Walking down the hallway, I wondered why my head didn't hurt yet.

Glasses had been fine. She had been rather shy as I measured her and whatnot. It helped with Renn being with me, which had made her feel at ease enough to not make it awkward. I'd be able to make her brace pretty easily, with likely only a few modifications once it was done. Dealing with Mono and Tundra had also been relatively easy, if loud, since they had bombarded me with questions at the same time.

But Blasco had been annoying. The man reminded me of Randle, but without the actual knowledge or centuries of experience to back it up. The worst part was I couldn't even fault the man; he just wanted to know all he could as to better help and guide everyone they'd brought back with them from the other continent. But after two hours of just talking to him… I found myself not just expecting a headache but wanting a drink.

This place, this cathedral being built and the many new faces… most of whom were younger than a hundred years old, reminded me of the beginning of the Society. It felt like there was a buzz of expectations and hopefulness, yet beneath it all was a rather serious underlying worry. One that no amount of knowledge, soothing, or strength could pacify.

I wasn't really sure yet what most the people here actually were fearful of, but a part of me knew better than to ask.

It also didn't help that most of them didn't seem willing, or able, to venture out of the safety of this cathedral on their own. There were only a few, like Less, who even did so on a daily basis it seemed. Most just… stayed in this little complex, focusing on the building and upkeep of the new cathedral.

As the protector, I felt as if I should be doing all I could to help them along. To help them build. To secure any and all supplies or needs they wished to fulfill. To ask each one who they were, to meet and introduce myself to them… to ask them all for any requests they had or didn't, and so forth.

Yet the rest of me didn't want to get involved at all. And not just because I wanted to step down, but because I knew better than to get too involved in these people.

They were Light's people. There was no denying that. Nearly all of them, bar a small handful, wore the religious garb of their faith and doctrine. And even the ones who didn't subscribe to their faith, still fully subscribed to the idea of being Light's people. Many of them even outright considered themselves servants of her, in a way, which reminded me of the fervent loyalty Celine had built amongst her flock. Randle had been like that too back then.

These people were members of the Society… but first and foremost, before that, they were their own little group. Light's group. And it was rather obvious, too.

Slowing my steps, I walked quietly as I rounded a corner and neared a doorway. I knew within the room was one of the larger working groups at the moment. They were building the foundation for a spire. A stairwell and tower that would rise upward and connect to other nearby buildings. There were nearly fifty people working on it at almost any time, and they weren't quiet as they did so.

Hammers banged. People huffed as they lifted heavy things, or climbed ladders and scaffolding. Others stacked bricks, and others painted already built sections. There was, at least from a few moments of listening, at least a dozen different conversations going on at once and not a one of them were similar.

"Tundra wants to join them. Can't say I'm shocked," a man said.

"I keep smelling it through my window at night! It makes me so hungry…!" another woman complained elsewhere.

"Maybe this way…?" someone else wondered.

Standing near the doorway, I listened for a long moment to them all chitchat as they worked. It was… comforting, to hear most of their conversations were simple things. A few spoke of me, or Renn or the rest of us, but not in a way that was too concerning. Not to me, at least.

Sighing gently as I heard a wheelbarrow get dropped, rather roughly, I wondered if I should just… help them out or not.

They seemed to know what they were doing. I'd already checked the lower floors, which were already mostly built, and was pleasantly surprised at their handiwork. They weren't the best at what they were doing, but they were also far from the worst. If no one else got involved this cathedral they were building here would likely end up being one of the fanciest buildings in the whole city, maybe even including the one I'd helped build for Brandy and the rest.

But that didn't mean they couldn't use the help. And I knew how sometimes my assistance, even if only for a short time, could make a huge difference. Just a few days of labor from me was the equivalent of months for them, depending on what I was doing at least.

That was of course, under the assumption they'd even let me do anything. Light and Less had asked me to check the lower floors, near the hole that I'd made fighting those beasts, but they hadn't outright asked me for any help to build this place…

Though maybe that was the five years she spoke of…? Light did seem to want me and Renn to stay here while we had our supposed vocation…

And Light, like her mother, knew me well enough. She'd know that my doing nothing for so long wouldn't work. I'd have to do something, and without any immediate requests… my hands would find hammers and nails, if nothing else, as to help them.

Still…

"Vim…!"

I shifted and turned to watch Merit hurry down the hallway towards me. She was alone, and didn't seem too bothered. I stepped away from the doorway, just in case though.

The small woman came to a stop in front of me and pointed behind her. "Brandy's here to meet Tundra. Do you want to be involved in that at all?"

"You know I don't get involved in such things, Merit," I said with a frown. She should know better.

Merit nodded. "I know. I didn't mean it that way. I meant… well…" she shifted and glanced past me, so I turned my head to see what had caused her to get distracted. A pair of faces startled and then quickly hid behind the door frame, and I heard the people who owned those faces hurry off and whisper worriedly to each other.

They had been eavesdropping. Funny.

Ignoring them I looked back at Merit and found her upset. "I don't care much for the people here," she told me.

I shrugged at her. "So? Is Renn acting weird about it or something?" I asked. That was the only reason I could think of for Merit to want me involved.

"Yes. I fear she's taking a liking to the wolf. If you're not careful she'll be coming with us up north," Merit said.

"Us?" I asked with a smirk.

Merit's eyes went wide and she snarled at me as she turned away. "Shut it!" she shouted, then ran off back whence she came, while I heard tiny cracks and pops from her static as she did.

Watching her go, I couldn't help but smile at her.

So she had already made the decision had she? A part of me was upset, since it meant I'd have more troubles later, but at the same time… well…

It'd make Renn happy to have her join us. And that was all that mattered anymore, wasn't it?

"Still… can't blame her either," I mumbled as I went to follow after the sparky fish.

Less wasn't staying at the Animalia Guild at the moment; since we were all back, but I knew it'd not be long until many people were there. Tundra wasn't the only one who wanted to live there too, from what I'd been hearing. And she also wasn't the only strong one here, either, even though she acted it. A lot of the members here were thick in the blood, if not outright full-blooded non-humans. Although plenty, if not a majority, were just as much cowards as the rest of the Society.

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While answering a lot of questions for Blasco, I'd been able to learn more about these people. Turns out there were quite a few predators here… though many were like Less. Strong, but didn't act or show it. Not unless it was needed.

There were also quite a few here that wanted a more simpler life. The kind of life that working at the Animalia Company would give them. So there was no doubt the guild's numbers would soon double, if not triple.

When that happened… not only would Merit not be as needed, for safety reasons, there would then also be too many incompatibles too.

Merit could live with nearly anyone. But not everyone could live with her.

She was like Renn in that aspect… which was likely why the two got along so bloody well.

Rounding a corner, I found Merit waiting for me. She was already at the other end of the hall, but waited until I headed her way before running off again.

She's been moody lately. I wonder if it was my fault, or if Renn's just… brought back a bit of spunk into Merit's life. Maybe her calmness these last few decades, before Renn showed up, was not that Merit had calmed down but had instead been unhappy, or gloomy.

Shifting a shoulder, I felt bad all of a sudden as I realized that was likely the most probably answer. Merit had not calmed down all this time; during her stay here in Lumen… she had simply been depressed.

"Depression…" I mumbled the word as I rounded another corner, and found the new hallway led me to an exit. I headed for it, since Merit was there waiting for me with the door open. The outside world wasn't being flooded anymore, but now it was cold. The kind of cold that likely hurt those with old bones.

The door led to a courtyard, one unfinished. It was a messy grass field, with more weeds than anything else. Merit guided me across the courtyard to a building opposite of the one we'd just been in. One that looked smaller than the rest around here, almost as if it was a makeshift barn or something.

Entering the building, I was glad to find it didn't smell like old hay or horses. Instead it just smelled like wood. It was some kind of storeroom.

I'd make a joke about Merit leading me to some abandoned storehouse, if not for the fact I knew she'd blush and become furious over it. It'd be an insult no matter how funny I'd find it, to her at least.

"Oh…" Merit grumbled as we headed deeper into the building, and found Renn walking our way. She smiled at the sight of us and hurried her pace a bit as she did.

She was alone.

"They leave already?" Merit asked.

Renn nodded as she stopped in front of us. "Yep. Brandy's going to take Tundra back to meet everyone else," she said.

"You didn't go with them?" I asked. Hadn't Merit said she had been acting oddly over this?

Renn slowly shook her head and smiled at me. "I… realized I shouldn't. Otherwise I'd affect her choice, I think," she said.

"Huh. Wisdom," Merit noted.

I reached over and lightly tapped Merit's shoulder, to let her know that had been snarky even for her. "I'm glad you're keeping your distance, Renn… but you don't need to. As we've talked about, you need not live my life," I told her.

Renn nodded as Merit groaned, either from my tap or my words. "I know. Thank you Vim, but… for now this is best, I think," Renn said.

I nodded back, and then glanced around. The place sounded… "Is there no one here?" I asked.

"Nope? Down this hallway are just two warehouses. Where they store barrels," Renn said with a point down the hall.

"Why were you all here…?" I asked.

"Brandy wanted to count the barrels," Renn said.

Of course she did.

"Brandy thinks they're stealing. I'm not really sure I agree with her, and even if they were… who cares?" Merit said.

"She has no proof, other than the stuff they took from Telmik, I guess. I think she's just hoping to find something she can use to validate her own opinions," Renn said.

"Foolish opinions," Merit corrected. "She's more concerned with where the coins are than what they are being used for. I don't care much for the people here, but they're still members. Still free to build their new home and whatnot, who cares how much money it takes?" she added.

I nodded; glad the snarky fish was so wise. "Indeed. Especially since there are hundreds, if not thousands, more coming. They'll all need not just homes, but a purpose. If a few wagons of gold are all it takes to secure such a thing, then a small price to give for it," I said.

Renn sighed at us. "Stop making so much sense. I'm trying to not judge her too harshly for her attitude, and you're not helping," she said.

"What's this now?" I asked.

My lovely wife's ears twitched as she crossed her arms and gave me an odd look. "See, Merit? Shows you how little time he's been spending on me, since we've not spoken about it yet," Renn said.

Merit nodded happily. "Let him waste his life foolishly, we can just enjoy ourselves on our own," she said.

Great. What's going on now? Yes Renn and I have only had a few moments alone together since I've been back, but it wasn't as if I'd actually been neglecting her. If anything I've been the one getting ignored…

Renn gave me a smile, the one she wore when she knew her teasing had been effective on me. "I'm just a tad disappointed in Brandy, Vim. She's angry at Light and the rest, feeling slighted, and I don't like how she's acting about it. I agree with her on many points, but her reasons for being upset are… well… not something I want to agree with, basically," she explained to me.

I smirked at her. "Ah. The woes of a capitalist," I said. She tilted her head at me in a way that told me she hadn't understood me, but I didn't feel like explaining it here and now. So instead I lightly gestured at her. "Not the first time you've had such reservations, Renn, and won't be the last. Just navigate your feelings as you deem fit," I said simply.

"Feh," Merit scoffed at me.

"What?" I asked her. Why was she looking at me as if I was a soured fruit?

Merit shook her head at me. "You're her husband, Vim. I don't think anyone would fault you for giving her such freedom and support, but sometimes you really should just tell her either what to do, or at least what to think," Merit said.

"What…?" I asked again, not really surprised to hear this from Merit… but I was so to see Renn nod in agreement with her.

"Sometimes I'd like you to just… voice your own opinion, you know? Even if it's a wrong one," Renn said to me.

Oh. So it wasn't that they wanted me to actually force Renn to have a certain stance or view on something, but instead they just didn't like that I didn't ever do it at all.

I sighed at them. "Okay… sure. Explain the problem, and I'll tell you my genuine opinion then," I said, offering to do my best.

Renn perked up at that, and even Merit seemed to grow excited at the idea. "Brandy's only upset because Light and the rest are taking over what she's built. She feels entitled to her position, for doing all she's done, and is actively planning on how to keep control over the stuff she oversees. To the point it might even interrupt or hurt the Society's income streams," Renn explained.

Oh boy. Renn's involved a tad too deeply for my taste, based off the words she just used. Those hadn't been ones she herself thought of, but what others had said or told her… maybe even Brandy herself.

"So… this upsets you, because she's not prioritizing the good of the Society over her own personal goals," I said, understanding. Or well, I understood Brandy well enough to understand where Renn was going with this, at least.

Renn nodded as she smirked. "Yeah!"

I nodded slowly and glanced down to Merit, who nodded back up at me. "Brandy isn't outright wrong, Vim. Light and the rest are planning to take control of certain things… but honestly, it needs to happen. Brandy and Gerald are stretched thin as it is. It's time more people got involved again in the companies we run," she said.

"And you both think, or know, that Brandy is going to sabotage this transition? Out of spite?" I asked, a tad surprised to learn so. Brandy was very… greedy, but to the point she'd do something detrimental?

Renn's smirk immediately disappeared. "No! I just… well… she's not going to just roll over and let it happen, is all. I don't think she'd actually go that far, but…" Renn quickly went to Brandy's defense, which told me it likely wasn't as big a deal as they were making it out to be. Odds are Renn just found it upsetting that someone was so greedy, and was trying her best to be friendly with that person all the same.

"Well… if this isn't that big a deal, and is just Brandy being over-dramatic at the moment, then personally I'd not interfere at all. It's not my place to do so unless it actually threatens the Society as you know…" I started to say, but quickly switched gears when I noticed both of their eyes harden a bit. They didn't want to hear such a thing here and now. "But… I too would find it bothersome, insulting even, if Brandy would actually impede or fuss over such a thing as other members helping or adding their skills to her purview. Money is powerful, and important, but it is in the end just metal and paper. Not worth the lives or comfort of our people. Though… I will also say, it is like Light and her people to take the spoils of another's efforts. And that too is something I'd not approve of," I said, throwing my own opinions into the world.

Renn and Merit both relaxed a little… and then glanced at each other. "Rather basic for him, but at least he did it," Merit said first.

"Better than nothing," Renn nodded, agreeing.

Sighing at them, I shook my head. "Want more?" I asked.

They both nodded quickly.

"I'd like to leave. Before I get a headache. This place is full of potential traps and I need to get out of here before I fall into them," I said.

Merit smirked at that, but Renn frowned. "Traps?" she asked.

"He means dangers. There are a lot of people who have never met him before, like that Blasco guy. They all probably have countless questions, and maybe even requests, and he's scared of lingering here long enough to get wrapped up in them all," Merit explained.

Renn's frown turned into a happy smile. "I see. Honestly I'd not mind that, some of them are pretty nice people you know? Glasses is adorable, and so is Tundra."

"You have weird tastes, Renn," I said.

"You have no right to say that!" Merit groaned.

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