The loathsome figure didn't stand still, something changed, something beyond what a human should be capable of doing.
The face which had been transforming, turned into the face of an old man with a toothless grin, the figure wore those same ragged clothes, taking a straw hat from somewhere, he put it on his head and stated in a very soft and feminine voice.
"So, dear Elric, how was my performance, do you think I should join a theater?"
Elric hesitated for a moment and took his seat, he leaned back and grumbled.
"Can't you change back, seeing an old man talking in the voice of a young girl doesn't feel right in several ways..."
The old man blinked dumbfounded then happily complied with the demand with a burst of soft-spoken laughter.
"Ahaha..."
The face changed once again, squished inside like jelly, it propelled back, the old man's height got smaller and his body frame became slender till it took the shape of a woman in her twenties, with a puffed-up chest, the figure flipped her hair back, her eyelashes twinkling at the man with a sly grin.
She did an exaggerated pose with her hand on her hips and said.
"Lo and behold your one and only mistress in disguise," the woman, now fully transformed, announced with a dramatic flourish.
Elric stared at her blankly then sighed.
"Sina, are you done?"
Her transformation was always a sight to behold, but Elric had seen enough of her tricks to not let them distract him from their current predicament.
Sina pouted and climbed his desk, sitting cross-legged in front of him. "Aw, come on, Elric," she teased. "You used to enjoy my little shows."
"So what did you notice?" He didn't take her bait and asked directly for confirmation.
She sighed and leaned toward him.
"I followed him, or at least tried to.... but that boy named Asher was a pain in the rear," She grumbled and leaned back.
"He had no goal at all, he just wandered the streets, then went inside an empty bar for hours....!"
"Only after hearing your order did I do such a stupid play of a fraud... Oh, you looked very dashing when you came to save him from me," She nodded with a teasing glint.
Elric listened to her report without much thought, after finding out what happened at Ains mansion, he didn't waste any time and checked on what he could do to control the situation.
He had hoped to meet Asher by saving him from a scam he himself created. This way not only could he have gained his trust but also improve his reputation in the market in a single strike.
"Haaa.... All of that turned useless actually, he found out that I knew him and he was actually coming to meet me anyways." He sighed and leaned back on his chair.
Her eyes searched his face for any hint of annoyance but she found none. Instead, Elric's gaze remained calm and calculating, his mind racing with the new information.
"So what now? Should I keep watching him?" Sina asked with a furrowed brow.
"No, let's just leave it at that, if he wanted to make a move he would have done it already." These words were not directed toward Asher, but rather toward Ains.
If Ains wanted to play a long game, Elric had no problem doing so, after all Elric wouldn't stop until he killed him, painfully and slowly.
Such thoughts made him smile.
"Such an evil grin..." Sina commented.
"So what do you think of that boy?" Elric asked not minding the comments.
"Oh, Asher was very cute and honest." She said and leaned on his chest with a peaceful smile.
She giggled remembering how his first word to the fruit was, 'What's this abomination?'.
"I mean strength..." Elric said, stroking her hair.
"He broke that red-haired guy's ribs and beat him to a pulp. I also heard he was going to kill him from the servants of the mansion. He is hot-headed but smart enough to know what to do, and he also took advantage of your play by making himself look like a saint who forgives a fraud." She answered snuggling more to his chest.
Elric nodded thoughtfully, stroking her hair gently. "He seems to be quite the handful, doesn't he?"
"He is... And you were quite rough when grabbing me by the collar." She pouted, her eyes empty.
Elric didn't mind what she was doing, even though she looked young and beautiful he knew she was twice his age, all he could do was tempt her with his charm, and keep her under him.
Broken minds are easy to control...
*****
Click—!
I opened the door entering the workshop, which had somehow started to look better.
The pain was still pulled out but the cleaning has been completed, I looked at the people gathered inside, almost 40 in number.
They all sat on chairs beside the two long tables in the hall. One of them hearing my footsteps turned to look at me and greeted me with a polite smile.
I looked at the green board they all had been focused on, a bald man seemed to be teaching them something, in his hand was a clothing material with needles and white lines drawn over it. He wrote something on the board, teaching them how to weave.
The room was filled with the faint scent of burning candles and the sharp scent of leather. The sound of needles piercing through the fabric filled the room, creating a rhythmic melody that was surprisingly soothing.
'Looks like teaching them was a good idea after all.'
This should be their first day, to learn something productive, to learn something better.
To them, it was not a loss of time from making money. They will be getting paid by the end of the month. If they could learn and not slack off, the lord who brought them here would give them a good pay along with other facilities as well as a proper job.
Asher looked at them from the back of the room for some time, his eyes focused on each one of them.
After a small amount of time passed, he walked toward the stairs and gently climbed them.
On the third floor, a blue mat was lying on top of the floor, and more than 15 children sat there. At the other corner, Elda stood there with her hands folded over her chest.
"So what does it look like?" I asked her with a small smile, the children looked at me in surprise. Not knowing who I was.
In that group a girl stood out, her hair this time properly done in a ponytail, and with a cheerful smile, she waved her hand.
"Brother!"
I smiled back and waved my hand as well making the small soul giggle in happiness.
Elda looked at the children and said in a stern voice.
"Lucy, this is study time, keep writing, I will check on you first."
Her eyes widened a bit as she quickly nodded, taking her pencil, she began to scribble something on the paper.
Elda turned to look at me and walked in my direction.
"You came late, what happened?"
I blinked in surprise, her whole demeanor seemed to have changed. Instead of the worried look from yesterday, she looked like a stern teacher who could kill a person with her glare.
"Ah, I got into some trouble..." In nervousness, I answered unable to look her directly in the eyes.
"What again?!" She said in astonishment, her eyes searched my body but found no injuries to be concerned about.
She after hearing yesterday's story was already in a bad mood, even consulting me to not do business with any of them.
"I am not injured, just like yesterday," I assured her, leaning back on the wall.
"So what happened this time?"
"Nothing special, just met Elric as planned, but before that, I almost got scammed by an old man though, he had started to shout about me looting him."
Elda's eyes squinted, her eyebrows raised in suspicion.
"You didn't actually do it right?"
I smacked my head in disbelief, I had forgotten how much trust they had in me.
Sigh...
"Yup, I did try to scam him as well."
Elda's eyes shot wide open, her lips parted to say something.
"You—"
"No, I didn't scam him."
Her eyes searched my face looking for any hint of a lie, but she found none. She sighed and put her hand on her hips.
I recalled the whole story to her with a smirk.
"....Do you get it?"
"Yes, I do." She nodded.
Taking one of the empty chairs, I sat there comfortably and asked. "How is the work going on?"
Elda stared back at the children in the room, then back at me.
"Everything is going smoothly, everyone came here early in the morning, children came later but they have been well-mannered for now." She answered with a proud smile.
"Make sure to take breaks in between," I said gently.
Her stern gaze softened. "I know, I know. But they need to learn quickly if they want to make something of themselves."
"They're eager to improve their lives," I said, smiling at the determination in her voice. "They'll learn at their own pace. It's important not to push them too hard."
"I am going to make as much money as possible," She said with a grin.
"Do as you wish, Where is Albert? I don't see him here."
I asked, looking behind her.
"He is in the restaurant helping with the repair."
I leaned back, my hands resting over my thighs.
"Ask if some of them wish to help clean this place, I mean with paint or other work."
Her eyes brightened with the idea. "That's a good thought, I'll see who's interested. It'll be a good way to keep them busy and teach them teamwork."
The children, catching snippets of our conversation, looked up at us with curiosity. Their young faces, once marred by fear and despair, now held a spark of hope and excitement. It was a sight that brought warmth to my chest.
"Alright," Elda said, clapping her hands together. "Let's get back to your lessons."
"You should teach Albert like this as well." I grinned at the sudden idea.
Elda's face lit up, her smile widened and she nodded eagerly.
"Nice idea!" With newly found enthusiasm she moved forward, toward the children.
*****
One week passed away in the blink of an eye, many things happened during this time.
The workers have finally learned some small things to make, it was not perfect but good enough for them to use. The restaurant has restarted its business, the new thing about it was the home delivery they recently started. Three workers will deliver food meanwhile the others will learn how to make their food better.
This can only work as a temporary means of survival since the work has not made any actual money except for the restaurant.
It will take time but work out one day.
Elric and the news about Ains parents have started to circulate in the market, but it still remains a rumor as no party has confirmed or denied the allegations.
This seems to be a move played by Ains, he has come out to fight, a brave yet reckless plan many said.
I have not taken part in their power struggle yet and only remained as a spectator for now.
However I was not planning to remain a spectator forever, my plan was simple, to wait for any opportunity I could take part in and then take a strong step forward in that direction.
Everyone has their eyes fixed on this, waiting to strike at the most vulnerable moment.
But that was not all, I have not been contacted by either the Temple or Morgana herself. Nor have I gone to visit anyone there, and maintained a safe distance from them till now.The mark of stars has remained passive till now, the lady in white nowhere to be seen...
Anyway, who could have thought that instead of focusing on business and my rank up, I would be hunting ghosts tonight?