The coach of the carriage was silent, and Elmer felt like that was because Ms. Edna had chosen—due to her actions—to use the length of their journey to the docks at Sailport to relax.

He had spared little mind on the quiet though—right from when they had boarded the carriage—but instead he had gone ahead to make good on that opportunity to finally come up with his plan.

Eddie’s unrelenting stares from the couch across from him had tried to be of some detriment to his rational analysis then, but he had shut out any possibility of such.

It had appeared to be like the young man had been trying to smell his emotions and use that to deduce what exactly was going through his head, though, from the look he was having, it seemed he had failed at that.

Obviously because Elmer had forced himself to remain calm all this time, so Eddie had probably been continuously infusing his nostrils with a smell tantamount to that of water. He was also glad Eddie did not show signs of having some ability like mind reading or the sort, it would have been impossible for him to keep out his real reason for wanting to be alone with the corrupted one if that had been the case.

What is even his unique ability…? Elmer wondered due to the train of thought that had crossed his head.

A few seconds later, after forcing himself not to dwell on a question he had no answers to, he closed his eyes and sighed as he readied himself to bring his plans to life to those who shared the carriage with him.

But just as he was about to speak, a calm voice swept over his.

“I have thought of a plan,” Ms. Edna said, drawing Eddie’s gaze to where she was seated beside Elmer, and making known to them that she had not been in any way sleeping all this time.

Elmer downed his brows at her words with a sharp, but silent, inhale.

You’re very exhausted, Ms. Edna, even I who don’t have your body can see that, why are you still working yourself out…? Are you masochistic…? Elmer lampooned, though not without trying to subdue the nervousness that had tried to surface within him due to what Ms. Edna had suddenly said. But it seemed like he had not been successful at that, since Eddie had stolen a quick glance at him with narrowed eyes.

“What is this plan, Edna?” Eddie asked while Elmer remained silent.

“I’m sorry to make this selfish request,” Ms. Edna started, her tone tinged with a little bit of reluctance. “But I’ll need you to use False Cognition, Dick.”

False cognition…? Eddie’s unique ability…? What does it do…?

Elmer immediately looked at Eddie who was leaning over while resting his elbow on his knee and his chin on the base of his palm. He had no reaction—none at all.

Eddie smiled softly. “What for, Edna?”

Ms. Edna’s face shifted to one side in a weak grimace that spelled remorse, seemingly for her request for Eddie to use his ability.

Elmer had a surety on why she was of such an expression. Nothing involving the supernatural was without its risks, especially when they make use of its powers. Obviously Eddie’s was no exception.

“I know how it sounds, that’s why I have been doing a lot of thinking. But I was unable to come up with any other way.” Ms. Edna heaved out a breath. “Curbing casualties, is my reason. I don’t want anyone mistakenly stumbling into whatever might happen. It’s the docks, after all. Even though it’s already late, some dockworkers or seafarers might still be roaming about. If they come in contact with the corrupted one they’ll die in an instant. So please, pardon my selfishness and—”

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“What are you blabbering about?” Eddie interrupted, the corners of his mouth still well upturned. “I asked what you were sorry for? You don’t need to explain to me why you need my help.”

Ms. Edna pursed her lips before she sighed. “Thank you, Dick.” She then turned to Elmer who was seated beside her. “I want you far away from there.” Elmer’s eyes twitched. “Dick and I will take care of the corrupted one. Do you understand?”

Elmer turned to make eye contact with Eddie while painting his face with a plain expression and said slowly, “So you’re going to be putting yourself in harm's way. Is that right, Ms. Edna?”

Elmer was sure Eddie understood that those words had been said out clearly for him to hear, so after he had spoken them he let out a scoff and took on a smile before turning back to Ms. Edna.

“I’ll pass on that plan,” he told her, prompting her countenance to instantly shift. And for the first time since he had been interacting with her, she genuinely seemed angry.

“I’ll have you refrain from behaving in your usual stubborn manner, Elmer.”

Her tone had taken on a spike, although it still had both the calmness that was accustomed to it, and as well the weakness that had come to be from her using her ability previously.

Yet that was hardly what had made Elmer’s eyebrows drop. It was her calling his name without the ‘Mr’ which in return made her words come forth in a way that would give any ignorant person the impression that she was reprimanding her child—her son.

But, he wasn’t.

It did not matter what she wanted, all that mattered was what he wanted, and that was to join the Pathway of Time no matter what, as well as keep her safe.

“This is not me being stubborn, Ma’am,” Elmer argued. “This is me not wanting to be a coward.”

Ms. Edna’s feline brows narrowed in confusion on where he was headed with his words, while Eddie, who was already of full understanding, kept his smile as though he was watching a theater play.

“Mr. Elmer, do you mind enlightening me on where exactly you’re going with those words?” Ms. Edna’s voice became overbearing, though Elmer felt no distress from that. He had hardened himself already, placing his full focus on his goals, and nothing or no one was going to stop him.

Elmer cleared his throat while he shifted his body on the couch to face the red-haired woman seated beside him with an assessing gaze.

“All I’m saying is, this is my job, and I’m obligated to face its dangers head on. Now, I understand that what you’re saying is to keep me safe since compared to you and Eddie I am not suitable to face a corrupted one. But that is wrong.” Ms. Edna’s expression instantly pinched as her eyes narrowed. “I am suitable, and I have a plan.”

“And you expect me to let you go face to face with a high level corrupted one? A person who has the ability to put an end to your life just by looking at you?” Tension became visible in her neck, and Elmer closed his eyes in response to that.

She had seen her fiancé die, and because of that experience she had stayed away from the field. Now, Elmer’s situation was giving her glimpses of her past, so of course she would try to do anything to save herself from another burden. Elmer understood all that. But since it was to the detriment of his whole life’s purpose, he could not let her have what she wanted—at least not at this point in time.

“I’ll have you know now that I do not care what the plan you have come up with is,” Ms. Edna voiced in a tone that seemed too motherly. “You will stay away from the corrupted one, and I will hear no—”

“Let’s hear his plan, why don’t we?” Eddie cut in, his smug smile still evident on his face.

Ms. Edna turned to her friend sharply. It was obvious she was not happy with what he had uttered.

“What did you say?” she asked.

“I’m saying we should at least listen to the boy’s plan. There’s no way he’s this hard headed just to die. He surely has something,” Eddie answered, and Ms. Edna saw sense in that. In fact, she knew all that. But her expression told Elmer that she was not just of the mind to take any risks, therefore, her reluctance remained.

“No,” she held her stand. “Please stop spouting nonsense like this, Dick. You know how serious little mistakes can be and what they would cost. I did not try to stop him from coming because it’s his job, but that’s where it ends.” Her face turned grim. “We both will take the target on, while Mr. Elmer will stay some distance away. I want to prevent casualties.”

Elmer closed his eyes and exhaled loudly before slowly opening them once again.

“But that’s the thing, Ms. Edna, it’s impossible for me to be the victim of any casualty,” he said, causing the lithe woman to return her eyes from Eddie back to him with a befuddled expression.

“Because the corrupted one we’re after cannot kill me.”