There was silence before what looked like a child at first glance poked her head above the desk.

".... yes?" She asked, sounding a bit critical. She was short, couldn't be 4 feet tall, had long blonde and blue hair, along with a darker skintone than one usually saw around the area. Her vermillion eyes seemed quite offputting as well, same with the scars on her face.

♫You taste the silver, Sara! You taste the crown. | You thirst for blood from the roses in hand.♫

She get herself situated at the desk proper again before sighing and leaning forward, the chair obviously raised so she was a good deal above it.

"All right. how can I help." She asked simply, her voice inquisitive. the one they were speaking about just sighed lightly.

"While I still have the clarity for this. My name is Ayla, I'm a wood elf, and I need to be free of the shadow that has been possessing me at Encrae's behest." She stated bluntly. the one at the desk just paused, not entirely sure how to process that. She knew it could very well be true, but had no idea beyond that.

"... ok... what?" She asked.

"Shadow? You're going to need to be a bit clearer than that." She added after a moment or two as she hit a button on the floor under the desk lightly enough to not make a sound, but hard enough to actually press it.

She had to alert the bossman, after all. Encrae is involved, but this lady's own admission.

♫You taste the silver, Sara! You taste the crown. | You thirst for blood from the roses in hand.♫

She was silent for a moment before sighing.

"Sit tight." She stated simply.

"Obviously there will need to be some security checks and the like." She added before grabbing the phone and dialing up to the head office. As far as she knew, he was still in after all.

"And I need to get clearance for you." She added as the one that they had been speaking about, Ayla, just crossed her arms and looked to the side, almost uneasy about this.

♫You taste the silver, Sara! You taste the crown. | You thirst for blood from the roses in hand.♫

"We've got two people claiming to be seeking asylum from Encrae." she answered simply, and plainly. She could hear the slight irritating to his voice, and was not interested in pushing his buttons even more.

"How do you want to deal with this?" She then asked.

"I can turn them away, if you'd so desire."

♫You taste the silver, Sara! You taste the crown. | You thirst for blood from the roses in hand.♫

"Sounds good." She said.

"Sorry to bother you." Was the last thing that she managed to say before they ended the call.

"Someone will be here to tend to you two soon." She told the pair of them before Ayla spoke.

".... it's realised I'm in here." She said simply, quietly. It was mostly for Chris' benefit.

♫You taste the silver, Sara! You taste the crown. | You thirst for blood from the roses in hand.♫

"hey Zeke." the short one at the desk greeted.

"Two seeking Asylum from Encrae." She explained.

"If you could tend to them, that'd be fantastic. I'm not sure what Bossman wants done with them." She added after a moment or two while Ayla just stepped back unconsciously. She couldn't explain it, but she felt extremely uneasy around him.

".... I..." She started, at war with herself. She kind of wanted to bolt, to stay away from him, and she didn't know why.

She also realised that the mana she could feel off of him would likely be what would help keep her safe

♫You taste the silver, Sara! You taste the crown. | You thirst for blood from the roses in hand.♫

"Mira or Illias." was the guards answer.

"They'd probably be the best to tend to him." She added before just paging R&D, not sure who it was that was there. For all she knew, they were neither there.

The phone rang a few seconds later.

"Hey." She greeted.

"Can you come escort someone to holding?" She continued after a few seconds.

"you can? great. ASAP please." A pause. "Bring at least a blade or two. See you soon."

"Mira's on her way. Zeke, you hanging around or no?" She asked as Ayla just closed the distance between her and Chris, and just laying her hands on his cheeks, closing her eyes to concentrate.

She was opening herself up to what was in the building, but she was also using her elven mana to try and beat back the influence that she knew that he was able to feel.

♫You taste the silver, Sara! You taste the crown. | You thirst for blood from the roses in hand.♫

It didn't take long, only a couple of minutes before the door opened and a short woman walked through it, a broadsword resting on her shoulder.

"Yo." she greeted.

"Ah, hey, Mira." The guard greeted before motioning to Ayla and Chris.

"he's the one to take to holding." She added.

"Noted." Mira said simply, looking over toward the two of them. Before anything could be said, ayla looked over and released Chris.

"I'm guessing she's going with you, Zeke?" Mira asked.

♫You taste the silver, Sara! You taste the crown. | You thirst for blood from the roses in hand.♫

Mira nodded.

"Let's go, then." She said simply, before motioning for him to head through the door.

---

As they were walking, Ayla was quiet, almost subdued. She didn't know what it was that she was really supposed to make of this, but also knew that the silence might not have been good.

But she couldn't bring herself to come up with something to say. She felt too... suppressed, almost. She realised it was because of his mana, too.

♫You taste the silver, Sara! You taste the crown. | You thirst for blood from the roses in hand.♫

Ayla was silent for a moment before sighing.

"No." She answered.

"I don't even know what they are, but I was brought here by something that had been possessing me." She answered.

"With absolutely no care for me, Encrae allowed it, arranged for it." She continued before sighing.

"And.... I have some clarity for the moment."

♫You taste the silver, Sara! You taste the crown. | You thirst for blood from the roses in hand.♫