Rushing to where Greenwood pointed his small stubby fingers at. He pointed towards the alleyway besides a half built two story building.

Once down that stretch, Roland greeted me and Greenwood when he revealed himself behind some crates as we entered a cross section of the alley.

“Hero Roland, I told him the Onion chain and he came with me!”

Squeaked Greenwood.

“Yeah, what's Onion chain.”

I asked.

“Ask Allan. Don't mind it, I'll keep watch meet Allan and Neil at the back.”

“Whatever it is. Long time no see, man.”

I tapped his shoulder when going ahead.

“Same here, glad to have talk with you again. Now go, every second counts.”

There, Allan, Neil, and 2 kids with blue capes that is an exact replica of mine greeted me and Greenwood.

“Huddle up, we don't have much time.”

Said Neil as he didn't even replied to Greenwood's enthusiastic accomplishment on how he did his mission. Only the kids headed his boasting as Allan gave him the same blue cape.

“I'll keep it simple; Me, Allan, and Roland will wear this brown hooded cape.”

Explained Neil.

“While those kids will be with us acting as decoy hence why they're wearing the blue hood cape just like yours. While you wear this.”

He gave me a black hooded cape in replacement to my blue hooded cape.

“So I go to church while you three distract her.”

I said wearing the black cape.

“Yes, right now she should notice your missing. It's too risky to be in group, she'll get us quicker that way.”

Neil, Allan, and Roland will be the decoy while I go to the church using a black cape.

“In other words it's a wild goose chase for that mad cow. Melisa, you and the rest ready?”

The three kids giggled as they say their yes.

“She just left. Let's go,”

Reported Roland and Allan.

They all began ran away taking a kid wearing the identical blue cape like mine and began blending in with the crowd.

“Let's go master Neil! Let's go!”

Croaked Greenwood; hopping and pulling Neil.

“Hold your tail. Now,”

He pointing his finger he gave me a stern warning.

“Do whatever it takes to get to the church, but never go to the main entrance of the church! Once the innkeeper notices that you went missing...”

“I know,”

I replied at his pointing.

“May has a lot of influence on the guards and garrison, I'm sure she'll be using them to stop from getting there.”

“Heh. Someone's learning.”

I stopped his hand when he reached for my hair.

“Stop treating me like I'm your grandson or something! Go! I know what to do!”

I threw his hand back.

“Hahaha! Very well then, don't get lost!”

Together with the impatient Greenwood they ran towards the crowd and ran to the right.

“Stop!”

I heard May's voice amidst the countless conversations of the crowd as they faded away.

I felt my legs shake a bit when I walked out of the alleyway and walking towards the other direction while sharpening my ears as I hid my face from everyone.

Elfien is quite popular, one howl of my name and I could never see my friends again and would get me some form of disciplinary action.

I am doing this for her too. She cared for me, day and night ever since I came to this world. Not to mention she almost acts and looks... No, if my mother died and reincarnated in this kind of world, May's attitude would be my mother's overall attitude. Then there's what that old man told me: ‘Protect her when your father comes’ I'm not going to protect May if I can't even defeat Katherine in her weakest.

“Elfien!”

I heard her again and saw her running after Allan and his decoy, I buried my face deep in my hood and followed the beat of the crowd, blending in.

“Elfien, where are you?”

Slowly, I dodged and mazed through the people while I could feel my hands shake and chest ache whenever I hear her faint worries. But, I want to get stronger, I want repay her somehow, and most of all us that power to know what happened to my mother. How well did she lived without me? I hope she was fine when I died, I hope she forgot about me quick, I hope she remembers how I broke her mug, I hope she remembers that time I almost got her fired when I broke a tray of plates. I hope she forgot a-about me when my funeral ended... I hope she was happy without me. Maybe she got married again, maybe she got a better life when she forgot about me. Maybe she finally lived on a two story house furnished with the latest oven so that she can bake all the sweets I want. She always boasted to me when she got a raise, maybe she got that red dress she once told me she rented on her grad ball when I stupidly ask how she met dad on that month when we I lost the money to pay electricity. I just hope she's fine with out me...

“Ow!”

A hard slap stung my face when I collided with someone.

I quickly covered my face when my hood flew off.

“Are you alright? ”

I offered my hand to the fallen girl on the ground.

“Thank... You...”

“Is there something wrong?”

Her emerald green eyes were staring at me when I got her up. Dust and dirt was on her depressing dirty brown cloak, yet a quick peek inside revealed she was wearing a happy rich blue and red clothing that the cloak concealed the rest from the world. Her was braided like a crown that caught some eyes of passersby quickly made her hid it as well with her hood.

“Um... Excuse me.”

I coughed out and passed by her and lengthen my stride. That girl clearly knows Elfien by that prolonged stare, the risks of getting caught was getting higher. I need to get to...

“Oh, no...”

I froze. Hammers, anvils, and smoking sizzling heated iron when dipped in water only to be lifted up and hammered again by gruff chiseled men.

Each one had tools, knives, or short swords hung and ready for sale and they were strewn across to a direction I didn't know where it leads too. Looking back, the lady I collided with followed me, ignoring her and looking further behind it was the same story. A line of smiths.

“Way to go genius. ”

I slapped my face and shook my head. Wasting no time I retook my steps until I was in familiar streets. Or so I would thought, left and right, different stalls, different alleyways. I ran around knowing I'm in an unknown street. I don't know where I was, asking for direction would be the logical step but... If they know me, May is going to find me.

****

I was wasting invaluable time sprinting around to find any sort of familiar street or an alleyway to find a route to the church.

I can't ask just anybody. Elfien is famous here and I have been hearing May calling out to me. One slip of my white hair to the public and that could be the end of me.

“Haah... Haa... And what's your reason?”

I asked to the girl who kept following me. We were in an besides a street filled with logs being sawed into planks alleyway where I took a breather.

“I'm lost. Haa... Ha... C-can you p-please help me?”

She uttered softly when she took her own breather.

Well, at least I am not alone and exhausted. At first I didn't know why she was determined to follow me, now I know.

“Um, look, Haa... Haah... I'm sorry, but I really, really don't remember anyone after I died. Friends, relatives, or even my favorite song, or something like that. And yes, I don't even know where am I even.”

I was running out of options and each minute pass will anger May more and I don't want to know what kind of discipline she does to Elfien.

“Then, that explains why. May I ask where is your destination then.”

She asked after a minute of rest.

“Pavlon square... Well it's the church where I am going, so my first destination would be Pavlon square. How about you?”

“W-W-What a coincidence! I know how to go there!”

Without a warning she took my hand.

“Um... Really?”

I tried to shook off her sudden grip, and thankfully she quickly let go off me.

“Can you lead me then?

“R-right this way then!”

Her tone was the textbook definition of flat and awkwardness as she lead the way.

“Wait, I thought you said you were lost.”