(Author's rant: Here's a short but sweet chapter. More on the way so don't worry! Enjoy!)

Outside the entrance to the labyrinth, a slight chill wind flowed through the trees as the evening sun began to set into the horizon, casting a red afterglow that reflected off the scarlet leaves of the surrounding trees.

Though numerous cataclysmic events transpired within, the area outside the labyrinth had not changed in the slightest.

However, while there was still sunlight shining on the entrance, black haze could be seen collecting in the area just beyond it.

Suddenly, five figures formed from the black haze, which then dispersed after mere seconds of it gathering.

When the air cleared once more, five individuals were standing still.

The young man in front turned around and called out to his companions.

“Is everyone okay?” (Kris)

Since this had only been the second time Kris had used Warp, as well as the first time he used it with other people, he couldn’t help but ask to verify everyone’s well-being.

“I’m okay, just a little dazed I guess.” (Eliza)

The White Wolf girl said that as she walked towards him while rubbing her forehead.

Her enhanced senses are probably overwhelmed from the sudden change in atmosphere.

Kris inferred the reason for her headache as the rest of the Saviors responded.

“I’m fine...though I still don’t how we got here so fast…” (Sylvia)

The Drake Princess murmured such as she observed the surroundings with a troubled face.

“*burp*...I’m fine too. *burp*” (Gale)

The Dwarf warrior replied while holding his hand over his mouth.

When Kris looked closer, Gale’s skin had become ghastly pale and large amounts of sweat flowed down his head.

“Are you sure Gale? You look very sick to me.” (Kris)

“...It’s just--*burp*...It’s just my body doesn’t cope well with changing locations suddenly or moving at high speeds. *burp*...I’ll be fine in a little while.” (Gale)

“...Alright, if you say so.” (Kris)

Kris nodded in understandment and did not bother his ill comrade any further.

He’s prone to getting motion sickness easily, huh. Sorry for not warning you before, my friend.

Kris gave a silent apology for not minding his comrade’s complication.

When he directed his gaze to the Elf mage who had yet to respond, he found her looking at the ground with her chin resting on her hand.

"...That spell looked identical to Teleportation, but it was far too quick...it's also Shadow magic, so how could he use it..?" (Lily)

Lily had been whispering her thoughts aloud for some time, but she was oblivious to this fact.

She had an expression that showed she was deep in thought.

“Lily, are you okay?” (Kris)

His inquiry seemed to bring Lily back to her senses as she looked up at Kris.

“Oh, my apologies. Yes, I’m fine Kris” (Lily)

"Great. That's good to hear." (Kris)

Though he could surmise what she had been thinking about based on the snippets he heard, Kris choose not to approach the subject just yet.

There'll be plenty of time for explanations when we get back to Druein.

As he thought that, Eliza called out to him.

When he turned his attention to her, she had already positioned herself a couple of feet away from him.

"Um...I-I...I just...um.." (Eliza)

Having attracted Kris's gaze caused her to stutter her words as her whole body started fidgeting.

In her hands, she held a silver sword that looked very familiar to Kris.

Is that...the sword I threw at the Basilisk? Well they did fight it before I arrived so I shouldn't be surprised to see one of them use it, but how in the world could she have gotten it from that monster?.

While imagining how his comrade managed to retrieve it from the Basilisk’s eye, Eliza finally composed herself enough to speak clearly, albeit outright exclaiming.

“I-I just wanted t-to give this b-back to you!” (Eliza)

She presented the sword to Kris while bowing her head in a respectful manner before continuing.

“My own sword broke and so I used yours instead. When I fought the Basilisk Queen, it held up against her attacks when I knew my own blade would have shattered.” (Eliza)

Lifting her head, she smiled after reminiscing on her survival after the deadly exchange she had with her mortal enemy.

“If you hadn’t left that sword for me to take, I would already be dead. It seems whenever I’m in trouble, you always manage to protect me somehow.” (Eliza)

Her expression turned sullen as she expressed her resentment at having to be the one rescued all the time.

“I’m sorry that I always end up being a burden to you. I thought that if I returned your sword, you wouldn’t be so mad at me for always--ouch!” (Eliza)

Unable to listen to her self-ridicule any longer, Kris delivered a chop to her head.

“Didn’t I say before not to put yourself down all the time? Hearing you degrade yourself is what really makes me angry with you.” (Kris)

Kris scolded Eliza as she looked up at him with tears forming in her eyes.

Before she could react, his hand reached for her head again.

She flinched, expecting another hit, but to her surprise, he started caressing her silvery hair.

“I’ve never once thought of you as a burden, Eliza. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. I’m not perfect either, and if it wasn’t for you or my other comrades, I would have perished in the labyrinth many times over.” (Kris)

Kris gave his honest opinion while stroking her head.

Eliza simply listened to his words with a blank face as she couldn’t come up with any words to say back to him.

“If you still the feel the need to repay me, then I want you to please keep the sword.”

Kris said that as he gently pushed her hands that held his former weapon back into her chest.

“But I couldn’t possibly--!” (Eliza)

“This isn’t just a request, Eliza. I’m ordering you as your leader to hold on to the sword you currently have in your hands.” (Kris)

Eliza tried to argue with him, but Kris flatly rejected her disagreement by using his position as the leader of the Savior party.

“It seems it came in handy when you were in a tight spot, and it would put my mind at ease if you carried it in case you find yourself in a similar situation.” (Kris)

He then gazed at the sword with eyes that did not show sadness of having to part with a prized possession.

“I’m actually amazed you were able to adapt your sword skills to accommodate for its lightweight frame so easily. It took me months to adjust my fighting style so that they wouldn’t throw me off-balance. I’m very envious of you right now, you know.” (Kris)

While finishing that last sentence with a tinge of jealousy in his voice, Kris increased the pressure of his hand and ruffled her hair a little more roughly before retracting it back to his side.

Besides, I just made a contract with a much better sword anyways...and I don’t know what Stryfe would do if I used another weapon instead of him…

The thought of his partner going on a rampage after feeling neglected sent a shiver down his spine.

“*sob*...*sob*...*sob*...” (Eliza)

However, the sounds of Eliza crying startled him and he looked back to find her staring at the ground with trembling shoulders.

“Eliza? Are you okay? Did I accidently put too much force in that chop earlier? Or did I make you uncomfortable by rubbing your head? I’m sorry if that bothers you. I won’t do it again--” (Kris)

“No…*sob*...that’s not…*sob*...why I’m…” (Eliza)

At first, Kris thought he had hit her a little too hard or that she did not like him touching her head.

Just as he started apologizing, however, she denied his assumptions.

"It's just...when you fell...and when your tracker stopped working...I thought you had died. I wanted...to believe you were alive...but still I was so worried…and then you appeared in front of me...and protected me...but…” (Eliza)

She raised her face to look directly at him before continuing.

“You act...like you’re fine...that nothing bad had happened...but I know...I can sense something happened to you. You can wield a strange red sword...and use some kind of magic now...and yet...you behave like everything’s okay...but it just worries me even more. I’m still afraid that...you’ll leave again...but you’ll never come back this time…” (Eliza)

“.....” (Kris)

Kris stayed silent as Eliza softly cried in front of him.

...I didn’t realize she worried this much over my disappearance as well as my new abilities. She must have been a mess...and I just shrugged it off like it was nothing. I’m really an idiot huh...

He smiled lightly from realizing just how much this girl cared for him.

He then wrapped one arm around her shoulders while the other held her head to his chest.

“It’s okay Eliza. I’m here now so you don’t have to worry anymore. Please stop crying so much. I’m not going anywhere.” (Kris)

“*sob*...*sob*...you promise?” (Eliza)

“I promise.” (Kris)

Hearing his consent, the sword fell away from her hands and landed on the ground with a thud.

Then, with tears still streaming down her face, she wrapped her arms around his body and squeezed as tightly as she could, like she would never let him go.

She buried her face in his chest, where she continued to cry for some time.

The rest of the Saviors who had been left out of the strange scene watched from afar with warm gazes.