Entering the restaurant, I was left baffled as I witnessed the scene inside: a man with green hair was slapped across his face by Elena, her face turning crimson. The man's face turned towards me, his eyes uncertain about what just happened.
'Asher, help me!' Franz asked in a small voice.
I ignored him and walked toward Elena, her face full of fury as she raised her right hand to once again slap Franz. But stopped midway upon noticing me. Her eyes teared up, and she ran toward me and said in a small voice.
"Sir, this man tried to flip my skirt."
I looked at Franz, who seemed to be still in a daze, and stepped in front of Elena, shielding her from his view.
"Leave," I said to Franz, ready to give him a beating if needed.
Franz, realizing his situation, shook his head rapidly and said,.
"Please, listen to what I have to say... I didn't do this!"
Elena frowned, her fist clenched tightly, and said with a loud voice.
"You were the only one behind me!"
"I was, but it's her who did this." Franz pointed toward his shoulder, but no one was present there. Elena blinked, confusion visible over her face.
"Have you gone mad?" She said with hesitation and glanced at me. Her eyes clearly pleading for help. But I was also as confused as her, if not more. I knew what type of person Franz was from the little time we had worked together, and he clearly was not someone who would harass a young girl. The only reason I had been acting harsh till now was to show Elena that I was on her side. Franz seemed to have also understood this and once again pointed at his shoulder.
'Spirit, its spirit,' he whispered, making sure those sitting on the tables didn't hear us.
I furrowed my brows, peering over at the empty space where he was pointing. 'What are you talking about?'
'Get us to a corner; I will explain.' He said it a little louder; this time Elena also heard him.
She looked at me in confusion, her brows raised, and asked softly.
"Do you know this man, Sir Asher?"
I hesitated, unsure if I should agree or not. Franz gave me a pitiful gaze, his eyes shaking in fear. I sighed and nodded.
"Unfortunately, I know this guy...." I answered.
"He also works in the Temple, so... can you hear what he wants to say?"
Elena's expression shifted from anger to bewilderment as she heard me; she turned to face Franz and took a step forward in his direction; she looked him straight in his eyes and told him in a stern voice.
"Please don't misunderstand that I will hear you because you are from Temple; I am only doing this since Sir Asher requested me to."
Franz stared at her, his gaze shifting uncomfortably in the dinner.
'Yeah, today is not a good day.' He muttered to himself and nodded.
"Thank you, um... can we talk somewhere else?" He asked nervously.
I looked at the room; many were minding their own business while the waiters served their orders. Some did glance at us, but seeing us talk in secret, they avoided my gaze.
"Let's go," I said firmly, leading them to a secluded booth at the back of the restaurant. The murmurs of the other patrons grew faint as we moved away from the entrance.
Taking a seat in the small room for workers to rest in, I turned to see them stare at me in a bewildered manner, their gaze seeming to be asking what I was doing.
I raised my brow and asked. "What?"
Franz looked at Elena and shook his head in disbelief.
"No, nothing at all... Should have expected this to happen."
"Let me introduce myself. I am Franz... And as this weird guy said, I work in Temple, and I am an awakened."
'Why am I being targeted all of a sudden?' I glared at him, but he ignored me skillfully and continued.
"I have a spirit, and she is a bit mischievous in nature..."
I had expected something like that, but hearing this come out of his mouth was a different story altogether. If not for previously seeing a spirit in action, I would have believed Franz to be a liar as well.
But right now, the victim Elena's reaction matters the most. Will she believe him, or will Franz get another slap on his face?
'If I had been in her situation. I would have likely been slapping the daylight out of him.' I mused over such thoughts, my eyes focused deeply on them.
"Sir Asher, should I trust him?" Elena asked, taking me by surprise. I leaned back on my chair, my head hitting the shelf briefly as I winced in pain. Elena's eyes widened as I hit my head. She shot her hand at me and asked in worry.
"Are you okay, sir?!"
Franz snickered in amusement and muttered.
'Good, good, finally the day is getting better.'
"Yes, I am okay, and Elena, this guy is telling the truth... spirits do exist, and he can interact with them." I stared at Franz and rubbed the back of my head. My mood has already turned sour since he came here.
Sigh....
Elena took a step back, still unsure whether to believe him or not. The opportunity was good; I could finally ask something I had previously refrained from asking.
I smirked and looked up at Franz. He furrowed his brows and licked his lips; he found himself having a chill run down his spine as a cold sweat trailed on his neck.
"W-what?" He asked,
I smiled back at him and asked in a deliberate tone of hesitation, "Why not show her the spirit?"
Franz's eyes lit up, and he nodded.
"I could, but it takes a lot of origin to maintain their presence visible."
Elena leaned back, her hand touching the chair's arm.
Franz sighed and raised his hand before saying,. "Lyra, come out,"
"....."
"....."
We waited in silence, but nothing happened. Franz's face turned red as he coughed in embarrassment and looked at us.
"Let me try again." He pleaded, and seeing this, even Elena started to feel bad for him and nodded.
Franz sighed, relief flickering across his face. Elena bit her lips and leaned toward me and whispered in my ear. "Sir, should I just leave? It's getting painful to watch."
'I know, right?' I thought to myself and shook my head.
"We have waited this much; let's be patient now... Even I am starting to feel bad for him." I whispered back in her ear. Elena's ear turned red as she let out a strange yelp. With a soft chuckle, she nodded.
"Ah, yes!" She said hastily and rubbed her ears in panic.
"Are you two done?" Franz's voice pulled us back; this time he was not alone. On his shoulder sat a misty figure, its adorable eyes blinked at us, and a white feather wing glowed in a mix of pale blue and white lights in a majestic manner.
The small bird tilted her head slowly and made a sweet melodic sound, "We came~ "
Elena's and my eyes widened in surprise. I focused my attention on this small figure of light, my eyes squinting, but... was Franz even telling the truth now?
"Can I touch her?!" Elena stepped forward abruptly, her eyes fixed on Lyra, as her hand moved to pet the bird.
"Ah, yes, you can." Taken by surprise, he nodded, letting Lyra jump on his palm.
"Lyra, if you do any pranks now, I will not talk with you for a week," Franz said loudly, his voice threatening her without mercy.
Lyra flew and sat on Elena's hand and turned her head away before telling us cutely. "Franz, liar~ Lyra won't be fooled now~"
Franz's smile faltered as he tried to refute, "No, this time I will—"
"Alright, Elena, how about you spend some time with our adorable spirit?" I stood up, stopping Franz from saying anything else. Elena, seeing this, nodded and took Lyra away in another corner; this was to end the matter. The situation was turning weirder with every passing moment, making it hard for Elena to understand anything else.
"Not fair...."
Seeing Elena go, he muttered under his breath and sighed.
"Alright, enough drama. Why did you come here? Also, where is Lady Morgana? She had promised she would come to meet me soon..." I asked in a single breath, my hands folding across my chest as I leaned back on the shelf behind me.
Franz looked at me strangely, his left hand rubbing the back of his neck, as he nodded before answering. "I have come to meet you, Asher... for some work, obviously. And Lady Morgana is not in the city right now... due to several reasons."
The way he said it made me suspicious; something was off.
"What work?" I asked.
"Have you ever hunted ghosts?"
"...."
"Ah, looks like you haven't. How about trying it tonight?" Franz said with an annoying grin on his face.