodie. The witch folded her arms under her breasts and shook them.
"Are you going to cry about it? Are you going to read, or do you want me to narrate?" After Séraphine asked that question with disdain, the conversation fell into a stony silence until Tania guffawed again.
"Ouch! I feel like I'm going to pee! HAHAHAHAHA!" The girl's outburst made Séraphine sigh, and made Élodie shrug, resigned.
It seemed the police had to read it, whether she wanted to or not.
"Don't worry. I'm here to answer any questions you have. If I'm not with you, you can call my house or the office. Believe me, it will come in handy at some point." After some thought, Séraphine decided to be more considerate of Élodie, so she spoke to her in a calmer tone.
"All right, I'll show you how good I can be when I put my mind to it." Full of determination, she picked up the first book but then realized something fundamental.
"Do I have to read here? Can't we hang out and have fun? I can read at home!" the policewoman exclaimed, causing Séraphine to smile. Then, she reached for a radio she had plugged in nearby.
"I thought you wouldn't notice! We've fought a lot, and we're tired. It's killing my head, but nothing a good song won't solve." The witch quickly tuned a station, and soon, the sound of a soft saxophone filled the office.
"I like that song!" Tania approached Élodie, took her in her arms abruptly, and with ease, took her hammer, then began to dance with her.
"Wait, my muscles hurt from all that bracing!" the blonde complained. Although she tried to wriggle free, she soon realized that Tania's unusual strength was too much for her to overcome.
In another situation, she would have enhanced her body's performance with aether to free herself. But she wasn't being attacked. Besides, it was just dancing. Despite her body's protests, she quickly began to dance under Tania's guidance.
Séraphine didn't join them. She wasn't lying about the migraine she had from using aether to cast spells. She watched them dance while organizing her schedule for the next day.
'I must visit Francisca tomorrow and buy her new potions, maybe some ammunition or other interesting objects. I also have a client tomorrow afternoon, but luckily, it's in the afternoon,' mused the witch, shaking her feet to the music.
"Come on, Séraph. They say dancing is good for your health. Come join us." Tania broke away from Élodie and appeared in front of Séraphine, who had to step back due to her friend's proximity.
"I really can't dance now..." Before she could finish her sentence, Tania pulled her in, deftly positioning herself behind the detective, placing her hands on her hips, and starting to sway carefully.
"If you can't do it by yourself, let us help you. Come on, Élodie. Take her hands and help me move Séraphine's body." Not wanting to do it alone, Tania dragged the police into it.
"I don't quite understand what's going on, but I'm in." The blonde approached Séraphine and took her hands. Instinctively, their fingers crossed in a strong grip.
"If you don't understand, why do I see that silly grin on your face?" the witch asked Élodie, who stuck her tongue out mockingly.
"I just want to annoy you," the cop replied easily, feeling that she had won an invisible fight.
Thus, to the rhythm of the music, the three girls danced together. However, Tania narrowed her eyes when she noticed the strange vibe developing between Élodie and Séraphine.
The two were staring into each other's eyes, which was normal on this occasion. However, their bodies were close together, which would initially be uncomfortable because of the way they were holding their hands.
However, the witch released her grip and put her arms around the cop's neck. The cop put her hands on the brunette's curves.
'If I didn't know they met today, I'd say something's going on between them,' Tania thought, sketching a mischievous smile.
She wasn't put off. The emotions between her and Séraphine were more like friendly flirtation than anything momentous, so she just watched this affair with curiosity and interest, especially since the gossip about it seemed quite juicy.
"You dance well for someone so clumsy," Séraphine said to Élodie, who rolled her eyes at the witch's condescending tone.
"You feel good to be so grumpy." To prove her point, the policewoman gently squeezed her hands, causing Séraphine to tremble slightly.
"Don't overdo it," the witch warned after a shiver ran down her back.
"Don't be so mean to me. I already apologized, okay? And I'm more than you saw," complained Élodie, causing Séraphine to sketch a mocking smile.
"Yes, I saw that, but I still think you're silly. Your blonde hair doesn't help. It reminds me of an annoying person," Séraphine continued. This caused Élodie to click her tongue.
"Excuses! You don't want to admit that I impressed you." The policewoman lifted her chin slightly, a proud gesture that made the witch unable to hold in her restrained laugh.
"Sure, I do. Whatever you say. Hey, aren't you too close to me? Seeing your face with so little makeup gives me the heebie-jeebies." Séraphine decided to attack from another angle when she realized she had been locked up and took note of her appearance.
"Says the one who kept touching up her makeup every five minutes! Do you have a collection of different lipsticks in your hat?" Élodie's question was sincere; she was curious about the situation.
"Yes, why wouldn't I have it? I keep all my makeup products in my hat. I can't imagine going out without them," the witch replied easily.
Élodie stopped dancing and looked at her in disbelief.
"You're just like they described at the police station. How could Samantha stand to kiss you? She doesn't seem like she'd get along with you!" exclaimed Élodie. Her words caused Séraphine to avert her gaze to the blonde's lips before she spoke.
"I lent her a lipstick. She asked me if it was kiss-proof, so we did a test on the spot," the witch explained. Élodie blinked several times as if she didn't believe that's how things had turned out.
"By the way, the red one I'm wearing is also kiss-proof. Shall I show you?" asked Séraphine, raising an eyebrow. Tania, who had turned away from the duo, had only one thought in her mind.
'What the hell did I just see?' The brunette still couldn't believe how things had escalated between the witch and the warrior. But, seeing how the blonde suddenly turned coy with flushed cheeks before nodding, Tania felt like she might be dreaming.
'Damn, Séraphine knows how to flirt better than I,' Tania complained to herself. In front of her, the climax of the moment took place.
Séraphine brought her face close to Élodie's and, without hesitation, kissed her softly on the lips. It was short, barely a couple of seconds, but both had closed their eyes in the process.
They separated soon after and continued dancing and arguing with each other as if nothing had happened. Both women initially treated the previous shared moment as something trivial.
However, the seed of it all was planted in this moment of dancing, and it would bear fruit in the future.