"But her's was the misery of innocence, which, like a cloud that passes over the fair moon, for a while hides, but cannot tarnish its brightness."

Chapter 3 – Observing Eyes

For the house of a Beastkin living down here, it was surprisingly well-maintained. Almost as surprising as the appearance of the same woman whom she saw earlier at the sewers. She hadn't recognized Nier though, and while surprised at first, she was quick to ask Death to lay Ragna down upon a bed so she could treat him.

Nier watched in silence as Ragna was bandaged up and a blanket placed over his sleeping form. She sat at a chair with Death standing silently behind her before the Doctor made her way over to sit at the opposite end of the table.

"He is stable now. But he needs a lot of rest if he's to make a full recovery." The woman said, elbows on the table as she rested her chin on the palm of her hands. "I didn't expect Tao to bring in a patient who fell from the upper levels. Especially not a wanted criminal."

Nier said nothing. What could she say, really? Unlike the cat beastkin from earlier, this woman seemed shrewder. She had to be careful about how much she should reveal.

"Permit me to ask, but what is your relationship with that man? I've encountered him only once before and he was all alone. But to think I'd see him again with a young woman like yourself in the same day? That doesn't seem to be the norm," asked the doctor.

She sighed, looking up at Death and then towards the doctor. "He…I was following him after he saved me down at the sewers. And then he saved me again after I was attacked by the boy who gave him those injuries."

"Injuries inflicted by a Nox Nyctores. You two were lucky to escape alive," she explained.

"Nox Nyctores?" Nier wondered.

"Just know that they are weapons not to be tampered with. Only those of exceptional aptitude and skill are known to use them, though I hear there are side-effects…" the doctor nodded, her eyes now staring up at Death. "…which does make me wonder. Your companion, is she a special kind of weapon as well?"

"She's not a weapon!" Nier stood up, her fists balled up onto the table before she forced herself to calm down. "Death was… the only one who ever understood me. Isn't that right?"

Death seemed to nod its head, looming over Nier almost protectively. "My beloved is my pact bearer. Do not slander her intentions."

"Death?" the doctor responded, definitely looking intimidated. Nier was quick to apologize, however.

"I'm sorry…" Nier murmured, "Death can be quite persistent if she perceives the wrong thought from someone."

The doctor sighed, "Well, whatever the case, be more careful out there. It may not look like it, but the city is on high alert. I'm sure you already know the reason why, yes?"

Nier nodded her head before Death vanished in a burst of dark flames, transformed into a smaller card that reappeared in her hands.

"I'll go check on our patient later. There are a few things I have to ask the two of you when he's finally awake but until then, try to get some rest yourself. Tao should be back soon with food as well if you would like some."

"Wait, where are you going?" asked Nier.

"Well, I am a doctor," she replied, "I do have patients in the upper levels as well. My visit down here was a little extra, you could say. Maybe I'll get a few drinks after too…" she trailed off and moved towards the door. "Remember though, rest and food."

Nier nodded her head and watched as the woman made her exit. All alone in the beastkin's house, yet without that Tao individual who apparently owned this place. She'd head out herself and explore the little village but, leaving Ragna alone here didn't feel right.

She shrugged, pulling her chair over towards where Ragna lay sleeping and watched him. It didn't take long before she herself found herself dozing off, her head resting atop the blankets.

When Ragna opened his eyes, Nier was still sleeping. He noticed her presence quickly enough, her head resting close to his own even as she lay sitting on that chair.

"Awkward way to sleep…" he said quietly and sat up. His coat had been removed and he was bandaged all over but otherwise, everything about him seemed fine. Had he made a full recovery? No, but this should be enough to do what he came here to do. Then again… probably too late to do anything. Maybe he could wait until the next day?

He sighed and looked down at Nier's sleeping figure. What was he supposed to do with her?

"Hey, you awake?" he asked silently, though received no response. He didn't want to shake her awake either.

"What about the other one? Death was it? Are you keeping watch?"

He didn't really expect a response but the Primal manifested, materializing like a haze just behind Nier. Its masked face stared at him, one of its hands up with a single raised finger as if to tell him to be quiet.

"I don't think she's waking up anytime soon. Seems to be in really deep sleep," he said, turning his gaze down. "Look, I'm still not sure if it's a good idea to have her travelling with me. I know you can probably defend her just fine… maybe… but I can't just have random people following me around."

"Yoo… do yoo reject her love then?"

"Not what I said." Ragna replied. It might be better to speak of things indirectly here instead of confirming or denying what was being asked of him. It felt as if things could easily escalate and he was in no shape to fight back if the worst were to occur. Not yet at least. "I don't know anything about you two, simple as that. You saw what happened in that last fight, it's not exactly safe out there."

"Knowledge then?" Death glided and seemed to float above him. She leaned forward as if studying his features. The real worry right now would be if she can truly read minds. "Shall I give yoo the knowledge you ask as recompense for peering into thy memories?"

He shrugged. "Sure, why not? It's something I guess…"

Regret was next on his mind though as a dark mass of energy coalesced in Death's hand. And then she grabbed his head with said hand.

He lost consciousness yet again, the third time in the same day! He didn't even have time to dwell on it before the images invaded his mind. A torrent or a flood of things he could barely understand until his mind was forced to piece it together in the correct order.

A past that defined 'her.' The start of the memories was there, from a mansion. And parents who thought little of a girl desperately trying her best.

He could look at most things with an impassive, almost impartial gaze. Many things he didn't want to involve himself in, so focused was he on other things if it didn't concern him. Yet something about this particular memory tugged at him. As if forcing him to acknowledge and rage against its true horror.

A memory not unlike looking at someone's diary. But this showed in detail the sort of life she lived in this house. And the excruciating emotional hardships she suffered through every day.

Awful, just awful. How could anyone live a life like this?

And he was seeing it all. Not just the abuse suffered at the hands of her own family and their servants, but even what she did to try to stifle the pain just to find acceptance. The bodies of those she had a relationship with, being locked up and coming so close to dying. And her contract with Death.

The murder of everyone around her when she couldn't take it anymore. A drifting wraith who was constantly on the move, rejected by all.

It wasn't just the murders that drew his attention. It's true that what Nier did was wrong, but she turned out that way because of an inconsolable grief. A grief he understood too well. Had his master and Rachel not been there for him, who knows what kind of life he'd have obtained?

Considering all she had gone through, he didn't even fault her for wanting to destroy the world. The world… yes, she wanted to destroy it. Such was the depths of her despair it was hard to believe she was acting the way she did now. And through it all, Death watched and guided her actions. The kindred spirit she had formed her bond with.

He woke with a gasp, clutching his chest with his right hand. The memories that entered his mind felt like it had been in there forever. And while it felt like he had the whole day wandering around there, it had only been a few minutes since Death grabbed his head.

He wasn't sleeping. This wasn't a dream anymore. And when he turned to his left, he could see Nier looking at him with an almost vacant expression.

"You saw… didn't you? Death showed you…?" she asked quietly.

He nodded his head, breathing slowing down as he entered a state of relaxation. It was… something alright. And he didn't have a reason to believe that it was fake. No, there was a genuine desire to be understood there, a frightening desire that scared even him. Still…

"That's not an easy life to go through…" he said quietly.

Nier's ears perked up, her gaze up at him again. "Then, you don't hate me? You won't deny my existence?"

"I'd be a damned hypocrite if I were to do so," he replied and sighed. "Look, I'm still not sure if letting you travelling with me is the best idea. But it's not the worst idea either. Assuming you've looked through enough of my memories, we both did things we aren't proud of. Or at least, things that the world would never forgive us for. The way I see it, we may as well stick together and see how things go from there."

Nier was quiet, but a small smile could be seen on her face. "…Thank you… thank you…" she repeated as if on the verge of tears. She reached towards him and gave him a hug.

"Argh…! Too tight! That still hurts!" Ragna squirmed at the touch.

"S-sorry! I'll let you keep resting…" Nier replied and let go.

He nodded his head and slipped back into the blankets. Shouldn't be too long now before he fully recovered. He could make the recovery process faster too, but there was no way he was going to do that in Nier's presence.

"Guess I should probably tell you that I'm going to hit a Government building tomorrow. Probably at night so there might be people who will try to stop me. If you're going to travel with me, stick close, alright?" he said, his eyes closed.

"No worries," Nier whispered, "I'm never leaving your side."

Worrying, but not totally unwanted. He never had a travelling companion before either and from the way she talked, it seemed like she wanted more too.

It was only a few more hours before the doctor returned. Ragna was up and awake, speaking with Nier when the door opened again.

"Did Tao not come back?" she wondered, standing in front of the pair.

"You…" Ragna said. He remembered her, back down at the sewers. So she's the doctor that beastkin was talking about?

She stood over Ragna, her gaze seemed to be judging him as she leaned over to touch his right arm. He twitched, pulling his arm away.

"Why aren't you trying to siphon my soul?" asked the doctor, "You'd heal up much more quickly if you did. After all, that is the Azure Grimoire is it not?"

"Not exactly common for a Doctor to know this much information," said Ragna. "Besides, I don't need it to just walk around."

"Oh?" the doctor stepped back, looking from Ragna and then to Nier. "Then I guess your treatment is over. Still, don't be too careless out there."

"So we're free to go?" he asked.

"I suppose. But… I'm still worried. Tao hasn't returned yet. I'm not sure if she got distracted or something happened to her, but might I ask you to bring her back here if you find her? Just to make sure." She replied.

"If we find her," Ragna said and stood up from his spot. He grabbed his coat and sword and passed by the doctor. "Any idea where she'd have headed?"

"Your best bet would be somewhere above. Maybe in Orient Town in the area around my clinic." The Doctor replied.

Nier followed soon after and quickly bowed to the doctor before she too was gone.

After some time, Litchi sighed and began arranging the bed. She didn't really need to ask any more questions from those two. Just to confirm the nature of the Azure Grimoire.

She had spoken to an acquaintance of Professor Kokonoe on the way here though. So the girl claimed at least. A twin-tailed girl who seemed most intrigued by the mention of the Grim Reaper's new companion. Something strange was going on in the city, that's for sure.