The Tale of a Great Fixer Who Once Reached for The Dream, part 6 (after battle)

…….

More and more Bloodfiends are starting to suffer.

Sancho.

How rude of you to attempt to lecture our Father?

I am only notifying him of what I am seeing out there.

Ah, Sancho. I have been discussing with Dulcinea about the pathing of the Parade.

It seems that your Area is the most popular out of them all, Dulcinea.

Of course. It is in nature of all things to be helplessly drawn to beauty.

…….

…….

I don't think I've ever seen the two of you exchange more than three sentences with one another, now that I think about it.

You're both Second Kindreds of mine, aren't you? Sisters. Would you like to be the 'big sis', Sancho?

Absolutely not. I detest this idea.

Then perhaps I would suggest a 'lil sis' -

I will now take my leave, O Father.

... Also.

Please, consider our suggestion regarding that Relic.

Yes, I will.

You come at the most appropriate hour, Sancho. Behold, for I have found us a Relic yesterday.

You're still searching for them...?

I thought you had given up on the idea. The Knight of the White Moon identified the last one, which you had gone through considerable lengths to obtain, mind, was but a forgery.

Yet the merchant claimed that this one was of genuine quality.

Behold the hatch-pattern here; it is identical to the depiction of the helm worn by the founding Fixer of the Hana Association.

Compare it next to this illustration. Do you see the resemblance?

…….

They duped you. Again.

... Dammit all, I had a feeling. Damn that peddler to hell.

Why are you so desperately seeking these trinkets?

You are powerful enough without the crutches these Relics provide.

It is not for their strength that I seek them. What I truly seek is the body odor of the Fixers who had once worn them, their histories, the tales they have to tell...

... You look like you're looking at a nutcase.

What a relief. At least your eyesight is in fine health.

This won't do. I would much earlier have those Relics in my hands by going out there myself.

That's all well and good, but did you hear what I had to report earlier? That...

... That Bloodfiends are suffering?

I did not expect this path we walk to be an easy, paved road.

Yet we will overcome this together, as long as we manage to acclimatize to this.

You seem to be doing quite well yourself, for one.

…….

Oh, and Sancho... I have conceived an idea most ingenious.

What is it this time...?

It is truly ingenious this time, so I shall allow you to take a deep breath before I say anything. Are you ready?

Yep...

Won't you set off on an adventure by my side?

How did the consultations go?

…….

All are at peace. Tranquil, as they always are.

Speaking of which, did you take your daily dose of hemobar today?

I did.

Very good.

Ah, I heard through the grapevine that you were preparing to embark on an 'adventure' with Father.

The sheer idea of it...

... I can hardly wait.

You... No, it's nothing. You may leave me, now.

I wasn't so close to him that I could simply call over to him and ask him what he really meant by that pause.

So I let him go.

We could never get used to it.

The lack of blood... It's incomparable to having one's favorite food taken away from them.

It deprived us of everything that made us happy.

Drenched in misery, naively hanging onto the belief that everything was going to be okay. Slowly, we...

We grew deprived.

So that's...

... when the two of you left La Manchaland to go on an adventure.