Essairyn gave Akari a quick, last ear scratch before ruffling her neck fur. Then, looking at the fox seriously, she continued. "Now, enough stalling. Tell me what happened."

Akari nodded nonchalantly and shared her story. Since they landed in Farinheld, she had noticed the faint scent of demon in bits and parts of the town. None of the trails led to anything. They were just in the surrounding spaces. But one day, she ventured to the outskirts of town and picked up paths of demon crossings. That's when she came across some humans conversing suspiciously in the forest.

"Of course, I eavesdropped on them." Akari waved a paw as she recalled the darkly clad men who were stupid enough to talk during the bright of day. "And found out that they were planning something. But they didn't clarify what, annoyingly, and after that instance, I no longer came across any more of those H.T. goons."

"However, I didn't know that they had been poisoning our food. So I suppose I'm lucky that the specific catalyst doesn't work on spirits, only humans. They couldn't have expected we'd have any species other than humans on our side anyway, but it didn't matter since I wasn't of much help..." She flattened her ears slightly in shamed self-disappointment to which Essairyn then nudged them back up in a gesture that conveyed it was okay. The mission didn't ask for the fox to lay so much of the burden on her small shoulders.

"On the night that they attacked, I smelt a horde of demons quickly approaching. I tried waking you and the other girls up, but it was of no use. It was then that I realized something was terribly wrong. So I decided to take advantage of the time before they arrived in order to get help. You know, wake up some useful people so that others would wake up too and maybe run away or something."

"Err..." Essairyn didn't know what to say to that oddly casual, apathetic phrasing of finding help. The fox paid no mind to the girl's funny expression and plowed forward with her tale.

"But wonderfully, you were all poisoned! And waking up the townspeople was just stupid, they were so confused when they saw me, dumb idiots..."

"Umm.. Akari...haha..." Essairyn would been thoroughly entertained by the fox's sarcastic retelling of the events if it had not been such a ghastly ordeal, but she supposed it was Akari's way of lightning up the situation. Surely, from the state that she was in when they found her, what happened was not pretty.

"So of course it was futile and the demons sniffed me out. Mind you, not the fake human-demons you all mentioned seeing, it was the actual demons they kept on leash."

"On leash—!?" The girl couldn't help exclaiming at the unexpected tidbit of information.

"Yes, like bloodhounds," sneered Akari. "I don't like demons either, but humans are as every bit cruel as demons or any of the species, even spirits." The fox paused, ruminating that last phrase. Both parents and pups would bite at their own children and caretakesr. Blood ties, race ties, none of that mattered when it came to power and so-called order within the species. The instinct to protect and put oneself first was engrained in anything living.

"Without those real demons, the fake demons would have never known my whereabouts. Tch, I guess I owe it to those human demons for needing to feed on the demon beasts' energy; otherwise, they'd had sniffed me out quicker."

"Is that really what they're doing?" Essairyn's voice rose excitedly in pitch. This was crucial intel that could allow them to piece together H.T.'s schemes.

"Hm. Nasty things..." Akari shivered as she imagining how it must feel to be reduced to a energy store that got siphoned until dead and dry. "Well, I got into a pickle since they ganged up on me. Hmph! But I put up a good fight, you should've seen me!" The fox puffed out her chest. No demon would get the best of her without getting punched squarely back. "Of course, outnumbered is outnumbered. I'm not stupid, just a little hotheaded at times, I admit. So I ran away and almost made it. But I got knocked out by some insanely large sphere of black magic. It was ten times my size! That guy is absolutely nuts! And very inefficient too. Just look at me! A smaller one would've done the trick."

"But you would've gotten away." The girl pointed out.

"Ah right, that's true. Guess I should feel proud for not being underestimated..."

"Was that guy Kajarn, by the way?" The vague description of the sphere reminded Essairyn of Kajarn's ashen black magic.

"Yes, it was. Like I told you way before, that guy creeps me out! Looking at me weirdly... that's another reason why I didn't join you guys. He wanted to stalk me or something, I think. But he had to keep an eye on you all, so I was free to escape his observation." Akari cutely bobbed her head. It had turned out that her intuition about that guy from the very beginning was correct.

"I see..." To be honest, Essairyn was a bit miffed that Akari didn't join them and yet again wandered around on her own. Now upon hearing the full explanation, she felt a bit guilty for holding the notion that the fox should accompany her everywhere. She wasn't sure if it was due to a lingering concern that the fox would betray her somehow, considering that this friendship started out as a mutual cooperation which could very well be only temporary. Or, if she had more than just gotten used to the sassy little furball's presence. Regardless of the reason, having the animal beside her was the singular constant source of comfort for Essairyn in this world. It might've been due to her resembling a dog, man's best friend, or that combined with Akari's ability to speak intelligently and feel humanely. Whatever it was, a small, worrisome knot formed in her heart that she might be getting a little too attached, too quickly. No one knew what laid ahead on this haphazard journey.

"Luckily, before that redhead fox-napped me after I almost got knocked out by his attack, some cloaked guy scooped me up. I thought at first that it was one of redhead's goons, but when he leapt away, he told me he was a friend of yours. That relieved me; however, talk about suspicious when you can't even see the guy's face! Do you know actually anyone like that?" Akari was going to continue, but seeing the growing look of recognition on Essairyn's face, she asked that last question.

"Yes...I think. He saved me in a similar manner earlier from Kajarn's attack too. I've met him a couple times before that; although, now that I think about it, you weren't there any of those times."

Akari frowned pensively. "Suspicious indeed... I wouldn't trust him. I can't clearly see his motives for helping us, especially when he's not in a Knights uniform or some other identifiable outfit. He probably has some other agenda. Actually...it concerns me that you've met him so many times. Is he following us? You, specifically?" The girl's magic was a big worry for Akari. Anyone knowledgable would know that her magic was unusual. And when you didn't fit into the crowd, you were an optimal target.

"I'm...not sure..." Essairyn didn't want to think that he was a bad guy. But it was uncanny that he always helped her at crucial times. Her adventures felt pretty random to her as well, so it couldn't be just coincidence.

"With that said though, he gave me this message for you." Akari raised a paw and deftly took out a slip of slightly crumpled paper from her magic cache.

Seeing that Akari had her own personal inventory, Essairyn's eyes went wide. At that surprised expression, the fox quickly clarified, "My power restored enough to access my magic cache now." She smirked a little. "What? It didn't cross your mind when I fended off so many demons and got away?"

"I thought you exaggerated a bit."

"You don't believe me?!"

"Hm!" Essairyn gave a roguish smile that slightly irritated Akari but also made her own mouth twitch into a smile too.

"Fine, whatever. Just take this." She flicked the paper over to Essairyn who eagerly caught it with a tender grip.

"Please be careful. -C."

"A man of few words," remarked Akari with an eye-roll.

The fox's comment didn't even register in Essairyn's mind which was now filled with recollections of the mysterious man. So the first letter of your name is C? She smirked sillily and felt a little triumphant actually knowing something about the man now. Then again, perhaps it's just some random letter of his name, or middle name, or... She pressed a thoughtful finger to her lip and tipped her head to the side.

"Hellooo~ earth to Essairyn!" Akari waved her paws and slapped them on Essairyn's thighs.

"Ah." The girl jerked her head up and blinked with wide eyes.

"Is the message that interesting for you? It's only three words!"

"Three words..." Essairyn's mind trailed off again.

Suddenly, she shook her head vigorously and stored the paper gingerly in her magic cache. As if on auto-pilot, she then scooped up Akari under one arm and swiftly strode over to the now ready campsite that the boys constructed.

"Um..excuse me?!" The fox was thoroughly confused by Essairyn's weird shifts in expressions and actions from to moment. She really couldn't fathom what thoughts swirled around in that girl's head. So, she didn't bother to guess and just went with the flow. Usually, the answer revealed itself later anyway.

Upon noticing Essairyn, Aispin and Darren waved her over. Leœss was currently boiling a pot of water. Curious about what he was going to cook, Essairyn gently placed Akari onto the surprised Darren's lap and bent over to spy on Leœss.

"So you're good at cooking too, like your sisters?"

"Who says I'm cooking? I thought you were!"

"Oh, right. Haha." Essairyn tapped the side of head in remembrance. "Was going to say that you're such a family man, knowing how to cook, would be a good husband someday."

Leœss almost choked on his spit. "Er-What? You're so random. Did my sisters' rub off on you with their marriage talk? Please don't listen to them."

"Haha, I am random. But it's true that a cooking man is attractive."

Leœss soundlessly chuckled as he checked the fire under the pot. "I guess, haha."

Essairyn narrowed her lavender eyes which glinted mischievously. She leaned forward and whispered suddenly into his ears. "I heard some girl and her family wanted you two to marry in your village since a long time ago? Does Chaera know?"

"Ah, seriously! It was nothing, nothing at all! So don't you ever say a word to her or Classerth, or anyone!" Leœss whispered back loudly through clenched teeth.

Spotting the rising, faint blush on his cheeks, Essairyn giggled softly with a sparkle in her eyes. "Oh? How interesting..."

"Es-sair-yn!!" He thought he'd have unraveled some of what goes on in a girl's mind having had three sisters, but this Essairyn was just too much sometimes. From serious and quiet, to bubbly and playful, he couldn't quite pin her and her ambitions down. Even now, he still wondered what she truly thought about chasing after Hyd'Tyml and helping people who were strangers not too long ago. Although she didn't swear under the Oath, he regarded that willingness to help others as characteristic of a true Knight. So for that, he respected her and didn't question if she had any underlying reasons.

"Sorry, sorry, I'll stop." She tittered boisterously with a hand over her mouth.

"Um, what's happening?" Darren voiced with confusion as he walked over with Akari cradled in his arms.

"She's teasing me!" Leœss exclaimed pitifully while pointing a wooden spoon at her.

"Just having some fun." Essairyn shrugged with a soft smile.

"Ah-hah." Darren nodded slowly, totally not getting it.

"Anyway, time to use those lovely ingredients from Leœss's sisters! Let's stuff ourselves after all that today! You chopped the vegetables?" She motioned her hands at the wooden board piled with sliced vegetables several feet away on a squat, fold up table.

"I did," Leœss responded while bringing the chopping board closer so that Essairyn could see before dumping the vegetables into the pot.

"Eh? What're you doing? The meat first, meat! That's how we can make a yummy broth."

"You really like meat, Sairyn..." casually commented Aispin who joined the trio plus one.

"Shut up!" Essairyn retorted with barely red, puffed up cheeks.

"Why're you so awkward, Sairyn..." Akari exhaled breathily, jumping in on the playful, ambiguous mood.

"You're awkward! No food for you!"

"What?! NOooo~~ Someone stop her! She'll hog all the meat! My paws! Argh, too short!" Akari cried dramatically in good humor, evoking a smile on everyone's faces.

Essairyn's clumsy icebreaker of a conversation had resulted in a pleasant atmosphere with the help of Akari. Now that it was just the five of them, they had to settle into a new dynamic of being closer to one another. Previously, a larger group made it slightly more impersonal, but out in the open lands with a crackling fire and bubbling pot, the quintet felt the promise of good friends and a brighter tomorrow.