Breaking Mors from his train of thought, Bruce stepped forward in an impatient manner. “Mors we are going to have a strategy meeting once we set up camp. Where is the nearest safe clearing away from the road?”

“How should I know?” Snapped Mors.

“Surely your not so shit at scouting you can't even remember the lay of the land? We have two elves and a beastkin… don't think we don't know what you have been up to in the woods.” Mocked Bruce.

“... a mile ahead and about 500 meters in.” Mors snarled at the apparent invasion of his privacy but decided to hold his tongue. -"All debts will be settled."

It wasn't long before the group had found the small clearing and set up camp. With the dense underbrush surrounding them, they didn't have to worry about the light giving them away and so had lit a large bonfire in the centre.

Bruce heaved over a log for him and Alice to share and a smaller one for Claire. He had quickly learnt that although on the surface the twins didn't seem very close, they actually were and if he slighted Claire he would be given hell.

Alec had started to cook their meal sourced from their rations while Aron was laying on the ground with a stalk of grass protruding from his mouth. “Even after 25 years, it's still magical watching the stars as they begin to shine at dusk.”

“It's magical how you get away with doing nothing!” Spat Alice in annoyance. “And you! Stop pacing, your doing my head in.”

Since Mors had entered the small clearing with the others he had felt trapped and restricted and so had begun to pace wildly, so much so that there was already an established strip in the knee height grass.

“Let's start our strategy meeting.” Declared Bruce as he indicated for Mors to sit, flashing a smug smile causing the demon to grind his teeth in annoyance.

After deliberating how good it would feel to smash the beastkins head in with a rock and the exquisite faces full of anguish the others would make, Mors finally ruled it out and sat down begrudgingly while humming an eerie melody to distract himself.

Noticing the savage emotions flashing across Mors' face as well as the wave of pitiless killing intent radiating from him everyone remained silent as realisation finally hit.

They were taunting a five star Marquess who coincidentally was of the demon race and that only the Captain had a hope in hell of controlling. If he decided to kill them all here and now, if they were lucky and gave it their all and resisted together, one of them might survive.

In the past where ever Mors was the Captain was close by and this had given everyone a feeling of security as well as causing them to forget how frightening a demon was as they knew that he couldn't retaliate with her around. Nevertheless, now they were alone with him, things could get bad extremely quickly.

The elves gave Bruce a 'What the hell are you doing' look while Alice shuffled closer to him.

Unable to bear the tense atmosphere any longer, Claire swallowed hard before standing up and approaching Mors determined to defuse the situation.

“What do you wan…” Hissed Mors in irritation. This was why he originally distanced himself from the group. He didn't want to have to kill them so close to home. Verz had told him not to get caught and killing someone on your own doorstep was definitely leaning in that direction. Having to complete the mission alone was of secondary concern and he was sure he would find a way somehow.

Without a word, Claire span around and abruptly sat down with her back close to Mors. ”Bruce, if you can't get along and stop tormenting Mors you won't be able to fulfil your duties as party leader and we will have to select a new one!”

-”WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK!” Mors was extremely shocked at Claire's behaviour. Not only had she defended him publicly, the position that she had sat in, slightly further ahead than him and to the side made it so he was in her blind spot. If he decided to killer her it would be unbelievably easy and there would be little she or the others could do.

After getting over the shock and berating himself, Mors' eyes narrowed as he leant forward and whispered into Claire's ear causing her to slightly shudder. “What do you want?”

-”I really need to fix this. If I keep getting shocked this easily by simple social interactions I am basically asking for an assassin to slit my throat after flashing me a smile.”

Turning her head slightly so she could see him, Claire smiled. “A friend and comrade who can watch my back” before returning her gaze to Bruce. “At this rate, we will be dead long before we reach the objective. It's time to stop being spoilt children and start becoming the Pathfinders we are supposed to be.”

Alice’s face was bright red. “How dare you lecture us when that demon you're protecting is probably the worse. Just because you heard that...” Suddenly Alice's face paled and she looked at Mors gauging his reaction.

“Please continue.” Hissed Mors in a menacing voice as he finally lost his patience. Ever since he saw them earlier they had been looking at him and behaving strangely and it was only adding to the anxious feeling he had. -”Maybe they have decided to eliminate me before I act… Claire's actions would make sense then, trying to get close to me so I lower my guard.”

The sun was still setting but the clearing suddenly darkened with the only light being provided by the fire. The smell of the burnt rations filled the air as Alec did not dare to remove them from the fire in fear of being the trigger to this potential bloodbath.

-”Damn it, anyone with a mana core could tell that he has already saturated the area with darkness energy and is preparing to fight… I need to stop this before someone gets killed.” Slowly Claire edged forward drawing everyone's attention before as if she was a feather falling in slow motion, she leant back and rested her head in Mors’ lap looking into the emotionless void that was his eyes and flashed a tentative smile. "Look Mors, I trust you with my life and am really trying to make amends. The others aren't bad, they are just having a hard time adapting to how unique you are. Change takes time. It would mean the world to me if you could try and get along with us."

Mors stared at the girl in shock, barely registering her words. Claire was the second person ever to treat Mors in a warm way, but unlike Verz, this was clearly different.

The only noise that could be heard was the crackling of the fire and the light humming of the mana enriched air as everyone held their breath waiting for what would happen next.