Scratching his left cheek, where the new guild tattoo is located upon, Masami understood that he still wasn't used to having marked as a member of something. The tattoo itself felt odd, and the unusual feeling of commitment. Was it a wrong choice to join Penumbral Guard, and would've been different if he didn't? Believing that choices were inevitable, Masami was forced to go with the flow. Whatever happens... just happens. Masami wasn't the one to judge the future, even if he wanted to have full control over it for the sake of everyone whom he is affectionate for. All of these thoughts circle through Masami's head when he allowed himself to become mindful of his own breathing as he lied down upon the ground, a few meters away from the train rails of the Marigold Station. Here, there's so much freedom. He could spend the whole afternoon without being bothered by anyone. Although the sound of the train whenever it passes would make him anxious, he had been good friends with the feeling.

Masami had never met anyone else from the guild apart from Natsumi Duranndal and Tomoe Tanaka, the guild master. Although there where other guild members, they weren't present for Masami to encounter. So what was that the children were talking about? Some leech, or lich... a lych in the Penumbral Guard? Either they were terrible jokes or Masami was simply ignorant about choices. After all, children are imaginative creatures; they must've mistaken a rumor for the truth. The same children watched Masami from quite afar, but not too far – watching the performer's actions. Because of a sudden urge to tease these children, Masami abruptly stood up and raised his claws like a tiger, roaring with a big smile itched on his face. The two children screeched, running back to their mother whom was sitting upon the station, nearer to Masami. They exclaimed something about the same creature, pointing to Masami as if he was a monster. They referred to the mark upon his face, specifically the Penumbral Guard guild tattoo stamped upon Masami's left cheek. The woman seemed calmer in response towards the children's worries, which slightly intimidated Masami enough to approach them.

Upon reaching the station where the woman was sitting among one of the seats, clean seats, specifically – the two children hid behind their guardian. They appeared to be as young as five to six years old, wherein such age are indeed prone to confusing rumors for the truth. "Is there anything wrong about the guild...?" calmly and naive, Masami didn't want to ask them in the first place, but since he was a rookie in the guild and was told to take care of every guild member, he felt a strong impulse of getting in other peoples' businesses. It was quite insulting, too, to have been stared upon judging eyes, especially regards one's family.

To Masami's surprise, the woman gave a gentle smile and shook her head, opening a palm to deny Masami's question. She appeared older than what she appeared from afar; the lady from the station seemed to turn into an older lady with silver hair. "Just childish rumors." the woman replied, patting one of the children's heads as they continue to tug themselves behind the chair, peeking through to see how Masami would act. "Childish rumors? Is that about the leech?" Masami chuckled right after, the woman followed with a laugh. Because of the woman's gentle and caring response, Masami's subtle violent reactions subsided. "A lich; you seemed to be in the same guild too? Penumbral Guard."

"Yes, I've never seen that so-called lich, however. And even if there was, I don't think there's anything to be afraid of. I wouldn't join a violent guild!" Masami tried to sound convincing, but he had convinced himself instead. That was true, however – Masami wouldn't join a guild with such known bad and violent reputation. Although the children weren't convinced, being childish... the woman seemed to understand. She answered with an "I see." and continued to pat the children's heads to take their fears away. Both of them were definitely thinking of what to say next.

To get rid of the distant barrier that separates the two, Masami continued to speak. "I believe you were waiting for someone?" it was a question rather than an opinion, even looking at the train's tunnel from afar. The woman had stated that she was waiting for her husband, and that the children were her grandchildren. "He had a business meeting over the North, he'll be coming back this afternoon." she continued, but she seemed to have more to say based on Masami's perception. Was she weary because she wasn't convinced of Masami's statements? Because he was from Penumbral Guard, was that it? Masami didn't want to get upset, that would ruin everything. Get feelings away from logic for the sake of reputation, this was the ideal he learned back in Joya, from when he was still working in a theater.

Masami had nothing left to say except messages that would deem him as being forceful for information. He quickly scanned the family instead, and they were definitely pure Fiorian. "Ah... I though you were foreigners." Masami gave an awkward chuckle after, scratching the back of his head. The woman followed the laughter once again, and replied: "My husband manages this station. Don't worry, I believe you."

'Believe me?' Masami doubted, raising a brow. She meant the guild, didn't she? "Do you not believe in the lich?" Masami questioned, crossing his arms and raising a brow. The woman shook her head and sighed, raising another palm. "It's hard not to," she mentioned with a worried look on her face, "everybody believes that. I, myself, don't know how they thought of it. Everyone is weary of the guild even if they've already established a goal to protect everyone."

That was worrisome, indeed. Everyone knows? No wonder the children were so afraid. How many is "everyone"? Raising both brows, Masami was quite uncertain. However, it would truly be troublesome if Penumbral Guard's reputation ends up in a wreck. Masami has never seen that lich creature before, neither does he know how it appears. It must've been truly terrifying if it existed, however.

"I see." was the only thing that Masami ended up saying, unsure of what else to mention. Right after hearing the train's upcoming sounds, Masami made a sound that made it look like he was supposed to say something, and that the train's noise cut him off. Just in time the train stopped, the woman and her grandchildren approached the train's exits too meet up with a man with a luggage. The woman, before leaving, mentioned an "Excuse me." before walking away with the children. Masami watched them while other people walked pass him, foreigners visiting Marigold and citizens coming back to their families. The woman appeared to whisper something to the man, and her husband responded with a nod. Next thing Masami knew, he was in the station's guest room, talking to one of the managers.

"Tea?" he asked, the man whom appeared youthful was now elderly. Masami shook his head up and down, and tea was poured upon his cup. "Penumbral Guard, eh? You don't seem like a lich." the man laughed afterwards, and Masami responded with a smile as he sipped through the green tea. The children were playing around the couch across the room, bothered by Masami's identity no longer. "I didn't even know there was a lich in the guild, Sir!" Masami joked after placing the cup back down to the table, then his face asserted an innocent yet serious expression. "However, if there was, I'm very sure that they're not violent. We really are committed to keeping Marigold's safe and peaceful demeanor."

The man sniffled after Masami's statement, taking the telephone and placing the end near his ear. "I won't let such creature destroy this place. Not on my watch, at least." before taking another sip, Masami added this and shrugged. Now, it's up to them whether they'd be convinced or not. Masami was being completely honest in that statement. The man seemed to take his call, nodding as he speaks through the phone. "Yes, yes. We may rely on Miss...?" as he turned to Masami, the boy knew what to do. "Kita Masami, of the Penumbral Guard." he replied immediately, and the man repeated exactly what Masami said. After a few more nods, he finally put the phone down and looked at Masami. The woman across the room, on a rocking chair as she sews cloth, seemed to appear as if she had finished her job. "We only want the best." the man uttered, finally relaxing his shoulders.

"Thank you very much!" Masami replied with a forced bright smile, giving the cup back. He wouldn't want to appear adamant and simply leave after getting the job done. "Shall I inform the rest of the guild that they've got nothing to worry about?" Then, both of the elders nodded, and Masami finally opened the door out to take his leave. "I still don't trust him." says one of the children, and Masami heard this before leaving. Oh well, for the glory of Penumbral Guard.