After Relius Clover had left the scene with his doll, a dead silence returned. Seeing the bastard gone, the man relaxed.
Sensing his guard being lowered, he took the reins once again.
Body back under his control, he resumed his journey, one part to follow the Grimalkin's request and the other half to pursue the dark presence. Relius Clover's sudden appearance left him wondering whether their encounter had been a coincidence or not. But pursuing the man was secondary to his main objective, so he marched onward.
At the point where two of the Hierarchical City's levels met, he descended further. Wherever he looked, he saw rough stones carved into halls and wide chambers a century ago for the initial mass of refugees. In this subterranean space, no civilians resided there anymore once proper infrastructures had been established closer to the surface.
Near the bottom step of the stairway leading to the next layer, someone waited for him. His steps slowed down. "You…"
The pinkish red ponytail flowing behind her along with the white armor gave her a striking appearance. With a greatsword on her back, a battle-ready air accompanied her faint, otherworldly glow. In one of her hands sat another oddly shaped blade, a shorter one with an eye at its pommel.
She raised the weapon to point at him. The white mask covering the lower half of her face brought focus to red eyes that bored into him like spears. "…"
Without realizing it, he had taken a length of time to observe her from the top half of the crumbling brick steps. He pushed down a feeling of nostalgic awe to focus on the reality in front of him. "...The aura of the Boundary clings to you and the armagus you wield… What do you seek by coming to this world?"
"You're a bold one, speaking as if you are not more of a disturbance to this world's order." Her voice echoed down the corridor.
Even in the face of her heavy scrutiny, he felt no fear for his life—something that he found odd. "Then I rescind my question. If you're here armed in such a manner, then I doubt peace follows you." Her coming closer to the area must have caused Relius to retreat. Despite standing a fair distance away from her, he could sense the aura she exuded. It matched that of an experienced warrior, a telltale sign that her power and skills outclassed his current body's by magnitudes.
However, he couldn't be stopped by anything or anyone. He had to keep moving no matter the obstacle in his path. Not following the wiser decision staying where he was, his feet carried him down the stairs.
Just when he nearly passed by her did he stop. Her blade signaled him to not take another step, now pressed close to his chest. "Make it quick. What do you want from me?"
"To deliver my judgment upon you if I deem your intentions to be unrightful. Do you swear to answer me without any falsity?"
Under the shadow of his hood, he hardened his eyes as he steeled himself for what was to come. Whatever she decided to do next—challenge him to a duel, spare him, or execute him on the spot—he had no means of changing her mind. "Do as you will. I shall only divulge what is asked of me."