[center]The next morning[/center]

Sitting at a table with a cup of tea in his hands Ace swirled the nearly black liquid around absentmindedly.

"The tea too strong for you Ace?" Osa said. She was sitting across from him, sipping a cup of sweetened tea of her own. He sat the cup down, and looked at her.

"No, it's fine. It just reminds me of this cafe in Hollow Bastion that me and Shizuka used to go to. She'd always want to go there for the cakes, and I'd always go for the tea."

"And the cute waitresses."

"And the waitresses, yes." Ace smirked, and downed the tea. Shizuka then entered the room with a loud yawn and shaggy hair. "Lin still asleep?" He asked.

"Yup, I just couldn't wake her up Ace, she looked so comfortable." She said, taking a seat at the table. Osa poured her a cup of tea and Shizuka nodded in thanks. 

"It sounds like she went through quite a lot the other day, A little rest should do her well." Osa said. "So, what are we doing today?" 

The question was clearly aimed at Ace, he sighed and looked at the ceiling. "For a long time our plan of action was to destroy the factories. But now we know there's people being used as their cores. There are a number of steps we can take from here, but I believe we need to find the girl that was inside of the factory in Hollow Bastion, and figure out what the purpose of the structures is. Hopefully Rika or Okal have found something out."

[center]_____[/center]

Stepping out of a steamy washroom, Ryoko walked into a small room with two beds. She had rented out a room in an inn for herself and Salforge, she could have stayed in the palace, but with the main gate having been destroyed by Nomis's rabid monster the place was in disarray. She walked past the man with a steel heart adorned in nothing but a towel, she was never much of a modest woman. "At least this place has a bath..." She sighed, walking over to her bed where her clothes lay. She removed her towel, and began to change. "So, what was this good news you had for me, Salforge?" She asked.

[center]_____[/center]

Asahina shot straight up awake from her bed, her yellow eyes darted across the room as if she were trying to follow a swarm of flies. She soon recognized the plain room as Alem's home. After her encounter yesterday, she had been too shaken to communicate with Alem. She had completely lost control of herself, it was no longer a question, she knew she was losing her mind. It was only a matter of time until she attacked the only man that had shown her kindness thus far. She turned to face Alem, who was already awake, though she wasn't sure if he had even slept at all. 

"Are you sure... You should keep. Helping me?" She turned her gaze downwards. "I may. Hurt you."