Around this point in time, Selina saw Frye and Kenley, carrying a post-mortem bag to a separate room, across the hall.
They were put into standby prior to the operation. In any cases that it exceeds an expected time of completion, they would quickly inform the church.
Luckily, it didn't escalated and instead they went for the corpse retrieval.
Remembering how Morroy's torso almost devoured her. Selina quietly touched the back of her faintly trembling hand.
Suddenly, she heard Dunn say:
"The Dream Catcher?"
Dunn raised his brows while observing Selina.
"For what reason do you wish to know?" he instinctively raise a question.
Other than that, he also wished to know how this lady acquired the seed that finished Morroy's torso. However, he wasn't about to ask that blatantly.
Everyone has secrets and sometimes they're best kept in order to remain safe.
As she conceals her emotions, Selina rattled her mind for a proper reason.
"You see... I have used the Sealed Artifact to wake up Royale. Without a description, I didn't know that the dreaming person would reach out amidst their sleep and touch the flames burning the candle." she then smiled awkwardly. "It hurts but it didn't actually burnt my finger."
Dunn remained silent for an extensive amount of time right after her explanation.
Selina's mind ran in a frantic as she tries to display unease sincerity.
The tension soon broke after Dunn replied, "I guess my haste almost put you and Royale in danger by lack of information..."
Selina kept her lips pursed.
Considering how Dunn's words trails, she wasn't about to ruin this by reassuring that they're alright despite the information.
However, inwardly, she vowed to comfort him right after.
Dunn took the door handle and closed it before saying, "The Dream Catcher's candle burn consistently and does not melt. Its actual origin is unknown but it first surfaced in a thatch far into the woods and West of the borders.
"A college student states that he had been dreaming of a flower. Which irritated him enough to decide on whether inform his peers. Over the next course of their conversation one of them mentions a thatch that presumably allows for a dream extraction. There's but one aged woman who lived there and had said to have treated his grandfather's insomnia. This was a testament from the child's parents right after he have gone missing..."
Selina's mood was decent until Dunn mentions along the lines of missing. To which she immediately grew unease and felt horror.
"The college student have gone missing?"
"His body, along with the woman who lives at the thatch were cold long before the officials have responded. What they saw at the scene was but an innocent candle burning the darkness away. One of the officials became limply merely by being exposed to it for almost ten seconds before it faded right after he turned away." Dunn continued to explain.
"The effects are unknown but the cause is certain. Never to stare at its light for more than ten seconds or you might never wake up again."
Feeling horrified, Selina staggered for a moment, only to regain compose soon after she noticed.
"Are there any reason why the person won't wake up again?" she subconsciously pressed.
This by belief that everything had to have a reason. A cause and effect such as how the mysticism works regardless of its complexity, one thing about rituals remains and that is: it follows a certain order of who or what to pray to.
Dunn observed Selina's expression, then nodded to himself while disclosing, "One of the Nighthawks who have done several tests have concluded that the ten second rule can be reset just by looking away, thereby lowering its danger to 3. Moreover it does not actively attempts to lull you into staring at it, but it pulls you into a dream once you hit the ten-second mark.
"This meant the Sealed Artifact does not remove the dream entirely but instead stores it under its illumination. Growing brighter and prettier to reel you in before transferring an unknown amount of dream into the victim."
Dunn sighed and then finally said, "The candle's light did not receded after the two victim's death."
Hearing this, Selina felt a chill treaded through her spine.
She had initially thought of using this Sealed Artifact to one day deal with the dreamworld. Only to be informed that it merely contains the dreams and not destroy them.
However, thankfully this didn't affected her mood and instead found it a bit interesting.
At the time Morroy was trying to use the totem, to which she finally figured out that it drains the person's vitality evident by Royale's paleness. The dreamworld have prevented this actively, suggesting that if she's in danger in a dream, she'll likely be pulled into the dreamworld as a safe haven.
The dreams stored inside Sealed Artifact 3-0137 can easily be countered by the dreamworld if ever she wish to visit it. Effectively gaining immunity against dream-base attacks.
Selina now wanted to try this but have to contemplate on how to plan an operation that demands Sealed Artifact 3-0137 again.
Not only that, it requires isolation, unless she wants her true nature to be delved she'd rather hunt for opportunities than to force them.
"Are there anything else you would like to ask?" Dunn said in a soft tone.
Selina succinctly shook her head, "That is everything I'm curious of. Thank you captain... Oh and we're completely fine even after that."
Dunn watched the silver-haired woman bowed and curtsied before him. Just as she turn and left, as if forgetting something she turned again and drew a moon over her chest.
Seeing this, he returned the gesture.
"May the Goddess guide you." he said languidly.
Selina smiled and in exchange, she also said, "May the Goddess guide you as well captain."
Soon, the lady who's clothes and hair are damped and who's seed had saved them left. Only after seeing her silhouette did Dunn recall.
I should've offered her a promotion...
However, this pang of regret swiftly disappeared when the lady suddenly returned at the corridor.
She was slight red by the ears.
"Why did you return?" Dunn was perplexed. "Didn't I tell you to get some rest?"
While holding her head low, Selina muttered audibly, "Captain, it's midnight.
"There are no carriages roaming around. They're asleep."
Dunn realized this and immediately went silent, his mouth slightly open agape.
"I'm sorry." he said apologetically. "I forgot."
Having said that, he dug his hand to his pocket and fished out a watch.
Upon popping the case open, he lowered his gaze to tell the time.
"It's quarter past twelve... It's dangerous for you to go out alone at this hour."
And creepy! Captain, how could both of us forget? Selina felt as if she's slowly turning into Dunn by each of their interactions.
"A-Anyway, perhaps I could stay the night here? I wouldn't mind sleeping on the couch by the second floor."
"No." replied Dunn after some thought. "Klein's place is in Daffodil Street. He'll likely return back to check on his siblings. I suggest to have him as your company as you return.
Then he added seconds later, "Oh and tomorrow, there's no need for you to work, you can stay at your home and rest. The same goes for our members that participated if they wish."
Rest day... At the day after that will be my turn to guard the Chanis Gate... Selina briefly recalled Rozanne, Bredt and Old Neil's settled routine for her.
The roster consists of Mrs. Orianna the accountant, Bredt the staff that handles reports for the church, Cesare is in charge of procuring necessities, Rozanne the receptionist, and finally Old Neil who handles the archives and patrols.
In the midst of it, there's her the newly appointed medicine doctor who's also an officer of the Awwa County Police Department. As Rozanne had hoped, Selina is about to enter their shifts.
I can still picture Rozanne's face at the lunch table earlier... Selina shook her head indiscernible before saying to Dunn, "Alright. Thank you for your concern captain."
Dunn nodded and left.
Right as he reached the corridor, he suddenly turned, mimicking what Selina had did earlier.
"I almost forgot..."
Seeing their captain return back. With weariness, Selina mused in her heart.
Is this how birds of the feather flock together? It seems the end of this is quite far when in reality it's so near...
Her playful comment sits inwardly as she smiled, "What is it captain?"
"I have to thank you... and the seed for saving us." Dunn said in gratitude. "The Church will be informed of this."
"No no it's okay." Selina instinctively deflected by smiling and raising both her hands to wave off. "The seed is what we should thank for. Perhaps we should celebrate the seed's goodwill?"
And we can add Ms. Seeka Tron's successful promotion and start planning on her publication fund... she added inwardly, recalling how Rozanne informed her of the news.
Wait, actually celebrating for a seed... Doesn't that seem pathetic? An actual seed saving your life! Ah, and the man I saw when we were about to promote Ms. Seeka's novel. Doesn't he seem a bit familiar?
As her mind stirred from one connecting thought to another, she suddenly heard Dunn say, "Do you want to become a full-fledge Nighthawk?"
Selina was immediately dumbfounded. Lifting her gaze up, she said, "Pardon?"
"A Nighthawk. If ever the higher-ups would see your ability and consider your position. Do you wish to accept?" Dunn's voice was both gentle and deep.
A true... Nighthawk? I'll be part of the Church's supernatural forces in just a month? Selina quietly process what that meant.
"W-Wouldn't it be appropriate to assign the seed of such position?"
Dunn smiled as if seeing an impaired person.
"You have quite a sense of humor Ms. Roy." He chuckled before turning away. "Don't deprecate yourself... As an Apothecary, the reason why this Sequence's botanical skills are almost mystical is due to their ability to tame plants.
"The seed is a plant as well. This meant that it was because of you that the seed sprouted, skipping the seedling phase to jump straight to its hardened stem."
Skipping a phase? Doesn't that seem like it had magical properties? Selina pursed her lips. Being careful not to let her captain realize it.
"Which is why you are the one we should be thankful for. I hope you accept the offer of the Church." Dunn's voice fleeted.
He turned around and left, certain that he didn't have anything to add further.
Becoming a full-fledged Nighthawk... Selina ruminated silently.
I wonder how Rozanne would react about this...
...
Half a minute later. Klein walked out of the room, feeling invigorated.
So that's the feeling of healing ritual... It's painful... he began caressing his arm, still feeling the pricks of the silver needles around his body
Anyway, I wonder how Ms. Roy got home. She didn't get a treatment so I guess she went out first...
"Mr. Moretti!" a melodic voice suddenly echoed.
Klein, who was about to don his hat had his spirit jumped in fright.
Hiss!
He quickly turned and saw the elegant Selina standing idly by the door. Poised with her hand intertwined to her lower abdomen.
"You're still around? I thought you left?" he controlled his voice while sizing her.
"What do you mean? It's midnight." Selina tilted her head slightly to the left.
Klein didn't know what to reply. However, it didn't take him long to guess, "Are you waiting for me?"
"Well." Selina gripped her damped coat below and said sparingly, "Captain told me that you live on the same street."
So we'll walk together... Klein wasn't behind on the matter. In the dead of the night...
"Shall we go? It will be like walking to a nearby carriage station, heading to Mr. Gawain's." said Selina, intent to spell out the awkwardness.
Klein quickly began to turn contemplative as he observed Selina's face.
He quickly realized how average she looks after a close inspection. Which was very strange that on certain instances that he scrutinize her, she looks breathtakingly beautiful.
But now. For some inexplicable reason, he wasn't too reactive over this profound revelation. Moreover, he had just seen worst today.
If this perception of her appearance is indeed a hint of her true destiny regarding the city of Tingen. Then a heavy burden was lifted when he saw her alive right after Morroy's death.
"Alright." he sighed, dusting off the brim of his top hat and donning it.
After adjusting the placement of his cane to his left hand. Klein nodded.