And so with a new companion, Felix and Alicia continued on their journey. Though Alicia was less than happy about having a new companion in the mix.

“ Grrrr! Darn that Felix! Just what was he thinking? Buying that girl when he clearly sees that I'm here! What's more, he hasn't left girl's side the moment we left!”- Alicia

While Alicia was grumbling Felix spent most of his time talking beside Sakura. The main reason why Felix was willing to buy her, apart from feeling pity, was because he saw potential. Felix knew that this journey was going to be long and perilous. There was no way he could keep depending on Alicia and he didn't want to expose all his cards, so he would have Sakura use magic in place of him. While they've been on this journey, he's been helping her master magic behind Alicia's back. Thankfully, Sakura wasn't prone to asking questions.

“ You really are good with spells Sakura. And your only 10 years old, that's 3 years younger than I am.”- Felix

“ Thank you master. I'm also good at cooking, cleaning, and nursing. I can also perform the role of priest a little. We were created for war after all, to fight alongside terrans. But there hasn't been much use for us since there haven't really been any wars. There's not really anyone left who can make a fully capable homunculus anymore.”- Sakura

“ Is that right? Hey Alicia, do you happen to know how to make one?”- Felix

“ Don't care about that nonsense!”- Alicia

“ Um master, it's not that easy. That kind of magic requires the power of a magus.”- Sakura

“ Yeah I know, she's practically useless right now, can't even use heal.”- Felix

“ (I can hear you.)”- Alicia

By the way Sakura, about how you address me.”- Felix

“ What do you mean? You are my master after all.”- Sakura

“ Yeah, but being called master all the time is a bit much.”- Felix

“ Oh, I'm sorry if it bothers you.”- Sakura

“ Thank you for understanding.”

“ I'll be more careful from now on, Mr master.”

“”WAAAAH””

“ Uh Sakura, I meant I'd like to be called something less formal.”- Felix

“ Less formal?”- Sakura

“ Mmhmm.”- Felix

“ Master-san? Master-bro?”- Sakura

“ PUHAHAHA, MY SIDES HURT!”- Alicia

“ Sakura, I don't want you calling me master period. I would prefer it if you called me by my name.”- Felix

“ Y-your name. B-but I can't. I'm nothing more than a servant.”- Sakura

“ Sakura, you're a living being just like I am. Human or otherwise, you have a right to live your life. So please, do try to say my name.

“ Hey,hey,hey the atmosphere here is a bit.”- Alicia

“ F…… Fe…….Mr ….Fe….Felix.”- Sakura.

“ That'll do for now. We'll work on it as time progresses.

Sakura whole face was red as she found it hard to look Felix in the eye after that. Alicia could tell that the girl was smitten with him, knowing that Felix had that effect on all women.

“ (Hmph, that girl really is lucky. To have Felix as her master could very well be her greatest fortune.)”- Alicia

At this point, a wind began to blow around the group. Alicia didn't like it because it gave off an ominous feeling. As she looked passed the two noticed that the trees began to bend forward.

“FELIX, SAKURA, LOOK OUT!”

“ “ eh””

Felix suddenly felt a dark presence around him. With amazing reflexes he took the zweihander in his hand and made a side slash. The branches that were coming at them were immediately cleaved apart.

“ Are you alright Felix?”- Alicia

“ Never better, what are these things?”- Felix

“ Treeherders, guardians of the Maywood Forest. There normally not this violent though. Something must've agitated them.”- Alicia

“ Mr Felix, we've gotta run. These things are increasing in numbers.

These trees had a vicious appearance. They had the look of predators that had loss all reason.

“ Felix, come on. We need to kiss.”- Alicia

“ Y-y-y-you! What are you talking about in a time like this you indecent woman!”- Sakura

“ Hurry up Felix! If we don't kiss, I can't fight!”- Alicia

“ Really, now you want to kiss? Would it kill you to say please?”- Felix

“ What is with this woman? So immoral!”- Sakura

Alicia was so busy ranting that she didn't notice a treeherder was closing in behind her. Thankfully Felix did.

“ ALICIA! GET DOWN!”- Felix

“ IYAAH”

Felix took a quick leap and sliced straight through the tree. Unfortunately, that drew the attention of the other treeherders. They completely surrounded Felix, separating him from the other two.

“” FELIX””

“ Dang it, the if only I could use blaze, these lousy tree trunks would be use blaze, then these lousy tree trunks would be history.”- Alicia

“Wait blaze, you can actually use blaze Alicia?”- Sakura

“Of course I can. Who do you take me for?”- Alicia

“Then what are you doing standing around here asking for kisses? Hurry up and save Mr Felix! Your a mage so act like one!”- Sakura

“I would if I could you little brat, but it doesn’t work like that! I have what's called a limiter seal placed on my body! It prevents me from drawing any mana to use magic! The only way to remove the seal is if I kiss Felix!

“ Y-y-y-you can't be serious.”- Sakura

With that said, hurry up and get over here Felix so we can kiss!”- Alicia

“ Can't you see I'm busy? So unreasonable!”- Felix

Felix was using all his skills to keep the trees at bay. Sakura saw that her master was reaching the end of his rope.

“ Alicia use me to cast your spell.”- Sakura

“Wait, what”- Alicia

“ Don't forget, I was created for war to assist terrans. Use me as a conduit to draw in the mana.”- Sakura

“ Alright, let's do it.”- Alicia

Alicia began chanting while Sakura formed a connection between them. The spell required a great deal of mana which drained whatever reserves Sakura had extremely quickly.

“ Infernal blaze”

A massive flame erupted in front of her. Those flames instantly spread to each tree, disintegrating the closer ones and sending the others in a frenzy. The burden on Felix instantly disappeared. Sakura was completely drained, close to blacking out. She looked up at Alicia as if seeing her for the first time.

“ S-such an incredible blast of magic. My reserves were barely enough to maintain it. Alicia just what kind of mage are you?”- Sakura

“ Sakura are you alright?”- Felix

“ I'm alright Felix, just really drained.”- Sakura

“ I see, Alicia used as a medium to draw out mana to use her spells, pretty clever.”- Felix

“ HMPH! You worthless logs! You dare to attack us? I'll turn this entire area to ash!

Alicia began chanting to prepare for a massive spell. Unfortunately, this had a negative impact on Sakura as she began to scream and go into a state of shivers.

“ ALICIA, STOP!

“ Eh?”- Alicia

Alicia stopped her chant and looked back at Felix and Sakura. She realized something went wrong as she looked at Sakura and went to check her condition.

“ As I thought it's overflow.”- Alicia

“ Explanation!”- Felix

“ Basically, Sakura couldn't withstand my mana. Infernal blaze was already pushing it. Trying to use gigas lightning was just too much.”- Alicia

“ FOR CRYING OUT LOUD ALICIA, YOU'RE NOT JUST A REGULAR MAGE, YOU'RE A MAGUS! WHY WOULD YOU USE MAGIC THAT WAS BEYOND HER LIMIT?”- Felix

“.....I….kinda…...forgot.”- Alicia

“ Unbelievable! Don't just sit there? Hurry up and heal her!”- Felix

“ But to heal requires having a holy attribute. I can't do anything like that.”- Alicia

“ You are useless!”- Felix

“ I-it’s alright Mr Felix. This is what we homunculi were born to do. It may have been short but I'm honored to have had a master like you.”- Sakura

“ Dang it! Alicia hurry up and let's kiss so we can get her to one of the temples! We need a priest who knows healing!”- Felix

“ What! But Felix-”- Alicia

“ There's no buts. We're going and that's that.”- Felix

Before they could continue arguing, another treeherder appeared in the the midst of the flames.

" Another one? You lousy logs just don't know when to quit, do you?"- Alicia

" Wait, wait, wait! I'm not your enemy!"- treeherder

""WHAAAA""