Illias just sighed.

"Yes." he said.

"Because of the snakes." he confirmed.

"Just... yeah." he then mumbled with another sigh.

-Some time later-

They had finished their meal, left the restaurant, and were back on the road... all the way to San Diego.

When they stopped at a light, Illias looked around.

"San Diego?" he asked.

"You live here, I presume?" he asked her further.

"Oh, I see." Illias replied.

"Well, fair enough." he said.

"Whatever works for you." he told her.

"But why bring me here?" he asked.

"I appreciate that you were taking me away from that mob, but... what if there's a slip-up here?" he asked her. "It'll happen all over again." he said.

"...sometimes I wonder if there's ANYWHERE I can truly be safe." he then admitted dejectedly.

Illias was silent as Rylie said what she did, but nodded.

"If you say so." he replied.

They then made their way to the front entrance of the building, where Rylie saw a familiar newspaper being held up by the one behind the security desk.

"Please state-" he started to say, before something told him to look up from his newspaper. He did, and froze when he saw who was there.

"....Illias?" he asked.

"Jake?" Illias asked in return.

Jake was silent, before pressing the button to let them in.

"Come in." he said, to which they did.

Once they were inside, and the door closed behind them, Jake put his newspaper down completely.

"How long has it been?" he asked.

"100? 150 years?" he asked further.

"Too long." was the response Illias gave.

"Rylie, where did you find this troublemaker?" Jake then asked the dullahan.

"Well, that IS true enough." Jake responded.

"Thank you, then." he said.

"I was almost dead, probably." Illias admitted. "She saved me from an angry mob that was out for flesh." he said further.

".........I see." Jake muttered.

"Well, once again, I thank you." he repeated to Rylie.

"Illias here's an old friend of mine. We go way back, relatively speaking." he told her.

"............." Jake was silent for a moment, before sighing.

"Well, Sharp's office is on the way for you, I suppose." he said.

"Only makes sense for you to show him there." he muttered.

"Most everyone else is busy right now, and I can't leave my post." he went on.

"So.... yeah, seems there's no other way."

Illias was silent as the 'Medusa' joke was made, before smiling lightly.

They then made their way further into the building, and only when they were far enough away from Jake, did Illias say something.

"Jake seemed... kind of cold towards you." he said.

"Or... hm... well... maybe not cold, but... unimpressed." he then changed his statement.

"Does he not like you, or something?"

".....I see." Illias replied.

He was the silent, as he looked at her neck. Specifically, where the ribbon was/would be.

"Sorry about the ribbon." he apologized again.

"But... have you considered 'weaving' your flame-like mana into it?" he asked. "Like, the ones coming out of your neck." he clarified.

"I think a spray exists that can cause the 'weaving' to happen, and you can still take it off if need be."

Illias stopped when she said what she did, but then shook his head and caught up with her again.

"Really?" he asked.

"R&D?" he asked further.

"...heh." he then chuckled, as his face turned a little pink.

"Thanks." he said. "I... I just... well, I think of these things." he mumbled.

"Okay then." Illias replied.

"Thank you." he told her as they reached Sharp's office.

Once there, they stepped inside, and the secretary greeted them.

"Hello." she said with a small smile.

"May I ask what it is you wish to speak to Mr. Sharp about?" she asked Rylie.

"Is it in regards to this gentleman here?" she then asked, gesturing to Illias.