Their journey from that point on had been very different. The awkwardness that existed before was almost gone. There was almost no silence. Eve treated both Kazius and Alice like they had been friends for a long time.

It may have been very overly familiar for Eve to do so, but she was so innocent that it was hard to get angry at her over it. She fully broke the ice for the group.

‘How did someone like her survive in The Church?’ Kazius thought to himself in confusion.

As they walked, it was already afternoon. The group had been walking for some time so they may have to set up camp soon.

“And that is why I was very good at the being locked in the cellar game… But for some reason I was the only one that always got picked for being locked up. They seemed happy though. I am happy as long as they had fun! I don’t really understand how the game worked, but I think I was very good at it. The other Priestesses sometimes left me there for a whole day.” Eve explained giddily.

Alice turned to look at Eve, Kazius could not see her face fully, but he could somewhat make out a frown.

“I don’t think they were playing a game with you, Eve.” Alice stated, sounding concerned.

“You were being bullied… But we don’t intend to do anything like that. That is not what friends do.” Kazius tried to explain, unsure of what to make out of the story they were just told. Eve had been talking about what she did at The Church for a while now and so far, her experience did not sound much better than what Kazius had experienced. Still, it was shocking to meet someone that did not hesitate to say everything and anything about herself in such a way.

Eve seemed to not care about the clarification though, simply having a wide smile on her face.

“I think they were just playing. I do know you would not do anything bad to me though. God told me so. You two are good people.” She explained contently.

‘There she goes again about that God stuff… The Oracle can’t be talking to her, it just didn’t make sense. Why would The Pope not keep such an important staff for himself?’

“Eve, The Oracle isn’t talking to you.” Alice sighed out.

“He really did talk to me! He even told me where you were hiding so I could run to you when I was in trouble!” Eve responded with a very determined expression on her face.

Kazius was confused at that statement though. After all, there was no way she could have spotted them… Yet indeed she had ran right towards them… Still, it was all just so unlikely… But now he felt even more uncertain.

“Okay, maybe you are hearing a voice… But I really don’t think that it is The Oracle, Eve.” Kazius stated with a sigh, scratching his head while in thought.

Eve pouted a little, hugging the staff. “I will find a way to prove it.” She stated.

“I’m sure.” Alice responded, clearly not knowing what to think about what Eve said.

“Anyway, I will set up camp… It is getting late.” Kazius stated.

“I will take out our food and figure out what we can have to eat today then while you do that.” Alice suggested, seeming to fidget some. She was probably feeling a little embarrassed about being more verbal.

“I… I want to help, but is it okay if I walk away for a bit to pray on my own?” Eve questioned with a pleading look.

“I suppose… But don’t wonder off too far, it isn’t safe.” Kazius stated while in thought. He was concerned about her getting lost, but he supposed it would be fine.

It was strange for Kazius though… Alice and him were working together more, or at least it felt like that was the case… And now he even found himself caring about the two.

Kazius had considered hiding away and not befriending anyone after what he had gone through… But… He knew he had always felt lonely. Maybe he himself was eager to make real friends just as much as Eve was, he just had not been very honest with himself about it… Maybe even Alice was too, despite her tough act.

With that in his mind, they all went off to do what they said they would.

Setting up two tents was simple enough for Kazius. Such things were part of the basic training for Knights. He set up both tents efficiently, but that did not make the bitterness over the source of his knowledge go away.

‘I hope I can get new clothes soon…’ Kazius thought to himself as he approached Alice.

“Here is your portion… I think we have more than enough food… But I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried…” Alice admitted with a sigh, eating some of the dried meat she had placed apart for herself.

“Do you think The Church told the truth about The Wastelands?” Kazius wondered, sitting beside her.

“The Church… Say the truth? No, we have better odds of befriending a Demon than The Church say the truth for once… No… That isn’t what I’m worried about… You saw The Orcs for yourself… I don’t know how safe we will be out there.” Alice stated, her tone shifting from bitter and sarcastic to dismayed.

“That is true… But I am not sure if Monsters would attack us for no reason…” Kazius admitted, “The Orcs… They… I think they were looking for something…” Kazius admitted.

Alice turned to look at Kazius, her hood still very much in the way, but he could make out a sort of shocked expression on her mouth that came to view briefly.

“You think so? What makes you say that?” Alice questioned, sounding very curious, but also concerned.

“I understood The Orcs for some reason… Maybe it has to do with what I am… I honestly have no clue what that even is… Anyway, they mentioned finding an antique… I also noticed they only attacked places where art and antiques are… Not to mention… For such a Horde to get so far into the Kingdom without being spotted… I think they were directed by someone… What they found and what for, I have no clue though.” Kazius admitted. This was the most he had spoken to Alice casually… He surprised himself with how honest he was being as well.

Alice was silent for a bit, thinking.

“I… I don’t like the sound of that at all… I doubt that is good… I wish we knew more… But I guess if we run away from Ratier… I don’t care if the kingdom collapses. It isn’t my problem anymore.” Alice admitted, not sounding so certain as she said this though.

“I suppose you’re right…” Kazius agreed with a sigh. It wasn’t like they knew anything about The Orcs… And as things were, they were in no position to do anything about it.

“Yeah… Look… Kazius… I’m sorry for how I- Wait… I just realized… But why is Eve not back yet?” Alice questioned in concern, changing the subject before she could finish her apology. Though Kazius had no clue what she could even be sorry for.

“She does seem like the type to get lost… Letting Eve go pray may have been a mistake… She should have been back by now.” Kazius stated, realizing indeed it has been sometime, but she was still not back.

“Come on… Let’s go find her… I hope she didn’t get caught… I’ll scold her once we see her.” Alice stated, sounding concerned. She had spoken so coldly when they met, but it seemed she was no longer trying to act like she was not the caring type. Then again, she likely knew The Church as much as he did… Caring people must hide such a side if they wanted to survive.

“And here I thought you wanted us around because you wanted a healer and a bodyguard.” Kazius teased. He wasn’t so much the joking type after what happened, but his chat with Alice had been far from uncomfortable… He only spoke like this with his friends… Though now, he supposed he now might actually get new friends.

He couldn’t see her face thanks to her hood, but he could tell his words flustered Alice some. “D-Don’t say unnecessary things, okay?! I just think having Eve around is useful.” she stated, sounding flustered. It seemed she refused to be too honest about her feelings.

“A-are you coming or what?” Alice grumbled.

“I suppose.” Kazius said in amusement, leading the way in the direction Eve had gone. After all, it was dark now. He was the only one out of the two of them that could see properly. Calling out Eve’s name was not a good idea either. Not when they were on the run.

Thankfully, Eve actually had not gone too far.

It wasn’t very long before they heard her voice. It did not seem like she was alone either, at least not at first.

She was talking to someone. The closer they got though, the clearer it became that there was no one there with her. She was talking to herself, so it seemed.

‘Oh no… She is out of her mind….’

"Yes, my lord!" Eve stated gleefully followed by silence. She was kneeling on one knee while holding the staff she stole. After her statement, her words were followed by silence.

“That would be great! Do you think my new friends will find me useful? They seem so smart… They are kind and even saved me, just like you said they would. I want to help them, so they will like me.” She started, then there was silence yet again.

“Of course, I am grateful to you. I met them because of you…” She assured, soon looking down.

“I… Just… I… I don’t want them to hate me.”

While she was a ditz, but her past treatment in The Church made her indeed see herself as someone that was useless.

“I’ve tried my hardest, you know? I collected all the pieces of the staff buried in the woods, just like you said… The Holy Staff is done… I got the last part yesterday. But… Are you sure it isn’t stealing? I feel bad…” Eve stated, indeed sulking. She would then be silent before she would go wide-eyed.

“No! I trust you; I promise!” She assured.

‘This… This didn’t sound good… Something about this didn’t feel right… Was that really God? The Oracle? Some sort of other God? Elves had their own separate Gods or something, right? This conversation… The more I hear it the more real it feels.’

“You will help? Really?!” Eve exclaimed eagerly, growing quite giddy.

‘I am getting a bad feeling about this…’

“Huh? The staff? You want it?” Eve questioned in confusion.

‘I need to intervene!’ Kazius exclaimed mentally.

“Sure!” Eve chirped, holding the staff out, offering it up to the air.

“Eve, wait, don’t!” Kazius exclaimed, running towards her.

He was too late though. Before they knew it, the staff would begin to levitate, as if grasped by something…

“Well shit…”