Inverse System

Xenia and Clyde had just exited the second-hand market, the one outlined by the request, both of them, but especially Xenia, having a dejected expression on their faces. She let out a downcast sigh, her head dropping down as she discouragedly spoke.

"We really have to wait for the next morning to bust this guy, huh?" She wallowed in her boredom out loud, hoping that Clyde would say something to lift her spirits, or that he had a plan to solve their dilemma.

"Yes. And even then, it's not a guarantee that we will even catch the culprit," his words dampened her mood even further, to which he was oblivious. "This quest may take well over a day to comple—"

"Okay okay! I get it!" She interrupted in a hasty manner, wanting to live in ignorant bliss as she let out another grunt. "Why did we even take this quest…"

"Again, it was your idea," Clyde remarked, which angered her, but as she was about to retort, they heard familiar laughter approaching them.

"Seems like you 2 are having some trouble, huh?"

"Rein! Listen to this, Clyde says this mission's gonna take us longer than a day!" Xenia complained to Rein, to which he laughed again, scoffing at her remark.

"No way. That's way too long," Rein brushed her claim away. "Let me help you guys. We'll be home by tomorrow morning," Rein guaranteed, to which Xenia's face lit up with jubilation.

"What about Chloe and the others? And I assume you succeeded in your mission to save her brother?" Clyde posed, to which Rein nodded.

"Yeah. And the 4 of them left for the gulf. I want everyone to gather there for tomorrow. I've got something important to tell everyone," Rein answered, which piqued Clyde and Xenia's interest.

"What is it? You can tell us now, no?" Xenia impatiently rushed.

"No no, everyone has to be gathered. Besides, why should I spoil the surprise?" Rein teased, which slightly annoyed Xenia, as well as Clyde, though he didn't let it show.

"Anyhow, if you're going to help us with our quest, we should brief you on our situation," Clyde returned to the subject at hand. "It's too late to continue for today, we should get a couple of rooms and then talk," he suggested, to which Rein concurred, pointing to the inn that nursed Sho to health.

"They've got some nice rooms in there, and the staff's especially friendly. I'll pay, so let's go," Rein began walking towards the inn, leaving Clyde and Xenia standing in front of the market from the request.

"Well, we should follow him," Clyde started towards the inn when he suddenly felt a tug on the back of his sleeve. "Hm?" He turned around to see the hazel-haired girl pulling him back with a distressed look on her face, not saying anything as he stopped in his tracks.

"What's wrong?" Clyde furrowed his eyebrows and asked sternly.

Xenia's face trembled slightly as the discomforted look lingered on her face, her grip on Clyde's shirt tightening, her skin as pale as a ghost. Rein stopped in front of the inn's entrance and looked back at the 2, seeing the scene unfold from a distance, watching it carefully with a concerned gaze.

"What's got you so troubled?" Clyde attentive asked in a gentle tone of voice.

"I-I don't know… It's just that I suddenly… Started trembling…" She uttered in a shaky voice, her shivering continuing as she crumpled Clyde's shirt.

Clyde felt her trembling bolster, becoming more agitated as time went on. He suddenly felt the urge to hold the girl in his arms and comfort her, his hands beginning to move on their own as they approached Xenia's face, about to caress her head to support her and to pull her closer so she could lean on him. However, his approaching arm suddenly stopped in its tracks, and it fell back down to Clyde's side, not moving an inch from where it started.

"Let's get to the inn. If you're feeling tired, you can rest there," he coldly remarked as he began walking in Rein's direction, her, now coldly sweating hand, still grabbed onto his shirt.

Her chest expanded as she took a breath in shock, a distraught, lonely expression appearing on her face as Clyde walked away. It was quickly replaced with a melancholy stare into the ground as she placed her hand on her heart in pain. Rein, with a concerned eye, looked at the scene unfolding, waiting at the entrance to the inn for the 2 to arrive. As they did, however, Rein opened the door for them and let them past.

"Sorry we took so long Rein," Clyde apologized as he passed Rein through the door, Rein giving him a blank stare as he entered the inn, then furrowed his eyebrows at the shivering Xenia who was closely following Clyde.

He kept the concern at the back of his head as he followed the 2, Clyde having Xenia sit down while Rein booked the rooms.

The young man at the counter once again offered him to stay for free, however, Rein politely declined, opting to meet him halfway and pay for 2 discounted rooms. One for Rein and Clyde, and the other for Xenia.

Rein approached the 2 in the seats with both room keys, handing one to Clyde.

"That's Xenia's room. Take her there and let her rest. Meet me back in our room after you're done," Rein ordered, to which Clyde nodded, then suddenly feeling Xenia's shivering cease as she released her hand from his apparel.

"Huh? I'm fine now?" Xenia closed and opened her fist in confusion, not knowing what had just happened to her.

"Xenia? You're okay now?" Rein asked in concern, Clyde still looking away from the girl as she returned to her senses.

"Yeah, I'm good now," she nodded in confirmation, turning her head to Clyde. "Thanks for letting me hold on to you, Clyde," she bowed down, which Clyde gave no reaction to.

"It was no issue. Since you are recovered, you should join us in our discussion…"