From the expression on Rafaela’s face as she spoke, Akira could tell that she was baffled by what she had just told her. She would be, too; she imagined she had the exact same look on her face four years ago. But Rafaela didn’t let the expression linger for long; Aki noted how she slipped back into her collected demeanor quite easily. She nodded when Rafaela answered, then smirked when the woman showed her the ring on her finger. “I knew it,” Aki muttered, grinning back at her. “And Hortence, too, right? Had a feeling you two were like me.”<br/><br/>Recalling the demons, though, sobered Akira up again. She still had a ton of questions. “Oh, boy, do I ever,” she replied to Rafaela’s query about more questions. “We’ll be spending all day in here if we do that.” Slowly, she raised her other hand to rub her wrist where her bonds had been. “How long do I have to stay here? Not that I don’t appreciate it, but I guess it would depend upon who you want eavesdropping about Paladin talk. Are Paladins a common thing here, or do you have to hide it from people you know? I haven’t been Paladin long, but this is the first time I’ve met two in one place.”<br/><br/>At the thought of Hortence, though, Aki’s eyes darted to the door, her mouth parted in surprise. There was that familiar feeling again, when she first fell through the portal and emerged to find the two women battling demons. “Speaking of eavesdropping, uh, I could be wrong but I think your friend is outside,” she whispered; admittedly, she used the word ‘friend’ on purpose, to see if Rafaela would react to that.