Alexandria's Keeper - Lord Of The Mysteries Fanfiction

-4- New Job and Apartment

Irina had just finished changing her clothes when she heard a child's voice outside the door, talking to Dunn.

"Will Iri really leave? Are you taking her because she did something bad?"

Light footsteps followed, and another child chimed in, their high-pitched voice full of concern. "She's a good teacher! She's a good person! Don't take her away, you ugly old grandpa!"

Oh... poor Dunn. He's being bullied by children, Irina thought with mild amusement.

Dunn's calm, rough voice responded, "I'm not taking her away. She's just taking on a new job—"

"Liar!" one of the children interrupted.

Let's save his poor soul, Irina decided, rolling her eyes with a smile. She opened the door, stepping out with her recently packed belongings in hand. The two children looked up at her expectantly.

"Mika, Ella," she said gently, crouching down to their level with a warm, reassuring smile, "go back and play outside. He's not lying, and you shouldn't scream at an adult and call them a liar. That's rude, you know?"

Both kids fidgeted under her gaze as they listened.

Irina continued in a softer tone, "I've been looking for a new place for a while. That old grumpy guy," she gestured playfully toward the upper floor, where the owner's bedroom was, "didn't want me working here anymore, so I found a new job. It's a super important one, which means I won't be able to visit often, okay?"

The children looked a little sad but nodded, understanding.

After sending them off with a smile and a wave, Irina straightened up and began walking alongside Dunn, heading back to the Security Company in comfortable silence, at least until her new Captain decided to break it.

"You seemed quite willing to work as a Nighthawk when we brought up the subject," Dunn said, glancing sideways at her, his tone mildly curious.

He looks genuinely curious, Irina thought, noting his expression.

"To be honest," she admitted, "the salary was the real deal. It's much better than my old one. Plus, I want to understand this whole 'Beyonder' and 'new sequence' situation."

And of course, she added inwardly, I want to figure out where the Library of Alexandria came from, and why Nefiref popped out of nowhere. Also, how exactly did I end up here? It can't be connected to Sefirah Castle, or I'd remember the ritual that... She paused, changing the course of her thoughts. I just slipped from a rooftop and ended up here!

"I see your points," Dunn said thoughtfully. "Still, it's surprising that it's just because of something so... insignificant."

Irina grinned. "Hey, I place high importance on my income. How else am I supposed to sustain my lifestyle?"

He raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by her response. "You didn't seem the type to lead an expensive lifestyle. Quite the opposite, in fact."

"Ouch," she feigned offense, "are you saying I look poor?"

"That's not what I meant," Dunn replied quickly, a hint of defensiveness in his voice.

Trying to save yourself, I see. Irina smirked.

"Also," she continued, her tone light but pointed, "it's not like I had much of a choice, am I wrong?"

Dunn didn't seem surprised by her quick deduction.

"I might've just turned 18, but I'm not brainless," she added. "It was expected. It's your job to protect civilians, right? I can't fault you for that. And don't worry, I forgive you for that stunt—both of them, by the way. I blacked out after that one hit. Ten out of ten, good job! Next time, though, maybe contain your displeasure. I wasn't hitting on your wife."