“Hey!” Amalia’s voice caught them as soon as they exited the door.

She was standing in the front with the girl.

“Tallow, right?” Amalia asked. “Can you… help me?”

“With what?” Tallow’s inquiry was much louder than Amalia’s.

Amalia approached her, talking in an even lower tone.. “...I think I want someone else to take a crack at talking to her.”

“...Like me?” Tallow asked with the same amount of volume as before.

“I… I know you can come off a bit strong…”

“Uh-huh…”

“But I know that Macy can come off even more stronger. And Jon… doesn’t seem very adept at talking to others…”

“Fine!” Tallow uncrossed her arms and walked up to the girl.

The girl looked up at her quietly.

“What’s your name?” Tallow asked.

The girl didn’t respond.

“...I don’t have all day,” Tallow said. “Come on! Out with it! Speak!”

The girl whispered so low even Jon couldn’t hear it.

“Oh, God…” Tallow leaned over. The girl repeated her name again.

“...Thalia. Ok, Thalia…” Tallow stood up. “Here’s how this is gonna work. First, this silent girl treatment, get rid of it. It’s annoying. Second!”

The girl’s eyes widened at Tallow raising her voice.

“That guy in there?” Tallow pointed back at the inn. “Your protector? He’s not very good at protecting. He may be a hell of a cook, but that’s not gonna save you or him when those men come knocking down your door.”

Although Jon figured that she was still listening, Thalia had continued to look at the door of the inn.

“So, like, you have to learn to like, defend yourself,” Tallow explained. “You’re gonna have to use that thing to survive.”

The girl’s eyes widened much more. Tallow reached for the dagger.

Thalia pulled it away from Tallow.

Tallow, grinning, held up a small bag.

The girl suddenly reached for her hips, patting herself.

“You see what happens?” Tallow asked. “Now if you knew how to use it, you wouldn’t be missing valuables.”

Tallow tossed the bag at the girl, who scrambled to catch it.

“I thought you told Lester you weren’t a thief,” Amalia said.

“I’m not a thief! I gave it back, didn’t I?” Tallow said. “And you nor that overblown loaf don’t know anything about me, alright?”

Tallow then drew her crescent sword. Thalia dropped the bag off and backed away in fear.

“There we go!” Tallow said, slowly approaching the girl. “Come on! Show me what you got!”

“Isn’t that… dangerous?” Amalia asked. “This doesn’t seem like a good idea.”

Jon was amazed that Tallow would pull out a weapon at someone so young.

Then again, Jon didn’t know how old this girl was. He was bad at judging the age of anyone younger than him.

“Do it!” Tallow yelled. “I’m coming for ya!”

Thalia slowly drew the sheath of the dagger away from the blade and held it in her other hand. The blade was short, but it sparkled more than any weapon Jon had seen outside of Hector’s sword.

She held the dagger towards Tallow.

“Nice.” Tallow said in response. “Come on, what you gonna do?”

Tallow then took a deep breath and blew.

The girl closed her eyes and turned away, pushing the dagger out back towards Tallow

Within seconds, there was an explosion underneath Tallow’s feet.

Thankfully, she had just managed to leap backward before tumbling onto the floor.

“Holy…” Tallow stood back up. “Why would you ever keep that hidden!” Tallow asked.

Thalia silently put the blade back in the sheathe.

“No! Keep that out!” Tallow said, standing up. “Why would you keep that in there?”

“Are you okay!” Amalia asked, coming to Tallow’s side. “Did she… cast a spell?”

“Yeah… no… I think…” She looked at Amalia. “She reflected a spell back at me. As a different spell.”

“You threw a spell?”

“Yeah. A small one, to scare her. Toss her back a bit.”

Tallow looked at Jon and gave a small smile. “Pretty stupid of me, huh?”

Jon was frozen behind his gun. He wasn’t prepared for anything like that before.

He looked at Thalia. He could already see her trembling.

Jon remembered the first time he used the gun. He had started heating up from the mana usage. If this was the age that people started to use mana normally, then maybe she was affected as well.

He started to walk up to her, but she quickly drew the knife and held it up to him as well.

He could see her shallow breathing. He didn’t want to agitate her more, so he flipped his gun so that he was holding it by the barrel.

He looked her in the eyes and moved closer. He hoped she understood what he was asking for.

She hadn’t moved as Jon got closer. She put her knife back in its sheath and held it out to Jon.

Jon moved slowly. He felt something ominous leaving from the weapon. As if it was trying to overwhelm him.

Still, he crept forward. His blunderbuss was almost in her hand. Her dagger was almost in his hand.

“Whoa, Jon! You almost got it!” Jon and Thalia drew away from each other in fear, turning towards the source of the noise.

Lester had just returned with Liz.

“That seemed like an inopportune time, Lester,” Liz said. “Perhaps you should have waited longer before making yourself known.”

“Jon already knows me,” Lester said. He walked into the inn.

“Boy, I wish I could be that confident and stupid,” Tallow said.

“...We’ll be ready soon,” Liz said. “One of my compatriots has already located their base of operations. Me and Lester are going to strike it as soon as we can. Be ready to leave.”

“Already?” Tallow asked.

“These men are very inexperienced and disorganized,” Liz said. “Once we attack their base, we can split up. Any remaining forces will have to choose between sending their forces towards Valta or towards Resden. I doubt they’ll continue after that, and if they do, their numbers shall be thinned out and more easily dispatched.”

“Wow, sister, you work fast,” Tallow exclaimed.

“What about… the people here?” Amalia asked.

“We’ll have to come back,” Liz explained. “I’m sure that the country will be willing to come after this Raglace man for his arrest, seeing as he’s been assaulting our people. I’m sure you can do something on your end, milady.”

Amalia was stunned. “I… I…”

“Damn it, Lester,” Tallow said. “Can’t keep a damn secret.”

“They met already!” Lester said. “I thought they remembered each other!”

“I doubt Father will be able to send troops. Or will want to, anyway,” Amalia responded.

“I understand. You also have a period of power to attend to, don’t you?”

“...Something like that…” Amalia looked down with shame.

“Then it’s settled. Everyone get themselves ready to go. Has the innkeeper made his decision on the girl?”

“He’s working on it,” Amalia said.

“...Okay… he should make it quick.” Liz motioned to her horse nearby, who immediately came to her.

Cool… Jon thought.

Liz climbed on her horse. “I’m gonna rendezvous with my men and…”

She stopped as Lester climbed on top of her horse as well looking at him with shock

“Alright, King’s Guard!” Lester said. “I’ll meet you back here as soon as Liz is done! I hope you-”

“What are you doing?” Liz asked.

“What? I’m coming along, aren’t I?” Lester asked, shrugging. He wrapped himself around her to brace himself.

Liz rolled her eyes. She turned the horse around and they both set off.

“Oh… oh…” Tallow looked down in realization. “Ew…”

She grabbed Thalia’s hand. “Come with me, kid. We’re talking to this innkeeper.”

She looked at Jon. “You need to make sure this guy isn’t too scared of me.”

Jon nodded. He didn’t know if he could help, but he wanted to be helpful.

He looked at Amalia.

“I’ll… wait for Macy and tell her the situation,” Amalia said.

Jon nodded. He, Tallow, and Thalia went inside.

Ray was leaning on the counter, apparently deep in thought. He looked up as the others came in.

“...Food’s cooking up,” he said. ‘I figured you’d be hungry.”

“Tell us what’s up with the girl, now,” Tallow said. “We need to be able to help her. ‘Cause, when push comes to shove, and those guys come in here… she’s the one with the weapon.

Ray frowned again. Jon didn’t think he ever saw a man that sad in his entire life.

“...Thalia’s my sister,” he said frankly. He gave a sad look to Thalia.

Thalia’s eyes widened in surprise like usual. Jon was at least happy that she seemed to have emotions.

Tallow sighed. “Why didn’t you just say that before?”

“...I don’t live in this village naturally,” Ray said. “I came here to start my business. I didn’t get along with my folks… so I came here to live a quiet life. I wasn’t much of a grower, so, it was easier for me to strike up a business here. It’s my trade.”

“And?” Tallow was impatiently tapping her foot.

“...I doubt Thalia remembers me,” Ray said. “She was really young when she left. And yet, she came to me… just… I don’t know… she came to me like that. And if that’s how she came I don’t know what happened to my parents…”

“When was the last time you seen your parents?” Tallow asked.

“A long time. I thought I would never see them again, actually.” He sighed. “And then Thalia… I think… I think my parents sent her here. But I don’t think she knows why she was sent here. I’m sure that’s the only reason she trusts me.”

“And you feed her,” Tallow said.

“I do… I do… but I don’t know what to do. I’m not a fighter…”

“Come with her,” Tallow said. “Right?”

“...If I leave, Raglace will definitely know something is up,” he explained. “Also, he might have my parents hostage. If he does… I can’t leave without them.”

He looked at Thalia. “She doesn’t belong here anyway. I can tell when someone doesn’t belong anymore.”

He sat down.

Jon watched as Thalia walked up to Ray and grabbed his hand.

She whispered something.

He looked like he was about to cry.

He then hugged her, and she held him back.

“Ugh. Really?” Tallow rolled her eyes. “Alright. Obviously, her place is with you, jerkwad, I mean, older brother.”

“...I can’t show her how to use that weapon,” Ray said. “She needs to be with… you guys…”

“Uh-uh!” Tallow shook her head. “We’re just delivering her! You can have her back right after!”

“Come…” Jon said.

Ray looked at him. “I…”

Macy opened the door.

“I”m bored!” She yelled. “You finished yet!”

“Get outta here!” Tallow yelled.

Macy slammed the door closed.

“Fine.” Tallow turned to Jon. “Jon, get your stuff! It’s time to leave.”

She looked away in thought. “Wait, it’s my stuff too.”

She pointed at Thalia. “Say Goodbye. Both of you!”

She and Jon went upstairs to collect their things.

Jon then understood why Tallow had packed his bag when they went back upstairs. She went to his large bag and pulled out Mercy’s Vindazi sword.

“...You have it,” Jon said. He was shocked, even if his voice didn’t show it.

“Yeah. Mercy gave it. Something about, ‘stuck in a boring castle, use it to protect Jon,’ blah blah blah.” Tallow also took out a strap and placed it over her shoulder, sticking the sword on her back.

“It’s not like I even know how to use this thing completely,” Tallow said. “I know some stuff, but I’d be making it up as I go along.”

“I do that,” Jon said.

“Well, I suppose that’s good enough then,” Tallow said. She also took out the nunchucks and put them on her hips.

“I’m pretty sure I look like a circus now,” Tallow said.

Jon had heard about the circus, but he had never seen it. It always sounded amazing.

“Sure,” Jon said. He nodded in agreement.

“I knew it. Whatever. Let’s go.”

Tallow carried Jon’s bag as they went downstairs.

She walked up to Ray’s desk and put Jon’s bag of money on it.

“That’s yours,” she said. “Do with it what you will.”

“I… I can’t-”

“You’ve fed us, and gave us a place to stay. This is still a business when all is said and done right?”

“...Right…” He slowly grabbed the bag. “Thank you… friend…”

“That’s Ms. Friend to you,” Tallow answered. “Or Tallow, for that matter. Come on, Jon. Thalia?”

Thalia gave one last look at Ray.

“I’ll be waiting… with mom and dad hopefully…”

“Yeah…” Thalia answered.

She reached out and grabbed Tallow’s hand.

Tallow looked down with disdain but then rolled her eyes.

They left the inn.

Outside, all of Liz’s guild was waiting for them, and Lester was coming by with the wagon.

“We’re gonna stick together really close,” Liz said. “Just in case anything will happen, I’ve already ordered reinforcements, but that’ll only be from the Valta end.”

“We have a Hector on the way,” Tallow said.

“Good, I’m sure he’ll be of help,” Liz nodded.

“Whenever he gets here…” Tallow muttered afterward.

Jon and his companions got on the back of the wagon, with Lester staying in front.

Thalia climbed on and was going to sit down next to Macy when she suddenly stopped.

“Hi, there!” Macy said.

Thalia took her place next to Jon instead.

Immediately the wagon turned and went behind the forest, with the other horses riding with them.

Jon felt a new wave of anxiety riding off of the main road. Being in an area surrounded by trees reminded him of being at the farm. Except for this time, none of those people were with him here.

Everyone here was someone he just recently met, save for Tallow, except even she was newer than the others Jon traveled with.

Still, he had trusted her. It was curious to Jon. She was the first person he met while traveling; he felt confident in calling a friend.

He wondered if she thought anything about it. By the way, she was staring down the front of the carriage, he assumed that it was normal for her and that she probably didn’t do that much thinking about it.

“...Jon…” She had said his name without even turning back to him.

“Yeah?” Jon asked. He was surprised.

“...About earlier, when I lifted you out of the fight?”

“Yeah,” Jon repeated.

“...sorry about that. I was trying to be all tactical and stuff. I didn’t think about just leaving you in the middle to fight. You’re pretty useful there too, ya know?”

“...It’s okay,” Jon said. Jon really didn’t know what he was doing while he was fighting. It made sense to leave him far so that he could focus on shooting. Also, he probably would have just ended up shooting himself out range anyways;

“...I made a call without your permission,” she said. “I should have let you choose where to go.”

She turned to him. “Forgive me, love?”

Jon didn’t know what to say. He didn’t actually think she did anything wrong.

“...It’s okay,” Jon repeated. “I still don’t know what I’m doing.”

“I think you know a lot more than you let on, love.” She reached out and grabbed his hand. “Next time, tell me if you want to be moved, alright?”

“Alright,” Jon whispered without meaning to. He just felt nervous.

“You two aren’t gonna start making out, are you?” Macy asked from her side of the carriage.

“I’m two seconds away from drawing my sword,” Tallow said.

The wagon began to slow down.

“Save your sword for the enemy,” Amalia said gently. “We’re here.”