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Moonlight could be seen from Emil's cell window. It, much like Kaitlyn's, was barred. He was brought food and drink of a higher quality than he was accustomed to eating, and wolfed it down by torchlight.

Not long after dinner, when Emil was considering sleep, the creak of hinges could be heard, along with an annoyed male voice, "I thought I told them to oil these hinges..."

A dignified female voice followed, "We can worry about that later. It's getting late. You'd best hurry."

"...Why am I doing this again?"

"Do you really want Eber to do the questioning?"

There was an audible gulp, "I'll... handle it."

Emil wasn't sure what was coming, but he felt like he may have just gotten the slightest bit of mercy. He watched as the male approached him from the edge of the torchlight. Dark skinned, human, slightly shorter than Emil himself, but just barely. Golden cornrow braids with red streaks ending in a bun, and what Emil assumed to be a 'resting scowl'. These features were all rather unique in combination, but the one that gave him the most pause was the golden eyes that stared at him as if unsure how to start a conversation.

Moments passed, seconds that felt like hours, and Emil felt compelled to speak. "I don't care what you do to me, but since you're a golden eyes, I'm sure you understand what she's had to go through. She hasn't done anything. I'd ask you to let her go, but honestly, a fortress with others like her is probably the safest place..."

A refined chuckle came from the shadows near the door, where Emil assumed the woman stood. "As I said, this shouldn't be difficult."

"Hmm, alright." The man, who'd just responded, grabbed a chair, turned it around, and sat in front of the cell. "I'm Solaris, the woman back there is Spica. I assume you're Emil, also gaining a bit of fame as 'the tranquil blade'."

Emil raised an eyebrow. Usually, by the time someone acquired a street name, authorities were aware of their existence. He was already several cities and a territory or 2 away from his hometown. For them to know that he has a street name was unsettling, and in this case, notably bad news. "Yeah, that's me."

"Alright. I'll be straight with you. I have golden eyes. You already understand what that means, and I'm one of the 'ancient' ones. The woman behind me is as well, and is far stronger than me. Just tell the truth, and don't try to escape, and everything should be fine. We're not in the business of executing saints or guardians."

Emil raised an eyebrow, "Guardian? What are those?"

The lady walked into the light, her ears and eyes falling into Emil's view, as she answered, "Saints, such as your self, are blessed by at least 1 of the higher deities. I believe you're blessed by..." She took a good look at Emil's eyes. Her eyes lit up and he felt his respond in kind, whether he wanted them to or not. "Seems you've been blessed by the sisters of water. That's very rare. In any case, a Guardian is one who has been blessed by an Arch Deity."

"A what?"

"The 2 highest known gods, the god of the sun and the goddess of the moon."

Emil's eyes widened, "Wait, they're real?! And you mean to tell me that they're being hunted?!"

"That's what we're here to ask you. You were sent to kill one, were you not?"

"I..."

Solaris jumped back into the conversation, "Look, all of us have killed, more than once. You obviously didn't kill her, and were even travelling with her. We just need to know who sent you on the job, and why."

"Sol, you could stand to be a bit more delicate with these matters." The elf turned to Emil, "We have absolutely no interest in punishing either of you, if you agree to our conditions."

Emil was suspicious, which was fair. It would've been stranger if he wasn't. "I'm not one to squeal."

The woman cleared her throat, "We aren't here to threaten you, and it is in both of your best interests if you cooperate. Kaitlyn told us that you were looking for your father. She asked use to help."

Emil's eyes narrowed. "And how did you get her to talk?"

"I sat with her, gave her some tea, listened to her troubles, and had dinner with her."

"....It's that easy to gain her trust? I've been trying for weeks already."

Solaris snorted, "Yeah, but the thing is, Spica, here, didn't try to kill her."

"Oh, that's the second time I've forgotten to introduce myself."

"I've already named you, twice."

"And how many times have I told you that it's not the same?"

"...OK, moooom."

Emil, with his eyes still glowing, saw Spica flick her wrist. He caught a glimpse of golden light and heard the unmistakable 'thunk' and "oww" traits of someone being hit with something.

"Did you really have to hit me in the back of the head with the butt of your dagger?!" Solaris groaned.

"Would you rather the pointy end?"

"No... ma'am."

The stoic expression Emil had maintained to this point had began to falter, and after seeing the exchange of the 2 sent to question him, his laughter echoed throughout the jail. "Alright, I'll talk. I don't want the pointy end of a knife in the back of my head. What do you need to know?"

Solaris turned to Emil while rubbing the back of his head. "We'll need the name of your employer, information about guardians being hunted, the name of your father, as well as when he arrived and where we can expect to find him."

Emil leaned back against the wall and sighed heavily, "Let me talk to Miss Kate, first. You won't get nuthin' out of me until then."

Spica nodded, "I suspected as much. It is late, and she's likely asleep already. You can talk in the morning." She turned to Solaris, "Fetch the bedding, please."

The fumbling response came near immediately, "Why did I come down here again?"

Surprising both of them, it was Emil who answered him, "You might be a guardian, or whatever, but I'm sure you can tell just as easily as me that you... don't wanna get on her bad side."

"...I can't say you're wrong." Solaris exited the jail with those words and returned a short while later with adequate bedding.

After getting Emil's cell set up for sleep, Solaris turned a quick glance toward Emil, "I know you're worried about that girl, and yeah, it's hard for us out there. If you can answer our questions, we can definitely help her, and probably you, too. Sleep on it. I'll come get you in the morning."