The head priest was a man who chuckled a lot. Or maybe he was just in the presence of Inu. He had a deep but soft voice and sounded tall. Liv wasn't sure what that meant, but sound tall he did.

Walking among people was a foreign sensation. It didn't get much better even after the priest let Inu and her inside. There were probably servants around or something. Liv could feel their eyes.

Ever since she had put herself into the Empt for the first time, being looked at presented the threat of death. So as she walked through the halls of the Head Priest's building, listening to Inu and the priest yammering, her hands trembled.

She was scared. For no reason. It made her angry. She wanted to lash out at herself. At others.

She squeezed her hands into white fists. Then she felt a tingle at a gentle touch on her hands. The touch made her hand relax and open to be grasped by a rough hand. Where had Inu gotten hands like that?

"This here is my traveling companion," Inu said. "Her eyes are compromised."

"Ah, I am sorry to hear it," the head priest said, his voice empathetic. Fittimg for a priest. "What's your name?" he asked Liv.

"Ah," Liv didn't know which way to look, so she tucked her chin in. "I'm... I don't have a name."

'Inu knew my name, so maybe he does as well,' Liv thought.

Inu laughed. "Her name is Liv. She's just a little awkward."

Liv looked in the direction where Inu's voice came from, appalled. She wanted to know what kind of expression the man was wearing. Blindness was a real pain.

The priest just laughed and continued. When they had made their way up the building, they stopped in a room surrounded by what sounded like sliding doors.

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'When can I get these bandages off?' Liv thought.

She had no idea what Inu was thinking about her staying in a place like this. She was supposed to train so she could make that blonde fucker, Hakro, into eight even pieces. Instead, she was made to sit on cushions with her knees and drink tea in front of a low table with old men.

'Inu... what the fu—'

"Ah, here he comes," the priest announced.

It was then that Liv's heart froze. She could imagine in the exact details how Hakro Manus would walk into the room with his disdainful eyes and smug grin. It was a setup. Did Inu know?

But right as Liv was going to rip off the bandages on her eyes and unleash hell, he heard just another tall voice. This one was quite sweet as well. "Father, is Inu Aomon really—" The young man gasped. "My gods, he's here. You're really here."

Inu laughed as they probably shook hands or something. "My presence is really nothing to get flustered over."

"You're humble as they say!" the grown boy squealed. "I've heard much about you, Sir."

"Forgive my son. He's rather enthusiastic," the priest said, probably shaking his head with amusement.

"I don't mind," Inu said. Something told Liv otherwise. Inu's humility was no act for sure. The man didn't seem to have anything good to say about himself except for his perseverance. Being seen as a demi-god in the eyes of many must've been at least a little unpleasant. "Come..." Inu said and waited.

"Fabian," the young man stated his name.

"Fabian, please sit down and have some tea with us."

"Yes, thank you."

Fabian walked to the other side of the table and sat down opposite Liv. "May I ask who she is?"

"Liv," Liv said.

"Excuse me?"

'Does he always speak like that?' Liv thought, suppressing a scoff.

"I said my name is Liv."

"Uh, okay. What are you..."

"About that," Inu butted in. "I assume the servants have gone away now?" Inu asked.

"Yes. Is that a problem?" the head priest asked.

"On the contrary," Inu said. Suddenly he wrapped a strong arm around Liv and took hold of her head.

"Hey, what—" Liv choked on her next words as Inu took her bandage blindfold. She rushed to cover her eyes with a hand as she crawled away from the table. "Give it back, Inu. Give it back!"

"Liv, relax," Inu said slowly. "You can show them. You are among friends."

"Show them?" Liv almost yelled in outrage. Her breathing had turned hoarse from just the emotions that coursed through her. "You want them to die or something?!"

"What does she mean?" the priest asked. "Inu, what is... No... You didn't."

"Show us what?" Fabian asked.

Liv could feel all of their eyes on her. It was time to show her own.

With a sigh, Liv lowered her hand. And when she opened her eyes, the room froze.