Everything was clad in darkness, the view within his visor was not any clearer. Darwyn sat at a log with his arms crossed.

The campfire that was lit earlier dwindled its smoke up as the smell of charcoal spread through the place. Darwyn was watching the two women at his party, they were sleeping and snuggling to each of their own sheets.

He just woke up earlier and was now guarding his companion. Darwyn has a habit of getting up even to the slightest of sound.

It stopped snowing, the dark sky proudly showed its twinkling stars of variant color.

Just what is the purpose of going to the city of the merchant? He never doubted the will of his goddess, but even so, he cannot help but question it out of mere curiosity.

Why him? If it was just going to the city, then even an apprentice cleric could do that.

A cold gale passed through him, then to his companion, causing Shen and Liliana to cover themselves even more with their blankets.

“Hhmm...”

He received a couple of divination before this one, and most of them are helping worshippers from far places.

Is this the same?

He suspected that this was not as simple as that. Though it would have been good if it was.

“Huh...? Is that you Darwyn?”

Shen rose from her slumber, wiping her eyes as she flickered her ears.

“Oh, did I wake you up? Sorry about that.”

From the elf's point of view, her surroundings were still the same even if there was no light, she could clearly see the slight breathing of Darwyn.

“I just heard a low grumble and I thought that it was a bear or something.”

She crawled from her place while giving a small yawn, slowly standing up, then gracefully sat beside him.

“You can go back to sleep if you want to,” Darwyn said.

“No, I'm fully awake now.” Shen shook her head then rested her cheek on her arms. “You know what?” She paused, then continued. “I can hardly believe that you're younger than me. You're stronger, more mature, and cool-headed. You're not an elf behind that helmet aren't you?”

“I'm human.” He said with all seriousness. Shen giggled at him, covering her mouth.

“I'm just joking! Elves wouldn't be big as you are.”

Elves are races of tall and slender, if there was an elf that has a build like Darwyn, then it must be crossbreed from another race.

The two become tranquil as they gazed upon thousands of stars. It was said that each star is a planet of their own, home to the millions of being that lives beyond this plane of existence.

“I've been thinking.” All of a sudden, Darwyn spoke, still observing the twinkling lights above them.

Shen moved only her eyes and looked at him. Now that she thinks about it, she hasn't seen his face even after traveling together.

“Maybe... Meeting you is actually the will of my goddess.”

“Heeeh, that's unexpected coming from you.” Her slant eyes expanded, her seductive lips forming into a smile.

“After careful consideration, it would be rational to think that you are sent by my goddess as someone who would help me to defeat that aberration.”

“He-he-he! See, I told you.” Her ears go up and down as she let out soft laughter.

She heard his headgear rustling, and when she finally turned her head, she found him staring at her.

Taken by surprise, Shen back down a little bit. “Geez, don't surprise me like that. You resemble a living armor.”

She grasped her chest, then let out a sigh. But was she really that scared? Her heart was beating fast so it might be. I don't know really. The feeling was new to her, but not quite, she couldn't explain what it was.

“What are you planning after arriving at the city of the merchant?” Darwyn asked.

“After arriving? I heard that a new merchant is creating new products one after another.”

“New product?”

“Like a hard soap or something like that.” Shen closed her eyes, trying to remember what she had heard back in the tavern before entering this forest.

“Hard soap...” A liquid solution that can take off remaining dirt to the body, actually, he had used them several times when he was still a child.

“But that thing is expensive.” He said. The armor he wore almost vibrated because of how low his voice was.

Shen raised her finger upwards, saying “But I heard it was cheap. So that's why I'm interested.”

“Also,” She added, “There was this thing called Shanpoo? Is it Shanpoo or Shampoo? The point is, that thing can cleanse your hair and make it smell good and bouncy.” Her voice was almost humming a symphony.

“... And after that? What will you do after that?”

Shen crossed her eyebrows while thinking of something. “I don't know really. I'm just traveling to gather experience and to see what the outer world looks like.”

“Then, would you like to travel with us for a little longer?”

His sudden statement left Shen's mouth agape, her hand covering it. One, two, three... She kept her silence before finally, she regained her senses.

“A-ah, cough! Just what are you doing Darwyn...!” A rare sight of Shen frowning at him. It was dark so he couldn't confirm if her cheeks were red or not.

She was fuming as she grasped her head. “It's not like I don't want to. But I haven't even seen your face and—”

Clack.

A sharp sound of something breaking whispered into the night, then Darwyn took off his helmet. “Please join us.”

His long brown hair greeted her as it swayed due to the cold air, his eyes were looking at her the way she imagined it, serious and sincere.

She felt her heart almost jumped out of her mouth, her hand trying to surpass her beating heart. After inhaling deeply, she gave a puff.

“Then, I look forward to working with you, Leader.” She gave a small bow, her hair covering her face as she did.

“Leader?” Darwyn tilted his head.

“Yes, you're our party leader, right?” She replied without looking up. Then she stood quickly, her face still hidden. Her ears were red as it jolted in all directions.

“I will return to sleep now, we will tell Liliana tomorrow, is that fine?” Careful not to make a sound, Shen returned to her blanket.

Darwyn put back his helmet with a practiced motion, then he looked at his hand. I hope I did the right decision.