R. A. T. H

Forty-Eight

Samuel clapped his hands, gaining the attention of the group, glanced at a smiling Paul, then back at the two girls.

"Will you join us?"

Rose questioned back, "What exactly will I be helping out with?"

Paul answered that question for her.

"That Gear of yours. . .will be useful in destroying the barrier. However, more specifically, you'll be helping us take down Brian and his sister, including tracking them down."

"Tracking them?"

"Yes. I. . .need to find a certain rat. I'm sure you know her, yes? I'm very sure you know her."

She did. She wondered how he obtained such certainty that she did, but she did. She stared at his face.

"What happens if I say no?"

"Well," He looked to Samuel and Lilias.

The two touched the handles of their blades and their stares locked onto her.

Rose, however, scoffed. "You think I can't escape from here?"

Fighting both of them may be difficult, but she had little wonder that they would be able to stop her if she decided escape was the most optimal solution. All it would take was a blast of flames raising the area to the ground and burning everything in her wake.

"Your friend is still sleeping on my couch, is she not?" Walker replied.

<Igris> manifested in her hand, unsheathed, and its blade engulfed in a flaming wrath of crimson. The weapon swerved through the air and stopped in front of the slum lord's face, refusing to advance faster as a ring gleamed on his finger. Her body was surrounded by a film of blue, and it was not there to protect her.

Still, the flames danced as she mouthed. "Threaten me with her life and I'll burn you to ash."

There was a crimson blade on her neck, and a black placed in tandem with it. Still, she mouthed those words even as the two men behind Walker had already unsheathed their weapons to her eyes.

And those eyes, those emerald eyes, never left his.

The Slum Lord smiled, "Your friend is still sleeping on my couch, and finding Brian and thus his sister, Lucy, will allow you to heal her."

Rose narrowed her eyes.

"Is that something you can guarantee?"

"Yes. It is. Even if we can't force her to heal your friend, I have the capacity to send her into the city to be healed."

The flames of her blade flickered as she debated his words. On one end, there was nothing stopping her from killing him if she were to find that he lied. On another end, she could find Mare and ask herself—though the information might cost a thing or two.

"Help us find and capture the rat, win the war, and I will make your wishes come true. Elsa, healed. Alos, reached. Simply work under me," He said.

Her wishes? Her face traced back to placidity as she heard his words. Alos was only a first step to her. If he could really cross her over to meet her creator, she would have to praise him. However, she only felt like scoffing.

"Alright," She said, deciding that she was in some part similar to Lilias. "I'll help you, but I would also like a mech core. Do you have that?"

". . .we have a few."

"We have a deal, then."

The crimson eyed dragonian smiled with that familiar unnatural expression that Rose had quickly found herself loathing as she sat back down and unsummoned her blade.