Once he was awake enough, Ferris raised himself up and stood beside Evening. "What if I really need to use my essence?" he emphasized the really part.
Evening shook her head. "Should a pregnant woman be asked to fight?"
"No, but they still can if needed, right?"
Evening opened her mouth, but she found herself unable to give a proper reply to his answer. "Oh, you're right. Let me think of a better analogy."
Exactly! Ferris agreed, but did not want to wait any longer. "Just explain what would happen, please?" He begged sincerely as a knight.
Finally, Evening gave a straight answer. "You die."
That's too direct... Ferris began doubting Evening's knowledge of essence, "Why?"
"I don't know, stop trying to make me explain things, I'm trying my best out here." Evening exclaimed, and fell on the bed once more.
While watching her, Ferris found it hard to continue believing that the woman in front of him is Eos. Could it be that the original person of her body has a strong sense of self, therefore overpowering Eos' personality?
Or rather, this is who Eos truly is?
Ferris remembered the long meeting they had back then, for an elf like her, their meeting might as well have been small talk between strangers.
For a moment, his heart ached at the thought of that, and he too fell back down beside Evening.
I'll just have to deal with this minor setback, until I get into contact with Judas' fragments.
Meanwhile...
"Whose money was used to buy this motel room?" Ferris rolled his body towards Evening. He had a rather serious look in his eyes.
"It's on me, friend!" she answered.
There was a sudden wave of guilt that enveloped Ferris, he seriously thought that Evening, during his resonance with Judas, would be able to access his domain and take something important.
Even though Evening had minor difficulties explaining how essence worked, it didn't mean that she was inept at using it. Her knowledge and oneness with Eos makes her powerful.
Tired of asking more questions, Ferris pushed his worries to tomorrow.
Before sleeping, he ventured out of the motel, found himself in a convenience store to settle his appetite before returning back.
And during his waking night, he tolerated sleeping near Evening. It was almost midnight by then, when his mind slept.
...
Once early morning came, Ferris was the first to wake up.
Noticing that Evening was still asleep, he took his chance to shower himself and change into a new set of clothes.
He waited outside the motel parking lot, while waiting, he called Magpie to check himself in.
As expected, the waiting time between pressing the call button and the pickup was less than a second.
[Good morning, Sir Ferris] Magpie's voice came through. Ferris noticed that her voice had a little tone to it now, but it still sounded unsettling.
[Is Prin awake?] he asked.
Other than checking in, Ferris wanted to know more about the abandoned facility he was traveling to.
[She is about to go sleep.]
The corner of his mouth slightly moved downwards, however, he could still ask later at night today.
When Ferris was about to say goodbye and close his call, he heard Prin's voice in the distance.
After hearing the sound of a phone being taken away, Ferris finally heard Prin's voice.
[Is there something you need?]
Why does she sound grumpy? Ferris wondered if it was because of him calling so late during her schedule.
[About your father's suit, the one you gave me.
Does it have something similar to a plane's black box?]
The black box on a plane is used for storing essential data like navigation. Ferris wondered if such an advanced piece of equipment like the advanced knight armour he used had a similar mechanism, even better if it was fully digital.
That way, he wouldn't have to worry about the fact that he destroyed the suit when he used it back then.
Prin understood immediately what Ferris meant. [I'm pretty sure I have access to it, do you need it?]
Ferris nodded on the phone. [Yes I do, thank you.]
He quickly sent the file sent to him from Marie.
[Just check if that suit visited this place before.]
Prin sighed beyond the call. [My dad wore that one the most... It'll take me a while to comb through its entire navigational data.]
Ferris swallowed his saliva, thankfully, Magpie was there to take over the tedious work of her Dame.
He quietly listened to Magpie persuading Prin to go to sleep already, then after a minute, Magpie's voice returned.
[I will send you the answer, but I cannot guarantee the time it will take.]
[Thanks a lot, you can take your time.]
Noticing that the area was still quiet, Ferris wanted to continue the call to pass time.
[Make sure you say goodnight to Prin.] Ferris requested, but Prin wasn't able to notice the human tone of being unserious.
The call suddenly went silent, which unnerved Ferris.
Then suddenly.
[Miss Prin, I have something to inform before you sleep!]
[...]
His finger instinctively pressed the end call button.
After forgetting about his actions, he decided to wait for the two in silence.
After half an hour, he saw Marie Trenst, who looked fresh despite looking a bit sleepy, and Evening, who looked exactly the same as before.
His eyes noticed the large guitar she carried from yesterday.
In that moment, he remembered how elves were known for their beautiful singing, which were as magical as their speed and agility.
***
City III
In celebration of his daughter's debut within the hero society, the CEO of the Elizabeth Foundation hosted a grand ball in honor of Queen.
Elizabeth, Fordred.
Despite his wrinkled face and greying hair color, he still had an immense presence to those around him.
He watched over the event, and especially towards Queen, who was the center of attention.
...
Asmadeas and her sister stood all alone near a small circular table packed with ornate biscuits.
Even though the entire event was supposed to celebrate Elizabeth's debut as a hero, no one dared to approach her.
This was also one of the rare times that Lionheart is allowed to take a rest, since his duty was now taken over by Fordred's own bodyguards.
But of course, Lionheart rejected the offer, but he was standing a distance away from the two in order to give them personal space.
Asmadeas held her fan in front of her mouth and enjoyed the moment where her daily fashion style was considered normal. "The dance is already starting, now which heart will you break again?" she said as she hid her grin. "It's so great to be hidden under your shadow, being a spectator I mean."
"Tell me about it." Elizabeth frowned, the extravagant dark dress she had became even darker.
Asmadeas sighed. "I'll refrain from using my blessing, every encounter tonight must be special.
Oh, don't tell me, it's another nepo kid asking you to a dance, and failing to realize his own standing within society.
Or maybe, it's a rich kid with a blessing, who has been taught by expensive tutors, but has never seen or experienced true fights."
While she imagined multiple scenarios, Elizabeth noticed the first challenger arriving.
A red-haired young man with a constantly assured look on his face as if it was plastered.
As the daughter of the biggest pharmaceutical company, knowledge of their competitors has long been drilled into her head.
She identified the red hair as the heir of a military conglomerate.
A former subsidiary of the now dissolved company, Steelblade Electronics.
Serpentech,
formerly known as Steelblade Heavy Industries.
Elizabeth removed any trace of emotion she had exposed, unfortunately for her, this figure wasn't someone she could simply refuse.