Rinne watched silently as Golden Steam descended the ladder. She was unsure what to do after he told her to assume that he was dead if he failed to respond in five minutes. She'd be lying to herself if that was the only thing that bothered her, but his expression as he disappeared was that of fear, anger, and longing.
How can someone in this unnatural situation feel such contrasting emotions? He was weird.
Or perhaps she was the weird one. Rinne turned to face the others remaining with her. Muller stood weakly, holding his actual hand to his face. Clinging to him was the little girl that he had brought along. She was struggling to keep herself from crying anymore of her dried-up tears.
It was sickening. They came here to assault some kind of monster that never once had proper documentation to prove it exists, and he chose to bring a defenseless child with him. There must not be a difference in the way adults from the Upper and Middle Core. Just twisted and cruel people to the end.
"You misunderstand, girl." Muller stared straight at Rinne, his dark eyes peering deeply into hers. She felt her skin crawl, and her back stiffened.
She was alone up here. The other woman, Kelly, was useless. She stood blankly at the door as if waiting for something to arrive. The only person she could trust was Golden Steam. Well, trust was putting too nicely. Her mother passed her on to him. She wanted to respect her mother's wish, but he himself has shown no sign of trustworthiness either.
"If you continue to look like that, you'll be easier to read than Gold—ahem—Axien." He gave a quick passing glance to Kelly, who paid his near slip of the tongue no mind. "I suppose that alone is enough proof that you are Rinara's child."
Rinne reached for the strange dagger that Golden Steam had given her. Muller's gaze grew sharper. It nailed Rinne in place as she felt it become difficult to breathe. He was supposed to be a Father of the Church, yet it was not radiance he gave off; it was the unyielding spirit of someone filled with hatred.
"You act as an observer," he continued, his gaze never softening. "Yet your eyes give away the curious nature of a foolish cat. But you fail to understand what is at stake."
"What are you talking about?" Rinne forced her voice to leave her mouth. To her, it sounded pathetic, but Muller gave a light chuckle. "You're brave, Margaret has told me that much. So, I'll spare you a long lecture, but I will warn you. Golden Steam has been through a lot since your mother's passing. He was close to healing, but then you showed up. Frankly, I don't like you. Golden Steam's eyes have never looked this way in years. So, if you dare to break him apart after his long recovery, I will kill you myself. This, I swear to the Goddess herself."
The moment Muller looked away, Rinne felt her lungs fill with air. She had no idea that she had been holding her breath for so long, but she felt better after hearing Muller speak. Sure, he was scary, but she could tell that he only meant to act to protect.
In a way, he and Margaret were almost the same person. They both seem to care deeply for Golden Steam. She placed a hand on her chest.
Their care and support, she could feel how much they were suffocating him.
"Ritair…" There was a weak voice that was followed by slow, heavy steps.
"Huh?" Rinne looked around. At some point, while Rinne was thinking to herself, strange music started playing. The medley was relaxing, almost entrancing. It reminded Rinne of the lounges she had sunk into, following an old friend of hers back in the Upper Core's orphanage.
Kelly, who was once standing still, slowly trudged her way towards the doorway as the music played. She muttered a name occasionally as she moved.
"Ritair…"
"So that's how the cowards are playing this," Muller said, then he looked down at Sara and muttered something to her that Rinne could not hear. She nodded and moved towards Rinne. "Girl. Watch over Sara."
Rinne choked on the words she wanted to say. How would she be able to protect anyone? Just before coming here, she embarrassed herself trying to mimic Golden Steam's movements. All she could do was run; in this room, there was nowhere to run.
Muller readied himself. He held out his metal arm, like a shielded katar; the metal spike that broke down the door shot out with a hiss of steam as Muller stood defensively. She could not see his face, but she could tell he was staring straight at Kelly, who crossed the doorway.
A hand reached out to her cheek, gently caressing it. "You are just a good girl, Kelly. Do you have the item?" Kelly nodded as she reached beneath her clothes and pulled out a strange-looking sheath. "I knew you could do it." The hand took the sheath from her and came into view.
Black hair that shimmered gently in the light. Green eyes that seemed to look down on both Rinne and Muller. A suit stylized in the same fashion as the rich men from the Upper Core. On his hip was a shiny rapier that looked as if it had a virgin edge. Rinne felt her blood boil, staring at this pompous man. But around his neck was a sword pendant; its presence alone made unease build up inside her chest. It was like looking at something that should not have existed, but Rinne didn't know why.
"Tsk!" Muller relaxed his posture as the man held Kelly tightly to him. "So, this is the face of the coward behind such an old-school method of controlling others. Where's the dagger?"
"Father Muller." The man spoke in a low tone filled with malice. His eyes flickered with anger, but he simply shrugged his shoulders and spoke smugly. "Honestly, I didn't need to use the dagger on this one. This woman was easy enough to control. But it does help to make her believe all that I want her to."
"So, a pretty boy who took over the role of the late Caballero is also a scumbag who preys on the weak. Color me surprised. What's next, you gonna tell me the sky is blue on the Upper Core?"
"Watch your tone when you speak to me, old man. My name is Ritair, the second seat in the Worshipers of the Void Spawn. Best you remember that while you rot in hell."
"Ritair, huh?" Muller straightened his back and cocked his head towards the man. "You look more suited to charming women at a lounge than running a section of the cult. But then again, a creep like you shouldn't be around women."
"Keep yapping, old man. You're just jealous that you have to overcompensate with that arm of yours."
Then, like outside the building with the guards, there was a sudden shift in everyone's actions. Sara grabbed tightly onto Rinne's leg while the look on Ritair's face grew fierce. The smug look in his eyes was no longer to be seen.
"That's right, you shit. Keep that look on your face," Ritair said as he pulled out his rapier. "I want that expression when I hang your head on my walls." The pendant around his neck emitted an eerie purple glow.
In the blink of an eye, he dashed towards Muller at inhuman speed. He looked like a purple blur as he thrust his blade towards Muller. Muller turned his back to him, his eyes tracing something that didn't exist, and guarded, allowing Ritair to aim straight for his back. Just before his blade hit, Muller turned at the last second and parried his strike.
"Heh," Ritair leaped back as he sized up Muller. "Can't fool the senses of an old bat, now can I?" He then ran around Muller and thrust forward again. Like last time, Muller parried and aimed a punch toward Ritair's head. He spun gracefully and ducked under him. Muller slammed his arm where Ritair once was, and Ritair swept the ground beneath him.
"Tch!" He moved back after his leg bounced off.
"What are you doing!?" Rinne shouted. "Why do you keep aiming at where he's not at?"
This provoked a glare from Ritair as he took off towards Rinne. Behind him, Muller struck the ground with his fist, hitting nothing. Rinne grabbed Sara tightly and dodged left. Ritair staggered forward with a shocked look on his face that was short-lived as Muller charged up behind him. He threw his metal arm out, his spike clashing against Ritair's rapier.
"Well, well," Muller said, pushing against Ritair. "You pulled a cowardly trick. Is it an artifact?" Ritair broke off and ran towards the wall. He kicked off the wall, sending him flying towards Muller. Muller blocked his attack, allowing Ritair to dash behind him, aiming for Rinne's head.
"Die!" He thrust his blade out. Rinne, still holding onto Sara, ran back towards the doorway. Just before his blade could strike her back, she dodged, rolling onto the ground with Sara in her arms.
"Sara, do it!" Muller shouted as Rinne watched a small ball get tossed into the doorway.
Sara moved her hands to cover Rinne's eyes. For a moment, Rinne's ears rang sharply as Sara's hands turned translucent. Then Rinne's body felt light as she was lifted into the air.
"Hold your tongues, both of you." Muller's voice had said as Rinne felt her body rapidly descend.