Alex's gaze hardened.
"So you were lying to me," he said. Delphine sighed.
"Now where has she run off to this time…?" she said, "Silly girl."
"I'm… Sorry…" a whisper of a voice said softly, and Delphine turned around and smiled, "But… You told me to—"
"Oh yes," she said, smiling, "I'm sorry. I forgot."
Alex's breath was coming in short rasps, and he slowly managed to turn around.
The first thing he saw was a white Guild uniform, stained with blood in some places. Slowly he tore his eyes away to look at the face of the person wearing it.
Her head was bowed so he couldn't see her eyes clearly. Her long, pale brown hair was messy and unkempt. Her arms were hung limply at her sides, and she was trembling as if she were frightened.
Alex's gaze hardened as he turned and grabbed Delphine by her shoulders.
"What did you do to her!" he demanded. Before she could answer, though, he felt a shove on his shoulder and he looked to see her pushing him away from Delphine, her head still bowed and she was trembling even more, but pushing hard as she could all the same. Alex let go of Delphine to grab her shoulders.
"Yuris! Yuris, it… It's me, Alex! Yuris!" he exclaimed. Yuris was silent for a moment, and slowly she looked at his face – not his eyes, his face – and said tentatively,
"How… Do you know my name…?"
"Yuris! Don't you recognize me! Yuris!" Yuris pulled herself away from him, and her trembling had intensified even more, if that had been possible. As he reached for her again, she shied away, whimpering.
"Yuris…"
"Poor dear," Delphine said, and she reached out and held Yuris, "Don't you worry, now, he won't hurt you."
"Don't touch her!" Alex yelled, lunging at Delphine once more, but again Yuris blocked him, whimpering. Alex stared at her.
"Yuris, I…" He trailed off there, his gaze on the floor, until he looked up at Delphine coldly and said to her,
"What do you want?"
"Me? Oh, nothing much." Delphine smiled. "Although I do miss Dio and Lucciola terribly, and little Alvis, too." Alex stared at her and said slowly,
"What did you do to Yuris?"
"Why, nothing, of course. You've just frightened her, is all."
"Why doesn't she recognize me!" he demanded, and this time Yuris replied,
"I don't know you…" He looked to her then back to Delphine.
"See! Why…!" Delphine sighed.
"Well, you see, that was bit of an unwanted side effect. I did nothing to her, that I assure you. Isn't that right, Yuris dear?" Yuris took a moment before answering, then said,
"No…" Alex stared at the both of them, then he whirled around and said,
"Fine. I'll bring Dio and Lucciola, but Alvis still is in my custody. If you can get Yuris to recognize me, maybe then I'll bring her." He turned around, and for a split second, his expression softened.
"I'll be back soon… Yuris."