David could feel something gently touching his face upon opening his eyelids. What he happened to see was a young-looking maid with a very pale complexion, and what he felt was a few strands of the maid's jet-black hair. He was almost convinced that what he was looking at was a doll that looked very much like a human.

“I take it that you're awake, The Fool.” The maid spoke in a very monotonous voice that matched the soulless expression shown on her face, almost like her soul had been stolen from the body. Her hand was very hesitant to touch David, almost like the hand was shaking, almost as if she was intimidated by him.

“I am, thank you for being concerned about me.” David responded in his usual polite manner. “Although I would like to ask you one thing.”

“What would that be?” The maid asked while she was tilting her head.

So, her tone doesn't change when I ask her something, definitely like an automaton, however I can't fully confirm that. However, she did say that I was The Fool… if Three of Swords wasn't able to tell me, then maybe I can try asking her. David thought.

“How did you know I was called The Fool?”

“I... overheard you and a woman talking about it. Plus, I assumed that it was your name, sir.”

David sighed. “Alright, I believe you.” At the same time, it’s not like it’s a big deal. I'm only going to be finding a witch so there's no point for me to worry about stuff like this!

“Well then, I shall get going. I don't want to keep my master waiting.” The maid then bowed her head in a graceful manner.

The maid then jolted out of the room, which immediately aroused a suspicious atmosphere around David.

It doesn’t matter to him as he has to focus on his mission once more. He then opened the briefcase, which contains the antidotes needed against the poison that his body naturally makes. Under the bottles were a change of clothes, a secondary revolver and plenty of bullets to spare for the mission. There was also a flat cap that he had never seen before. Before he could question any further, he found a note on top of the clothing that he neatly packed in there.

He began to read the note:

“Hello my dearest David! My apologies for going through your stuff like that, but I felt like giving you a gift. A gift that would assist you on your mission to find the witch in question and capture her. I hope that you love it! ♡ After all I picked it out myself!

- From Miss. Claudia Harvey

P.S. If you try to go around Manchester without using that gift, by the time you get back, I will be justified in unleashing my judgement onto you. Have a nice trip!

David took another look at the silver-gray flat cap. “Fine, you win this time Master...” he heavily sighed as he put the cap on his head, covering his slick brown hair. He somewhat felt relieved that there wasn't a mirror in the compartment.

During all of this, thoughts of sudden realization came into his head. Wait...why did I just let that maid go freely? …Regardless, something did feel suspicious about her, like why would she even come to my compartment if she had a master? It doesn’t seem like he stole something from my briefcase, so what could have been her purpose?

---

Once the train had arrived at the Eastern Manchester Station, David quickly stepped out. He had to get out of there before the staff found the body or to prevent the rush of the passengers getting out of the train.

When he thought he was in the clear, he reached into his coat pocket and got out the note that his supervisor gave him.

Let’s see… he thought as he looked through the note, it doesn’t have a description of what this witch is supposed to look like. This might be a problem.

While he was left alone with his thoughts, he noticed just in time someone was about to pass him. He quickly put the note back into his pocket to glance straight at the person.

A petite young woman with jet black colored hair neatly tied up in a bun and in a maid’s uniform, swiftly past him. There was no doubt about it. This was the exact same maid that he had met on the train.

He noted that the maid wasn’t escorting anybody, which felt very suspicious to him.

He then recalled something that flashed into his head, something that his master once told him. Remember David, there is a way for us, non-witches, to tell if a person is a witch or not and that is in form of a technique. As such I shall teach you that technique.

This gave him an opportunity to use that technique, one that as far as he knew, not that many people outside of his occupation knew about, or heck a witch. He started by closing his eyes and then a string can be seen into his unconscious mind. That maid! Is she a witch, the exact witch that I have to find?

He knows it’s not proper to call this maid out in public, as such he had no other options but to follow this maid to see if she was the one that was his target.

The rays of the mid-morning sun hit David as he left the train station. The area of Eastern Manchester, to him, really didn't feel that much different compared to London. The main difference being that it seemed less crowded in the streets.

He could barely see the maid walking through the streets. Regardless he paced after her.

It didn't take him too long to take a very swift stop in his footsteps to hear the bell from a shop's door as it was being shut.

“A... clothing shop?” David said with skepticism as he read through the bolded italic letters from the sign of the shop. “Why would a maid stop by a store like this?” He shook his head and to go against his judgement by walking into the store.

Just as he stepped into the small clothing store, a voice called out to him.

“Hello sir!” a female shopkeeper greeted him. The woman had brunette hair that was tied up in a side ponytail that gently rested on her right shoulder. She then gave out a graceful bow.

“H... hello?” David awkwardly greeted her in return as he was caught off guard upon hearing her speak.

She gave out one good look at him. “I take it that you're not from around here? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

David nodded. “I arrived here less than one hour ago.” He could then feel fingertips touching the tail end of his coat in a very slender like manner.

“P-pardon me, ma'am, but what exactly...are you trying to do?” He asked as he felt flustered as the woman touched various aspects of his clothing. He was hoping that she wouldn't go into his coat pockets.

“Oh! M-my apologies!!!” The shopkeeper bowed constantly as she blushed like a red tomato upon realizing what she had done. “You see, I was just checking the material for your coat...”

“My coat?”

“That's right, however there is a slight problem.”

“What kind of a problem?”

“Well...the way that you look now. All dressed in black, minus the cap, makes me think that you're grieving.”

“Griev...” he then paused, realizing that this shopkeeper might have a point. “Then... I take it you have suggestions on what to do then?”

The shopkeeper then paused for a brief moment as she stood in a thinking-like position. “Let's see, do you have a change of clothes?”

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“I do.” He pointed to his briefcase.

“Change into them!”

“Here right now!?”

“Of course not.” Then she pointed to a curtain draping over an area of the store. “There's a changing room for that. Unless you want me to see your abs...”

He then walked over towards the curtain. Of all things, why would she know if I had abs or not... he thought.

---

“Okay, I've changed my clothes.” David notified the woman while giving out a sigh. He kept the coat on as he didn’t have a spare on hand.

The shopkeeper put her thumbs up.

“Much better...oh no!” she gasped.

“…What is the issue now?” he asked, in a not pleased tone of voice.

“Did you ever notice that your coat is worn out?”

David shook his head. “I've had this coat for four years. As a gift in fact.”

“A gift?” she questioned with a curious look on her face.

“...it's a long story. How worn out is it?”

“Simple, it barely goes down past the upper thigh. If I were to guess, this coat in brand new condition

would go all the way down to just touching your knees.”

David could only watch as she was walking towards a section of the store while speaking. To which in response, he followed as like he's using his own instincts. The two then stopped in front of a particular coat.

“How would this do?” she asked with a smile on her face.

This coat does indeed reach the ideal length but...

“Wouldn't this...uh...make me stick out like a sore thumb?”

---

In the end David decided that he'll come back for the coat in the future in case he ever needed it and headed out on his way.

That maid wasn't there at all. Oh well...I'll just keep going.

Just when he stepped outside of the shop door, he saw the maid from behind.

...That was too easy? How long was she standing around there for anyways?

He approached the maid at that moment. "What exactly are you looking at?"

The maid then jumped briefly. "D... Don't...scare me like that…"

"My apologies!" I didn't mean to startle her like that…

"I was looking...at the sky." The maid had paid no mind to the spoken apology.

"The sky?"

"That's right.”

The sky itself was clear as day, with slight appearances of the clouds. He then noticed that it was the same exact color as the maid's eyes. However, something seemed wrong about her eyes, that he couldn’t put his finger on.

The maid then started to walk, while still eying towards the sky.

"Wait!" David called out to the maid, "Where are you going?"

The maid took a slight pause in her footsteps. "You wanted to ask me, a lowly maid, about something correct?"

"That's right. Are you a wi-” he began to say before the maid put a finger to his lips.

"It might be for the best that we don't discuss it here. You may never know who may be listening in."

David took a slight look at the streets by moving his eyes. It wasn't as crowded as London but it also wasn’t even close to being empty either. However... "Why? It’s not like anyone is looking right at us?”

“You are aware of what can happen if you were about to call me a witch right in the open right?”

David shrugged his shoulders. “Fine, have it your way then. I’ll cooperate.”

As the two walked off, David couldn't help but keep one of his hands in the same pocket where his gun is.

-----

The alleyway of a huge industrial city isn't really a place that a sane human being would want to be in.

After all, it is one of the most dangerous areas of a city since because of the limited eyes here, one can get robbed of their possessions, get killed, or heck maybe even both outcomes can happen.

“Okay, why out of every place that you know, of all things an alleyway?” David asked with irritation and a raised eyebrow.

The maid just stood there, having her back turned towards David. He can see that her head was looking at the sky again and he also looked up. In this alleyway the light from the midmorning sun had vanished and in its place were shadows created by the darkened cloudy sky. He was then surprised, when all of a sudden he could feel his chest being touched by a delicate hand.

Huh? Okay, it’s understandable she’s ignoring that question but why is she touching my chest?

His face then began to flourish in a very deep color of pink. While knowing that his life could be in danger, he felt extremely calm about it. Compared to when the Three of Swords touched my chest, this time I feel quite pleased by this. I want to touch her hand as it is trembling with fear and hesitation, knowing that she might also be in danger and not just me. I know I have to keep my guard up right now, but… if possible, I wouldn’t mind if time chose to stand still for just a bit longer.

Just when he finished his thoughts the maid then spoke. “As God would have it, the power shall come to me. Oh, hail the power of fire granted to me by Nantosuelta, I shall bless it with pride!”

The expression on David’s face went from relaxation and peace to shock. “Hey, what are you-” he started to say but the maid continued.

“Reduce the foe before me to ash! Cleanse this land of their wickedness! Saighead Loscadh!”

Out of instinct, David quickly took a step backwards and narrowly avoided the sudden burst of flames out of her delicate but shaking hand. He grabbed his revolver out of his coat pocket. “What the hell was that for? You brought me out here just to kill me?” He then had to kneel as he felt the slight burn on his right leg. The pain was like a colony of bees continuously stinging him without pause.

The maid shook her head. “It’s not to kill you. It’s a basic fire spell” she responded.

“What do you mean? That blast was so powerful that it could easily have killed me!”

Despite keeping a deadpan face, the maid managed to look puzzled.

“Besides,” David continued, “Your hand was on my chest. Based on that alone, I want you to explain to me why you tried to kill me in the first place?”

The maid then tossed something at David.

That item was a tarot card which proceeded to hit him on the face, sticking to his forehead.

Ouch...what the heck was that for?

The wind then took its opportunity to blow into the maid’s hair as well as his hair. He saw how empty her eyes looked as she just stood there, absorbing the wind’s power.

“You see,” the maid continued, as monotonous as she can get. David noted that the voice was almost low enough for it to sound like a male speaking, “We’re in the Tarot game in case you completely forgot, assassin. The way I see things, you are known as The Fool and I’m Temperance.”

David peeled the card off his forehead and then raised the card up to have a better look at it. The card is revealed to be as the maid says, The Temperance. However, compared to when Three of Swords showed him the Fool card earlier, this card was shown in an upside-down position.

“Now then, if you will excuse me.” Temperance said as she turned to leave the alleyway.

“Wait! You’re just going to leave me just like that?!” David called after her.

“…Well yeah.” Temperance slightly turned to look at him. “I mean you wanted to know who I was right?”

David nodded.

“As such, if you don’t need me for anything else, I will leave. It’s quite dangerous here after all.”

Then why did you even bring me to an alleyway in the first place, you idiot! David thought, feeling quite annoyed by Temperance’s remark.

This was all a waste of time, I should’ve never bothered with following this strange maid. And even if she knew, I doubt would’ve told me. David finished his thought as he placed his hand on his chest where the maid had touched him.

David then wanted to give a last glance at this maid, but what he then witnessed was a poor maid failing to notice a white rock as she was walking by in a hurry and trip over it at the expense of her carelessness.

How could she have been this clumsy?! Guess I have no choice then...

To David, it felt like time slowed down slightly as he rushed through and managed to catch Temperance in his arms before her body fell flat down on her back onto the paved ground. It felt like thirty seconds to him, while in reality it was more like five seconds. This action where based on this pure instinct of his that he couldn’t quite explain.

“Are you...all right...?” David asked as he panted slightly as the expression on his face felt much more relaxed than earlier. A state of peace and a time he was able to keep his guard down slightly.

“I... I am.” Temperance softly spoke, giving off an expression of being caught off guard. “I guess... I should thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Then as David was putting Temperance down, he lightly touched her chest.

Temperance then once again attempted to leave the area, but one touch from David’s arm onto her hand says otherwise.

“What are you...” Temperance attempted to speak but got quickly interrupted by the look of annoyance from David’s face.

“Answer this for me, maid. Are you actually a girl?”

Drops of sweat can be felt upon Temperance’s body. The face looked like she just saw something horrifying. “Why is it any of your business?” was all that the maid could say.

“Pardon?”

“I am a maid, how could I be a guy, unless you truly are a fool.”

“My apologies. Yeah, I asked quite a stupid question to you.” David had scratched his head at the moment.

I definitely screwed up here...man I was quite an idiot just now...that is very much unlike me. I should be more careful on what I say, especially to this cute maid.

“So, is there a way I can capture a witch?” David decided to change the subject in hopes of redeeming himself for what he had said not that long ago.

“Why would you want to capture a witch?” The maid asked. “It’s not like that they would even show themselves off to someone like you?”

“I know that…” David replied. “I...just have to capture one. That is all.”

“I see. Well then, I suppose that I have no other choice.” The maid gave out a sigh. This sigh may have been of either disappointment or it could be a different emotion that David isn’t aware of, due to how monotone of a voice that this maid speaks in.

“You’re gonna help me?” David’s eyes brightened up a bit.

“I’ll only teach you the basics, that's all. You could say this is what they would call a temporary alliance.”

David’s hands then touched the maid's, causing the maid to have a different expression on her face. The expression known as “being surprised”.

“Thank you very much! I appreciate it!” David said in a very cheerful tone of voice. “I promise that once you teach me the basics, I’ll leave you be!”

The maid nodded, while both of them were quite unaware of the wind blowing into the area, as the sun’s ray shined brightly causing the two of them to be in the spotlight for a brief moment.