The Hermit Arrives Early

He did not make things too difficult for her. After waiting just a few seconds, he chuckled and raised a hand slightly, letting the gray fog silently suppress the True Creator's ravings and quell the mutations on Cattleya's body.

The Admiral of Stars' trembling began to subside at a visible rate. The fissures in her flesh gradually closed, her thoughts returned little by little, and she regained her awareness of everything around her.

She no longer dared to look up and pry. Hastily lowering her head, she apologized:

"I didn't do it on purpose. My eyes can only be enhanced; I can't switch them off-"

That might be true, but honestly, I don't really believe you didn't do it on purpose. After all, you could have lowered your head just as you're doing now. Klein glanced at Cattleya, chuckled, and asked:

"Did Pure White send you to find me?"

"Yes," Cattleya replied with her head lowered. "How should I address you?"

"You may call me Mr. Fool." Klein gave his answer with practiced ease.

A more mortal form of address and manner of dress... Something stirred in Cattleya's heart. Her peripheral vision swept over the surrounding seats, and she asked:

"Honorable Mr. Fool, are there other people here?"

Klein did not answer. He merely smiled and said, "Aren't you going to introduce yourself? That should be the most basic courtesy."

After a brief silence, Cattleya said, "I thought Miss Pure White had already introduced me to you."

"That is the most basic courtesy." Klein did not give a direct answer, merely repeating his words.

Cattleya understood his meaning and introduced herself. "My name is Cattleya. I'm known as the Admiral of Stars."

Only then did Klein nod gently and answer Cattleya's earlier question:

"There are others like you who came