Upon realizing that she had been asleep the entire interrogation.
Selina stood frozen before Dunn, who is seated behind his desk.
How...?
During her exchange, Dunn Smith was entirely normal. With the capability and awareness to talk and converse.
Is this a power of a beyonder from anothe pathway? Selina subconsciously blurted the suspected cause inwardly.
W-Which pathway did it belong...? What will happen if it was used in a fight?
Suddenly, she recalled how Deimsfel had lose consciousness mid-fight.
Could it be...? That Mr. Dunn was the one who helped me during that time?
It's a possibility. However, given that they've traveled a distance, even arriving at a secluded area, whether it was deliberate or not, Dunn Smith wouldn't able to cover it at such a short time.
Perhaps... Another beyonder in the area? One with abilities similar to Mr. Smith's pathway?
Dunn raised his head from the paper, looking entirely mundane, he smiled.
Selina joints shivered upon seeing this.
She quickly turned around and faced the door. Her impression of the captain spiraled.
It was too counterintuitive!
Her hand quickly pulled the handle, and left the room.
...
Seeing the lady's figure gets closed from the door. Dunn retracted his attention to the paper slip.
He believed that the lady's nerves were getting tensed. So to help her ease, he thought of an only way to placate her without being too awkward.
But from her expression, the effects sidestepped from intended result.
Dunn sighed and resumed regardless.
...
In front of the office.
From the rustled footsteps and the door's clapped shut.
Klein, in his waistcoat and black trouser. Draped with the same colored coat, saw a beautiful lady with white hair briskly walked out of the room and closed the entrance.
Their two eyes met.
It was familiar, as if they had met before.
Selina and Klein went silent. His head lowered to face hers.
"Uh... Hi." Selina said faintly.
"...Hi." Klein returned with awkwardness.
Wait... What am I doing? Selina snapped from her daze and quickly assumed her usual poise.
"My name is Selina Roy. You must be Mr. Moretti? A pleasure to meet you."
She revealed an impeccable, courteous, soft smile.
With his hand pressed on his abdomen, Klein bent his body slightly and replied. "Klein Moretti, please to meet you as well."
Klein... He must be the gentleman that have saved the whole company... Selina recalled Dunn's words before they entered.
Klein resumed his initially position and said. "The Alchemy room is this way, I will accompany you."
The gentleman led Selina to a secret door after passing the Chanis Gate. It was nailed with steel plate over its surface, being illuminated by the gentle flames of the elegant gas lamps attached to the walls.
When he opened it, it revealed a classical room furnished with shelves that either held vials or small crates filled with materials.
A long tables in the room had been moved aside to open up a large space in the center of the room with a medium sized black board with written words hanged to a wall.
The language felt like it invoke the inherent nature with its letters.
Selina, though illiterate, could recognize the letter without comprehension. An exemplary image to warn Selina by her mother.
This are... Hermes...! Her heart palpitate with shock.
So it's mandatory to learn these language when becoming a beyonder...
Shifting her gaze, only now did she notice that room currently had a visitor seated on a high-back chair, facing another.
With a short golden-brown hair. The man's gaze somewhat exudes tranquility and unease toward the onlooker. The collars of his shirt and windbreaker were put up, and his entire chin was hidden within the shadows.
Klein looked at Selina and said politely. "Ms. Roy, the Church of Evernight Goddess would like to make a simple test.
"Rest assured, it's safe. I will be right outside."
Selina watched as Klein closed the door as he exited. Leaving her with the man with an air of mystique.
This must be a deacon... The act felt like it will be an examination on whether I'm safe or not. Hopefully they won't find anything related to Milo from me.
The man casted his gaze to her. Eyes glimmer in a gentle darkness.
"My name is Crestet Cesimir, a believer of the Evernight Goddess. Just like the gentleman had said, please remain calm."
Calm... I'm very much calm right now! Selina was betrayed by her unease.
"Sit over here." Crestet gestured for the high-back chair to his front.
Selina nodded and proceeded with the instruction.
By the side of his leg was a suitcase made of silver. It was about the size of a violin case.
Seems like an appropriate size to hold a sword. Selina commented inwardly.
Crestet repositioned his body and watched Selina intently.
Selina felt the room became ominous.
The light casted by the plume flickered and vanished. The rich darkness consumed the surroundings and surged toward Selina.
Her eyes wavered, drooping ever so slightly as if time had struck her exact biological clock.
However, tension took over her mind as her hand clenched her dress tightly. It was like a midnight insomnia, locking her from rest.
The silence became apparent in this peaceful "night" as Selina heard a soft drop of a running facet that wasn't closed properly. Distant echoes of conversation from civilians dining in their homes, and brisk steps of small animals creeping in the corners.
Besides that, there were no additional images, voices, or ravings that came after.
"...Interesting." Crestet simply said.
The light from the gas lamps rekindled with illumination. Dispersing the urging darkness that had filled the room earlier.
Selina's nerves eased for exactly two seconds before Crestet reached for something.
He took out a silver pocket watch from the inner pocket of his black windbreaker and flipped it open.
Then, he attentively watched the second hand move.
Seeing that it had reached a certain segment. He returned the watch back and said. "I will now proceed to the next."
Selina fixed her pose from the chair, eyes attentive to what's about to happen.
She expected to be similar to the previous one, only with a more inducing to finally reveal her secrets.
However, what happened were bizarre to her surprise.
Crestet began humming her a melodic tune!
Riiiinnnggg! Raaannnnggg! Selina's auditory senses raved in a chaotic, static noise akin to a tv.
It was annoying, it was deafening, and most importantly it revoke her mind from forming any thoughts.
But for Selina, experienced with the occasional mild to moderate ravings from the dreamworld, immediately regained her foothold.
The ravings weren't prominent, each visit is deafening but reducible through forming thoughts, that is why whenever she acts normally in the dreamworld, her mind is already shifted into other matters.
However, seeing that this is an examination. It would raise suspicion of her quick recovery, which is why her face contorts at exact moments.
It was unknown when Crestet Cesimir had stopped singing. The noises in the alchemy room disappeared and the room was awash with tranquility and silence.
Crestet remained silent for awhile, looking intently at Selina before saying, "You're free to go. Return to this division's office to retrieve your belonging.
"Of course, if you ever had the desire to block my mouth, this is relatively normal." He added, his emotion concealed by his collar.
Resting on the chair for a bit as the examination did took a toll on her. Selina rose from her seat and said. "That would be unnecessary. I hope I'm not guilty of anything."
Crestet picked up his violin case and rose as well. "That will be determined later. Tomorrow, return for the results."
He then drew a counter-clockwise symbol over his chest, a prayer gesture of the Evernight Church.
Selina nodded and mirrored his action as she leveraged her distance to be the first to exit.
Seeing Klein patiently waiting by the door. Selina gave a light cough and said. "Could you please guide me back to Mr. Smith's office?"
Klein faced Selina, caught by a few moment before replying. "That won't be a problem."
The two returned to the cross-junction, passed the Chanis Gate before arriving back at Dunn Smith's office.
The door creaked open once again, and a beautiful silver-haired lady peeked first before entering.
Dunn noticed this and raised his head from the document and took out a paper slip from the inner pocket of his windbreaker.
"Here", he said in a gentle tone.
In contrast to this, Selina couldn't brush the uneasiness of Dunn's out-of-picture smile earlier in her first visit.
If I'm reading this correctly, Mr. Smith might've saw me tensed and because of that, smiled to placate me? Selina did her best to maintain her expression from twitching.
She mused inwardly. That's considerate... if the atmosphere wasn't too mysterious...
Selina took the paper slip and heard Dunn add, "The revolver was confiscated because you're unlicensed. Rest assured it will be kept here."
Right... Then what can I use to defend myself now? She sighed.
Dunn stopped for a moment, upon gathering his thoughts, resumed. "Give the paper slip to Rozanne, the receptionist. She should be at the surface."
Selina casted her gaze to her hand. The paper slip had only the captain's signature, nothing else.
After nodding briefly, she was about to exit the room before a voice tinged with recollection stopped her on the entrance.
"Wait." Dunn exclaimed.
Selina turned her head, a spike of familiarity hit her.
He resumed. "Ms. Roy, please return by tomorrow afternoon."
Mr. Cesimir already reminded me, but thank you regardless... Selina smiled slightly and nodded.
Then suddenly, she humored herself, Even if I didn't, unseen forces such as your dream pulling would compel me regardless...
She turned so as to prepare to leave when suddenly, Dunn's voice rang out once more.
"Ah. One last thing."
At this point, Selina was having major thoughts about her impression of Dunn Smith. A case dementia is at hand!
"Once you leave, tell Mr. Moretti to call Leonard Mitchell over to my office." Dunn said in a casual manner.
Selina could only nod regardless of Dunn's constant abruption.
After shifting herself to face outside, she turned her gaze slightly back to ensure that Dunn won't be adding anymore recollection.
Seeing that Dunn had returned to his paperwork, Selina heaved a sigh and exited the room.
...
Klein, in his waistcoat, saw Selina walked out, holding a paper slip by her right hand.
The silver-haired woman raised her head to face him and said. "Mr. Smith told me that when you see Mr. Mitchell, tell him to come to his office."
Klein's eyes reflected the lady, then nodded. "Alright, then let's head back to the surface."
The two proceeded to cross the conjunction, ladened with elegant lamps that served illumination onto the path.
While they walk, Selina had an urge to probe the silent Klein about the condition of their teammates.
However, she held back.
The official seemed rather at peace with his steps, prompting Selina to dismiss the thought.
Klein, with his eyes straight ahead. Kept an air akin to an official would.
The examination went smoothly and captain didn't tested her further. I should ask him about this later... He muttered inwardly to himself.
Soon, they reached the winding stairs and arrived at the building's hallway.
Klein led Selina to the receptionist, Rozanne.
She received her belongings consisting only of clothes folded in a paper bag.
So they have confiscated the knife and matches as well... A light breathe escaped her lips.
Retracting her gaze from the paper bag. Selina thanked the receptionist and the officer, leaving building afterwards.
She gestured for a trackless carriage to halt by the porch.
Along the way, her gaze were remained vacant. Staring blankly at the passing buildings
Upon arriving at Daffodil Street. She took a few pence from her wallet.
She then took the liberty of strolling across the street.
It was different. Apart from the familiar structure of the terrace houses, Selina felt a varied emotions welling within her.
Was that the end of it?
Can I now redirect my attention to pursuing a way back home?
Her hand subconsciously rose to touch her sun hat. Only to realized that she didn't wore it during the confrontation.
A sense of wilting shackles suddenly rose and slowly bloomed in her heart.