Thick roots ran through the ground, pushing it up unevenly. Moss and algae grew all around them alongside bits of grass as the scant light of the evening sun continued to be hindered by the thick veil of trees all around them.

Dragging her feet alongside a bunch of bags and boxes, Clementine followed a few paces behind the rest of her party. She was heaving, scouring through the uneven grounds of the forest while using her psychokinesis continuously was quite the task.

"Hey, hey, Lucas." Rinia, one of the twin princesses called out to the hero. "Why did that horsey call this forest sleeping swords thing? That's so scary!!"

"Hn! Hn!" Minia, the other twin nodded her head and agreed with her sister.

"That's because many warriors have died in here." Lucas gazed up and said. "They say there's an unseen siege monster from another world of a very high class. It kills them to the point that their only trace remaining are the swords they left behind."

"Siege monster?" Ettie grazed her lips with the tips of her fingers, her eyes slightly scared. "Oh no, could it be a minion of the Demon Earl?"

'That horse also said it's just a name, goddamnit.' Though a bit far, Clementine was still close enough to hear them all. She was also close enough for them to hear her gasps but they just ignored her without even sparing her a glance.

Immediately, Lucas turned toward the saintess and grabbed her shoulders. "Don't worry. I will protect you no matter what!" Then, he also turned toward the two princesses. "You two too, I'll make sure to keep you safe!"

'Unbelievable, this fucking scumbag.' A bitter taste spread in Clementine's mouth as she saw the exchange. It was just a few months back when such words would have been directed at her too, and drunk under the man's good looks and his title as a hero, Clementine, his supernatural ability and martial arts instructor in this world, would swoon from side to side after hearing them.

But then, ever since receiving the quest of defeating the Earl of Demons threatening their kingdom, and gaining the company of the saintess and the two princesses, the man revealed his true colors.

Despite them treating her like a porter, she didn't dislike the saintess and the princesses, in fact, she found it natural for people of such high status to not treat ones like herself as someone of the same standing so soon. But, she did feel sad and angry for them. They were being tricked by this bastard who would be disinterested in them at the sight of a new woman while still claiming to 'love' them.

"Haah," a small sigh left Ettie.

"Oh? Are you tired?" Lucas said. "We should take a break and set up camp, the sun's almost gone as well."

The party unanimously agreed to Lucas' words and found some gaps between the trees around wide enough to lay down their tents, albeit with a bit of distance to each other.

They made a show of setting up the tents and preparing the food, but really let Clementine handle most of the work.

As the night deepened, they sat around a small fire with food in their hands and talked with each other.

"It won't take long to reach the outskirts of Rohatan!" Lucas said. "We'll find the wandering smith and get the legendary sword to defeat the Demon Duke. The continent will revel in peace again."

'Continent? Is this guy for real?'

"Yes!" Ettie smiled brightly and clapped her hands together. "It'll be the beginning of a new era."

"Our kingdom will lead it with the help of the saintess and the hero!"

"Hn, hn!"

The delusions of grandeur that these people had left Clementine slightly speechless. Theirs was a small kingdom being bothered by the whims of an Earl-ranked Demon, it wasn't even worth a thought for giants like Angnarmarak and countries filled to the brim with powerful existences like Rohatan.

Suddenly, Lucas turned toward Clementine. "Hey, Clementine. You should come closer, that tree is blocking the light from reaching you."

"Don't worry, it's fine," Clementine answered back.

"Hm, well, suit yourself." Lucas shrugged and turned back.

Clementine thought she saw the twin princesses scowl at her, but didn't pay it much heed.

Soon, they finished up with their dinner. Sparkling stars were peeking down at them as they put out the fire and fixed the place up before going into the tents they had set up.

Ettie came along with Clementine to her tent. The two of them put down the yellow flap at the entrance and closed it with a safety pin before turning to their bags. Ettie pulled out a snug white nightgown from her bag. She took off her robe and spoke up.

"You know, Clementine."

"Yes? What is it?" Clementine asked back. She had turned away from the saintess as she changed into a more comfortable set of clothes as well.

"You should be kinder to Lucas."

'Tsk,' Clementine clicked her tongue in her mind, almost doing the same out loud too.

"He cares about you and only has your best interests in mind." Ettie finished changing up and put a hand on Clementine's shoulder. Her innocent green eyes flickered as if they were looking at the one slacking disciple amid god's subjects. "We have to cooperate, as a team. Do you understand?"

Clementine could feel a ball of emotions rising from her chest, the ball was big enough to block her throat and stop her from breathing, but she somehow managed to push it back in.

"Yes," she said.

"I'm glad."

With that conversation, Ettie went back to her side of the tent and pulled out her sleeping back, and settled into it. Clementine stood still for a few seconds before holding her breath and doing the same.

"Good night, Clementine."

"... night."

Clementine closed her eyes and pretended to have fallen asleep. It didn't take long before shuffling sounds reached her ears as Ettie left her sleeping bag and quietly sneaked out of the tent.

The wind seemed to have blown a bit fast all of a sudden as the branch overhead swayed to the side and bits of moonlight peeked past the veil of leaves, falling right on Clementine's glassy eyes. She sniffled and turned for about a whole hour before she felt a bit calmer. Thirst tickled her throat as a flask of water floated out from her bag and landed right in Clementine's hands.

It was empty.

With a sight, Clementine got out of her sleeping bag. She stepped out of the tent and went into the midnight forest.

They had seen a stream not so far away.

She walked past the uneven roots, taking the support of the trees every now and then.

It didn't take long to reach the stream. As she saw the sparkling night sky and the gleaming moonlight in the reflection of the water, a drop of tear streaked down her cheeks and fell off her jaw. She opened the flask and bent down in front of the river.

"I'm so lonely..." she said, her voice strained from holding back the tears. She pushed the flask underwater and continued. "I wish an angel would come down here and take me away."

Clementine opened her eyes. Her reflection in the water was muddled by ripples from the bubbles of the flask. She shifted her gaze ahead, from herself to the stars, the moon.

And on the other end of the stream, the reflection of a charming man with deep brown eyes and wheat hair stared back at her.