Little Petra walked through the tight halls of her house, her eyes closed, hitting wall after wall while being drawn by a delicious scent. She could feel some heat coming from the same direction. A spoon found its way into her mouth. It was bitter, but she munched it well before swallowing. The strong must endure the taste of the flesh they hunt.
Petra opened her eyes and saw her mom holding the spoon, amused that Petra didn't spit it out this time. She was lucky to get a share of the dragon before its flesh ran out. Petra had become a strong girl.
Kaia watched those interactions with a silent smile before walking into the new workshop. Although it was "new," it still looked abandoned. The coal in the forge seemed like it had never been lit for months. Hanged weapons had incomplete frills. Lex sat patiently on a table with a heavy mace placed on a stand, although he was almost sure nothing would happen. On the other side, Ormaan stood holding a chisel, looking at the mace with empty eyes. His face told a story of a spark long faded.
Kaia slipped into Ormaan's mind: he was reflecting on a memory, a cursed night when he lost his trusty weapon—a mace he had carved and decorated himself at a young age, which had never failed him in his prime. But it was broken while fighting a strong demon. It wasn't just a weapon; it was like losing a part of his arm. And when all hope was lost, the demon tripped into a trap, letting Ormaan see the light of a new day.
"Ugh, whatever. I'll sell it like this," Ormaan whimpered. "No one keeps a weapon for long anyway."
Lex was a bit surprised but didn't stop him; Ormaan really needed something that ordinary fighters could buy, compared to his overpriced, over-the-top weapons he usually made.
"I still can offer a good axe in exchange for yours," Ormaan said, unable to get Lex's axe out of his head.
"I'll pass," Lex rejected.
"A stone head, huh?" he whispered, then said, "As you like."
"It's just that I like it," Lex excused. There was something special about this axe, as if the soul of a previous owner gave courage to those who held it. "But…" Lex asked, "why do you want it that much?"
Ormaan answered, "I just want it." He could feel the same as Lex but saw him unworthy of holding it.
"He wants it," Petra jumped in.
Ormaan looked at her, chuckled, and petted her head. Then he remembered.
"Pepe, untie the midget," he said.
She ran back to the house and Kaia followed her. In the old forge, Mia looked at Kin with complete confusion. Not only was he tied, he also kept a straight posture.
Petra freed him. He stood and swatted dust off his arm, seemingly trying to hide his embarrassment, just to lean toward Petra and pinch her cheeks.
"Ayayay! I'm sorry, I just woke up," Petra said.
Kin let her and sighed. Before heading out he said, "You better eat your breakfast. We're moving before noon."
"Oh shit!" Mia exclaimed, jumping from her place.
The group packed their belongings, ready to continue the journey while Mia ate the breakfast the mom had made. She was surprised by the bitterness but was already used to coffee.
The group was ready and walked out of the house. Ormaan and Petra waved for them. Kaia started looking around; the slayers seemed confused, empty. Reading their minds as she walked, an idea echoed through most: we killed the red dragon, now what?
Fay came back after a long departure from the group, landing on Kin's shoulder.
"What brought you from the south?" Kin asked.
"Arcana—demon—wings," Fay answered.
"Hm," Kin thought for a moment.
"Oh great," Mia said, frowning. "They can fly now."
"It's not a problem," Kin said, before pulling a pen and writing on a paper.
"Says the one with a locket that controls demons," Mia replied.
"My tribe studied the mutants for decades, and they're not that smart," Kin added.
"Really?" Mia asked.
"Wake up, eat, sleep. Basically an animal with a demonic twist," Kin answered, pinning the paper on a quest board.
Kaia glanced at the paper; it said, "We need help! A demonic dragon is hiding in the fields of Arcana, feasting on our cattle." Pinning a quest with such little information? Why?
"We'll leave you behind," Mia called. Kaia followed them.
Kaia asked, "Can you tell me why you did that?"
"Did what?" Kin asked back.
"That quest! This crow sa—" Kaia said, but Fay cut her off, saying, "Fay."
She paused for a moment and tried to continue, "That cr—" but Fay repeated louder, "Fay."
Kaia submitted, "Fay—said it's a winged demon in Arcana. Everything else you wrote is just made up."
Mia and Lex looked at Kin, waiting for his reply.
Kin turned to her with a sharp side gaze and explained, "Arcana is a place known for raising cattle, the easiest prey for a demon to consume. Those are their livelihoods, and without it, the village can't continue. Fruits and vegetables that humans eat are nowhere near, so they need to exchange for food from outside."
He turned his head, capturing her eyes and continued, "I can understand that you want to do the 'right' thing, but next time you play hero, maybe consider not turning everyone else into villains."
Although they matched in height, his words held no fear, no hesitation, no doubt, making her feel like he towered over her. With all of that, his mind, which she couldn't break into, left her with nothing to defend herself.
"I— I'm sorry," she said, hesitant.
Kin turned back and kept moving. Kaia stood her ground in embarrassment; no amount of excuses could undo what had just happened. Mia rolled her eyes and followed Kin, knowing such a thing was destined to happen because of Kaia's behavior.
Lex tried to comfort her, saying, "It's alright, mistakes happen."
She brushed it off, "I'm fine, let's keep moving," her voice shaking with something deeper than embarrassment or surprise… fear.
Reaching the other two, Mia approached Kin, leaning to take a better look at the map he held. He wasn't bothered. The map had no additions, no marks, no names for places, no big red X showing their destination—just a plain painting of topography.
"So… where are you taking us?" Mia asked.
"Didn't I tell you?" he asked back.
"No?" Mia replied.
"Oh, Nevara," Kin answered.
"Got it," Mia said, but then her face switched to confusion.
"Wait," she said. "We are here," pointing at the map.
Kin nodded.
"And Nevara is here," Mia pointed north on the map.
"Correct," Kin agreed.
Pointing back and forth between the two points, there was no need to specifically ask why they were heading west.
"We're taking a longer route; I don't want to be near the kingdoms," Kin answered, his tone much softer than a moment ago.
"I know you don't like the knights and all, but what makes you so afraid of them?" she asked.
"…Personal problems," Kin lied.
…Kin lied? Kaia thought. Although she didn't talk with him much, his last words felt like an obvious lie.
Mia paused for a second, smiled, and patted Kin on his shoulder. "That's what's going on," she said. "I also have some personal problems with them, but never considered that they might be this serious about it." Standing straight, a hint of concern in her voice, "And now I don't want to go there anymore."
"You have?" Kin asked.
Sarcastically, she looked at him. "You thought I have all that money without dirty hands? How cute."
The group exited Redhorn, their next destination: the Glowing Lakes.
---
Mia glanced at the chain of mountains that cut the nation in half. The kingdoms' golden towers reflected light for moments after the sun set. Nevara must be just behind them.
"Nevara, huh?"
"It's been a long time since I fled."
"…"
"I doubt they will even recognize me."
"At least that bookworm will… I hope so."