The forestry flew beneath them. Red dots appeared and left the map as quickly as they came, but the black one still chased after, causing a small smile on Maria’s lips. She closed it and looked forward. The two had already become very much accustomed to flying on swords, sitting like witches upon brooms as they slowly drifted; not too fast.

“Say,” She muttered at that point.

“Why did you stop?”

The boy looked up with folded arms. His purple eyes stared at her as if he were pondering something.

“Hmm?”

“. . .when I was flicked before the Hunt started. I saw you, a grip upon your weapon, yet you failed to take a step forward nor saw to say a thing. Are you sure you’re up for this?”

He squinted his eyes at her. A yellow butterfly, glittering like the color of the sun, had landed on her head as its wings flapped. Managing to keep up with their rather slow speed.

‘What I say next. . .It’ll probably affect how she sees me, to a massive degree. . .’ Their eyes were locked, she wasn’t backing down and he muddled with his thoughts.

“I was. . .scared,” He begun.

“Scared?” She raised a brow, the wings of the butterfly bet erratically, shooting off lights of yellow, and another one had landed atop her head to join it.

“This eyes,” He pointed.

“They allow me to see the possibility of safety, dangers, and rewards in my surroundings. But, not only that, I can also see it in people. I saw a handful of Black butterflies land on Mao’s body, the highest level of danger. They mean escape.”

He found it interesting how much his skill could control his actions. But he was rather tempid with the notion. It hadn’t failed him yet, and it could have its uses even in battle. All around, there was little reason not to listen to it. It could air both his survival and success.

The girl blinked her eyes, the yellow butterflies had become one, but it still bet its wings, slowly.

“So?” She asked.

“Huh?” He asked back in return.

“What are you allowing a skill to control your action for?” She asked.

The butterfly became a gentle yellow-green.

“There’s no reason not to fear dangers, but, the greatest threat is fear. Come on, courage is being able to overcome that, not get rid of it.”

His hand touched his sheathed weapon.

“Right. . .”

Thankfully, he thought, it returned to green.

Maria smiled, “So let's make him lose, together.”

“Definitely,” He returned her smile, gripping his blade.

“There you go again, lying so casually,” She said suddenly, a frosted smile upon her thin lips.

He looked to see the fluttering of red wings upon her head, dancing with her peach-blonde hair, and eyes of fire boring a hole through him. Her sharp face, beautiful under the lowly hanging hue of the sun almost mocked him. Had he thought she wouldn’t have realized all these years? She maintained a placid smile, almost uncaring in nature.

“Always gripping your blade whenever you lie, whenever you’re nervous, or whenever your words stray from your true thoughts.”

She spoke slowly but assuredly, eyes locked on his.

“You don’t really mind to fight him. Even when you won’t die in this world, your eyes have made you so fearful of danger that you’d rather keep your distance from even a slight bit of caution. Ridiculous, you realize you almost left me to fight a group of 7 back there, right?”

Her words were direct. Firm. And knocked on the issue with such ferocity that he wondered if her sword had been drawn and slashed before he had realized. No, it was more likely that he had fallen for her trap, more likely that she had already figured out his eyes, and much more likely that she had merely tested him.

“You want to become the greatest swordsman but you have no backbone for adventure. I don’t think I can mind to team up with someone as such.”

Maria spoke her mind as wildly as the thoughts came. She felt a sudden disdain for such a thing as being controlled by your own skill, a disdain for such a thing as fearing even a hint of danger. She wondered if the boy would have even aimed to be an adventurer if his eyes had told him no.

“You don’t understand,” Rain finally spoke up.

“What don’t I understand? Tell me.”

“I’m weak. We’re not as blessed as you.”

“You? YOU, are weak?”

“In the grand scheme of things, yes. You haven’t even seen the scope of this world, Maria. Just because we beat a couple of C ranked mercenaries through strategy doesn’t mean we can just waltz everywhere and do anything. Dangers surround us, and being so carefree will lead to your death. We have to be cautious.”

At those words, he could see her teeth grind.

“My castle burned down in flames. My eldest brother was butchered and turned to ash. My older brother lost an arm, depressing himself with an outer layer of jubilance. All this as an 8 year old! An 8 year old! And you’re telling me I’m too lenient on this world?”

Her eyes were like a sharp blade as she pierced through him.

“If I don’t understand this world, then I’ll see it for myself. If I’m too easy going, then I’ll keep at it and smash any danger that comes my way. You’re scared to face dangers, to even take a step forward, and I’m afraid of not being strong enough.”

He felt the cold touch of a blade upon his neck.

“If I tell you I’ll betray you here and now, and slice your neck, sending you back, what will you do?”

“My eyes tell me you’re lying.”

A few seconds passed but he watched her sigh as the weapon disappeared into dots of white light. They were face to face now, each inquisiting the other.

“We plan on seeking out the remnants of Crow’s Nest and destroying them.”

“I’m well aware.”

“Will you come with us after this is all over?”

He watched as green butterflies fluttered away.

“I’ll be glad to, someone has to balance you out.”

“Snide, but I welcome you.”

The mountain range loomed ahead and the two blades soon crossed into it, flying towards the flat top of one which looked closest to the Island’s edge. At that point, they could hear the gentle waves accompanying beastly roars as they prepared themselves.

“I assume that you have a plan, once more?”

“Certainly.”

“I will trust you, then.”

“Thank you.”