“S-So what you meant to say was... That you wanted me to go on rear-guard for the quest you took,” I breathe.

“Of course. I would hate to peer into your mind and see the sort of scandalous things you were just imagining,” she replies.

“And yet you didn’t bother clarifying until we got all the way here,” I reply, sighing.

The evening sun sets on the proud nation of Seynith. From just clear of the West Gate, we can see the sun grazing the far off snow-capped mountain range. The sight brings me to examine my closer surroundings, and the yellowish-orange tone everything seems to have taken on. It’s a valley among two mountains, the West Gate. It’s lush with mountain flowers and puffy bushes, alongside the great pine trees that dot the area. It can only be accessed from the Second Rung, so not a single person seems to be around. In fact, I didn’t notice any guards in the way at all.

“Thanks as well for keeping a tab on my stuff,” I continue. “I’d just gotten this sword today. I’d hate to have anything happen to it already.”

“Yes, well... you’ll have need of it,” she replies. “This area is often regarded as the ‘Adventurers Dream,’ due to its sheer quantity of monsters and other creatures. Which brings me to my current greatest concern...”

Lasphalia’s eyes slowly drift down to Nora, who fiddles timidly with her dress on the other side of me.

“At the moment, we pretty much come as a pair,” I reply, smiling sheepishly. “But she’s an adventurer as well, so she shouldn’t have too much trouble... right?”

“I can’t in good conscience exert dominance on an inferior male species with a child present,” she says.

“L-Let’s keep it clean—!” I shout, covering Nora’s ears. Only then do her second pair of ears spring up.

“Another joke,” says Lasphalia dismissively. “Probably.”

“I’m getting real sick of your so called ‘jokes,’” I huff.

“But I required that you sit there and take it, remember?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Moving on—“ She points forward. “Our goal is to slay five peak-dwelling wyverns just past that far ridge.”

“Th-There?! H-How far away is that?!”

“We should reach the site by tomorrow afternoon if we stop at night to rest,” she continues. “And if the child slows us down, we will leave her behind.”

“I am a Nexis,” says Nora. I look down at her. “The question is if you will slow me down, not the other way.”

I’m surprised. I’ve never heard her speak so clearly. Nor so arrogantly. She’s always so timid, after all.

“H-Hey, Nora...” I mutter. “I’d never really thought it important before, but... How old are you, exactly?”

“Twelve,” she says.

“Really?” I awe.

That makes her the oldest of the children by far. I’d always assumed she was five or six based on how Lyle treated her like a younger sister.

“You don’t even know the age of your own daughter?” says Lasphalia.

“H-Huh—? N-No, I’m not her father! I’m just—!”

“My partner,” Nora finishes. She grabs my arm and holds onto it.

“Her caretaker,” I say. Nora’s cheeks puff up in disappointment.

“I see. Well, perhaps we can have her combat a few lesser monsters in this area to gauge her skill,” Lasphalia nods. “I presume she has about as much combat experience as you?”

“Oh, I’ve only fought three... Four times in my life,” I reply.

“You’re joking.”

“I wish I was,” I mutter. “That’s why I’m here, though. To get stronger.”

“Exactly how much did you expect to help this day with such little experience?”

“W-Well, when I asked to compensate you, I was more referring to... like, dinner, or something...”

“I can hardly believe the nerve of you.”

I timidly shuffle my feet around in the dirt.

“Though, I suppose it doesn’t dismiss the promise you showed in your duel with the Vice-Admiral,” she continues, putting a finger to her chin in thought. “Let this be a trial for the both of you, then. Come along, the daylight is far dwindling.”

She begins off and I jog to catch up with her, trailing Nora behind me.

“Hey, I’d been meaning to ask,” I say. “Why would a secretary to the Admirals be going on a quest like this?”

“Because my average pay is pitiful,” she replies. “Oh— and by helping me you revoke your claim to the reward, by the way.”

“Probably should’ve expected that,” I mutter.

“Now that that is said, I see no more subject matter to discuss.”

“What, you just want us to walk quietly for the next few hours?”

“Or until worthy subject matter is uncovered.”

“It’s an enigma as to why you have a hard time getting people to like you,” I sigh.

“Was that sarcasm?”

“Not at all— you’re a very sociable and amicable person,” I reply.

“That much was sarcasm, I gathered.”

“You like dirty jokes and I like sarcastic remarks,” I reply, shaking my head.

Nora suddenly tugs on the leather of my belt. I turn, and she points off to the side.

“It’s there again,” she says. “It’s watching us.”

I look, but there’s nothing there.

“Are you sure, Nora?” I ask.

She nods. “From this morning, too. It’s the same one.”

I remember now. Back when we were on our way to Han’s from the gateway to the Second Rung, it felt like I was being watched. But I’d assumed it was because I had a little girl on my shoulders. I played it off, but now...

“It’s gone,” says Nora. “Again.”

“Is there something the matter? Why have you stopped?” Lasphalia hollers.

“N-Nothing,” I reply, starting towards her. I look back to Nora, but she hasn’t moved.

“Is evil tangible?” she asks, staring out into nothing.

“...Why do you ask?”

“Because if it is, then that’s what was watching us,” she replies. She turns to me. Her face shows concern.

It’s around midnight by the time Lasphalia finally decides it’s time to set up camp. After igniting a piled bunch of tinder with... some sort of magic, she puts her back to a tree and softly closes her eyes. I step into the clearing and turn back to help Nora through.

“Are you tired, Nora?” I ask.

She shakes her head.

“That so?” I mutter. “That’s not like you at all.”

She sits beside the fire and stares blankly into the embers. What she saw must have really scared her. I end up sitting just behind her. I place my hand atop her head.

“If you wanna just lay down, you can,” I say. “You don’t have to sleep if you don’t want to.”

She doesn’t respond, but eventually she does begin to lean backwards on me. She comes to rest her head on my lap, and not long after is she soundly asleep. The warmth of her presence brings a calming smile to my face.

“If it’s within my bounds, may I ask how you came to be her caretaker?” asks Lasphalia. She has her eyes open now, and looks at me with arms crossed. I check to make sure Nora is really sleeping. I don’t want to talk about it in front of her.

“Her previous caretaker... Passed away,” I mutter. “I guess it is my fault, even if I didn’t know.”

“Know what?”

“Y’know the scar on my chest? The one partially healed?”

“Of course.”

“Well, I... got it from trying to protect Nora and a few other children from a thug,” I say. “I killed him after he attacked us— or at least... I thought I did. I... I don't know how he did it.”

“What happened then?”

“Esmeralda. She was the caretaker of the children,” I say. “She healed me the best she could. She saved my life, but... I wasn’t able to save hers.”

“...And the other children?”

“Nora was the only survivor,” I mutter. “And the fucking bastard, he... He raped her. He raped her, then he strangled her to death. Nora heard it. She... heard it all.”

Lasphalia looks away. “And you cared for her. That woman.”

Those words cause my heart to sink. I don’t cry. I feel far too bad to cry.

Nora’s head softly shifts in my lap. I fold a lock of her hair up over her left ear to gaze into the scar of her eye. I can hardly imagine that she’s twelve years old. She seems so... small. So untainted by the world. Then again, the scar says otherwise.

“The Nexis are very territorial,” says Lasphalia.

“What do you mean by that?” I ask.

“It would explain her behavior earlier,” she says. “‘Possessive’ is the more accurate term. Obviously her instincts see me as a potential rival for your attention.”

“Well, you did threaten me with several bizarre and cruel sexual punishments,” I mutter.

“They were jokes.”

“Can she tell the difference?”

“Perhaps not.”

“Wait... Do you think she already knows about sex...?”

“Possibly. You weren’t thinking of doing anything suggestive, were you?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Certain?”

“There’s no way in hell.”

“Even if she forces herself on you?”

“What?”

“Or if you’ve gotten drunk?”

“Especially then.”

“Even once she’s older?”

“I’m not sure what you’re trying to insinuate, but my job is to protect her,” I say. “I have absolutely no underlying motives, nor will I ever.”

“I’m curious as to whether or not you will uphold such vows.” She shuffles forward a bit and looks back at me.

“I may just want to keep an eye on you. After all... You interest me.”

I’m pretty sure my face turns red as a tomato at this instant.

“Another joke. Don’t worry,” she finally says, loosely waving a hand. “Get some rest. I’ll be keeping watch tonight.”

She turns her whole body away, leaving me with little other choice than to softly lift Nora’s head from my lap and recline over the dirt. I’m quickly blessed with another night of dreamless sleep.

Sometime in the mid morning, we stumble across our first enemy. It’s a small feral animal of sorts, like a giant rat but with a snake tail and threatening red eyes.

“A Skurkin,” says Lasphalia. “Girl— handle it.”

I thought she would’ve frozen at such a request. But instead she catches me off guard by running straight for it with her knife drawn. The beast’s attention snaps to her, but her surprising burst of speed ultimately leads to its demise. It takes a single stab for the creature to die, and when it does it excretes some sort of black mist instead of blood as it collapses. Nora returns her dagger to its place and looks to me as if for praise. I sigh, but force a half-grin anyways.

“G-Good job, Nora,” I say. “B-But let’s not bully the creatures of this forest. I-It’s their home, after all.”

“Is that all?” Lasphalia interjects. “She did well. Can you not spare a few more kind words?”

“I-I’m not doing this for his approval,” says Nora suddenly.

Lasphalia smirks. It looks like she’s about to try to start something. “Oh? And what of the look you just gave him?”

“Cyr is my partner,” Nora mutters.

“And yet the strength between you is far too great,” Lasphalia replies. “You would just be holding him back, girl.”

“H-Hey, let’s not get too riled up,” I sputter. “W-We’ve still got a long ways to g—“

“You’re wrong! I am strong!” Nora shouts. “You just leave, because me and Cyr can handle it all by ourselves!”

“I’m the one who brought you out here, girl. You’re under my terms.”

“Don’t underestimate me.”

“If anything, I’m overestimating you, girl. Because the further we go up, the more monsters there will be. And at the very top, if the lesser creatures haven’t killed you yet, the wyverns will make quick work of you. What you killed wasn’t even worth spitting on.”

“I’ll kill them all if I have to!” Nora shouts.

“Nora, that’s enough. You too, Lasphalia,” I say.

“I won’t lose to you! I’m stronger than you’ll ever be! He’s mine! I won’t let you—“ She pauses. “U-Um... I mean...”

There’s a sudden change in Lasphalia’s expression, a smirk with a hint of that, ‘I got you’ kinda feel.

“Finally she said it,” Lasphalia nods. “So you see now, Cyrus Avette?”

“What—? What do you—“

“Why do you think she only acts like an adult when she feels you are at risk of being taken from her?”

“I... Um...”

She turns to Nora. “And how do you want to be treated? Like the child that you always have been to him? Your words speak novels of your true inner self, but it’s your mind that spouts lies.”

“...How did you know...?” Nora mutters.

“The simple workings of a child are easily deciphered,” Lasphalia replies.

“Sh-Shut up!” Nora yells.

“Well? What do you want to be? Tell him now.”

“No!”

“Tell him now!” Lasphalia repeats.

“I... I won’t...” Nora mutters.

“...Tell me what, Nora...?” I ask.

“I... I...”

“Realize what your heart begs. Tell him.”

“I... N-No, I—“

“Tell him!”

“Okay, fine!” Nora shouts. She puts on a timid expression and pivots away from me, just looking to me through her peripherals. “I... I really do have something to say. These past few days... I have been wanting to tell you. I really have.”

“Huh?” I say. “A-And... you sure are using a lot more words than you normally do...”

“I’m not sure how Lasphalia figured it out, however,” she continues. “It’s... supposed to be a secret for only the Nexis— A big secret.”

Lasphalia puts on a confused look. “I... don’t suspect we are thinking of the same th—”

“I am not really twelve, either. I regret to inform you that I’ve been deceptive in that nature,” she replies. “I’m older, actually. But... not by conventional means.”

“C-Conventional? Th-Throw me a bone here, Nora. What’s that supposed to mean?” I say.

“Indeed! I bid you explain yourself, girl!” Lasphalia nods.

“Is that not what I was supposed to say?” asks Nora. She tilts her head.

“That you love him! You were supposed to admit that you love him!” Lasphalia bursts, pointing a finger.

Nora’s face lights up a bright pink. “L-Love—?! N-N-No, I—“

“So you mean... you’re, how old?” I ask. “If it’s alright, I’d like to know right now.”

Nora shakes her head. “Can... Can we sit somewhere and talk?”

We’re all three sat under the thinning forest canopy in a triangle. Nora is quiet. She has her hands in her lap and her eye is closed tightly shut, her brow twitching as if anticipating something bad. She suddenly takes a stand, and opens her eye to look at me.

“I’ve been alive for almost as many years as you have, Cyr,” she says finally. She puts her hands to her chest. “I grew up in a poor city. My family was killed when I was five. I soon moved to another city on the underbelly of a carriage, where I was taken in by a young couple— who raised as their own. And then they died, too, all because I tried to put their fate in my hands. I was fourteen.”

“Nora...”

“I was weak when I came to Hilgroff. I was maybe a day from starvation,” Nora continues. “But as a girl of age, the only things I was offered were jobs at brothels.”

“Y—You didn’t— take them, did you...?”

“I realized I wouldn’t be given help as an adult on the streets,” she says. “People aren’t that kind.”

“I... I’m sorry...”

“Most people don’t know, but... The Nexis have a special power that no other species in the world possesses,” she mutters. “That is the secret. We are able to change our bodies to any age we wish. But only twice in our entire lives.”

“I find that hard to believe. The Nexis may be a seclusive race, but I highly doubt such a power could go unnoticed by the greater world,” says Lasphalia.

“W-Well it’s true—! I can!” Nora exclaims.

“Fine, then let us assume for a moment that such a far-fetched tale is true. In that case, you reverted to a child form so you could receive pity,” mutters Lasphalia.

“Don’t say it like that!” Nora shouts. “...I know what I did was wrong, but... I didn’t want to lose the only thing I still had...”

I’m not sure how to respond. I’m speechless.

“I was taken in by Esmeralda two years ago,” says Nora. “I’d made myself four years old. And I decided that when I came of age again, I would become four years old again.”

“And once you came of age a third time?” Lasphalia asks.

“Then I would die,” Nora replies, looking solemnly down into the dirt. “I would die by my own hand, purity intact.”

“You are even more cowardly than I thought,” Lasphalia grumbles. “You ran away from adulthood why? Just to retain your innocence?”

“That’s not it...”

“Well let me tell you something,” Lasphalia growls. “Before I discovered I had an innate ability to kill, what do you think I did to support myself and my family? I sold my body, you damned brat! I never ran! I faced the world head on. But what did you do? You cowered in a child’s body!”

“Enough!” I yell. The anger in my voice supersedes even my expectations. But I don’t back down. “We all have our reasons for being here. That doesn’t change the fact th—“

“Let me finish,” says Nora. There is unwavering determination in her eye. I hesitate, but eventually nod for her to continue. I loosen the tenseness in my shoulders and allow her to speak.

“But now I’m done running,” she says. She looks from me to Lasphalia and back to me. “It took meeting you, Cyr, to realize that I could be strong even when I had nothing. I’m sixteen now. Two years into adulthood. That is a fact I no longer can ignore.”

“Nora... don’t tell me you’re—“

“It’s true. I did lie to you. I pretended to be a child so you would take pity on me,” she says. “That’s why I can no longer stay in this body. So with the final use of my power, I will revert to my true self.”

“N-Nora, you don’t have to—“

“But I do. I won’t be anyone but my true self ever again.” She smiles softly. A tear rolls down her cheek. “And I hope that once I do— you’ll still stay with me. We’ll go on adventures together, we’ll share the quest rewards, we’ll buy a house and live together— As family, like you told me.”

“...Y-Yes. Of course.”

She nods as she wipes the tears from her eye. She then clasps her hands together at her chest and takes two steps away. She slowly turns from us, and raises her arms out to the side as she does. By the time her back is fully turned, she has her arms level with her shoulders. I see her head tilt back to look to the sky. Suddenly, a ray of light shoots down from the heavens and engulfs her in a bright golden glow. I can just barely see her arms extending through the light, but most of her body is completely shielded.

Her hands slowly rise, but I realize it isn’t because she’s raising them. After all, her arms still seem level. In reality, I see her growing right in front of me. Her fingers lengthen from their tiny origin and her arms elongate. I can only assume just the same is happening to the rest of her body as well. The light lasts only a few seconds, but the way I see it makes it feel like forever. Even once the most of it fades, Nora’s body continues to glow. She’s noticeably taller, but the glow is still too bright to see her in detail.

“I’m still me,” I hear her say. “I’m still your Nora. S-So please... don’t forget me.”

“...I know,” I nod slowly.

The light begins to fade. The real Nora smiles tearfully at me— her true smile. Her hair is much longer now, going down past her shoulders, yet her bangs are still trimmed above perfect eyebrows. Her body seems to have developed significantly, now holding a fairly toned physique. Her left eye still bears a scar, but I’m surprised to see that both of them are open now. I saw the damage before; it honestly didn’t look like there was much of the eye left.

“S-So,” she says. “What do you think...?”

“—Huh? Oh, uh... You look—“

“—Like you need a new pair of clothes,” Lasphalia replies. “That dress is not meant for someone of your... size. It seems moments from—“

I hear an audible rip. Nora lets out a yelp and hurriedly crouches to the floor before I see anything. It’s then that I realize that while she’s grown, her clothes have stayed exactly the same. That is to say... that she’s been squished into a child’s dress that’s had just about enough.

“I-If I don’t move, then it won’t rip any more,” Nora quivers. “I really didn’t miss these stupid things.”

“Stupid things...?” I mutter absently.

“Don’t look!” she bursts. I quickly swivel around so I’m facing away from her.

“Hey Nora,” I say. “I’ve got a shirt on under my armor. Do you w—“

“Y-Y-Yes, please...”

I unfasten the main chest plate and let it fall to the floor before pulling the plain shirt up over my head. I toss it behind me and wait for a response.

“You are still treading dangerous waters yet, Cyrus,” I hear Lasphalia say. “Dare to look and she may hate you forever.”

“Just get her changed already,” I snap.

A few moments later, I’m allowed to turn around again. The plain shirt is rather large on her, making it drop a ways past her waist. That’s for the best though, since she’s going to have to deal with the fact that she has no pants for the time being.

“Y’know... With all this, I can’t help but wonder a certain something,” I say.

“What is it, Cyr?” Nora asks.

I point a finger at her. “All that time, were you just pretending to have the mental capacity of a four year old?”

“W-Well, I’m not quite sure myself... b-but I would think that my brain had reverted to its undeveloped form, just like the rest of my body,” she replies, shying away. “R-Remember I was too young to have been taught much by my parents...”

“Sure, but still... feels a little inappropriate that I carried you around on my shoulders. Could’ve used a hint. And... what was with that separation anxiety stuff?”

Nora blushes. “Th-That was out of my control.”

“Sure, whatever,” I nod. “With all the crazy shit that’s gone on, I’m only slightly startled.”

“Well,” says Lasphalia, adjusting her glasses. “I suppose it would be inappropriate as of now to ask that you finish this request. Would you like to return to the city instead?”

“The peak’s only a few more hours away though, right?” I mutter. “It’d be a waste of a trip if we didn’t see this through.”

“I suppose. Well then, how about I allow you the rights to item drops?” she says. “All I need is a scale from each to collect the reward. Feel free to collect and sell whatever else you find.”

“Item drops?”

“Of course. When a monster dies, they usually leave behind certain body parts or items they may have swallowed,” she nods. “Nora, child, be a dear and collect any valuable drops you see, yes?”

“Huh—? N-No, I’m going to fight!” Nora replies. “I thought I made it obvious enough that I’m not really a child! That’s why I did all this in the first place!”

“So you are willing to fight against an enemy whose specialty lies in their wind attacks?” Lasphalia smirks.

“Huh—?” Nora mutters. “Why would that have anything to do with—“

“—Because even the slightest of updrafts would most certainly expose your lady parts to your so called ‘partner’ here,” she replies. “Are you prepared for him to see every single inch of your pure little body?”

Nora seems to shudder before silently curling up on the ground and tucking her legs into the shirt. I get a bit of a kick out of that. My little sister used to do that same kinda thing, actually. My family called it ‘turtling,’ where she’d pull her head and limbs into her shirt whenever she got embarrassed or angry. Come to think of it, Nora in this form actually makes them around the same age. Only difference is my sister really doesn’t care much for me at the moment. I can’t help but wonder if I’ll ever see her again. I can’t help but wonder a lot of things.

“Well— Now that that has been sorted out,” claps Lasphalia, “let us set out once again. I have other business to attend to, and I can no longer afford to be behind.”

“You’re the boss,” I waver. “So lead on, boss-lady.”

I’m not just going to toss aside the fact that Lasphalia had to sell herself as a kid to scrape by. But I also don’t want to bring it up again. It hit hard, honestly. Maybe because it made me picture Nora in the same situation. Life here is definitely difficult— that’s a fact I can no longer dismiss. There’s facets of this kind of life that I have yet to even hear of. But through it all, it only makes it clear that what I’m going to do is right. Not just for myself— but for the country as a whole. Now with a grownup Nora at my side, one whose ideals seem to line up perfectly with mine, we’ll make a serious dent in everything that’s wrong with this world. I know it.