Cornelia entered the Gray Fox's study and caught sight of Trevalyn busy sorting through a small pile of paperwork. He signed at the bottom of one of the documents and shifted his eyes as the light from outside was swiftly blocked by the closing study door.

"You called for me, Boss?"

"Ah, yes. Excellent timing Miss Sauvant. We're to discuss a few matters about your previous operation, and your rather poor handling of the situation."

"I guess we got too carried away knocking out soldiers blocking our escape." Cornelia shrugged her shoulders. "So, will this be the moment when I'll be fired or dismissed?"

"Not yet." Trevalyn revealed the contents of a small sack and brought the tome to the light. The crystal rod used by Gerhard to identify the book was in the scientist's hands. "You have carried out the task almost flawlessly, save for that... error."

Trevalyn opened the book cover and set the green rod's light atop the tome; black lines emerged from the what Cornelia saw as an empty first page. The lines came to life, turning into curves that linked, merged and went atop another. Texts were brought to their eyes, followed by diagrams and drawings that spoke of a language of a lost era. Trevalyn's normally-stern look lightened up to an accomplished smile when the crystal's dimmed back to its jade hue.

"You have retrieved the correct book, which is your main objective. I would still reduce your pay for this service after failing to watch over Mister Guildenstern."

"It wasn't easy at all Boss, but I had my faults too." Cornelia bowed; her voice was reduced to a half-whisper. "We should have watched our backs tighter. I should-have-done that."

"Anyway, both of you managed to return here without further incident." Trevalyn scanned the other pages; what was a blank book once was now filled with drawings and text. "None of us will have to go through this once I have unlocked this book's secrets."

Cornelia could not bring herself to be happy with the thought. Stupid book. She was in no position to cry back at the whole point of the task.

Cornelia found her perfect means of bailing out by saying:

"Can I see Gerha- um, Mister Guildenstern? I'd like to know if he's doing okay after what we've gone through."

"The infirmary is a floor down my study. Take the sixth door from your right. Mister Guildenstern is resting inside as we speak."

"Got it. Thanks, Boss ."

"You may go see him. I would not like you standing still in front of me."

Cornelia took a slight bow and went ahead; she did not notice the Gray Fox's eyes trailing her right before the door closed behind her. Her walk out of the study became strides when Cornelia exerted more to reach the staircase right away. A quiet hall with the scent of vapor and disinfectant moved along with the swordswoman.

"This must be it."

Cornelia turned the knob until a click affirmed that she could push the door aside. A lamp above illuminated a man asleep under a single sheet. She did her best not to disturb the sleeper when she minced her steps to a nearby chair beside a small table.

Cornelia lifted the chair and placed it nearest to the bed. Gerhard must have been hit badly for the Imperial officer's firearm for him to not feel her presence right away.

She recalled everything after she dealt with the shotgun-wielding officer and how the wizard was on the verge of collapsing minutes after the pellets stung and bore holes onto his skin. That Imperial was a tough foe to manage batting her strikes and even came close to beating Cornelia by destroying her weapon. She took him down anyway, but she was denied the opportunity to take him out for good upon the sight of Gerhard.

The return to the base was worse – Gerhard dropped to the floor. The pain inflicted by that weapon was too much for him to take. Nurses and facility guards secured the man and took him away to the infirmary. Cornelia was able to at least get the tome from Gerhard's failing grip before she was left alone at the transport bay.

He was still alive, only much paler than before and during the operation. She was close enough to see Gerhard's nose letting air in and out. Cornelia just let the feeling of actually caring for colleagues overtake her. Her past tasks didn't allow her such novelty, although she saw more injured men or worse when the gangs clashed and the battle was won, or lost. She wondered what was in this man to make her worry like this; it could be that she did not pay attention to the faces of those she worked for.

That was, until she was hired by the Gray Fox and his army of weird people.

His eyes were moving; perhaps he felt the weight of Cornelia's elbow disturb the balance of the mattress. Soon, her gaze was met by a pair of dark irises; Gerhard would have jumped back, but he did not have the strength to do so anyway.

"Got one back at you for surprising me during my sword practice." A half-snarl was the first thing she let Gerhard see. Cornelia's head retreated; her back rested firmly on the chair. "How are you doing?"

"Awful still. Having my whole left arm and waist in bandages isn't the most comforting experience after that cursed soldier got me. At least the doctors managed to remove all the shot, so they say," Gerhard replied. "What about you?"

"Aside from my swordarm feeling a little shaky after my sword was broken, I'm all right. It's no joke fighting two Imperial officers in a row and in their turf." Cornelia smiled and crossed her legs before continuing, "I've got news for you. The Boss is going to reduce my pay after you went overboard knocking soldiers out with magic blasts. You're going to owe me. A lot."

"Hah, It will be a long time before I can pay you fully. I won't be able to perform most of my talents with my main arm in this shape."

"I guess we'll sit back and let Green Eye and his men do the work while you wait for everything to heal."

"Me, yes. You on the other hand can still do your job well."

"I thought so too, but I'd rather stick around with you since you after all, are my Master Guildenstern." Cornelia let out a soft chuckle.

"You will never stop calling me that ..."

"It is who you really are, so get used to it." Cornelia's smile shrank into a rather serious appeal; her voice lowered a little as she spoke, "Also, I'm sorry for not being able to stop this from happening. I guess I got a little too carried away escaping."

"No need to apologize Cornelia, this was my fault at most. I should have not turned my back on that gunman. I was also too careless with my craft."

Cornelia leaned more on the backrest until the chair's front legs disconnected from the ground. "At least we got what the old man wanted. Honestly, I wish I wouldn't think that we got through this mess all because of a silly book."

"It was part of the job. I'm glad that the soldier didn't aim for my head."

"I'd be in bigger trouble if I bring back your dead body here. And no, I'll make sure that you'll stay alive and keep the Boss satisfied. That also means a better chance at earning higher than usual."

"We're a team. Of course we need to watch each other's backs."

"Yeah, and I'll also have to do it for my future bankrolls' sake. Don't screw up, okay?"

Gerhard laughed. There was nothing else he could say at that time. His eyes couldn't part from registering the woman in his senses. He wanted to make excuses, such as his bedridden state not giving him enough room to look away. Cornelia proved to be a refreshing sight without the typical swordsman's apparel. His mind played tricks inside, building an image of what she looked like if she were to bear a 'proper' woman's image.

"What are you looking at?" Cornelia's eyes matched his; a puzzled gaze followed shortly.

"Oh... ah..." Gerhard's throat felt parched; perhaps what water remained inside his mouth dried away.

"I know just the thing for that." She stood up; her eyes remained tethered to his face. "You need something to eat. A little bread and cream soup will help, no?"

"Y-yes. Bread. And soup. Could you bring a small slab of meat with that?"

"All right, Master." Laughter almost prevailed at the end of her answer. "Just lie down pretty and I'll be back with our food quick and easy."

"You know that I can't go anywhere Cornelia."

"Lighten up." The swordswoman reached for a door and stared at him one last time before going ahead. "All your magics took away your sense of picking up a joke or two huh? You should start practicing more now that you're stuck with me."

She was gone. At last. Odd that he never looked at her that way during her first few days under Winston's ranks. There were so many things he wanted to ask about her, but he found out that time was at his disposal, at least in his current state. Whether or not the Gray Fox decides to assign other tasks to her was still a question.