The road was long, but as they approached Brunner's farm again there was a building sense of familiarity within the group, despite Livia being from such a strange place. They didn't question her overly much about it, after she made it clear how it had not been by choice that she was whisked away, since thinking too much of home was still tremendously painful. Instead Livia spent the days single-mindedly focused on learning the differences between the time on Elderwood that she was so familiar with from the books, and the time of now, where the boys had grown up. This proved difficult since Salcret was a town in the middle of nowhere and Humanity had been recluse for the last few decades, even if plenty of legends about better times were still told. The early history of Humanity that the boys knew added up with her expectations at least.

Harold played with the pup and Oscar tried to familiarize himself with the beast as well, maybe to make up for lost time with the wasps that had fought so bravely to save his life, but who he still felt freaked out getting too close to.

Kalle decided to bring up a question that had been on his mind. "Livia, what Class are you planning on going for, since you're being so dismissive of [Hammerer]?" The question was fair, Livia had saved their lives using just the one Skill her Aspirant status provided her thus far, and she did know how to swing fast even if she wasn't rangey or powerful. They'd discussed what she could do with a proper shield, but Livia started laughing at the very suggestion. "I have a few options I'm considering, but from what you've told me about Salcret it seems I won't have access to anything rare. But that's okay, it's what you make of the Class that matters anyway, none of the great ones are accessible at level 1." Her knowledge of the [System], that she had apparently only been exposed to for a couple of days, was a constant source of wonder for the native lads.

"I will end up with a non-combat class for sure, but don't worry, I will be able to help you more than you'd expect I'm pretty sure," She gave him a wink. She was mindful of the fact that she was older than the others at 20 years old, but the difference really wasn't big, she'd always been a childish sort in some ways and the rough life of medieval times had matured the group from Salcret as well. "Hey, by the way, it's actually my birthday today!" She'd just remembered. The recollection came with a pang of pain but Livia decisively ignored it. "We need to celebrate!" She shouted.

The last part was loud enough for the brothers to notice and they quickly caught up while laughing. "What's the fuss, did you hear us talking about it being Oscar's birthday?"

That made both Kalle and Livia blink like owls. The coincidence was a regular source of hilarity from then on, and they both got a birthday party whose memory was going to live on for a long time, right up until the abrupt ending. Not of the party, just the memory. They had all dipped into the strange honey that Nalai had left them once the mood was at an all-time high, and as it turns out it was some powerful stuff.

The fellowship had eaten more of their rations than they meant to last night, at one point Harold and Oscar had even conspired to steal the orchard-grade apple that Kalle was always polishing. They were joking about wanting to eat it, but in their inebriated state they actually got close to losing the impulse control preventing it, Kalle sensed as much and that was when he started using Spells and Livia put her foot down.

It was very hard for most of them to remember it all, but Livia had enough of the puzzle pieces to paint them a picture they could all agree on. Livia eyed the honey appreciatively and put it away for later use, despite Harold's greedy look. With them being unprepared and already slightly hopped up from Kalle's remaining apple-drink it had been a bit much, but just on its own it might be just right.

One thing was clear, the state of the relationship between humans and Cloven was complicated in this day and age. Livia knew the two races had been very close in the past and that they grew closer again in the coming centuries, but not to the point of having the Cloven stand by their side in the end as humanity fell. Many had piled on, but the true enemies, who pushed for complete destruction, were the Foxkin Sects and a brutally ambitious Ogre clan that managed enough successive victories to light the brazier of greed that attracted mercenaries from every other race as well, nearly.

Cloven did not take part as a group at any point, but they had also distanced themselves sooner than later rather than catch the attention of the same enemies.

Livia considered that this may well be the point of change she should work on first to ensure she could at least live her new life able to tell herself she'd done what she could to help out with Mr Beard's mission, with a clear conscience. If Clovenkind and humanity had been closer allies maybe they would not later end up as so much of a tempting target. It was a point to consider, but the meeting with Nalai didn't leave her with much hope. Although maybe things would become clearer when Livia figured out what Mark the Cloven was talking about.

It was getting late but they were finally approaching Brunner's farm, and after that Salcret as a whole. They'd made a lot of plans, but a lot also depended on the people of Salcret. It was time to start the real preparations, and to find her real Class.