The Mind Link disconnected, and Beatrice let out a long breath.
She felt an indescribable mixture of emotions. The inexplicable link, the stranger speaking from within her mind—these things should have frightened her.
But working together to figure out how to save Gwen had unknowingly brought the few of them closer.
Though she was trapped in desperate circumstances herself and could barely protect herself, discussing with Fries and the Captain how to find food and treat Gwen's illness temporarily made her forget her own troubles. It also left her heart feeling warm.
Beatrice could not explain why. She had clearly been trying to harden her heart. Clearly, helping the little girl named Gwen would bring her nothing. Yet doing so still made her happy.
It was not as though she had no selfish motives. She also wanted to take this opportunity to display her strength and expand her influence.
She was a pope imprisoned within a church, but this link made her realize that she was not completely powerless. At the very least, she had saved a little girl, had she not?
Beatrice rose from her chair, a smile appearing on her face for the first time in days.
Castel and Theus also let out long breaths. They had not gained much information today, but it was still a welcome step forward.
Pulling Gwen into the link before had merely been an accident, but he had not expected that little girl to bring him so many unexpected gains.
When he had pulled Beatrice in, she had been extremely guarded. But as they discussed how to save Gwen together, Theus could clearly sense them gradually lowering their defenses.
Doing bad things together and doing good things together could both quickly bring people closer.
Come to think of it, pulling Beatrice in