In the basement.
Selina walked a linear path until she stumbled upon Dunn Smith, in his dark windbreaker, making his way to the stairwell.
She took on a courteous smile and greeted, "Good afternoon captain."
"Good day to you as well", Dunn replied, nodded as he tucked his hands in his coat.
After a bit of pleasantry, he suddenly raised a matter, "The Awwa Police had visited Morroy Roundel yesterday. I assume you have seen them?"
Yesterday, after coming home from her "merciful" training. Selina had come across a few blue-capped officers standing by the porch of her neighbor, Mr. Morroy Roundel.
The three officers where invited inside and only after did she finished her routine did the three of them left.
There were no disputes and Morroy did not walked out of the house.
Selina assumed everything was alright and felt embarrassed to say that she herself was being nosy of others.
She shook it off and ended the day by testing her painkiller and quick visit of the dreamworld.
Returning back. Selina affirmed it by saying, "Yes. Three blue-capped officers went ahead for inspection."
"At first, without prior notice. The three officers only intends to proceed with an examination", Dunn calmly clarified.
"Their task was simple. Check if he was indeed lacerating himself or not."
Selina nodded, her intention was genuine. Providing help doesn't come with expected returns.
Her goals were all required to be held in the mysterious dreamworld as she could just task her believers with ease. At this moment, what she could do now is to just practice and become knowledgeable of the beyonder world.
Digest her potion and achieve a stable mind to prepare for her departure once Mr. Fool have recovered.
Any subsequent events were only fillers. She can chose to advance but that would invite risks and staying in the Nighthawks is much safer while letting her other identity do the heavy lifting.
In silence of her recounts. Dunn added, "They discovered his left arm was ladened with cuts. With this, officers confined him into rehabilitation inside of his house. They would frequent his condition to ensure his safety."
Selina smiled, "I'm glad to hear that. But, did they find any reasons as to why he's attempting such a thing?"
Dunn shook his head gently, "His reasons were ambiguous. However he insisted on being confined in his residence in exchange that he would cooperate.
"Furthermore, Morroy's identity is... quite interesting."
"Interesting?" Selina almost tilted her head.
Dunn lowered his gaze, seemingly at a thought that lasted for a few seconds.
He lifted his head then said, "Follow me to my office."
...
The door swung open.
Dunn was the first to enter and directly turned for his table.
After entering as well, Selina closed the entrance and proceeded to face the captain.
"Oh I forgot", Dunn suddenly blurted out.
He pointed his right index finger toward the dangling rope, just on the corner and said, "This is a rope that connects to the upper floor. It is present in every room here in the basement. If you require assistance, simply turn the bell for a chime and help will arrive."
"Signaling bell... Mhm okay", Selina nodded.
From the drawers of his desk, Dunn produced two lengthy papers. These seems to be documents.
"Here."
Selina received these two papers and quickly saw a sketched portrait of a man, followed by a series of descriptions.
The man had dark hair, paled face and a solemn expression.
It was hard to distinct the features, but Selina slowly recognized the gentleman.
It was Morroy Roundel, her neighbor.
As she skimmed the documents Dunn began explaining, "His details tells that he was a former tycoon and apart of the Naturalist Communist Party in vote for the preservation of natural and human resources. He was also apart of a company known as Sea Lagna, one of the importing company responsible for the shipment of goods across the North and South Continent."
"This was more than a decade in the past... Not much is know about this former tycoon, all they have is that he was relocated here in Tingen, three years ago."
Dunn straightened his posture before saying, "Sir Morroy Roundel is a normal individual, cut off from his former connections after the controversy the company faced."
"What was the controversy?" Selina raised a question.
"Because it is owned by the King of Loen and part of the royal property that oversee the national resources. The details have been strictly confidential, unfortunately even I had no clearance for it", Dunn explained.
As a way lighten the mood, Dunn chuckled, "And I won't even tell you if I had indeed access to it."
Selina fell silent and returned the documents.
All of the significant details have already been divulged by her captain. The remaining ones were only just how this gentleman brush his teeth before eating and what time he takes being in the rest room.
"He ended up in Tingen. In a state where he struggles to even pay rent?" she asked vividly.
After storing the documents, Dunn lifted his gaze, "That's just how things operates. At one point you're aloft and the next begins as a beggar."
Selina thought for awhile before saying, "Do you think the controversy may have a link to the Grain Act Repeal?"
It was the caused of riots involving imports after all...
"Maybe. However, Ms. Roy, it is best to not dig deeper into this matter, the archbishops have the corresponding intel so let them handle it", Dunn tucked his hands into the pockets of his windbreaker.
"For Morroy's case, you can rest assure that the city's rehabilitation staff would frequent his residence. Expect a daily visit of uniformed personnel walking pass your porch or perhaps occasional arguments seeing as how this gentleman acted during the inspection."
Selina imagined a situation where her neighbor was constantly criticizing the officers, demanding an explanation for the sudden visit.
I wonder how the officers handled it... she muttered inwardly before nodding, "Very well. Captain, please excuse me."
Dunn returned the same gesture.
This time again, Selina did not immediately turn the handle and strained for any follow-ups that her captain might give.
However, seeing as he prepares to leave as well. She abandons this intuition and left.
...
The heavy door opened from a corner office.
From the cold air pressing down from the stone-walled corridors, Selina saw Old Neil glued to the notes laid on his desk.
"Mr. Old Neil", she softly called.
"Done having lunch?" Old Neil turned to see the silver-haired lady, whose hair was tied once again to a braided-bun.
Selina nodded from outside the entrance.
"I'm here to continue my daily mysticism study", she said simply.
As she walked over, she noticed the reed papers from the desk. The texts were not in any form of language that are present in this world.
The strokes were rather rigid, yet it was able to picture a single word akin to hieroglyphs.
"You can find my archives over there. Read the "Incantation Oracle Road" and prepare the necessary items on the table", Old Neil lifted his head to face Selina, only for it to return back.
'Very well' is the natural response Selina would have taken if not for her body, currently frozen in place.
Right on the desk, centered by the iron-gridded lamp, four stacked books with varied colors and a small vase lies the notes that Mr. Fool had been tasked them to collect.
Emperor Roselle's diaries!
T-This... Selina failed to form a simple word for a reply.
Old Neil had only notice this when he casted his gaze toward her once more. He chuckled before giving an answer, "You seem very intrigue by Emperor Roselle's mysterious notes. Was this actually the first time you have seen one"
In a fleeting voice, Selina replied, "No..."
She wasn't talking of the diary, but the language written.
As opposed to her secretary days. Her hobby of doing personal research for self-pleasure had often lead her to languages, foreign to her.
This is without a doubt, awfully written in mandarin Chinese!
Emperor Roselle Gustav... was from Eastern Asia? Selina subconsciously thought.
Although it is a foreign language, as just your ordinary bookworm before completing her examination. It is common for her to encounter mandarin words, often in books published from the corresponding region using them.
These books were translated, yet their publication are always printed with their language of origin.
Selina could barely decipher them. She wasn't skilled but can confirm herself to be able to read only the numbers and dates.
18th of November... 1184, 1st January all the way to 4th... 9th of September and finally... 23rd and 24th of that current month... Selina deciphered with difficulty.
At this moment, she felt her connection with the only transmigrator she have known is slowly waning. She have never felt so regretful to not consider studying languages.
Old Neil became concern of the tone of his pupil's voice. He gave up the diary notes and faced Selina.
"Are you alright?", he asked.
Having said this, he began tidying the notes gathered from the table. While in the process he sighed, "Did this brought up horrible memories Ms. Roy?"
His voice was directed to Selina's past. Although he was eluded by the mystery of it, Roselle's notes have an unbelievable rate of fanatics that had led it to fall onto the hands of beyonders.
It was almost impossible to say that you have acquired a page without being a beyonder.
As the lady who had intentionally or perhaps the opposite of it become a beyonder herself. Seeing one may have been one of the variables of the cause.
The silent Selina snapped from her senses the moment Old Neil took a paper.
She immediately processed his words and quickly replied, "N-No... Mr. Old Neil, I was just..."
"It's fine. You can take a look at them once you've settled, for now let me set them aside before we continue."
Selina fell silent.
She watched as the papers with hieroglyph-like words slowly being stored in a drawer.
"Alright, let's begin?" Old Neil clasped his hand with heightened spirit.
Hearing this, Selina look up to Old Neil with lost. She abruptly shook it off and forced a smile, "Okay."
...
Buildings and pedestrians swept pass the periphery of the trackless carriage.
Selina blankly gaze at these scenery.
She would hear fleeting voices, accompanied by vocal tremors coming from the street paupers, busking to toil their days for tomorrow.
Today was Monday. Selina had left early as soon as she finished her daily mysticism lecture from Old Neil.
The bullets she had restocked were safely kept in her coat's inner compartment. Their numbers didn't deplete as she decided to skip for a day.
Since she was often preoccupied with certain things. It barely came to her how she needs a pocket watch of her own. So instead, she opted to just watch how the sun sets from the horizons to tell the day.
Each time I recall it, it would be in a time where it's inconvenient to do it... Selina mocked her poor memorial when it comes to trivial matters.
Having said that, she sighed.
Back then... I would often forget the names of the people I frequently came into contact with. Thankfully, it doesn't seem to be as strong as it is at the moment...
Soon, as the passing vendors fades into view. The trackless carriage halted just across one of the terraced houses.
16 Daffodil Street.
With a deduction from her wallet. Selina deliberately looked side to side and proceeded to cross with caution.
Before entering, she casted her gaze toward her neighbor's residence. It was opposite of where the Heath family live.
The sun was still alit and yet the curtains from the oriel windows have already drawn. Heaps of dust settles at the window's rails and glass panes while the occupant doesn't seem to exist.
She sighed, decided to forget the matter.
After a quick shower to freshen up. Selina took a left turn from the upper floor and slumped onto he bed.
She waited for awhile until suddenly a crimson light appeared before her.
It engulfed the entire room, consuming Selina in the process.