They hid quite far away. They could see security service heading to the factory, but somehow they managed to miss them. Catherine flew away on the pegasus, which didn’t amuse the service men much.

The group stopped at a small street, they were breathing hard, but felt relief. Aru stepped closer to Ed and reached out her hand.

“Thank you, Edward.”

“You’re welcome.” He shook her hand as a sign of agreement. “But I believe that this isn’t the end.”

“Yes, for sure it isn’t… So… do you plan on helping me?”

“The answer is rather obvious. We called a truce until we’ve defeated her, and we still haven’t done that. How are your weapons? Are they fine?”

“Uh…” Aru looked at each of them. Lorenzo had a few bruises, Eris was just a bit dirty, but Kyoko didn’t look well, her hand was scalded. “I think only Kyoko has been hurt.”

“Well… Can I look at her hand for a moment?” Ed asked a bit shyly.

The violet-haired girl walked closer to him, got off her jacket, and rolled her shirt’s sleeve. The burns reached from her hand to her shoulder.

“The pegasus’ magic was so strong that it burned her.”

“No surprise there” said Kyoko. “It’s an infected being, after all.”

“Alright… I’m not very knowledgeable about this, but my brother taught me some healing magic. I can try and treat the burns a bit… if you want.”

“I’ll trust you, Edward” she replied with seriousness. Ed focused his magic, after which he moved his hands closer to Kyoko’s shoulder. The violet-haired girl shut her eyes a few times, but nothing happened. Ed didn’t heal the damage, but eased the pain a little.”

“I’m not as good as my brother, so I can’t heal it.”

“No matter. I’m surprised, though, that you decided to help your enemies. Even if we’ve called a truce, it’s a little risky, isn’t it?”

“Heh, you’re right. But I trust you too.” He smiled slightly. “You’re not an average magician with animal ears. You took a weapon out of yourself, so… might you be...”

“Animal-person, and at the same a magician and a weapon?” Aru completed the sentence for him. “That’s right. Kyoko is one of the few animal-eared people who can use both abilities.”

“Awesome!” shouted out Kasei, who changed from a spear to her human form and excitedly looked at Kyoko. “I’ve heard about people like you, but I didn’t know that you really exist! I’m Kasei from Rebellar!”

“Don’t get excited so much, or you’ll scare her off, Kasei” Ed smirked meanly.

“SHUT YOUR MOUTH!” she shouted at him, and Ed started laughing.

“Oh… We haven’t introduced ourselves yet!” Lorenzo walked up to them. He was also in a form of a human. “I’m Lorenzo from Voyca nation.”

“Kyoko from Nihoria nation” the violet-haired girl introduced herself.

“And I’m Eris from Moonstone clan!” shouted out proudly the black-haired. “And don’t think I’ll trust you, stupid!” She stuck her tongue out in Edward’s direction. He giggled.

“Kasei, I didn’t know that you had a clone.”

“I’m gonna…” The redhead got angry, and Eris joined her.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“Alright, alright, calm down. I see that no one is from here… And the deity said that he only chooses people from our country, so…”

“We’ve been here for a year now” answered Aru. “We travelled to find something, but it seems it has found us. But let’s not talk about it today…”

“I understand. Ah, Arthur’s going to kill us for coming back so late...”

“It really is late… Alright… tomorrow at the same place?” asked Aru.

“Sounds sensible. I’ll come here in the morning, or try to at least, because I haven’t been sleeping at all lately. Come on, Kasei.”

Kasei turned into her animal form and sat on Ed’s shoulder. Aru widened her eyes.

“Wait!” shouted out the red-haired.

“Eh?” Ed turned around. “What’s up?”

Aru didn’t say anything. She only looked at Kasei, who felt more and more uncomfortable. The red-haired girl walked up and took her in her hands. Ed didn’t understand, neither did the weapons.

“It... It can’t be…” Aru started seriously.

“Y-Yes…?” Kasei’s voice was shaking.

“A FENEC FOX?!” she shouted out with a smile, then started hugging her. Ed, Eris, Kyoko and Lorenzo froze. “AH, I LOVE THEM! I NEVER THOUGHT I’D SEE ONE IN PERSON! AND AS A WEAPON AT THAT!”

Kasei’s face turned red, Ed quickly took her from the red-haired’s hands.

“Really, I don’t think it’s time for such things…” he said, embarrassed. Aru smiled dumbly, but then realized what he meant.

“I’ve been charmed by her beauty…”

“B-Beauty…” Kasei blushed harder and put her small paws on her nose. It was a very pleasant moment, and everyone needed it to relax, even for a moment. Yet it was time to part ways, since tomorrow a lot of work awaited them.

~

Arthur wasn’t happy that they came so late, but Kasei and Ed calmed him down. The golden-haired missed his bed, but it wasn’t his fate to rest nicely. He couldn’t fall asleep for a long time, although he felt heavy fatigue. When he did fall asleep though, it wasn’t a peaceful sleep; he wriggled from side to side, he sweated and quietly groaned; he dreamt of his mutilated brother, then Ian, who they’ve found in his destroyed house and his friend Matevigo, who attacked him brutally. On top of that, in his dreams appeared the deity, and blood too… a lot of blood, and the dead Hemv. The moment when he killed somebody for the first time came back to him. Then he saw a golden-haired woman with green eyes. Her hair was braided, she wore golden armor. She looked straight at Ed, when she suddenly said „you’ve disappointed me”. Tears flowed on her face, he started quietly sobbing through sleep. Suddenly he opened his eyes and took a few deep breaths, he wiped sweat off his forehead and the tears from his cheeks.

It was morning already, which comforted him a bit. He took clothes, that he left aside last evening, dressed himself and sat on the bed. For a longer while he thought about his dreams, then he got up for good and left the room. Kasei was sitting by a table and eating a meal made for her by Arthur. It was obvious that she also didn’t sleep well, but surely a bit better than Edward.

“Where’s Arthur?” asked the golden-haired.

“He said that he’s going to work. He’ll do his best to find us the books we requested, but doesn’t promise anything.” After these words she pushed everything she had on her plate into her mouth, chewed it and swallowed.

“I see. For now, let’s go see the fiery Aru, your big fan.”

“Are you jealous, Eddy?” she asked with and obvious smile, then got up. “And eat something, or soon you’ll be as thin as Peter.”

“Later, I don’t have time for such unimportant things as eating.”

“Ah, sure. And later you’re gonna scream for someone to feed you, because everything will hurt, life is suffering or something, you runt.” She stuck out her tongue at him. “Just as that one day when you didn’t eat anything, because you kept on reading, and then you left your cave called the library and you’ve shouted out these words.”

“Well, if it happens again, you’ll just feed me.” He smiled.

“OVER MY DEAD BODY!”