[h2][center]Reginald von Afah[/center][/h2]
Curious though he was about whatever had sparked this incident in the first place, Reginald reminded himself that, at the end of the day, there were other matters to worry about over investigating the circumstances that had kept everyone here to begin with. With that being said, though, it wasn't as if he could tell as if these events were predetermined or not to begin with. He had little memory of any events like this while proceeding through the game, but at this point, chasing after a dangling thread on his first day here in hopes that it would lead to other issues seemed a bit...

Frivolous? Yes, frivolous was the word. He needed information first and foremost, not instinctual hunches.

"...Well, there were surely other witnesses. Hopefully those with more authority will find the ones responsible," he said, shrugging his shoulders as he glanced towards his maid. Being the person she usually was, of course, his servant requested recompense—one that he was less willing to give due to the bird that seemed to be gravitating towards her, granted, but what she had done otherwise at least warranted some minor bonus.

"If you wish to bill me, I will, of course, review the costs," he remarked back, watching as Mella attempted to get the bird off of her head. A small smirk crossed his face as he watched the bird flit about, dodging the maid's hands as it flew into the air for a moment... Before promptly returning to sit atop her head.

"Would you prefer I purchased that bird for you? Or, rather, maybe I should do so regardless..." he joked before taking a step to the side as a few more shopkeepers—and, now, some more willing volunteers—began to carry the rattled animals back to whence they came.

Walking back towards Elastasia and Terys, though, the black-haired student noted that the latter was still wrestling with a rather large puppy, which seemed to have taken to him as much as the bird had to his maid. Whether or not he wanted to be pinned to the ground and licked over and over was not necessarily his jurisdiction, of course, but given that it seemed to have been going on for long enough for the boy to try (and fail) to push him off...

Well, it only seemed right to step in and assist.

With a sigh, Reginald leaned over and wrapped both of his arms around the dog before prying it away from Terys, the beast notably heavier than it seemed to be at first glance.

"I am... Surprised they could keep this thing to begin with," he said, some strain evident on his face as the dog shook about in his arms. "Rather friendly, it seems—for better or worse."

[@Raineh Daze][@Rune_Alchemist][hr]
The older man stared at Cervantes for a moment before shaking his head and sighing.

"Jacob Verdan. As for recovering what was lost, well..."

There was a moment as he trailed off before glancing at the people bringing the animals back over to the shop.

"...I suppose that can wait until after I've taken inventory. There are a fair number of creatures I need to make sure are all right... Assuming that they've been captured," he remarked, shoulders slumped as he moved to take a snakelike creature off of a young man's hands. "If there is anything missing, though... Well, depending on what it is, I might have to take you up on your offer."

By now, more of those animals were starting to be brought back in, whether in makeshift containers or in the hands of someone... Or, in some cases, hanging off of a limb with their mouths firmly latched on. It was a comical sight, to be sure, but the sheer quantity of the animals in question made this a far less entertaining matter for the man who had to worry about them to begin with.

[@AThousandCurses][hr][hr]
Lilian seemed to physically recoil as Serrica stepped forward and said her piece, though she made an honest attempt at trying to mask her displeasure with the noblewoman's words and actions in the process. The young woman seemed to be suppressing the urge to simply respond to the provocations of the greedy woman in front of her, but it was difficult for her to [i]not[/i] try and create space between herself and Serrica as the latter moved closer to her.

"My feeling towards Chr-the Crown Prince have nothing to do with this matter. Regardless, I would sooner bite my own tongue off than deal with you alone for a night," the young woman responded, a frown on her face as she let out a brief sigh before turning towards the stammering young lady caught up in this mess. There was a pause, of course, as she listened to the nervous attempt at an introduction before sighing.

"No need to feel so alarmed, Miss Marielle," Lilian said, a businesslike smile crossing her face as if her prior reaction towards Serrica did not exist moments prior. "Though our stations may differ, we are all students here. Though..."

There was a pause as the blonde-haired girl threw a passing glance towards Serrica before continuing.

"...I worry some people here may treat this school as a hunting ground of sorts rather than a place of learning. In any case, I suppose I should ask what [i]you[/i] were doing here, given that there isn't exactly much to do within the building at the moment—especially not at this time of day."

[@Pyromania99][@VitaVitaAR]