Crystal picks up the coin from the table and states, "I believe your time is up, Mister...Sebarius, was it?"

"I believe it has been for quite a while, actually, Miss Crystal. And, for that reason, I'd like to thank you for listening to my story so very patiently thus far."

"...unfortunately you have failed to give us a sufficiently good reason to accept your request though. As such, I must now ask you to leave."

Sebarius and Crystal stare each other down for a few moments before Sebarius replies, "I guess that cannot be helped then...in that case, I must find someone else to help me hunt the fox."

"So you're still intent on continuing this foolhardy endeavor? Despite of what it already cost you?"

"What, this?" Sebarius asks and motions to the wheelchair he sits in, "This is just a minor setback. Now, if you will not help me, I will find someone else. And with the people I have in mind, that will likely not end well for the Zeaphyr Fox. Because, you see, I am thinking about hiring professional bounty hunters. And I mean the kind, that shoot first and ask questions later."

"Dead people don't tend to answer questions though. And is that not what you are after? Answers?"

"Certainly, but I don't expect to get these answers from the Zeaphyr fox himself, actually. To my understanding, he has little to no knowledge about the things I am interested in. His partner though..."

"What makes you think the Zeaphyr fox has a partner? And that this 'partner' would have answers?"

"Oh, you hear rumors as you get around. And, after the supposed incident which lead to the discovery of the ruins below the mansion of Vulponia, just about all reported sightings of the Zeaphyr fox spoke of two companions, one human and one being a pet fox.

Crystal leans back in her chair and musters the man in front of her, while Aiko grows a little restless.

"And what makes you think that your 'bloodhounds' will not just kill them both? Or kill the wrong one? Assuming there is a partner of course."

Sebarius chuckles lightly, taps on the image bearing the crest of the house of Vulpus and says, "Because they will not succeed in doing so. Much like the weapons of mortals cannot slay the wind, they will find themselves unable to dispose of his partner. Because, you see, I believe this partner to be of the immortal kind."

"Immortal? Now you're just being silly. There is no such thing as—" Crystal starts, but Sebarius rudely interrupts her, "Oh, but there is. Energy, for example, is 'immortal'. It can neither be created nor destroyed, just changed from one form to another. Or, to refer to a less scientific concept, the 'soul' is also said to be immortal."

"I consider it about needless to say, that neither 'souls' nor 'energy' are very talkative though. Assuming that 'souls' even exist."

"I believe they do, actually. And I believe, that the creatures who reigned supreme before the great Reset had the ability to bind these souls into objects, making previously inanimate constructs 'alive' and 'conscious'. Given a suitable supply of energy to power the connection that is."

Crystal bows to the front and asks, "And what, oh great scholar, makes you believe that the Zeaphyr foxes partner is 'bound to an object'? Or 'immortal'?"

"A number of things actually," Sebarius states and pulls out a few papers depicting various runes and spreads them on the table, "Most notably the writings left behind in the chamber though. You see, I spent a good deal of time deciphering these. And they tell a dire story. Of a spirit princess who was caught up in a war of old between powers we cannot even begin to grasp with our science of today. The writings were a bit vague on the details as to how or why the princess was imprisoned, but to my understanding, she now requires a 'host' to manifest herself in this world once more. One who dons the necklace bearing the crest of the 'Vulpus' family. She would share the life force of her host and if her host were to fade, she would be forced to return to her prison, lest she would fade as well."

"...those are some tall tales you are telling, Mister. But if that were the case, wouldn't 'killing the host' be very  detrimental to your research then?"

"Quite a bit, yes, however it should prove trivial to find a new host for the princess. Why, in this room alone there's at least two dozen suitable candidates to take up the candle. And they would most certainly be more cooperative than the current host. Why, I'd even do it myself if need be."

"And what makes you think that this 'princess' would even be willing to work with you?" Aiko asks.

"Oh, that's simple. It's either 'work with me' or return to the torment of everlasting stillness."

"Everlasting stillness does not sound like torment to me. It's..." Aiko starts, but then reconsiders her words, "I imagine it to be like sleeping. And once you wake back up, it's like nothing ever happened."

"Quite possibly, yes. I guess I would have to employ more unconvential means to assure the cooperation of the princess then. Though, quite personally, I would prefer her cooperation from the get go. I would also prefer to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. I am a scholar after all, not a killer."

Crystal sighs, bows to the front and says, "Which is why you came to us first instead of just hiring bloodthirsty killers, isn't it? You want this necklace, because you believe it has 'the spirit of the princess' in it?"

"Precisely. I don't even care whether the Zeaphyr fox is still attached to it or not, as long as he does not give me any trouble during my questioning."

"And…after your 'questioning'? What then?"

"Why, depending on the discoveries made, they would naturally be compensated for their time and their forthcoming and then they would be free to go. Or...stay in a cabinet for further reference, assuming the current host is no longer in any condition to be going anywhere."

Crystal and Aiko both exchange a look and quietly speak to one another for a few seconds, before Crystal states, "Alright then, Mister. Just because I have a personal distaste for murder myself, we will take your job. But the Zeaphyr fox is a very elusive figure, as I'm sure you know. How would you even have us find them?"

Sebarius smiles gently and says, "The same way I kept finding them in the recent past, albeit always just a second too late to actually catch them. But I was not done with my story, actually. May I finish it?"

"Certainly. As long as you're paying the drinks."

"That can be arranged," Sebarius nods and waves over to the barkeep for another round.