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After a cordial exchange with the Machinery Hivemind, the patrol unit resumed its rounds. Meanwhile, Eli Walker, Martin, and Alice parted ways—at least, in theory.
Alice continued to trail behind Eli and Martin all the way to Backlund Bridge.
"Is there something else you require?"
Eli turned, feigning polite confusion.
"Pay up."
Alice inhaled deeply and replied with a radiant, saccharine smile.
"Pay?"
Eli raised a brow. "What for?"
"My delightful companionship tonight by the Tussock River was not meant to be a charitable gesture."
"My invitation, dear Miss Alice," Eli replied, continuing the farce, "was born from sincere appreciation, not gold pounds."
"If you think you can get away without paying, the consequences may be... unfortunate."
Alice's expression remained sweet as honey.
"Was this not romantic?" Eli gestured toward the blood-hued moon. "Did I not conduct myself as a gentleman? Let the crimson moon bear witness—"
"I suddenly recall," Alice interrupted cheerfully, turning toward the bridge, "that I forgot to inform Deacon Ikanos about your little promotion to Beyonder."
"…This is your fee."
Eli sighed and handed her a banknote discreetly.
Alice hadn't taken a single step.
"…Ten pounds? That's it?"
She rubbed the Augustus-issued note between her fingers in disbelief. "Only one?"
"Problem?"
Eli folded his arms. "That's an hourly rate. In under two hours, you've earned more than a dockworker makes in three weeks. Splendid work."
"I helped you fight a Werewolf," she protested.
"Were you wounded?"
He examined her coolly. "If you were, I'd have escorted you to Backlund's best hospital—after all, we are comrades-in-arms."
He twirled the revolver idly. We merely chased after the same beast; it's still unclear who protected whom.
"I… you…"
Alice stammered, visibly conflicted. Ordinarily, she would have charged at least a hundred pounds for such a job. One-tenth felt criminal.
"Alice," Eli spread his hands dramatically, "you've made quite the fortune off me already. I'm practically subsisting on bread and coffee."
"And you? Have you saved enough for your Sequence 7 advancement?"
"Because once you do, I'll never be able to afford your services again."
He sighed, trudging toward the West Borough. Martin, initially somewhat sympathetic to Alice, now nodded silently behind his young master.
Spending more only makes the next time harder? Could that really be how it works?
"You amateur," Alice grumbled. "Do you even know how much it costs to ascend to Sequence 7? Not even counting the potion formula—just a single main ingredient goes for over 600 pounds!"
Eli raised an eyebrow, surprised. "At least you've saved up for one ingredient, haven't you?"
"No."
Alice huffed, then began her lament:
"I follow the path of the Sun. I can't think only of myself."
"Most of the money I—earned—from you, I used to buy food and distribute it in the name of the Eternal Blazing Sun. Those in need deserve warmth."
Her mind drifted to the Eternal Blazing Sun Church back in Intis. A single faith, fractured into multiple ideologies.
The Inquisition was zealous, obsessed with purging heretics.
The Brotherhood of Preachers followed suit—ruthless, rigid, full of fire and brimstone.
Only the Friars Minor, or the Little Brotherhood, advocated true humility and charity: begging alms, suppressing desire, and preaching in the poorest corners of the land.
But the countryside girl in Alice could never understand: why beg, especially from the poor? Shouldn't followers of the Sun provide food, not demand it?
Even the Nine Sisters' Society—her own circle—had its internal strife.
Disillusioned, she had fled Intis for Backlund, hoping to earn some of the Church's foreign stipend. The capital of Loen offered more than sermons and soup lines.
"You're even proud of that?"
Eli blinked, caught off guard.
"Do you know how many people in need I've helped?"
Alice lifted her chin, proud.
"Young Master," Martin interjected, "Miss Alice does indeed distribute food without compensation. I've helped her transport it myself."
Eli turned to her, incredulous.
"You're telling me you used my money—earned from a follower of Evernight—to feed potential Evernight converts, all while praising the Eternal Blazing Sun?"
Alice grinned.
"You should be thanking me. If not for me, would you have gone to East Borough to help the destitute?"
"And besides, I didn't ask you to remember my kindness. I just want you to praise the Sun."
Praise the Sun? With my money?
Eli was speechless. The logic was irreproachable. The shamelessness—astounding.
"…You charged me, but you help others for free."
"You have money," Alice said with perfect candor.
Incredible.
"Whatever happened to friendship?" Eli pressed. "Martin has helped you so much. How can you swindle him?"
"I didn't swindle him."
"I swindled you."
She no longer even pretended otherwise.
"If I don't take advantage of the Loen nobility," she said matter-of-factly, "who should I take advantage of?"
"…Can't you be a little more affordable?"
Eli massaged his temple. He had 390 pounds left for the month. Possibly less. This woman was bleeding him dry.
Still… he didn't object to how she used the money.
He had no intention of becoming a philanthropist. If Alice wanted to take his gold and feed it to East Borough's hungry, let her.
But—
"Are you willing to believe in my Lord?"
Alice asked suddenly. "Didn't I say before? The Sun has many gifts. If you believe, I'll teach you the ritual magic to invoke Him—for free."
"…Dream on."
Eli dismissed her without hesitation.
Believe in the Eternal Blazing Sun? Has He ever given me anything? Even an egg?
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