A Man for Himself (Norton X Eli) [Identity V] *UNEDITED*

Chapter 26 - Stay the Night

Eli's voice strangely brought comfort to Norton like an ice cold water on a hot summer day. He didn't expect the seer to intervene. Eli should've been the last person to help him out of that sticky situation. The seer had no good reason to do so.

Humming softly, Fiona seemed to contemplate Eli's suggestion for a minute.

"Alright," she sighed, almost sounding reluctant. "I guess Norton does need some rest. After all, Gla'aki isn't known for being the best at treating his followers. I guess you could say that he makes them work until they drop undead. You know, undead." She laughed half-heartedly.

"Fiona, honey, I love you, but that's just terrible," Patricia commented with a shake of her head.

The priestess' attempt to lighten up the atmosphere seemed to have worked. She had everyone looking at her as if she'd grown a second head. Norton felt the tension gradually leave the air. He could finally breathe again.

"I know." Fiona's shoulders slumped. She pouted for a split second before straightening up. "Anyway, sorry for taking you here against your own will, Campbell. Well, not exactly against your own will, but you get the gist." She winked.

Patricia seemed to have finally decided to drop the subject and stop interrogating Norton. She merely nodded at the prospector as if to acknowledge his choice to stay silent about the matter. He had always found her stern and intimidating, but he realized she was only like that because she knew what kind of person Norton was.

"Would you like to take Mr. Campbell back to his room, Eli?" Fiona asked, a knowing grin plastered on her face.

Eli's expression wasn't entirely visible with his blindfold on, but the way his mouth formed a small "O" was quite discernible. Norton couldn't tell whether that was out of disappointment or surprise. He was more inclined to think that it was the former.

"I don't mind." Eli nodded after a while and smiled at Norton. "Emma told me that you were looking for me."

It had always made Norton wonder how Eli could keep a straight face in front of him. It was not even a straight face. Eli was smiling at him. He's so good at being polite, at being kind. He's like a saint in a place where evil and depravity thrived.

Or was he really just good at pretending to be good?

"Yes, I am," Norton confirmed, standing up. He wobbled for a bit, but he was quick to steady himself. "I need to talk to you."

"Well, what are you two waiting for?" Fiona asked, her voice rising a few octaves high. "You better go. It's already late."

"Alright." Eli got up to his feet and dusted off his robe. "I'll see you tomorrow, Ms. Gilman and Ms. Dorval. Have a good night."

"You have a good night as well!" Fiona waved her hands wildly at them, the grin never leaving her face.

It was getting too obvious that she was sending Eli out to accompany Norton on purpose. Not that Norton minded. It's working out in his favor.

Norton hurried out of the room as soon as he realized that Eli had already gone ahead of him. He jogged up to the seer until he reached his side. Eli seemed to have slowed down his pace to let the prospector keep up.

The hallway was quiet and empty. There were a few lamps on the walls, but they were meek compared to the faint moonlight that shone through the windows. There was no sound save for the soft footsteps that belonged to the two of them against the carpeted floor. Based on these observations, Norton concluded that it was indeed already late. It made him wonder how long he had been out.

In that lonely hallway, there were only two of them. Even Eli's owl was absent. Norton had waited for so long for the two of them to be alone like this, yet his throat and mouth seemed to have dried up altogether.