“I never want to see him as long as I live.” She bitterly snarled.

Tibaut took a deep breath in and approached her.

“Really?” He tried to touch her and she quickly got rid of her magic. He moved a finger to her forehead and flicked her. “Your reaction is telling me otherwise.”

She looked at her now burnt blanket and bed sheets before holding her head in her hands.

“I wanted to avenge him. I really did. I spent months wondering what I'd do when I caught the bastard who killed him. I spent months agonising if I was strong enough to do it. And to find out it’s been him the whole time? It has to be some sick fucking joke! Of course, I want to kill the bastard, but how the fuck could I kill the man that I spent so long wishing to avenge!?”

“I mean… (I hate to fall back on my knowledge of random manga I've read but this feels right to say)"

With nothing more than vague memories of an inspirational scene from one of his favourite mangas, he proceeded.

"(Here goes nothing.) How are you gonna know what you want to do if you don't see him?”

“Huh?” She looked at him, somewhat confused.

“Whether you want to cry, hug him, rip his throat out or bash his head with that heavy ass spear of yours, how are you gonna know what to do without seeing him face to face? How is saying you don't want to see him gonna help reconcile your feelings about him?”

He placed a hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes. “It's fine if you don't care about him or what he does or even seeing him again, but I want to hear you say that after seeing him and deciding that for yourself.”

Tina looked downwards and remained silent for a few moments.

“I can't believe being talked down by a kid like you.” She answered. “But you're right, I don't know what I'll want to do when I see that bastard again. But when I see him, I'm sure the answer will come, whether I want it to or not.”

She got off the bed and headed to a drawer across from her. She opened it and pulled out a long implement in a burlap sack.

(“Hmm? What the hell's that?”) He wondered as she approached him.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“Here, you can keep it. I honestly planned on throwing it away but I suppose I might as well give you a souvenir for bothering to come in here.”

Before she handed him the bag, she placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked towards it before feeling a shock run through his entire body.

He quickly slapped it off and rubbed his shoulder.

“What the hell was that for!?”

“For breaking into my room you little freak, did you think I'd let you get away with that? Plus you were struggling with the door knob for a few minutes, are you a lock pick you, little pervert?”

“Can you blame me, I seriously thought you died in here! No one saw you for over a week!”

“Tch, that isn't my problem, at least come in with another woman, who knows what you would have done to me if I was asleep!”

“You bitch how dare-”

He felt her arms wrap around him and heard a giggle under her breath. “I've missed this.” She brought her mouth to his ear and whispered. “Listen well, I'm only gonna say this once. I'm glad you're alive, Tibaut.”

A slight blush rose on his cheeks and seized up.

“T-t-thanks.”

She quickly pushed him off. “Now get out of here, I'm not like my aunt.”

He wondered what she meant until he realised she was in nothing but her underwear and a thin tank top that didn't hide much of what was underneath.

She handed him the bag and he quickly walked out of the room with a blushed face.

(“I think Ezekiel used to react the same when I wore something like this…”) She got back on her bed, pulled up the burnt blanket over herself and closed her eyes. (“I guess replacing an older brother with a younger one isn't too bad.”)

----------------------------------------

“I know she said she didn't want it but…” in his hands was the object Tina gifted him. He initially wanted to give it back but she told him to piss off and keep it.

In his hands was a stiletto knife. The same stiletto knife Ezekiel used during his little reign of terror on the parish.

He tossed it a few times in the air, remarking at its pleasant balance.

“She must have picked it up after the Bishop showed up.” He remarked.

He looked around the room and found a belt. He put it on and placed the knife at his side.

“Hmm, maybe Vanessa could make me a strap for it.” He threw it in the air once more and used a single finger to catch the knife at its centre of gravity before spinning it.

(“That martial arts book I got has all sorts of stuff, including weapon arts. I do know how to use a knife but I wouldn't call myself proficient. It couldn't hurt to learn this properly if I need a quick kill. Besides, I'll need a replacement weapon since Bentley destroyed my gauntlets. I don't think I'll get into any trouble soon but better safe than sorry.”)

And he quickly left the room and headed to Vanessa's basement.