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(Image above: Eye of Aion)
He had awoken about an hour after he fell asleep, the sudden urge to be defensive waking him. He realized no one was on watch, and if Gideon or Shadow were to suddenly show up, they would have the advantage.
He got up, moving slowly as not to wake Nu who had wrapped herself around him. He slipped his clothes back on and loaded both Leonette and his pistol. He felt a strange pang of guilt, holding a weapon he named after the first girl he ever loved. But he thought it silly. It's just a long gun, he thought solemnly.
In the darkness of the room, he slowly opened and closed the bedroom door. Everyone else still slept, he assumed; the apartment was quiet, and only the rain hitting the window made a racket.
Van went out into the hall to stand guard. The halls were not empty.
"Nice of you to invite me to the dinner party, gunner," said the man Moryuu. He leaned against the wall opposite of Van.
"Oh," Van said, nonplussed "couldn't find you."
"Just a joke, Van." Moryuu smiled. He looked different. Something about his eyes spoke of power.
"There is some food leftover if you need it."
"That's kind of you," said Moryuu as he pulled out some trinket, "but I'm here for this."
It was a bizarre-looking thing: A cross in shape, with a three-pupil eye looking this way and that as if always searching for something. A small chain of thin links connected to the northern point wrapped around Moryuu's wrist. It had a bluish glow that lit up his palm.
"What is it?" asked Vandal.
"The Eye of Aion," said Moryuu, "or at least that's what the aeromancer called it."
"You mean Caecius? You've seen him?"
"Yes."
"Is he after you? Should I wake the others?"
"He won't be bothering anyone." The way Moryuu said this, Van understood what he meant, yet he had to ask.
"He's ... "
"Dead," Moryuu finished.
"I suppose I should thank you. Or rather, Nu would be grateful." Or maybe not, Vandal thought. The man obsessed over her and hurt her, but surely her sweet nature would find his death discomforting.
"Is the girl awake? Nu, that is. Is she back there?"
"She is with us," responded Van, "and she is asleep. Why do you ask?"
Moryuu didn't answer, but he raised his hand that held the trinket to the open door. He unfurled his fingers and the cross didn't fall from his hand, rather it pushed against his palm as if he blocked its way.
"Interesting ... " was all Moryuu said. He placed the cross back in his pocket. "I'll come back tomorrow, I'm sure you've two had a long day. Get some rest."
"Will you be fine on your own?" asked Van.
Moryuu seemed to Hmph at this, as if he had more strength or knowledge than he was showing. "Don't worry friend. I can take care of myself." He walked away, perhaps to find a free apartment.
What was that thing he was holding, wondered Van, does it have something to do with Nu?
He knew he wouldn't get the answers tonight, so he kept to his guard duty, making banfrow with the leftovers and limbs he ripped off a plant in the lobby.
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