598
In an Evernight Church relatively close to the disaster area.
Leonard sat on a pew in the chapel, taking small sips of warm tea, somewhat distracted.
Daly had a blanket draped over her and reclined on another pew, separated from Leonard by an aisle more than two meters wide.
The two injured members did not need to participate in the Church's relief efforts for now and could rest briefly in the chapel. One thought quietly while the other recovered her energy with her eyes closed. Neither spoke.
The luminous stars painted on the ceiling with special glowing minerals gave off a steady, faint light inside the dim church. The gas wall lamps hung well below the ceiling, and the dark surroundings soothed both body and mind, as though they had arrived somewhere safe.
After a long while, Daly broke the silence.
"The spirits on you tell me you have something on your mind."
Leonard came back to himself and nodded, his expression somewhat solemn. "Captain Soest and the others are still missing..."
"That isn't what I meant, young man."
Daly's expression grew serious. She opened her eyes and looked at Leonard, who had fallen silent.
"When we were searching for Ince Zangwill in Enmat, you already seemed to have something on your mind. I thought you were troubled because we couldn't arrest him, but that doesn't seem to be the case now. Half our team is missing, but aside from anxiety and grief, there's something else in your emotions."
Leonard sighed and asked, "What is it?"
"Confusion, perhaps? I've only seen that expression on young people who go out late at night to drown their sorrows." Daly smiled, tucked the stray hair on her forehead behind her ear, and spoke while looking at her fingers. "What are you thinking