533 Nuance (1/2)

”--and the nature trail was really nice! And we got to see the fireworks with the Basilica in the background, too! It's like-- a magical castle!”

”That is correct,” Tycon mused. ”The Basilica is a fortified structure, with magical formations guarding its walls.”

”Fair enough,” Lone chuckled.

Tres Leches let out a lazy yawn as the young Ranger stroked its metal coat. He was lying in his bedroll... prepared to sleep on the floor.

That was technically fine. The room only had a single bed and Tycon was not planning on sharing.

However, he found the very presence of the young man and wolf... baffling.

”Mister Lone...” Tycon pursed his lips... thinking carefully on his next words.

”Yes, Boss?”

”I recall... you used your own coin to purchase the use of an inn room.”

”Well... yeah,” Lone sighed wistfully. ”It was really nice!”

So he'd... been to his room. Tycon paused, inhaling through his nostrils... ”Then I must ask: why... are you here? In... *my* room?”

”I mean... is it okay?” Lone sat up, frowning, ”I didn't want to sleep outside?”

”Well... yes. I would make you sleep outside, if we have indoor lodging,” Tycon pursed his lips, ”I mean to say... why are you *not* in the room you paid for?”

”Oh,” Lone sat up. ”Coraline came to my room and... and we sat up and talked for a while. You know, we talked a little more about what we'd do tomorrow... like which beach we were going to? And we might go to a war museum?”

”...Go on.”

”Well, Coraline said she wanted to sleep in a bed? So... I told her she could sleep in mine. So... I came here.”

Tycon's eye twitched... it sounded... correct, but something seemed... off? Like there was a nuance either he or Lone was missing, ”Very well... That was rather polite of you.”

”Yeah,” Lone shrugged, lying back down. ”I just wanted to be a gentleman, y'know? I'm not... a noble or anything. But I tried to think... what would a noble do?”

That was not at all what an entitled noble would do. Tycon decided not to inform him of that.

”I asked her if she'd join our guild...” Lone sighed, ”She uh... she didn't believe me when I said I was part of Sol Invictus.”

”Ah, a shame,” Tycon shook his head.

Coraline would have been an excellent addition to Sol Invictus, and it seemed she had a unique interrogation skill that would be useful for internal affairs. Sorina Capulet would be able to utilize her.

Unfortunately, Mister Lone's persuasive abilities were... unrefined. Also, their guild, Sol Invictus, had a certain reputation for being a very elite combat force. Tycon hypothesized that the young lady might have been intimidated.

”Right...” Tycon averted his gaze.

Guilt and entrapment were strategies often used by Sol Invictus' Chief Financial Officer, Sorina Capulet. Using it, she recruited a number of excellent talents, including Maeva Leserre, Popoto Potata Pota, and Boxtholomaeus.

”I just wish...” Lone took in a deep breath... ”That... I could just drop everything and go? Not that I'd want to... but, I guess I'd like the ability to. Does that make sense, Boss?”