''I…ugh, I…I’m not sure how to begin. You’re my first friend here and I feel like I’ll be stepping where I shouldn’t, cause we’ve only recently met…'' You fiddle with your sweaty hands.
''Hey, now, it’s okay.'' She brings a hand on top of your head for a gentle pat. Ugh! The concern in those pink eyes is so nice… But it’s only making you more nervous.

Closing your eyes helps. ''I was made aware of your son.'' You hear her sharp intake of breath and her chair creak as she leans away, you decide to look at her dress. ''And a few days ago, his spirit manifested in my home because of the opening in Mother Earth’s web made by my father.''
You chance a look, Augustine’s expression shows something forlorn, tense as she pointedly looks into the window. Please don’t let this be the rupture of my new friendship…

''I’ve investigated what I can.'' You continue, speaking at her lonely back. ''I’ve questioned the bishop today and he didn’t have any explanation about his botched ritual, though I’ll admit he did manage to distract me with something else…'' Your fingers clack gently on your friend’s wooden desk. ''…and I spoke with that knight who mentored Olin an-''

''Rey, it’s okay.'' Augustine lazily turns around to look at you with a mask of contentment, resting her chin on a fist. ''I didn’t want to hide this from you, I just…'' Words flow to silence as murky thoughts shadow her lovely face.

You reach out to hold her hand. ''You don’t need to justify yourself, Augustine. I’m too nosy and curious, I’ve gone and looked into your son’s circumstances without your permission…''
''Because his spirit came to you.'' She rests her second hand on top of yours, and you quickly feel a strong squeeze that reverberates right into your heart.

''…Yeah. You see, my father can do the ritual of Last Bells. We expect Olin to manifest again today or tomorrow. I’d like to invite you to stay at my house until then.''

''W-what…? The ritual can succeed, he’s…?'' A rush of emotions makes her breathing uneven, you are torn between giving her space or hugging her, and ultimately opt for giving your joined hands another squeeze.

''I don’t know if Olin has any regrets or messages to pass on. I wanted to let you know about this because you’re my friend and his mother.''
Shadows of feelings cross Augustine’s lovely face, and for a full minute, her gaze remains locked onto your joined hands. She seems…sealed? I’ll give her time.

''I…Okay.'' Her voice is soft, not quite breathless, more overwhelmed and disbelieving than her usual gentleness, and she slowly untangles your joined hands. ''I don’t… I don’t have anything with me now, my bag is empty, so leave it here and, huh, I think I forgot my money at home, so I…'' She fiddles with objects on her tidy desk, a few pencils audibly drop down that she completely ignores, and grabs the bag she just mentioned.