"No, you are not much of a god as far as I remember," Dongmei replied to Naxys's words.
Kihoko flew past Naxys, her dark angelic wings cutting through the air.
"…"
Naxys watched Kihoko leave toward Andreas, then turned her head back to Dongmei. "I see you are still as suicidal as your master, but I do not wish to entertain your desire, so…"
"So what? Don't you want to know the secrets my master has given me? For example, I know an earthen angel's name related to your way," Dongmei interjected, her voice proud and loud.
"Earthen, you say. It does not bother me to not know such an angel's name, but I would guess she has become lenient in what information she chooses to reveal."
Why would Mei tell her that? Is it important in this situation? How does it help against Aldric's madness, or is it meant to gain the favor of the Faunus goat? It is dying at this very moment. It will not consider the opinions of mortals or gods until it ensures its own survival.
"…"
"Very well. I will have to kill you now. Do not bother telling me this secret of hers. I will ask her myself later," Naxys said dismissively as she drew her longsword and struck down at Dongmei.
"Thank you," Dongmei said.
She parried the attack and leapt forward, her rapier bending as it slid across Naxys's exposed neck. She smiled and welcomed death at the hands of her master's rival.
Andreas leaned against a wall made of red bricks and covered his mouth. He breathed in and out heavily as the smell of vomit overwhelmed him.
He tried again to calm himself by controlling and slowing his breathing. He turned his head toward the sword, the four armed old man, and the decapitated knight.
Did I really go mad? Is this how it feels? How can I know what is real and what is not? Was the white haired knight some kind of crazed interpretation of a cop?
"Huh, ah, ahh." He tried to speak, but his voice came out barely audible and coarse. "Calm down. Calm down…"
Yeah, what was that thing that looked like me? Was it a demon? Did I actually commit and now I am dreaming in my last moments? Why would I dream of sitting alone at home when I was clearly worried about not committing in time? Oh God, am I really in hell? Ha ha.
As Andreas's breathing became calmer, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen patted his back.
Andreas turned toward the gentle voice and saw a woman with pale skin that looked soft to the touch and golden eyes like a tiger's. His messy thoughts stopped. He walked a few steps away as he admired her floral scent.
"Um, who are you?" he asked, blushing despite the pain on his face.
"I am Rummana, but I would like it if you called me Rumi, Sir Aldric," Kihoko answered with a wider smile that exposed her upper teeth as she leaned on her hip.
Andreas bit his finger and made a few strange expressions before speaking. "Sorry to say this, Rummana, but I am Andreas. I do not know who Aldric is."
Kihoko's eyes widened and her smile disappeared.
Oh. This is not good. Probably. Yes, he does not seem possessed, but Aldric is not exactly handsome, though cute in his own way. Can there really be someone who looks exactly like that madman?
"Oh. Well then, Sir Andreas. May I ask for your help?" Kihoko said, accepting that the omen she and Dongmei felt was definitely Andreas and not Aldric. She left the question of where Aldric was in this fallen town unanswered.
"Sure, I… but can I ask you something?" Andreas said, stopping himself from biting his finger again.
"Yes, but please be quick. I really need your help," she replied.
"Kihoko. What do you take me for? Wasting an ally's life to meet a madman. Pathetic," Naxys said as she appeared behind Kihoko.
Kihoko leapt behind Andreas. He stood there, shocked by the sudden appearance of the figure before him and annoyed by the gust of wind.
"…"
Naxys walked a few steps forward and stood so close that Andreas felt his personal space vanish.
Andreas looked past Naxys, avoiding eye contact. "Hi, sir. Can I help you?"
Kihoko held back her laughter and coughed instead upon hearing Andreas call Naxys sir.
Andreas turned toward Kihoko behind him. "Did I say something wrong?"
Naxys observed Andreas as he awkwardly questioned himself for addressing such a beautiful goddess as a man.
He did not seem to mean any disrespect. I cannot blame him. I am wearing a male knight's armor. But does my beauty not betray that I am a goddess?
"Andreas, do not worry," Naxys said just as Kihoko stopped laughing.
"Um, okay," Andreas replied as he turned toward Naxys.
"So, Kihoko, what about this man made you risk your life to meet him?" Naxys asked.
"Well, isn't it obvious? He has potential, and there is a small chance that he is a certain someone's fated," Kihoko answered.
Naxys immediately deduced that the certain someone was Mei, since Kihoko hated her enough to avoid saying her name. Fated was also a term Mei often used for her yet to be met husband.
"Are you sure? I thought someone like Mory or Vance would fit that description better," Naxys said.
Andreas stood awkwardly between them, too embarrassed to speak and distracted by imagined scenarios that only made sense if he were mentally sound.
"Yes, but none of them could produce such a large quantity of spirituality. This includes Jin and Buné."
"Do you have any other proof? Specifically, your contracts."
Kihoko looked at Andreas, then sighed. A paper appeared in her hand after a burst of golden flames. She extended it past Andreas toward Naxys.
Andreas stole a glance at the paper as Naxys took it. He could not read a single word. He then looked at Naxys and blushed at a beauty that made him question his sexuality. He turned to Kihoko, her cheeks red as she smiled. Then he noticed the black wings attached to her back.
…What? They look so real. Am I really crazy? Is this how it feels to lose the ability to distinguish between reality and imagination? Damn. I always thought I would go mad if I did not commit, but this feels too real..