I stretched my back, getting satisfying pops in response. I was watching the rookie Gregor trying to get his documents right, while Ryn was both helping him and suppressing the urge to pop his neck like a grape.
Yesod didn't show up today, but he still relayed orders through the communicators, so he was definitely still presenting for work. Malkuth had of course left with the rest, since they are all meant to deal with Control's abnos.
"You were kidding about the thing regarding my training... right?" I was vibing with Beth, waiting for anyone in Management to tell me what to do. Work had just started, but Yesod simply told us to 'wait for further instructions' which is... a thing.
I glanced at her once with a smile, "You'll find out soon enough." Beth didn't feel confident after hearing that, but it was the best she is going to get from me.
Beth perked up and got up from her seat, "Yesod just told me to work with the Woodsman. Weird, he didn't say it before work started... well see ya later, Trigger." I stared at Beth's back curiously, Yesod giving late orders?
Something smells funny, not that I can do much about it right now... but keeping an eye open wouldn't hurt.
"Trigger, perform attachment work with the Knight of Despair"
Was it me, or Yesod sounded... unhealthily focused? I still got up and gave Ryn a quick thumbs up, which she replied with a middle finger, funny stuff.
Not going to pass on some time with the 'Knight' though, she has a relaxing atmosphere around her... well now she does.
I made my way towards the chamber of the 'Knight' while wondering if I should ask her more about her life, seems like a nice place to start.
Opening the door, I found the 'Knight' staring... longingly towards the left wall of her chamber. There weren't many things in that direction, well aside from the lock-thing, which has a name. A little too foreign for me to try to remember.
And the Safety Team, "Did I arrive at a bad time?" I asked her if she wanted me to talk, we could just stay here in silence, didn't want to bother her.
She blinked, making me take note of how her black sclera and deep blue eye fit her quite well, "There is nothing, simply wondering how they are doing." I blinked once.
Then I remembered, and how she talked about her three friends, the others like her. Two that are also in the facility and my face soured slightly, "Can't say, but if what you said is true, then... they are coping." I shrugged lamely at the end.
She hummed in thought, "I suppose they are, Companion." My head tilted slightly when I heard that, Companion? Well, I guess she just wants to call me that, since she does know my name already.
"Let's just enjoy the moment, we don't have to worry about stuff we can't affect right now. So may as well keep our mind steady." I told her while sitting on the floor and crossing my legs. I saw her body move lower and by the way the dress moved, I'd say she was doing the most painful way of seating, seiza.
Well, whatever suits her I guess...
She stared at me or more specifically, at my chest, "What have you brought along with you? It feels... protective." I touched my chest and looked at it.
"I'm not sure, the 'Heart' just... fused with me when I was told to use it, so here we are." I shrugged, not knowing how to even comprehend everything that happened that day.
She gave me a worried frown, "I take it that's not normal, every time I looked at your soul, it was as any other, only calmer. Yet now I see the waves of turmoil." That... would explain why she can attack the soul.
I glanced at the camera, making sure the Manager wasn't listening before answering, "I may just be more involved with this place than I ever imagined. I'm not sure how, but... well, I'm hoping to find out." And wasn't that an ominous feeling?
"Seems like you're not the only one wondering what lies ahead." She mussed, looking at the ceiling with a small smile.
She looked at me, eye fully open, "Whatever that 'Heart' may have done to you, I can only tell you it's permanent. It has become one with your soul." Again... ominous.
"Isn't everything a part of me?" I'm going to admit that wasn't my best attempt at a joke, the 'Knight' gave me a dry stare in response.
She touched her arm and traced her fingers around it, "An arm is a part of your body not your soul, the mere fact that a 'Heart', even if not normal, managed to connect to your soul is impressive. So even if the ones in charge of this place found a way to safely remove it... it'd be like losing a part of yourself." At her words, I clutched my chest just a bit harder than I needed to.
Part of me? That's something that I'm sure I shouldn't be okay with, I never even thought of trying to get rid of it, "Thanks for worrying, but I think I'll be fine." She nodded and closed her eye again. Pity, she looks better when her eye is open.
"That aside, I always wondered how good you are with a sword, being called a knight and all that." 'Knight'... calling her just 'Knight' doesn't feel right anymore.
She stared at me for a moment before getting up. She summoned a sword in her hand, held firmly in her right arm and holding it straight, the blade making a split between the two sides of her face, "I haven't used normal swordsmanship in a long time..." She mussed, a nostalgic smile plastered on her face.
A second sword manifested in front of me and I gave it a curious look before grabbing the hilt, it's... light, "Not much of a swordsman you know? I hardly think I'm going to be much of a challenge." This seems like a fencing sword, not even sure where to start using this thing.
She held her sword forward, her free hand on her back, "No worries then, Companion. We just have to start from the basics." Well, this suddenly turned into a sparring session.
I didn't dare to try and mimic her posture, but I did hold the blade in front of me, our swords making an 'X'. This felt oddly iconic for some reason.
But before that, "You know... I've been calling you 'The Knight' in my head a lot, and that just doesn't feel right for some reason." I commented, she stared at me with a warm smile.
"At some point, they called me the 'Magical Girl of Justice'. Maybe you could come up with something." She said, longing radiating from her.
Um... well, this feels weird, but I'm not complaining.
Not exactly original from my part but it should work, "How about Justine then?" She stared up at me and... okay, she is crying.
I cringed and was about to apologize, suddenly she wiped the tears from her eye, "I love it, my Companion... let's begin." Oh... good job, me?
It wasn't much of a fight, I had no idea how to do swordplay, so she disarmed me many times... but it was fun, and she did teach me a thing or two.
All in all? It was fun.