At seven in the evening.
In her night gown. Selina adjusted the pot she held and pushed the door's bell.
Almost instantly, a chime rang. Footsteps rustled behind the pane and following that was the turning of the knob.
Martha, who's dress if also prepared for sleep, saw Selina by their porch.
"Oh dear." she said delightfully. "How kind of you to pass by."
Selina smiled.
"I'm just here to share some of supper." her hands raised the pot. "I tried recreating your dish, Seared Mutton. But to my expertise, the taste is incomparable."
"Nonsense. Come inside, we're just about to have dinner." Martha sidestepped and gestured for Selina to enter.
Selina, who's familiar with the lady's probing, gave up insisting a polite rejection.
The concept of rejection doesn't seem to apply to this woman.
I wonder if this was the reason why Mr. Heath fell for lady Martha. I mean being caring... Selina mused internally and secretly caressed her stomach.
Prior to this, she didn't bother having a dinner, so it left her starving due to today's combat training.
Within a one hour window, Selina had a Roasted Rib glazed with smoky-flavored sauce and a few side dishes. Afterwards she played with Odelle through what the little girl calls "building cottage."
It is the use of disposable small wooden spoons used for ice creams to build simple shacks.
Without any tools from the Earth. Selina was left using pressure joints, the result was far from the intended design, but it did brought smile for little Odelle.
Returning on the porch, she said to Martha genially, "Thank you again for having me Mrs. Heath."
"No need for gratitude dear. It's nice to have visitors sometimes, or perhaps make it often if it's a gentle and kind lady such as yourself. It is truly disappointing to not have you apart of our family." replied Martha, her voice ladened with sweet humor.
Selina smiled wearily before suddenly turning bitter.
"What's wrong?" caught by this change, Martha grew concerned.
"Mrs. Martha..." Selina's voice trailed off. Then, she added, "Could you do me a favor?"
Martha sensed a peculiar tone in her voice, prompting her to quietly listen.
At last, Selina said, "Do not interact with strangers other than the people you're intimately familiar. Please... At least, just for a week."
Considering the Nighthawk's proficiency against supernatural things, justified by their immediate reaction to the vampires chasing her and the operation with Ray Bieber. Her trust in them wasn't based shallowly.
Not only that, Klein who is the only Seer of her department, a unit highly skilled in tracking, had been proactive in beyonder cases. If the progress is trouble-free, then perhaps expect a result within just a week.
A week for them to be cautious and stay alert. It's not too hard to ask of them right? Selina sighed inwardly. Preparing for the questions to arise upon asking this.
However, surprisingly, Martha was calm. Her expression did not contort to confusion or anger.
"Alright." she said with a smile. "Then in exchange, promise to stay safe as well and be aware of strangers."
She lifted Selina's hand and draped both her palms to it, her faintly wrinkled face softened.
Selina was relieved.
After returning the gesture, she nodded and subsequently bade farewell.
With the settled task of warning the Heath family of an incoming danger. Selina redirected her attention, confirm whether or not Morroy Roundel have relations with the black figure.
...
The next morning.
After a greeting and exchange of pleasantries. Selina was just about to proceed when Rozanne's voice hindered her.
"Don't you wonder how's Klein this day?" the female receptionist gave a sly grin.
Hearing this, Selina paused.
I guess she's right... After the welcome celebration the day before, it does left one to wonder... after some thought, she turned to her and asked.
"Right, how's Klein today?"
Rozanne's smile grew delightful. "He was here minutes before you. But he was called for a meeting in the basement, discussing past missions and challenges. A routine held every Thursday."
A meeting of Nighthawks... Every Thursday... Selina nodded.
"I'll see if I can greet him if we met on the way." she replied in a pleasant tone before excusing herself.
At the interception. The chilling air brought by the confines of the hall made her shivered involuntarily.
In reaction to this, Selina closed her body. Crossing her hands and placing them to her shoulders
She remained fixed to her direction and soon reached the alchemy room.
Before procuring the remaining potions she had in mind, those that didn't made in time, Selina first inspected the vials of her earlier work.
These had names pasted to it by using a sticky paper.
Setting aside her coat, she rolled up her sleeves and began distilling water from a nearby container.
...
In the afternoon, in Viscount Glaint's luxurious mansion.
Audrey, with her maidservant in tow, followed etiquette and passed her hand to the host. She looked at him giving her hand a quick peck.
"Your beauty accentuates my salon," Glaint first gave a compliment as usual. Then, he lowered his voice and said, "That lady is already here. She's a Beyonder and also an author."
"Author?" Audrey asked casually as she observed Glaint's reaction.
Subsequently, she didn't have to mind the presence of her maidservant, Annie, since they chatted about ordinary topics.
Glaint straightened his body and chuckled.
"Yes, I believe that you have read her works in the past. She wrote the book, Stormwind Mountain Villa, which was highly acclaimed for the past two months."
"I enjoyed that book, especially the calm Lady Sissi," Audrey replied with a faint smile.
Meanwhile, she was rolling her eyes at her own hypocrisy inwardly.
That was because her latest hobby had nothing to do with novels. She had stopped reading Stormwind Mountain Villa a month ago, her progress stopped at the one-third mark.
Ever since she joined the Tarot Club and acquainted herself with the powerful Fool, and became a real Beyonder, she had been immersing herself in mysticism knowledge. She had been systematically learning about psychology and had lost interest in other activities.
Smiling, Glaint guided Audrey to a sofa in the hall.
"I am sure that Miss Fors Wall will leave a good impression on you, for she is just like Stormwind Mountain Villa's Lady Sissi—calm, intellectual, and lazy.
"Also, my dear Miss Audrey, are you going to play the piano for us later? That is the greatest compliment for a novel and literature."
Audrey looked at the side profile of Glaint's face. His expression, tone, and body language all conveyed his intention to flaunt himself.
He wants to use me to show off... Audrey thought to herself, as if she had just met this good friend of hers for the first time.
She maintained her elegant smile and said, "My music teacher, Mr. Vicanell the pianist, said that my standards have deteriorated recently and needs more practice."
"Alright." Glaint was just about wondering what to say when he suddenly saw a lady taking desserts from the long table. "Audrey, this is Miss Fors Wall, the author of Stormwind Mountain Villa."
Audrey looked over. Miss Fors Wall was about 23 years old and 1.65 meters in height. She was wearing a pale yellow dress with frills. Her brown hair was slightly curly. She looked over with her pale blue eyes as Glaint introduced her while wearing a smile that appeared ruminative.
Audrey had noticed several small details in the less than three seconds of observation.
There are faint traces of yellow on Miss Fors's fingers... She likes cigarettes...
There are obvious calluses on her fingers at spots used to hold a pen, fitting her identity as an author...
Her arm movements show that she has decent strength. This is not a quality expected of an author, unless she is passionate about exercising. Perhaps she was born like this, or she might have engaged in some other occupation in the past...
She displayed her calm, rational, and precise style in Stormwind Mountain Villa. This must be linked to her previous occupation...
Her eyes and emotions are relaxed, giving me the feeling that she is looking down on me and Glaint. Is this the psychological superiority a Beyonder has over an ordinary human?
If it was a coincidence that Glaint discovered her identity as a Beyonder, then she should feel some anxiety and uneasiness. After all, she is unable to guess his reaction and what he would do next since the unknown always brings about fear.
This indicates that she was the one who voluntarily approached Glaint, having learned about our hobbies. She must be quite confident about what is going to happen next...
Why would a Beyonder approach Glaint? Does she need monetary support, or the Beyonder ingredients stored in the treasury? Or perhaps she needs help with something...
At this moment, Glaint was introducing Audrey to Fors.
"Madam, this is the Miss Audrey that I mentioned previously, the most sparkling gem in all of Backlund. Her father is Count Hall, a trusted aide of His Majesty and respected member of the cabinet.
"Good afternoon, Madam Fors. Stormwind Mountain Villa is still seated by my bed to this very day." Audrey adhered to the rules of the aristocracy and curtsied.
But she added silently, That's because I haven't finished reading it even after a month...
Fors returned the niceties simply and said, "Good afternoon Miss Audrey, your beauty sure leaves an impression. I think that I already have an idea for my next novel. Heh, Viscount Glaint said that you have exceptional talents in music."
They merely exchanged praises as they were in public.
After watching Fors continue towards the dining table as she targeted a cream cake, Audrey retracted her gaze and headed to the living room with Glaint.
She recalled the details she had seen just now and tried to figure the motives of the woman. She wanted to gain some advantage in future conversations.
As she took a step forward, Audrey, who was as calm as an objective Spectator, stepped on her dress and nearly fell.
At this moment, her personal maidservant, Annie, caught her, allowing her to maintain her grace.
"Miss, the unique design of this dress means that you cannot walk too quickly," Annie pulled close to Audrey's ear and reminded her softly.
"I know." Audrey nodded in reply, her face flushed red.
I was too absorbed in observing others that I forgot to look at where I was placing my foot... she silently complained in resentment.
Audrey met with many other esteemed authors, critics, and musicians for the rest of the salon, always maintaining her sweet, elegant smile.
Finally, after her facial muscles began turning sore, she saw Viscount Glaint's signal.
She waited for a few minutes and gave the excuse of needing to use the washroom. She lifted her dress and stood up slowly to leave the salon.
After confirming that there was no one tailing her, she made her way to the study on the first level and told her maidservant Annie, "I have something to discuss with Glaint. Guard the door for me. Do not let anyone enter."
"Alright." Annie didn't feel that the request was strange, for she knew that Audrey and Viscount Glaint shared similar hobbies and would often discuss mysticism in a private setting.
Audrey entered the study and locked the door. She saw Glaint seated behind the desk while playing with a pen. Fors Wall was standing in front of the bookshelf, nonchalantly flipping through a book.
"I'll introduce you both again. Madam Fors, a true Beyonder." Glaint put down his pen and walked over.
"Is that so?" Audrey intentionally exaggerated her feelings of doubt.
Fors returned the book to its original position and turned around with a smile.
"It looks like I have to prove myself."
She walked over to the door and extended her right palm, grabbing the handle of the door.
Suddenly, Audrey's vision blurred. It was as if she witnessed Madam Fors turn incorporeal as she passed through the door.
She was shocked. Concentrating, she realized that Fors was no longer standing in her original position.
A few seconds later, the door handle turned. The locked door was opened just like that. Fors Wall smiled as she walked in from the outside. Audrey's maid, Annie, who was not far away, didn't seem to be aware of what had happened.
"What a magical ability!" Glaint exclaimed.
Audrey took in a deep breath and said, "I have no more doubts."
At the same time, the ability Fors had displayed allowed Audrey to confirm what her true motives were, since acquiring money or materials would be no trouble for a Beyonder like that.
Glaint doesn't have any Beyonder guards... Fors wants to use the statuses and resources available to Glaint and I to achieve something? Audrey tried her hardest to act as a Spectator.
Fors chortled and said, "Let us interact with honesty. We do not have much time left."
"I was once a doctor at a clinic and was given an opportunity to become a Beyonder. That was more than two years ago."
"I hope that you can do something for me, and the reward I will give you is allow you to join the ranks of true Beyonders. I will sell you the formula of a particular Sequence potion and its corresponding materials."
Upon hearing such a promise, Glaint could not help but ask, "What do you want us to do?"
"I have a partner who's in jail now, awaiting the final verdict. I hope that you can save her, regardless of the methods used," Fors said simply.
Audrey frowned.
"Madam Fors, the abilities you have demonstrated should be better suited for the task..."
Fors laughed and shook her head.
"No, that is not the case. She cannot pass through the places that I can. I can only go in regularly and chat with her.
"Also, I think that risking my life to save her is not a good idea. Life is short, but there is much for us to do."
Audrey observed Fors's face and body language. She considered her words before asking, "I understand. What crime is your partner being locked up for?"
Fors's expression immediately turned a little awkward.
"My partner is a very respected person who can make others comply from the bottom of their hearts. She is of good character and kind. Well... Uh... It was that the means she used to convince a thug was a little over the top..."