"At last, the 'Tigress' has roared, not those poor meows you made every time you visited me," Francisca commented, using an idiom from her birthplace in the Eastern Continent.
"I guess I got tired of being so cautious. We all have limits," Séraphine replied with disdain, maintaining her usual attitude. She was usually calm around people who had gained her trust, but she had a bristling side.
"Yeah, I don't see fear in your eyes anymore. That fight changed you a lot, didn't it? Did you mention cultists? Was that it?" the alchemist asked, causing the witch's eyes to narrow warily.
"It seems your news isn't as complete as it should be," Séraphine scoffed. The redhead shook her head slightly before patting her chest.
"I only supervise my favorite clients, not conduct deep inquiries into their activities. Otherwise, I might offend certain people," Francisca revealed nonchalantly, causing the witch to hesitate, unable to understand her intentions.
"We've known each other since you moved to the city, but you've never been yourself around me until now," the redhead said, pointing out the crux of the matter before reaching out her hand to Séraphine.
"My name is Francisca Zhang, alchemist. I hope we can be friends. Since you don't fear me, why don't we deepen our bond?" Francisca's words sounded extremely uncomfortable to the witch, displaying her social inexperience, but instead of hesitating or rejecting her outstretched hand, Séraphine responded.
"Séraphine Rohan, witch. I still don't like you messing with the city's underworld, but... I won't refuse if someone like you wants to be my friend," Séraphine answered, making the redhead smile.
"As I told you before, I need resources that legality can't provide. I'm not a gangster. I don't get involved in those matters. I even sell weapons to the police," Francisca complained. This time, however, she was much more open and sincere.
"Neutral, why didn't you say so before? Why do you seem to have an extremely clandestine and illegal business?" Séraphine asked curiously, with a much calmer attitude than before.
"The nickname 'Lady Zhang' is heavy and powerful. It gives me certain advantages and protection. Besides, weren't you afraid of me? Or at least, you were very wary of me. In that situation, anything I tell you, you'll simply take as an excuse. Would you believe a 'criminal' like me?" The redhead's words made Séraphine think about this matter.
She realized that she had been carried away by the information she had gathered and the façade Francisca had put on. For the same reason, she had been prejudiced against her, fearful of her criminal connections.
This wariness was laughable in full context, but Séraphine could see that now. This situation served to help her grow as a person and a detective.
"Every time I told you something, you just looked at me like a fool," Séraphine growled, looking annoyed at the alchemist, who nodded with a playful grin.
"Oh, yes. Although teasing you and watching you act like a scaredy-cat was fun, perhaps the only genuine thing in those moments was the flirting. But you should know that I'm only interested in having sex with..." Francisca abruptly changed the subject to a highly personal matter. Séraphine was inexperienced, but she was a witch after all.
She had seen and heard many things. Even though she was somewhat shy at the moment of truth, especially because of her virginity, she never backed down. She knew how to respond in these situations.
Séraphine simply put her hands under her breasts, highlighting her cleavage, which was exposed due to her partially buttoned shirt. She winked at the alchemist and displayed the glamour Lady Osmond had taught her, chuckling softly.
"Hmm, sorry~. There's not a deep enough connection between us yet for that, but I have no problem with kissing. Your scent puts me off right now," the witch said, cutting her eyes and turning her head slightly to the side. She lifted her chin and placed her hands on her hips, fully highlighting the curves of her body.
Francisca was taken aback. Could a person change that much when acting genuinely? Was this a sign of confidence, or was Séraphine as brazen as the intelligence reports said?
The redhead didn't know for sure; she hadn't interacted much with the witch in those months. However, she liked what she saw. Perhaps alchemy was her passion, but right now, she felt like she was standing in front of the smelting furnace in her lab.
Séraphine looked like she needed a bath to calm down! It wasn't just because she wanted to see how open Séraphine was about kissing. She couldn't lie to herself; that was undoubtedly why.
𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝
Still in the laboratory, Automaton Number Three deftly entered the room through a compartment designed for machines like it. After processing the new information, it stopped to stare at something it didn't understand.
Its creator, Francisca, who now had her hair done and was wearing a red dress with gold details, a style common on the eastern continent and known as a cheongsam, was standing very close to the person who appeared in its records as client Séraphine Rohan.
Close was an understatement: the two women were embracing, the witch's body leaning against the desk. Their lips were together in a passionate kiss, with bites exchanged. But what interested the automaton more was its detection of faint traces of Aether in the air.
'I don't understand human interactions. The client has used a spell. It's not threatening. Continue monitoring protocol,' the machine processed internally, focusing its eyes on the witch and trying to understand her actions.
Especially since Séraphine wasn't just kissing Francisca! Yes, she was, and she was enjoying it because, unlike with Élodie, she wasn't feeling that weird shyness stemming from feelings she couldn't understand.
This time, there was lust and curiosity, as well as a spell in process, the focus of Automaton Number 3's attention. Since the magic was based on gestures, it wasn't limited to signs; it also included body language. Kissing is a universally recognized gesture.
Because of their ability to use Aether, both Francisca and Élodie yesterday could sense that Séraphine had taken advantage of those moments to use magic. This spell communicated its meaning to them.
A test of friendship! After receiving feedback from the spell, Séraphine broke away from the kiss, leaving a trickle of saliva that Francisca lapped up. She looked at the brunette with annoyance.
"What kind of magic do witches use? I've met mages, and they don't do what you do!" They always come up with weird stuff like this!" the alchemist complained, making the brunette burst out laughing.
"I like kissing! It's simple, no strings attached, and I don't have to sacrifice anything important to the wrong people.
But I've only kissed a few people, and of those, I've only used magic on four people who passed the spell test. Trusting isn't easy, Lady Zhang. We Witches have our methods for choosing whom to trust," said Séraphine with a satisfied smile, because, in a sense, her actions were a kind of revenge against Francisca.
All for making her afraid for so long! She was mean. Even though the spell told her that Francisca was trustworthy, she took the opportunity to get even. Seeing the alchemist like that made her happy.
"You didn't trust me before. I get it. I guess you do now, don't you? Witches are so tedious," the redhead muttered. She focused her gaze on Séraphine's cleavage before shaking her head with a self-critical smile.
"I have some ideas, but let's talk about more important things. What do you know about possible cultists in Blume?" the witch asked, detaching herself from Francisca's embrace. Now it was time to attend to more serious matters.
"Witches are scary, and as for cultists, I don't know much, but there have been strange movements in the streets," the alchemist said. She regretted not being able to use her hands for a deeper tactile examination, but she cleared her mind and focused on what was important.
"There is mobilization among the gangs. There are scattered rumors of a new substance and of new people taking over established gangs. There is even talk that a mad mage is gathering people to build his gang.
"However, one rumor caught my attention. It involves a famous movie producer." Francisca's tone was particularly somber when talking about these topics, but her brow furrowed as she said the last sentence.
"There's a person in the emerging film world who has dealings with a gang. He arranges parties where women are chosen on the spot.
I don't know the details, but I've heard that, after a while, he orders them to deal with those impertinent girls. I don't understand the exact motives, though.
At first glance, it has nothing to do with cultists, but don't you have such a case?" asked the alchemist, revealing once again the intelligence she had gathered about Séraphine.
"I have a client who is an actress. I'm meeting with her in a few hours. Do you think it has to do with a cult?" Séraphine asked cautiously. The redhead shook her head.
"One of those guys told me he heard something strange when he disposed of the body. I also detected spiritual corruption. What do you think?" Francisca's words were all the convincing Séraphine needed to take this lead much more seriously.
"Damn it! You said they disposed of those women's bodies? When you said they dealt with those women, I thought they bullied or harassed them to stop bothering the movie producer. I didn't think..." Séraphine lowered her head and clenched her fists tightly, feeling uneasy about the revelation.
"The film world may be new to you, but there's a certain rot in it. Séraphine, you're lucky; you're famous and don't depend on anyone except yourself to make it.
Because even without a cult, there are things... It's better not to find out," the alchemist commented, plunging the lab into an uncomfortable silence.
"I understand, but I'll still investigate along those lines." Now, I need to go shopping. Do you sell coffee? I need a large quantity." Trying to clear the pessimistic atmosphere, the witch changed the subject, and Francisca nodded with a small smile.
"Well, what are you interested in buying? Do you want potions for your vision? I doubt they'll work as well as they used to. After all, it's a process you have to go through yourself," the redhead said, looking at Séraphine, who growled under her breath.
"I just don't want to have a seizure while I'm working. I'll also need some to calm the Aether overuse reaction and some to heal wounds," the witch said, making her request. The alchemist's eyes glowed brightly.
"Good! I've made some progress on the painkillers you want. They're not like the gnome potions, but they'll get you on your feet much faster when you get agitated.
With the health potions, you seem to want to fight more, don't you?" The redhead looked at Séraphine with interest. She nodded as she settled her hat.
"I've already been on my first hunt. How can I back out now?" Her words were imbued with fervent determination because she was determined to solve all the problems standing in her way.
For the first time since arriving at Blume, she felt she had a goal beyond making money or enjoying life. Of course, her magical studies and research were part of her, things she would never leave behind, but now, she had taken a liking to solving cases and facing danger.
If doing so led her to deeper things that could enliven her life, give her answers, or solve problems that inevitably involved her because of her intense curiosity or because they affected her directly, all the better.
For example, there's the cult. She wanted to know their goals, whether they were related to Inferos beyond a mere invocation, and what she could learn about the specimen that was invoked by her teacher at the time of the event that changed her life.
Also, if her client had a relationship with someone involved in a cult, she wanted to investigate, even if it was a different cult. Not only for the pay, but also, although she denies it, to help a possible victim and solve a dangerous problem for the city.
"You look like you want to live your adventure," Francisca commented, making Séraphine squint and smile mischievously.
"Wouldn't you like to join? I have an idea about that." With those words, the witch began a project that would become an important part of her life.
To form an adventuring party! It was an old concept, but it appealed greatly to Séraphine's interests. It was an idea that had been brewing in her head since her confrontation with Miriam, or rather, with the Inferos that possessed her.
"Tell me about your idea," the alchemist replied, thus sealing the matter.