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“I'm curious to see what Master Hauer knows about all this,” you decide, “He invited us here, after all. He shouldn't complain if we arrive on his doorstep looking for answers.”
“And it'll probably be easier to speak with him, compared with the proper authorities,” Elle agrees, “Very well. Shall we go now?”
You nod, and soon you're back out into the pouring rain. You can trace your way back to the museum by memory, although you notice a few changes since the last time you were here. A pair of sullen guards stand outside the door, huddling under an awning, but they don't bother you aside from giving a sour look as you pass them by. Inside, the museum seems cleaner, less cluttered, with the various artefacts neatly organised. One whole side of the museum is devoted to Galsean culture, with yet another guard lurks nearby. Aside from the guards themselves, there's only one other person in the museum – a girl with scruffy black hair.
At the sound of your footsteps, the girl turns from the displays and hurries over. You have just enough time to see the look of unease on her face before she pastes on a bright smile. Then she takes another look at you, and her smile changes into something a little more genuine.
“You must be Isambard!” the girl announces, eagerly shaking your hand, “And you must be... Isambard's friends!”
“Elle,” the oracle points out delicately, “And Ariel.”
“Yes, of course you are. I'm Melinda. Melinda Ionescu.”
That name, heard here of all places, takes you by surprise. “Ionescu?” you repeat, “Oh, I suppose that explains how you know me. Your... brother?”
“Half-brother, but yes,” Melinda confirms, nodding eagerly, “I have to admit, I wasn't sure if you'd actually come. I'm glad that getting old man Hauer to send that message was worth all that stress!”
“Let's just slow down a little,” you tell the Galsean girl, “You got Hauer to send that message, and... you work here?”
“Right, right,” Melinda says with another nod, “Things were really looking up here, you know, before all this mess. Hauer talked to some important people and managed to convince them to ease up on some of the rules. Some of us were given work permits, and allowed to mingle with the locals a bit more. It was good, you know? Being able to earn a little money, showing people that we're not just a burden...”
“I can't imagine that Hauer did all this out of the goodness of his heart,” you point out.
“Of course not!” the Galsean laughs, “People got curious about us, and they came here to learn more. That's why I'm here!”
“You're a... tour guide?” Ariel says slowly.
“Hey, it's better than sitting in a slum doing nothing with my time,” Melinda counters, “Come on, I guess you're here to see the boss. Follow me.”
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