At 7:12 in the evening, corner table of Macadamian East Well of South-East District.
Klein checked his newly-bought wallet multiple times in secret, hoping the pounds would remain until he survived the night.
After this... I promise after this, I'll ask Selina for Ms. Lovers...
"Excuse me ladies and gentlemen. Can I take your orders?" At that moment, a woman in a tailcoat and white gloves suddenly came to their seats and asked.
She had a dark hair and was prepared to take notes with her fountain pen.
Selina glanced anxiously at Klein, noticing his eyes constantly lingering on his lap. Oh Klein...
"Yes we'll take...." Melissa listed everyone's orders. Of course, she deliberately chose an affordable one, without desserts in mind as those are added expenses.
But Klein, saw the modesty of their list. Instantly gave him conflicting thoughts that stirred his mind. He had the compensation for hiring a detective, there's also the need to buy expensive materials. His savings right then will totally be important.
He can't lose another few pounds.
It's only this once... Klein reluctantly reconciled as he drew a silent breath and began ordering himself, "I'll have this, and this..."
He chose a couple of dishes, some were mildly pricy while others are deemed affordable. Ranging from fillets, tenderloins, steaks and greens. Selina and his siblings are immediately torn between bafflement and apprehension.
"Klein... you're going to eat all of that?" Benson asked worriedly.
"Or afford that?" Melissa's voice followed closely.
When the waitress left, Klein had a knowing smile as he finally withdrew his wallet. He told everyone, "This isn't for me alone, I brought all you here didn't I? It's only best to return with a bloated stomach from a paid meal."
Although his heart wrestled with his mind earlier, Klein found a momentary reason to slightly loosen.
With that said, he sneaked in a glance to Melissa's side, where Selina is seated. She was smiling wearily, eyes reflecting him as her face softened.
Dummy, you didn't have to do all of this... Is what etched in her expression. Klein lightly scoffed it off by grinning faintly and reclining back to his chair.
Several minutes later, they each saw plates being brought to their table that was draped with a cloth of white, and red decor patterns. Caramelized goat tenderloin, fish fillet, gravied steak, chicken and apple gumbo, spring rolls and pillow tarts, Desi pie for desserts.
Throughout the rest of the evening, Klein swallowed his worries and stuffed it with what he loves, foods and cuisines.
His fork and knife danced to the rhythm of flavors and subtle glances to the enjoyment of his siblings and Selina. Because he remained fixed on the moment, and not the issue of a torn wallet, all of them got to be at ease.
Inside, Melissa wanted to taste varied dishes as well, but eluded in constant financial apprehension. She stayed modest as even with Benson, their allowance could only cover normal staples.
Seeing her embrace her portions. Klein felt lightweight in his chest. He then turned to see Benson, who's slowly taking bites while also bickering in-between his gulps.
Are those... red color from the tip of her hair? But Klein wasn't paying too much attention to it. Fascinating...
He noticed how indiscernible it is without close inspection. Perhaps in a daze while gazing at Selina openly did he saw subtle traits on her eyes and behavior. All thanks to this chance
It will likely be unpleasant to his savings, but the cost was clearly worthwhile.
Then when it was time to leave, Klein's face paled a little a he bitterly let go of three whole pounds to the receptionist.
...
It was eleven when they got home. In order, all of them went to the washroom, with Selina being agreed to head first.
In less than half an hour, she called out Melissa to be the next, then afterwards went straight to the guest room after bidding Benson and Klein goodnight.
The moonlight glow was casted off by the dark skies. Engulfing the streets in total darkness, driven only away by the streetlamps reflected from the puddled road.
Upon changing to her night gown, Selina walked over to retrieve a paper bag and brought it close to the sleeping cat by the drawer.
"Falacy, have you eaten yet? I brought fish fillet and beef for your dinner!" she said in a hushed tone.
The black feline whiffed the air and was snapped awake by the contents of the bag. Reluctantly stretching, it leaped off for the bowl Selina had placed on the floor.
"Phew alright, now time to compile today's happenings..." Selina stood up and took the fountain pen and notebook from her drawer.
However, before writing anything, she placed them all on the table and briefly left for the kitchen, returning back with a cup of heated milk minutes later.
"Someone's still in the washroom, I believe Klein was the last one to enter?" She muttered to herself.
After lowered the cup down, she took the fountain pen next to her and began to write her day.
...
In the span of seven minutes, she had done three paragraphs. Which was lengthy compared to her previous entries.
All because of Klein and Alger... right, I still have to review the documents Yesir gave me, about the topic of Sea of Ruins and the Forsaken Land of the Gods myth...
Thud! Thud!
While lost his her thought, Selina suddenly jolted by two light knocks on her door.
"Who is it?" she reflexively answered.
Across the door pane, Klein's voice muffled through the door, "It's me."
"Oh." Slightly surprised, Selina briskly closed her notebook shut and went for the door to twist it open.
Klein was there, standing with collar slightly unbuttoned. He seemed flustered by something as he can't looked at her directly.
So disorganized for someone who's so capable and cautious... Selina's eyes droop in discontent. She extend her hand out for shirt and started fixing it.
Klein was startled at first, but slowly, he just let it happen.
"Why are you still up?" Selina asked without retracting her eyes away from her hands. "You said you'll be busy tomorrow. So why not get a proper rest?"
Pulling up the courage within him, Klein waited until Selina was done and some distance from her did he fished out a silver pocket watch from his pajama.
"Here."
"A watch?" Selina tilted her head slightly.
"I figured you would need it. Since... as you know, there can't always be wall clocks around everywhere you go." Klein faced her as she looked at the watch in daze.
Then quickly, he added, "I hope the appearance suits your taste."
A silver... pocket watch... for me? Selina's head lifted up, her eyes reflected Klein staring at her.
"...So?" Klein smiled awkwardly a little.
After nearly ten seconds, Selina took the pocket watch from Klein's hand with both of her palms. She gazed at it, even caressing it with her right thumb before finally smiling back,
"It looks beautiful..."
Then, in the silhouette of casted by the dim glow of the gas lamps, her shadow reached from Klein's face for just for a split-second, then immediately pulling away right after.
"Thank you."
After that, the atmosphere instantly became tensed. Klein's face was burning while Selina deliberately looked away.
It was only when the latter spoke did the dense air broke, "I'll... go ahead and sleep now."
Woo!
At that moment, a sinister wind blew at them without warning. The light from the corridor lamp turned a dark green and Selina stopped halfway from closing.
Sensing this, Klein snapped from his stupor and subconsciously grabbed Selina closely. His instinct drove him to breach into the room and close the door. At the same time, he tap his left molar twice.
"Where is your revolver?" he turned his head to the door while asking Selina.
"At the drawer." Selina instantly left his embrace, tap her left molar twice, and ran for the revolver along the way. Just two seconds in and she quickly started aiming.
In their vision, a face suddenly protruded from the door. It was a translucent face without any eyes or nose. All it had was a mouth!
"Do not fire." The face with a mouth spoke. Noticing Selina's intent.
It can talk? Selina remained fixated at pointing her revolver.
"What do you want?" Klein spoke in a deep voice.
The face chuckled.
"I'm Daly."
Daly? Spirit Medium Daly? The Spirit Medium Daly who was sent to the Backlund diocese? Selina raised her brows in doubt.
Klein spoke warily, "Madam Daly?"
"I know that this method of visiting you is a little rude. I should've given you a warning so you could make the necessary preparations. But it isn't convenient for me to meet you right now, and so, I can only communicate with you using this little guy." The translucent face laughed.
"Wait, I only came here for Klein..." Then, facial-less face turned to Selina with a peculiar grin. "Ms. Roy is in the same roof? Have I interrupted something?"
Even though the voice is different and jarring, the manner of speech is indeed Madam Daly's style. The abilities of a Spirit Medium sure are incredible... Klein reflected wistfully. He calmly interjected, cleared his throat and said,
"Selina is staying here until Captain secures a place for her to settle. Preferably near our department. So Madam, what is it that you want to talk about?"
"Are you sure?" the spirit probed teasingly.
Selina slowly lowered the revolver and gathered herself from the floor.
Seeing this from the corner of his eye. Klein retracted away and pressed, "I came to check on her."
"Hmm... alright. If I were you, I would first seal the bedroom with spirituality. Otherwise, your family members might think of that you two have a guest." The translucent face quipped, "Heh heh, you need not be so cautious. I came back to Tingen in secret because of Dunn's letter. You know that a Nighthawk cannot leave the area they are assigned to at will."
"The Captain's letter?" Selina adjusted her revolver's safety cap.
"Dunn and I are both Beyonders that started with the Tingen Nighthawks. We have always maintained a good relationship. Last Thursday, yes, Thursday, he sent me a letter and mentioned Klein." The translucent face turned to him. "He said that you emulated the maxim of a Mystery Pryer, came up with a set of rules for a Seer, and claimed that it was effective in helping you grasp your potion. From then on, you no longer hear sounds and see visions that you shouldn't. Dunn said that it was similar to what I did.
"Heh heh, are you not going to seal the room? I personally do not mind your brother and sister misunderstanding..." the translucent face said at an adequate pace.
I see, so that's the reason... Indeed, she's Madam Daly... Selina heaved a sigh of relief, closed her drawer and walked slightly over.
At the same time, Klein asked if she had any Holy Night Powder. Receiving a negative reply, he briefly told the spirit, "I'll be back."
He briskly opened the door, passed right through the translucent face. A couple of seconds later, he returned to see the spirit conversing with Selina.
"Mhm, he becomes quite stingy at times, like when a kid suddenly..."
The translucent face chuckled but quickly stopped, "Oh speak of the devil..."
What are you talking about? Klein wearily smiled and snickered in, quickly putting up a wall of spirituality with Selina's silver dagger.
Watching this, Selina took the chance to turn to the spirit with crossed arms, and asked the protruding face, "So... Madam Daly, what else did the Captain talk about in the letter?"
"He only expressed his own confusion and said that he seemed to understand something — yet, he couldn't describe it clearly. He hoped to get my opinion on the matter," Daly said with the help of the face without eyes. "And Moretti, when I read the letter this morning, I knew that you aren't as clueless as you pretend to be. Heh heh, I think that you have deduced the 'acting method!'"
"That's the reason you came looking for me?" Klein neither confirmed nor denied her statement.
So she knows it as well... Selina calmly made a judgement.
Daly's translucent face revealed a slight smile.
"Yes. It also seems that you shared it with Ms. Roy."
"I believe that we should be honest with one another. Mr. Moretti, I know that you have deduced the acting method, and you also know that I grasp the 'acting method' as well. Sigh. But what's making me unhappy is that I used nearly two years to understand it—yet, you've only been a Beyonder for one and a half months."
Klein fell silent for a while after hearing Daly. He then smiled honestly.
"That's because I have you as my role model."
He wanted to say that he was "standing on the shoulders of giants," but ultimately decided not to give the Emperor Roselle a chance to appear in the conversation.