บท 129: Empyrean Rabbit - Part 17

Cele walked beside Rudolf in silence as a temple child escorted them through the corridors, awaiting the eventual fallout. It was clear the captain had words to speak.

And... Cele considered that if he had caught someone talking to Heiko in such a way that it resulted in that despondent expression, he, too, would have something to say about it.

But time pulled on, and their footsteps grew louder and louder, as if some sort of new and diabolical torture of its own, the captain remained tight lipped.

"I wasn't lambasting him."

That seemed to be a necessary qualifier. Cele wasn't sure how long into their interaction Rudolf had first heard them, but if he only caught the tail-end, then it was highly possible that the general's frustration could've been interpreted as a belligerent harangue.

Maybe that's how Heiko interpreted it, as well, he thought after a moment. The thought made him feel sick.