The woman pulled her hand away from my chest and placed it on hers. As I took small breaths to help calm myself, I could not help noticing that there was a faint aroma coming from her. One with a sweet, flowery smell that differed from the flowery scent I was accustomed to.
It helped me relax. It helped me process what happened.
That shadow had jumped from person to person, resting on her face. The same happened with Rinne and Kelly. Had I not been stopped by the words of Rinara, they would have ended up like that crook I killed.
It was only now that I noticed that my right hand had moved behind my back, gripping the hilt of the blade I kept there. There was a strange shaking as if something else were holding it in place…that something was Muller. He held the tip of the blade firmly in his metal hand, glaring down at me with watching eyes.
When our eyes met, he grunted, saying nothing as he let go of my blade. Guess I should thank him for preventing me from causing a scene.
"So," the woman spoke cheerfully, unaware that she had almost become a victim of my madness. She looked me up and down, a practiced look of admiration on her face. "You're a fixer, right?" Her eyes then locked with mine, and she smiled. "That's cool! It's rare for fixers like you to get through the checkpoints."
"It's not a big deal." I waved my hand dismissively. "Fixers like myself aren't all that interesting. We just do random jobs that the guards refuse to do."
The woman's lips curled as she gave me an alluring look. She leaned forward, her eyes wandering. "You don't need to humble yourself, mister. Going by the stressed look in your eye, and the fresh bandages over the other, I can tell you work really hard." She then turned her head and muttered faintly under her breath, "I just hope that woman found one that works as hard as you appear to."
I turned to Muller, and he shrugged his shoulders as if knowing my question. From that comment alone, she appears to have used a middleman to hire someone, but Muller doesn't seem to know the person that Margaret's job is related to.
She turned back to me and grabbed my arm, locking firmly against her body. "How about I be your companion tonight? I work for the Brass Light." She then whispered in my ear, "I'll melt that stress away."
"Hold it, lady." Muller grabbed the woman and pulled her off me with his metal arm. She looked a little bewildered at how easily she was lifted up. "The Brass Light isn't that kind of business. Take your scam to some other pathetic loser out here."
There was a flicker of light in the woman's eyes. The corner of her lips twitched as she tried to open her mouth. But she stopped herself, letting a soft air trickle out instead of words. He put her hands to her chest, clutching them together tightly. Then the flicker in her eyes grew fiercer as she stepped towards Muller, looking up at him.
"My apologies, Mister Sheep." She spoke, pointing at his vestiges, which prompted Muller to narrow his eyes as the woman sized him up. She produced a small card and showed it to Muller, "Sorry, but you are completely wrong. I am a full-time hostess at the Brass Light, and I am here doing my job."
"Now, now." I approached the woman from behind and wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her back. She offered no resistance. With my arm close to her chest, I could feel her heart beating fast.
I turned to Muller, giving him a look that told him to let her words slide. He nodded, but he did not seem to be happy with the idea.
"Hmph," the woman turned her head the moment I let go of her. "Now I look like the bad guy." She muttered under her breath.
"Sorry," I said, speaking in the most comforting voice I could muster. "My buddy and I had a long day, so we are a little tense. If we haven't spoiled your mood, would it be too much to ask you to be our escort tonight?"
The woman's eyes widened as she let out a chuckle.
"Axien…" Muller sighed behind me. "I get you haven't been here all that often, but escorts are more…explicit."
Oh…I awkwardly scratched my head. As he said, it wasn't often I found myself out here, as void spawns rarely appear out here. Neither do cult activities, and should it happen, Muller's men will take care of it.
"I'll be happy to accompany you." The woman stopped laughing and wrapped herself around my arm. She then glanced behind us towards Muller, "But do we have to take this guy?" Even without seeing her face, I was sure she was making a sour expression toward him. Muller brushed it off and gently pushed the two of us.
"The night is young."
"Oh, that's right." As we walked towards the busy streets of the Middle Outer Ring, I turned my head towards the hostess who was glued to my arm. "What is your name?"
"Hmm," she let out a sound. "I never told you, did I? My name is Anya; just Anya is all you need to know."
"I am an Axien, and the gruff man is Muller."
"I don't really care." I could hear Anya's faint murmur to herself. Then she looked at me and spoke cheerfully, "Mister Axien, it's a handsome name for a fixer like you."
Had she not slipped up by talking under her breath, I might have actually felt something, but this only shows her commitment to gaining customers. While she behaved a tad unprofessionally with her reactions towards Muller, there was a desperation to keep us. Why? With looks like hers, getting customers should be easy.
"Hey… isn't that?"
"That woman from that club that fell from grace, right?"
"Let's nab those two guys from her; they look good and rich."
Two women were tailing closely from behind, whispering in voices that they must have thought would not be overheard.
"Huh?" Anya said as I suddenly stopped moving. These two women said something interesting, something about a club falling from grace? I wanted to know more, even if it meant making Anya here take some heat. The footsteps from behind stopped as a voice called out.
"Hey there, good lookings." A woman with long golden hair and heavy makeup approached us. She gave Anya a quick, nasty look before locking her eyes onto me like I was her next prey. "Wanna hang out with us? We'll show you a night that those women could never fathom."
"Half off, with plenty of time to spend with us." The second woman stepped out from behind, her brown hair curled. She licked her lips as she stared at Muller. "I'm sure this strong man here could set a record with me."
"…" Anya said, nothing as she turned back around, forcing me to move.
"What's wrong? Gonna run?" The blonde said. "Throwing away your pride like you did your dignity. So much for all that talk, Miss Brass Light star."
Anya stopped in place, her grip around my arm tightening. I placed my free hand and gently rubbed her head. She looked up at me with a mix of anger and confusion.
"Sorry, ladies," I said loudly, keeping my eyes fixed on Anya. "I'm not here looking for a good time. I just wanna drink with this pretty lady here."
"Erk!"
"What about you, strong man?" The woman with brown hair spoke. "How about you ditch these two? You're alone, aren't you?"
"As a man who serves the goddess, I do not condone your actions. Shall you continue, well, let us say only the goddess will know."
"Tch, let's go."
"Right."
Once the women's steps disappeared into the crowd, we resumed moving. Anya was quiet as we stepped into a large intersection paved with fresh stone, surrounded by a brass fountain. Small food carts line the streets with proactive owners trying to rake in as many customers as they can.
As we navigated the busy streets, I could feel Anya's slight tug as she wanted to lead us off the main street. The side road we took was lined with trees that many might consider a luxury here in the city. They led us to an open railing that served only to divide us from the wasteland that lay hundreds of feet below us.
A cool breeze brushed against us, carrying the smell of the city with it. The sky is now bathed in a sea of stars. The sun was replaced by a fractured moon whose ring was formed from its remains. Whatever history surrounded the moon's current state had long since drowned in the same sands of time that buried the ancient world; they lay just beyond this city of endless steam.
In the distance was a large building, one that looked clean and pristine, with the name "Brass Light" brightly shining.
"Enjoying our little walk?" Anya said as if the events from earlier had no effect on her. She squeezed tightly. "I like taking this path because at this time of night, you can really get a good look at the sky. Many customers never get to see this view. Not the sun, nor the moon. It's a shame, really."
Anya then stopped as she turned her head towards the sky. She let go of me as a sigh left her lips.
"It's sad that many people will never understand that stars can also be overtaken by darkness." She looked down, then towards me. She wore a practiced smile as she leaned forward. "Wouldn't you agree?"
There was a longing in her eyes. It was as if, for a moment, the light in her eyes was non-existent, just a mirror of the hollowness of her soul.
I was at a loss for words. What can I say? With Muller behind me, anything I would say would be seen as hypocritical given my mental state.
I tried to open my mouth, reaching deep within myself. But what could I do here? Looking at her was like looking at myself.
"No," I finally said. Anya moved back a little, a slight frown forming on the corner of her lips. I could tell she wanted someone to understand her, but agreeing with her was not the way to do that. "Stars are not fragile like that."
"Even when a star finds itself alone in the sea of darkness," Muller said, pulling Anya's attention towards him. "All they have to do is look towards a bigger star to force the darkness away."
Anya smiled as she straightened her back. She turned around, hiding her face from us. "You guys are weird."