Akino wraps a long piece of cloth on Lyka’s bionic arm. Their group took a little rest after reaching the end of the forest. They could see far away, between the gaps of the trees, a road leading to walls on the far-end of the horizon.

Lyka: Why am I having this bandage again?

Akino: So, people won’t notice your metallic arm. It will be a problem if they got their eyes on you.

Alexa: That’s sweet.

Akino finishes wrapping the cloth. She helps Lyka to stand up. Alexa noticed that Akino’s deliberately avoiding Lyka.

Lyka: Are you… still mad? About last night? I’m sorry –

Akino: No, I should be the one saying sorry… I didn’t know about it…

Akino creates grey-hooded robe, coming from the skin of her forearm, bit by bit, like a sand that moves on its own. She wears the robe on Lyka.

Akino: I’m – I’m not mad… it’s just… I’m a bit embarrassed… we’ll talk it out once we got a shelter in the city, okay?

Lyka: Th-thank you…

Alexa: Can’t you just confess to each other, make out or kiss or something? Have a closure already!

Akino & Lyka: Shut it.

Alexa: Oh, wow! Both of you are in unison now, nice!

Akino: Anyway, you might need a robe as well.

Alexa: I can cover myself, thank you very much.

Alexa starts creating a similar clothing, but out of silk formed by her flesh hair.

The three approaches their accompanied adventurers, who were tidying up their wooden bowls and other stuff.

They left. A few steps, and the forest is already behind them. Infront, a road made of rocks and soil. They followed the road that leads to the city, the city of Dasman. Upon nearing the city gates, they saw a line of horse carriages, and guards in medieval armor check every cargo. The group stops by a tree near the road, a bit far from the gates and out of the sights of the guards.

Akino: We should split up. And in case of something…

Akino hands over a small rectangular metal to each of the three adventurers. Each metal has a small button on its center.

Olguk: What is this?

Akino: A transponder. Before I tell you how to use it, and why I gave it to you, you have to promise me – promise us one thing.

Thoral: Okay. We owe our lives; we’ll pay back in return. And my friends will live up to it.

Both Olguk and Oliva nods in agreement with Thoral.

Akino: Thank you. Whatever happens, you don’t speak any of the things you saw in that cave. And we never met, forget we encountered your group.

Oliva: What? Why? Afterall you and your friends done to us, why should we forget your kindness?

Lyka: Its not kindness we want you to forget. The men of Altruis might be looking for their knights and mages, and I’m the only one who got out there… bringing you in this mess will never turn out good.

Oliva: I – I see… I totally forgot about that one… I’m sorry.

Akino: Now, about the transponder, you’ll only press it - ONLY press it when you encounter the same things you’ve faced in that cave.

Thoral: So, you want us to find places similar to that?

Akino: No. You are adventurers. In your expeditions, who know what you might encounter. And if it happens that you encounter again the same place.

Alexa: Or that same fleshy monster with many faces!

Akino: It's time you press that. And one last thing, only the three of you knows about this, no one else. Got it?

Olguk: If keeping secrets is you want, you can count on it.

Oliva: Once again, thank you. Thank you for saving us back there.

Akino: You’re welcome.

The three adventurers went ahead first in the walled city. The guards checked them, and let them in. They waited for 5 minutes, sitting under the shades of a tree. Then, Akino stands up.

Akino: We should go now.

Alexa: After you.

They walked and went to the gate. The guards stopped them as they enter the city.

Guard 1: New faces, huh?

Guard 2: Merchants? Adventurers?

Akino: Just passing through.

Guard 1: To pass through, you have to pay a toll, young lad.

Alexa: Actually, we want to stay in.

Guard 2: What’s with this little demi-beast?

Lyka glares at that guard, and so did Akino while she’s pulling out the bag of coins they got from the dead knights.

Lyka: She’s my daughter, and do you have a problem with demi-beasts?!

Guard 2: What are you gonna do? Smack me? Ha!

Guard 1: Hey! Cut it out!

Akino grabbed the guard’s fingers and broke them in one go. That guard screamed, so the others were alerted, pulling their swords out and pointing it to the three.

Guard 2: YOU - ! You’re going to pay for this!

Akino: Then, is this enough?

Akino throws the bag of coins on the guard’s face. The coins were scattered all around the ground, making the other guards scramble to get some.

Akino: A friendly orc said to us you guys were tough on newbies, but weak to money. I could just hand that bag to you, but you crossed the line, bud. You don’t get to insult my family.

Akino leans towards the injured guard.

Akino: The next time I heard you insult them, I’ll break your limbs, then your neck. Sounds good?

The guard grits his teeth. Then, he commands the other guards to let the three in.

Alexa: Oh, you’re going to let us in after all. Quite the performance you did.

Akino: Kid, stop provoking them.

The three girls enter the city. A small city resembling to neo-medieval architecture. Post less streets with a circular plaza and a fountain on the center of the city. Structures with at least 2 to 3 stories high and very close to each other. A small hill from afar, but still inside the walled city, with castle like buildings on it. Small stalls of fruits, meat, and other stuff. Taverns of some sort, for drunkards or for the starving, or both. Dark alleyways with suspicious eyes. And a lot of people, both human and humanoid, wandering the whole place minding their own businesses.

Alexa cheerfully dashes to every stall while Lyka accompanies her, its their first time seeing such place after all.

Alexa: Just like in fantasy-RPGs! So cool!

Lyka: RPGs?

As the two happily converses, Akino went to a stall right next to where they are.

Akino: Excuse me, can I ask something?

Bread vendor: If you buy some of my goods, I’ll consider it.

Akino: Bargaining, are we?

Bread vendor: Yeah. It’s business, after all.

Akino: Could use some food. I’ll have these, and that. And that one.

Bread vendor: That will be 50 silver and 30 copper.

Akino hands the vendor a piece of gold coin.

Bread vendor: Don’t you have spare coins?

Akino: Keep the change. Consider it as the payment for my questions and my investment.

Bread vendor: Thank you very much! You’ve made a very wise decision. Well, go ask your questions, young girl.

Akino: First, you know any places where we can take a night?

Bread vendor: Oh, travelers? There’s a ton of places you can stay, but because you’re my very first customer for this day, I’ll give you good choices.

The vendor points at a large establishment near the plaza, a four-story structure. The establishment has a bulletin board outside and has a flag of a lion on its second-floor balcony.

Bread vendor: That’s the Dasman adventurers' guild. Every city has that and usually, they can accommodate some travelers from far away for a price. Free if you’re a professional adventurer.

Akino: Sounds neat.

The vendor points right next to the guild establishment, a three-story tavern.

Bread vendor: That’s the Lion’s Tavern. Travelers who can’t pay the price of the guild’s rooms can stay there for a night. Pretty low class, but at least the elves there cleans the place good.

Akino: Hmmm, at least its clean.

Then, the vendor points at the castle-like structures on top of the hill.

Bread vendor: The Dasman inn. Nobles live there, but they have spaces to spare so they used it to house travelling rich merchants or nobles. I’ve been there as a caterer, and I’m gonna tell you: there are a lot of expensive stuff! If you have enough money, you can stay there for weeks!

Akino: I’m not looking for a grandiose resting place, but thanks for suggesting.

Bread vendor: You got it! Any more questions?

Akino: Any knights from, I don’t know, Altruis? Yeah, Altruis, that has been roaming in here?

Bread vendor: Oh, now what are you? A fugitive? Trying to hide from them?

Akino: Avoiding them.

Bread vendor: That’s the same.

Akino hands another piece of gold to the vendor.

Akino: You keep that piece and you shut your mouth.

Bread vendor: Okay, okay. But mind if I ask, what did you do to them that made you avoid them?

Akino: You want me to take that gold from you?

Bread vendor: Okay, okay. Trade secret, got it. Hmmm, I think there were here about a week ago. And since you’re avoiding them, the Dasman inn won’t be a good choice for you. Some knights are still taking vacation in that place, I guess.

Akino: I think that’s all, thanks.

Akino left, she went back with Alexa and Lyka.

Akino: Found a place for us, let’s go.

Alexa: You got some food? What is it? What is it?

Akino: This looks like a sweet roll, and this one looks like a baguette that has a fish filling… weird.

Akino hands both pieces of bread she bought, and they walk towards the tavern to book a room. As they entered the tavern, many eyes looked at them, especially on Lyka and Alexa. They couldn’t hide Lyka’s fluffy tail and Alexa’s flesh hair after all.

Alexa: The fuck are they staring at?

Akino: Alexa, language. Just act normal, and we’ll be fine. I’ll go to the counter to book us a room.

Lyka: Okay, we’ll wait here.

Akino went to the counter and asked the server for rooms.

Akino: I’d like a room for 3, please.

Tavern server: Hmm, we only serve rooms for 2 or 4.

Akino: Okay, I’ll take the room for 4. For this night only.

Tavern server: That would be 50 silver, and please allow us to guide you to your room.

Akino hands the server a gold coin and told him to keep the change. The server smiles at her and joyfully hands Akino the key for their room. They went upstairs with another tavern servant, guiding them to their room.

Tavern servant: Would like anything else?

Lyka: We’re fine, thanks.

Tavern servant: Enjoy your stay in Lion’s Tavern!

A room, similar to an ordinary room in beach resorts: wooden drawers, 2 beds good for 2 people each, a wardrobe, a window with a wooden frame, and a small table with two chairs. Alexa immediately jumps on the bed, Lyka sits beside the bed near the window, and Akino takes the chair, placing down her bag and the food she just bought.

Lyka looks outside the window, seeing the sky slowly turning into yellowish orange: the sun is setting already. Akino looks at Lyka, she gulps and speaks.

Akino: So, about last night… is there anyway to, you know, stop it?

Lyka: I – I should just sleep early, before the full moon rises…

Akino: Oh…

The two went silent, avoiding eye contact at all. Alexa notices this and went in between them.

Alexa: COME ON! Just fricking talk already! The awkwardness is cringing me!

Akino: Alright! Chill, chill… so, how do we start?

Lyka: I don’t know…

Lyka twiddles with her fingers, she changes her legs’ positioning moment to moment, acting very uncomfortable.

Lyka: Do you – hate me?

Akino: Hate you? No, NO. I mean, you’ve done nothing wrong, so…

Lyka: But last night, I – I did something without your permission… I kissed you, I -

Akino: Wait, wait, WAIT… you remembered all that stuff?

Lyka: Y – yes…

Akino: Oh my god…

Alexa: Yes, Aki. OMG.

Lyka: I guess you’re mad after all…

Akino: Wait, I told you already I am not mad… it’s just… you know… I like you too… but we’ve just met, like we’ve only met in a week.

Alexa: Aki is afraid of rejections?

Akino: Shut it.

Lyka: Really?

Akino: I mean, it’s just…

Lyka: Is it because I’m a demi-human?

Akino: No, there’s nothing wrong with being a demi-human.

Lyka: Is it because we’re both girls?

Akino: No. It’s – it’s just…

Akino sighs.

Alexa: About Rachel, isn’t?

Lyka: Who’s Rachel?

Akino: My – my first love… I met her when I was buying at the convenience store I showed you last time. That was when I was in my early days as a junior detective…

Alexa: In the diary… you stopped writing about her after the year 3019… why?

Akino: She died… brain cancer…

It all went silent. The sound of the wind and chatter of the other people could only be heard.

Alexa: I get it. You’re still thinking about losing someone you love. We’re different now, remember? We can like outlive this planet, aaannd ma’s the same as us. Nothing could go wrong with that.

Akino: I know… but what if that thing?! That cube thing wiped us out shows again?! Our bodies might not get destroyed but we got into something, like coma and never wake up?!

Alexa: Woah! Calm down, what’s happening to you?

Lyka reaches and holds Akino’s hands, she looks at her straight in the eye.

Lyka: I know what it feels like. To lose someone you love is truly painful, and it’s not wrong to be afraid of it… but you’ve said to me when we first met days ago, that we should just move on and climb on to any obstacles we meet. We’ll see each other, protect each other… like a family…

Lyka blushes at that moment. She closes her eyes and immediately hugs Akino. Both Akino and Alexa were shocked, they couldn’t say a thing or two.

Lyka: The moment you’ve shown me your world, your memories, I don’t know why… but I’ve fallen for you… I – I love you, Aki… whatever happens, I’ll love you…

Alexa: What about me?

Lyka: Well… I’ll love you both!

Alexa joins in, and Akino slowly smiles.

Akino: Thanks…

Lyka: I should be thanking you. You’ve given me another purpose, and another life. A life I’ve been carrying.

Lyka takes Akino’s hand and places it on her abdomen. Akino is surprised, and so is Alexa.

Akino & Alexa: WHAT?!

Akino: Wait, wait, wait… you’re pregnant?! With whom?!

Lyka: With you, why are you surprised? We did the thing last night, right?

Alexa: Hold on, you know that Aki is a girl…

Lyka: But you’ve told me that you’re way beyond that, right? So, we kissed, and I’ll be the one that gets pregnant, that’s how…

Akino: What do you know about becoming pregnant, huh?

Lyka twiddles with her fingers and blushes.

Lyka: That if two people kissed with their lips, the girl gets pregnant…

Akino and Alexa stared at each other.

Akino: Go and tell her.

Alexa: Why me? You’re the adult here!

Akino: You’re the one who has an information archive of biology stuff!

Lyka: Umm, tell me what?

Alexa: This will be a culture-shocking revelation…

Akino: Babies aren’t made by two people kissing with their lips…

Lyka: Eh?

Akino: Yeah… so, you’re not carrying any kid…

Lyka: Re – really?

Lyka blushes. Her face is fully red. Flustered, she jumps in the bed, covering herself with pillows. She seems to be mumbling things under the pillows, but Akino and Alexa chose to ignore it.