In the entertainment room. Two Nighthawks were playing texas house as the sun hits its peak hour.
Selina noticed lunch just in time with her stomach as an indicator.
She only had a few pastries for breakfast, yet for some reason they were never enough.
After her meal with Rozanne, Old Neil and the rest of the staffs and officials.
She took the chance to familiarized herself with the remaining Nighthawks.
"How are you feeling?" A sudden voice of a lady spoke.
Selina retracted her gaze to see the famous spirit medium of Enmat Harbor. Madam Daly Simone.
The lady wore a purple-shaded dark gown, designed intricately.
It was enough to view her as an actual spirit medium at first glance.
"I'm fine, it's just that reading all day took its toll on me", replied Selina wearily.
Daly lowered her cup of coffee to the table, "Have you considered changing your routine from time to time?"
Throughout her time as a secretary, her day would go as follows; wake up, drink coffee, fix herself, go to work, come home, sleep.
It's repetitive, but for her it's stable. She wasn't the type to pursue excitement in place of steadiness and peace.
It's what I used to... Selina answered inwardly.
"No—but I'll consider it from now on. Perhaps it would be better for my mind to direct it on other matters sometimes", she did not declined the advice.
Her time with Daly Simone haven't reached an hour. She was also the person who had reached out to her and invited her to the entertainment room just as she was about to return.
However, even for such a period. Selina already saw what kind of woman the mysterious Madam Daly, the skilled spirit medium really is.
To put it simply, it both amazed and shocked her.
"If I had to explain, if ever being a spirit medium became mundane to me, I would come here and tease that balding man of a captain. If that wasn't enough, I could even throw him into a room if that would freshen my mind." Daly casually took a comfortable position.
Selina was flabbergasted upon hearing that. She was unsure on how to respond.
Regardless, she smiled, showed respect as she replied, "Yes..."
"Hmm... You said I'm mysterious before right?" Daly raised a question.
She's correct, earlier when they encountered at the staff lounge. Selina got the chance to talk to her and what came to mind was Rozanne's description of the lady.
"Mhm, I heard praises directing to you. Well—they're mostly from Rozanne. That mystique air suits you very much", her compliments were given, Selina did not intend on adding if they weren't true.
"You're not falling behind yourself", Daly returned as she stirred her steaming coffee.
"Do you know what they call you in our department when they heard the news of a woman who is using fireworks as both call and desperation? The Star of Tingen's Night Show." A light chuckle escaped her lips.
Wha—just how far did my actions go?
Selina instinctively creased her brow in puzzlement.
Daly finally brought her coffee back to her level, after doing so she said, "They did not get the corresponding confidentialities such as your identity. Because of that, they kept pressing me to reveal who it was."
"Why are they interested?" Selina asked with curiosity.
"Well... Imagine, you as just a Sequence 9 being chased by eight at least Sequence 7 creatures. Then making out alive. That has to be an achievement on its own don't you agree?"
Daly sipped her cup. Savoring its bitter caffeine and nutty aroma.
If you put it that way...
Selina fell silent for a few seconds, before saying, "Madam Daly, I've crossed that you are a true Spirit Medium? If that's true, how was it being a beyonder in this sequence?"
She can already picture how acting as a Spirit Medium would be. Being inside of a manor, hired to exorcise spiritual bodies as her hand holds a cross necklace and a bible.
Daly curled her mouth.
"Being a Spirit Medium... If I had to summarized, being able to constantly hear murmurs from the surroundings doesn't really help with anxiety."
"Are you anxious of it?" Selina blurted out.
"I'm not saying I am", Daly retracted her coffee from her mouth.
"All I'm saying is that spirits are constantly trying to communicate with us. Such is the name, Spirit Medium. We are a mediums for spirits to bridge into the physical world to a certain level."
I see... Selina's curiosity grew. Her interest now was how a Spirit Medium acts in battle.
As much as she wanted to probe. She knew that a beyonder's true strength lies in the mystery of their powers. For her, the unknown is much more terrifying than confronting what is known.
So instead, Selina settled as she addressed, "Could you tell me some of the ways a Spirit Medium like yourself operates?
"I-I mean not the significant ones but I would appreciate it if you could paint a picture of how capable Spirit Mediums are..."
Daly wasn't taken aback by this. She knew eventually, this lady would ask it.
She smiled, "If you insists..."
She placed her coffee back to the table.
"As you know. Spirit Mediums are adept at the spirits of the undead, and spirit world is around us. Other than being able to communicate with them, we can also have messengers."
"Spirit Messengers?" Selina internalized the term.
"Yes, spirit messengers allows their contractors to deliver letters. Perhaps once you advanced further, you'll be able to acquire one yourself. Although I have to point it out, it's very difficult if you're not of the Corpse Collector." Daly explained.
I see...
Wondering her own Sequence pathway. Selina raised another inquiry, "What do you think would be the next Sequence of my pathway?"
Daly chuckled, "What is your corresponding sequence name?"
I thought all of you knew?
"It's Apothecary", answered Selina honestly.
Daly thought for a moment, before saying, "Apothecary... Yes, the Harvest Church of the Earth Mother possess the corresponding sequences of it. Do you have a clearance?"
Selina paused.
She had recalled that in order to have a clearance, she would need to contribute even for a little.
Realizing this, she suddenly stood up.
"Madam Daly, could you excuse me? I may have recalled something", she said, wearing a wry, polite smile.
"Its fine, take care", Daly waved as she watched Selina returned the gesture and left.
At the partition, she turned and arrived at the stairwell. Distant echoes of footsteps reverberated in the confined tunnel, eventually stopping before a door.
Selina felt a cold air swept a touch at her skin.
She raised an arm and knocked on the door.
Thud! Thud!
"Come in!" A middle-aged voice muffled from the wooden pane.
Selina slowly turned the door and entered.
Dunn was holding a cup of Fermo coffee while reading the Tingen's Daily Post.
"Did Daly Simone sent you?" He guessed out of habit.
"If so, you can head out first. I'll follow once I tidied my desk."
Selina shook her head gently, "No captain, I came here to report a finding."
"A finding?" Dunn slowly straightened his posture.
"What is it?" He probed.
Selina gathered her thoughts and said, "Yesterday, I arrived home to see that a neighbor of mine was having dispute over his unpaid rent.
"When I examined him through a Spirit Vision, his figure seemed fine until I saw a large and deep laceration over his arm, indicated by a heavy dark spot. It reached from his wrist to the fibers of his forearm. I believe this man might have been attempting suicide in secret."
Dunn fell silent.
After a full seconds of contemplation, he raised a question, "What is his name?"
"Morroy Roundel. 17th Unit of Daffodil Street." Selina dictated.
"I don't expect it to be a beyonder related event but... I merely wish for the officials to take notice of this and prevent any sort of decision that Mr. Roundel might regret."
Dunn clearly understood what Selina meant, and with a nod he said, "Rest assured, the Awwa County Police will handle this, and if there were any findings of beyonder related activities, then we'll have to take immediate measures.
"You live at 16 Daffodil Street, am I right?"
Selina nodded briefly, "Yes."
"Then if possible, try to delve deeper into this matter as we cannot rule out the possibility of this being a beyonder matter. Our officers could only go so far without any clearance. Yes, you can even consult our Seer, Klein if you ever found a dead end. In this case, you will have our support regardless of your findings."
The laceration was her only evidence and it wasn't even a reliable one without including extraordinary matters. So in a sense, it is now difficult for her to make progress.
I see... So Mr. Moretti is a true Seer.
Compared to him, as an Apothecary. I couldn't do any versatile abilities such as divining the issue. Perhaps in later Sequences, but for now it's impossible...
Selina felt a hint of lament for her own Sequence pathway.
Yes, tomorrow I'll raise this matter quickly so as to not bother him too much...
Drowned in thoughts, it didn't came to her that Dunn has been silent for awhile.
With her familiarity with the captain, she sighed, "I'm glad for giving your attention into this case. That's all I came here for. Thank you Captain."
Just as she was about to turn, Dunn's voice spoke.
"Wait."
"Yes?" Selina turned around with weary anticipation.
"Klein was attending a Divination Club at 13 Howes Street, North Borough. You can find him there as I saw him left earlier." He said contemplatively.
After processing this, Selina replied with a smile, "That relieving. I won't have to wait until tomorrow to continue. Thank you again Captain."
This time, she only took one step when Dunn's voice rang out again.
"Hold on. The Awwa County Police will have immediate operation once I filed this finding. Would you like me to divulge them who made the report?"
Selina gave a heavy sigh silently before she shook her head, "No captain. If it's possible, I would like to keep a low-profile."
Having a name and title given from other departments is already embarrassing... She added inwardly.
Now, fearing that another voice would call out, Selina stood there, feigning anticipation.
Uhm... Are there... More?
She instinctively asked. Perhaps this captain of theirs still has something to add on.
But when she looked back, she saw him took out a note and was already writing with a fountain pen.
At this point in time, she realized something that even Dunn failed to consider.
If even the police officers couldn't do a deeper investigation without initial report as a kickstart. What makes her, a staff and ongoing official, have corresponding access to investigate without proper clearance?
Perhaps captain wanted me to go undercover?
Selina chose to settle with this instead of probing her captain. Doing so might challenge her captain in the test of memories.
This time, she exited the room successfully.
She tucked her cold hands in the pockets of her coat and headed upstairs.
Taking Madam Daly's words in mind, Selina left the building and turned for the Underground Shooting Club at 3 Zouteland Street.
She still had a few bullets that Old Neil gave her. All were kept in her coat's separate compartment.
It did not take long for her to expend them and afterwards took a trackless carriage.
Since she figured that divinations require medium to work, as displayed by Old Neil with an ICU.
She delayed her visit to the Divination Club and instead decided to meet her combat instructor, Gawain.
...