smiletorn:
Hearing his words made her feel more at ease. Exhaling softly, the priestess shakes her head and eases herself into her standard smile. Right, ruminating about what it could be wouldn’t help the problem nor would being anxious solve anything. They were going to find answers and she wasn’t alone in this cold darkness. If she had been by herself, perhaps she might have shut down completely.
Fortunately, the person helping her was a kind person.
❛ Oh, thank you! ❜ She nods enthusiastically, loosening her grip a bit but keeping a firm hold on his arm. It was her way of saying that she did wish to continue holding onto it, if only to give her some semblance of comfort. ❛ And… that’s a nice thing of you to say. That being scared like this… is just human. ❜ She knew others who would say otherwise, that being frightened was just a sign of weakness. And though Isanami did her best to embrace her weakness, there were still parts of her she was not proud of. Doing her best to change, but the process of doing so… difficult. ❛ You’re a good person. I like you. ❜ Humming, she swings his arm a little, deciding to let herself go as the minutes went by.
Though she was still anxious, she figured it was better to be carefree and rely on him since he was more experienced than her. ❛ Will do! Just let me know if you’re gonna do something. Though I’ll keep a loose enough grip so that you can take your arm back if there’s not enough time to warn me. ❜ She grins. ❛ Okay, Messiah! You can just call me plain old Isanami then, none of that ‘miss’ stuff. It makes me feel old. A lot of fancy people like to do that sometimes and it kinda bothers me. ❜ Not that she met with nobility on frequent occasions, but when she did? They were usually arrogant, and ‘miss’ in that regard was used condescendingly.
His answer to her question does make her tilt her head though. Stopping in her small talk as she contemplates the meaning of what he said.
❛ To make sure it’s safe? Of course it is! The only people that’s been here are kids from our village. And even then, that’s rare because we’re all too afraid to come here by ourselves. What else would be here that’s dangerous? ❜ Arching a brow in curiosity, she glances up at Messiah. ❛ Besides, you’re a famous detective. Inspecting a place like this isn’t your job, right? You solve murders and stuff. I dunno exactly what a property inspector does, but it sounds like they’re supposed to be doing what you’re doing now. Rich people are so weird… but no offense to you, Messiah! ❜ She sighs. ❛ Making it a museum would be nice. I know a lotta people that would be sad to see this place go. Abandoned or not, the elders here have some memories attached. Plus, I think it’s kinda fun to have a test of courage here now and then. Brings all the children together. ❜
Though, that was doubtful. What use did a museum have for nobles, especially in a village like hers? Giving a shrug, she continues to move after him. When she noticed the tone of his voice, she also lowered hers to match, but she was slightly worried she was talking too much for whatever thing was inside the room. ❛ We’re here, right…? ❜
To be entirely honest, Messiah wasn’t used to people wanting to stay this close to him – there was one exception to that rule, and he did it so often that it was more annoying then welcome. Regardless, it was reassuring to know where she was at right now. When he was on edge with his cane ready to strike if they came across a malicious intruder? He didn’t want to risk bashing the young woman if she’d accidentally managed to surprise him.
“Fear is absolutely normal.” He says with a soft smile. “To feel fear means you value your life. It means you’re human – and that you want to live. There is no shame in fear. After all,” he pauses for a second – closing his brilliant amethyst eyes, before continuing: “For one to move forward, despite fear, is to be brave.”
Honestly, she reminded him a bit of a new friend he’d met. Someone who had been so earnest and kind, that he’d seemed like there was no way that he could survive. But, despite his fear, he’d done absolutely everything in his power to try to save everyone. He couldn’t leave anyone behind. He wouldn’t sacrifice others to save himself. That boy was busy right now – trying his absolute best somewhere else. That was why Messiah had had the time to take this mission in the first place. “Am I?” Messiah asks, laughing softly. He wasn’t one who thought that way about himself, despite all of this – but? “I’m truly glad you think so.”
He nods to show that he heard her though – in answering to both comments: He would warn her before he did something & he would be willing to just call her Isanami. In a situation like this, titles simply made communication more difficult. “Of course, Isanami. I can do that for you.” Of course, he was minimalizing their conversation a little now. Mostly out of concern for the fact that it could be people around . . . But, he would be careful that no harm came to his current companion.
“… property inspectors won’t come here.” He explains in a hushed tone. “Rumors of mysterious happenings have become rather famous in town. Some have claimed to have been injured in attempted inspections. That’s why I was called in.” It meant that HUMAN’s where more likely the cause then any ghost. But, it was the only way he could explain why the building owners had gone out of their way to hire a top-tier detective such as himself. “The rumors are so vivid and common now, that none will take the job. So? When they reached out to me – I figured I’d look into it before claims of injuries got worse. Or escalated.” To murders. If humans were involved, eventually they would escalate to try to get people to stop showing up in general. And that was why he was truly glad he’d found Isanami.
If she wasn’t part of these rumors - && it seemed likely that she wasn’t, there was a good chance that a young woman wandering alone would be a convenient victim for those who were here. “… yes. We have arrived now.”
With that, he falls silent for a bit. Listening through the door – It appeared the piano had stopped making noise now. They’d only heard it for a bit, and that was earlier, however? He still believed it likely that the piano was a mechanical one and that a power surge was the cause of the noise. However, that didn’t stop him from trying to listen in. Where there others inside of the building? The door looked as though it had been opened recently - he could see the movement in the dust. However, he couldn’t see the cause. Nor could he see footprints leading in. ‘… there are other entrances to the building. As well as large windows. I can’t rule out that people have entered elsewhere.’
With that, he looks at Isanami – putting a single finger in front of his lips to silently communicate to not saying anything for a moment, before he reaches into his coat pocket – it was convenient that they had the door a little ajar, after all: Otherwise this little trick wouldn’t work.
With that he pulls out a tiny hand mirror with a strange attachment settled onto it. Moving carefully to put it at the top of his cane, and then carefully using it to peek into the room that was their destination. With it, he could tell that the room had clearly been disturbed. Things were uncovered in the room, their dust covers were gone, and many priceless pieces were exposed because of it… however? As best as he could tell, the room was entirely empty of life. So? With that, he sighs a little, and pulls his cane back to himself, before smiling at Isanami. “Empty, for now. We can enter and look around.”