“I'm surprised,” the alchemist said. He leaned against one of the tables in Ash's tea shop and folded his arms. “You don't usually act on your own, Mina.”

The woman wearing the white mask made only a slight shrug in response. Even with the lack of expression, she seemed to have a wistful air about her as she examined the tea shop's interior. Her head moved slowly in one direction, and she made one distinct pause when she settled on the random furniture strewn in one corner. All of its disorganization still held a purposeful, immaculate touch free of dust like the rest of the shop's interior.

Ashliv Diavelia watched the alchemist run a hand through his disheveled white hair as he pushed himself away from the table. He seemed to find the other demihuman's answer sufficient, or perhaps he had simply become accustomed to her natural reticence. He crossed the room and stared out the front window of the tea shop. The eastern district had already returned to its usual solitude following the battle with the mysterious spellcaster a few days earlier.

Ash straightened herself so that the small of her back pressed against the counter top facing the shop's entrance. One foot was raised so that the heel pressed against its base while the other pointed outwards. She was a person always prepared to be on the move.

The fox woman opted to remain silent and allowed the alchemist to continue his inquiries.

“You will head south as well?” the alchemist asked.

The masked woman, Mina, nodded.

The alchemist pressed further, “And you will teach him?”

Another slow nod.

The alchemist chuckled when he knew no further explanation was forthcoming. “Alright then. I'll trust you with this.”

'Trust,' Ash thought. How he throws that word around so casually is beyond me.

She had never liked the human. Unfortunately, she chose to tolerate his ephemeral presence. There were two reasons: she 'trusted' the demihuman who vouched for him, and secondly, he had proven that his knowledge of alchemy extended beyond most of his peers. His concoctions were first-rate, and he accomplished his work in half the time it might have taken for others in his field. She couldn't deny that he was a valuable asset, but his existence would only last as long as he stayed in Mina's good graces.

But trust only goes so far...

She watched as her comrade bowed and made to leave. When the demihuman was within reach Ash leaned forward, slid her foot to bring herself closer and grasped Mina's wrist firmly, halting her abruptly in place. Mina looked up and nearly shied away when she saw the warning look on Ash's face.

Ash focused her gaze on the narrow slits of the other woman's white mask. Despite the thin openings, she could see the deep black of her pupils in the shadows. She fixated on them until she was able to pinpoint any shifts or muted traces of color.

Her old companion was well-trained, for Ash saw nothing that betrayed further unease.

“Tell me, Mina, do you think we did the right thing?” Ash asked.

Mina regarded her with what Ash anticipated as slight animosity -- or perhaps resentment -- based on the slight incline of her head and subtle shift of her shoulders. The mask didn't press or fold to her head for a perfect fit since it was too solid and inflexible. This made any muscle movement in her face easier to discern.

Ash knew these were the things that Evan McCarthy would soon learn with his already impressive perception. She would have to be a little more wary of him in the future.

Mina raised her free hand and brushed along the rabbit ears tucked to her head. “You're referring to those siblings we spoke to in the lower district. I'm afraid I don't have an answer for you.”

Ash processed the extra details accompanying her answer: the lowering of the shoulders this time that indicated a released breath, the portion of the mask embracing the cheek moving a bit with the shift of her mouth and the addition of unnecessary words within her tone.

Anyone with normal perception might not have noticed such details, but Ash couldn't be considered “normal.”

Ash moved her hand slightly down the rabbit demihuman's wrist during the exchange until her thumb rested on the position of the radial artery. She purposefully held there for at least fifteen seconds and examined the pulse.

Ash's eyes never left the slits of faint darkness that were meant to veil the other demihuman's emotions. “Well, at least you still have some control,” Ash said. She remembered what she'd said to Evan after the battle against the ogre, Bejhkara. “That's something he needs to work on as well. Make sure you focus on his composure.”

There was another slight incline of Mina's head as she regarded her coolly.

Ash ignored the physical response. “Teach him, but do not change him,” she said. “Also, wearing that mask will make you sloppy.”

Mina gently, but insistently removed Ash's hand from her wrist. “That's all up to him,” she answered, disregarding the last bit. She stared at her for a moment before calmly making her way to the tea shop's exit. She paused at the door and said quickly, “What about you? Do you think we did the right thing?”

“Hell if I know,” Ash responded.

Mina didn't give the answer a second thought. Ash watched her descend the stairs of the porch and disappear down the road.

Mina didn't normally express her desires or misgivings, and Ash failed to recall the last time the silent assassin made a decision of her own volition. But they'd trusted each other for years during her time in Xersceld. Much longer than she could say for most. Time inevitably changed people's perspectives in varying degrees, but she worried that the Shin'ryen's teachings might inadvertently bleed over and change Evan for the worse.

No. Evan isn't like that, Ash thought. Her mind briefly flashed to the memory of her time spent with the him after their battle against Bejhkara. He had handed her the scarf that was so precious to him.

It was more than that, but there was something about his expression that confirmed most of her suspicions about him.

Yeah, you are definitely not a normal human.

He would also have Kirie and Asa with him. They would be the anchors if their pillar became unstable.

The alchemist addressed Ash and Kureha, "I value your opinions as well.”

Ash scowled when she realized that he was trying to read her emotions again. It irritated her how he did this so plainly, with little regard for the person he analyzed. At least she tried to be discreet about it.

She eyed Kureha and watched as the wolf girl grasped at her waitress outfit and stared at the floor. The wolf girl had remained impossibly still during the entire exchange. It was something she'd learned out of habit when she lived on the streets – a time before Ash even considered living in Forgedalk.

“What do you think of Evan McCarthy?” the alchemist asked.

Ash pretended to consider the question and rested a hand on the counter. It was such a broad question. She wished he would just get to the specifics.

“He's...well...he's a good man.” She certainly trusted him enough when it came to battle and his ability to assess the needs of everyone out in the field. He treated his guild members well enough. He went to Evelyn Fortellia's aid during the fight against the strange spellcaster, even when he had no clue of what he was getting into. He also had a terrible tendency of being overly cautious and reckless at the same time...

...And Ash liked that about him.

He had also told her about the strange contract and affirmed her suspicions about Kirie and Asa. It was...concerning, to say the least.

“He is a good man,” Kureha said.

Ash gave Kureha a knowing glance as the wolf girl released the dress and let her arms hang at her sides. She straightened herself and looked directly at the alchemist.

He was plainly shocked by the wolf girl's certainty. If anyone was overly apprehensive and guarded, it was certainly her.

“I trust him completely,” Kureha said. Her voice didn't waver. Not a bit of hesitance.

Ash frowned. It was clear that Kureha trusted the human more than most. In fact, she was even more guarded around demihumans she met for the first time. Ash had mentioned at the meeting with Evan and their new allies that Kureha had a strange way of reading a person's character. But to think she could say that she trusted him to such a degree was, well, also concerning.

Ash knew that even with her perception she couldn't hope to read someone on their first meeting and make such a confident assessment .

What do you see that I don't? Ash wondered.

The alchemist chuckled again and raised his hands in an exaggerated manner. “Well, this is interesting. I asked Field Master Hanlon, Ash, Mina, all these allies, yet Kureha is by far the most convincing. Who would've thought the shy wolf girl could be so fond of someone? Hell, the guy's a human to boot!”

Kureha seemed to return to her old self as she gripped the folds of her outfit with even more urgency. Even in the dimming light, Ash clearly saw her face turn a deep shade of red.

Kureha fidgeted back and forth as she avoided eye contact. “I-it isn't what you think.”

He didn't imply anything like that, Ash thought. She made a mental note to keep an eye on Kureha when Evan returned.

Ash watched as the alchemist made his way to the tea shop's exit. He settled a hand in one of his pockets and visibly played with a small trinket. It was a habit that indicated his unease despite his jovial appearance.

"This world has seen some dramatic shifts," the alchemist said. He pressed his fingers to one of the tattoos trailing his cheek. "The outworlders from Earth, a dungeon in Lamfell, this powerful spellcaster and a conspiracy that runs deeper than this kingdom's government. I bet most would see this as a right fucking mess."

Ash understood the words were meant mostly for himself rather than his audience, but she clung to them.

"It is exciting but... well, I'm just rambling again." The alchemist stopped on the porch and held the door open to allow a soft breeze to enter the shop. He glanced down and frowned curiously at the small flower garden near the cobblestone road, separated by the short metal barriers.

“Those are new,” he commented.

Ash knew exactly what he referred to. She walked to the window and gazed down at the flowers she planted a few days earlier. One of the petals had emerged to reveal a faint white with soft streaks of purple that held a more solid color towards the tip.

“They are,” she answered.

“You always seem to have a purpose for everything,” the alchemist said. “What are they called?” He glanced at the small bonsai tree resting on a nearby table.

“They're called Freesias,” Ash answered.

The alchemist hummed to himself for a moment, and he started making his way down the steps. Before the door closed Ash heard him say, “They're pretty.”

“And he is the one who skirted the territory of wolves –

The human exhibited respect, but the wolf extended approval.

And he is the one who honored the vigilance of the fox.

The human exhibited reverence, but the fox rendered no remark.

"In time, the human left the forest.

The wolf and fox exchanged a silent assent,

'May your hunt be fruitful...'"

….....to be continued in “Beastkin of GRIM” Volume 3.....