Today's investigation led us back to where we fought both Henry and Ritair. While I was actually fighting for my life, Lilas said that Henry was toying with her. She said she never gave him a reason to attack.
I found that to be slightly odd considering that she was the one who cleaved one of his men in two. But then again, he never directly came after me either. What were the rules he operated by?
As much as I would have rather investigated alone, that was never in the cards for me. Sara was far too uncomfortable without me around at the chapel, though that meant very little as it was a direct order for her and Lilas to stay by my side while I investigated. Lilas was to serve as my shield. While she was competent, calling her a shield is like using bombs to save people.
To top it off, they were both dressed in their holy vestments. Sticking out like sore thumbs. Lucky for me, it was the middle of the day in the Outer Ring; therefore, there was hardly anyone around to bear witness to this strange gathering of people.
Rinne was a surprise. After Lilas sent her away yesterday and she heard what befell us, she was determined to come with us. I wanted to turn her away, but with Sister Claire sitting with us, I figured saying yes would have been better than being guilt-tripped into letting her come with us.
She was dressed in her battle attire, the same outfit that Rinara wore when she was younger and smaller around the chest. I wonder how Rinne would feel if I told her that outfit stopped fitting Rinara when she was around thirteen?
"They're gone?" Sara poked her little head around some pipes with her weapon drawn. She turned around, wide-eyed, pointing toward a spot where he hid the bodies of the thugs that were killed. There was a slightly gloomy look in her eyes.
Honestly, a better question to ask was why she was interested in the bodies.
Sara reached into her pocket and pulled out a small wallet.
"…"
"What's that look for?" Rinne said, looking up at me.
"Nothing."
It was probably just my imagination, but I got the feeling that Sara might be looking for information on the men who belonged to the gang that forced her mother to kill herself.
"Of course the bodies are gone." Lilas shattered the serious atmosphere. She skipped towards Sara, making a peace symbol with her left hand as she stabbed her massive blade into the ground with her right. The ground shook a little as her blade tore through the ground as if a knife through butter. "The church bears the responsibility to clean the messes of the dead cult members to keep the public at ease."
Rinne flinched a little at the sight. "That's…not normal." She muttered.
"Yeah…she definitely isn't." I agreed with Rinne.
"I-I see." Sara tried to step away from Lilas, but she was too slow to escape her grasp. Lilas pulled her into her arms and nuzzled her cheek. "Mother Lilas…stop…"
"I told you to call me Big Sister Lilas."
"Golden Steam…" Sara looked at me with pleading eyes.
"Lilas, stop playing around," I said.
We came to this alley for a reason, yet it seems like she was the only one who had forgotten. Her fight drew the most questions, but unfortunately, investigating it might take a little longer than I had hoped.
The rope that swung from atop the roof was nowhere to be seen. Maybe the church's shadows removed it during cleanup, or Henry and the person with him removed it themselves.
Lilas straightened herself and released her hold on Sara. "So, why are we here?" She tilted her head.
I placed a palm to my face as I turned around, facing the entrance to the alley. As I did, I caught a glimpse of a familiar face crossing the entrance to the alley. Her golden hair trailed behind her, stopping in place. She turned around, poking her head into the alley.
Hanna's emotionless green eyes stared at me as she flashed a charming smile and spoke in a lovely tone. "Oh!" She fully stepped into the entrance of the alley. "It's the cutie from yesterday."
Lilas stepped next to me with the grace of a holy mother worthy of the title. Sara stood on the other side of me. Both she and Lilas gave a gentle bow.
"Is she the one you met with yesterday?" Lilas spoke in a low voice. "She's rather cute-looking."
I felt a hole being burned into the back of my head by the sole person left behind me. I chose not to react to it as I returned Hanna's smile with one that was more charming.
This was a stroke of luck I'd rather not waste. As a victim of Ritair, she might be the key to finding him.
I approached Hanna, wrapping my arm around her slender frame trapped behind oversized clothing. Remembering how she looked without it caused me to grow a little flustered, so I shook the thoughts out of my head before continuing.
"Hanna, are you currently seeing anyone?" I asked.
"Disgusting," Rinne said in a low growl.
"Hehe," Hanna giggled. "Oh, man…if I knew I would one day get hit on by a cute guy like you, I would have waited to find a man." Hanna smiled and then stuck out her tongue. "Just kidding. You're cute, but you seem a little desperate. And you have a rose at your side already with two budding flowers."
"Deserved," Rinne said smugly.
"Sorry, lady, but I have my eyes on another man," Lilas said.
Ouch. Triple punch to the gut. Thank heavens Sara is too young to understand what's going on. I wouldn't survive a final blow to the ego.
"Aw…" Hanna pushed herself close to me. "Now I feel bad. Maybe I'll convince Mira to give you a happy ending." She winked. "You don't seem like the desperate guys that usually try to hit on us."
"A happy ending?" Sara asked.
Rinne rushed to cover Sara's ears as she glared at me.
"Pervert," she said, averting her gaze.
There was really no winning with her, was there?
Hanna then pulled away. "To answer your question, yes, I am seeing someone. A wonderful man by the name of Ritair."
Lilas's expression went blank as Rinne's stiffened. Lilas had reason to harm him due to him ordering Kelly to shoot her, and Rinne was the only other person here whom he fought against. If either one of these two girls reacted to his name, then I would lose this only chance at a clear lead.
I couldn't question her yesterday because Mira sent her away to talk to me in private. Given how overprotective Mira is of her, this is my only chance to get to talk to Hanna out in the wild like this.
I turned to the girls, making sure that Hanna couldn't see my face, and gave them a look that told them to shut up.
"I would love to hear more details about him." I turned to face Hanna. "The head host of the Brass Light; I heard he's very popular with the ladies."
"Yup, and I got to be the one he chose." On her face was the innocent smile of the ignorant. It made me sick to the bone that she seemed to care this much for a man who only used her.
"Say," I said, hiding my anger, "let's have lunch. I'm paying."
"Okay!" She clasped her hands. "I know just the place."