Chapter 6: Gray Gaze (Patreon)

The long night finally gave way to its third dawn.

Seven Deadly Days, Day Three.

The sky was still blanketed in heavy cloud. The rain had eased considerably from the day before — fine droplets drifting down from the gray heights, settling onto broken eaves and heaped rubble.

North Orario, District Eight.

Most of the houses lining the streets had already collapsed. Bare walls still bore the scorch marks of magic. Shattered magic-stone lamps lay scattered in the standing water, occasionally flickering with a faint glow. Only a single sign, hanging from a doorframe, remained of one shop; whenever the wind blew, the wooden plaque let out a broken, intermittent creak.

This district had once been guarded by the Freya Familia.

On the night of the Great Feud, Evilus had launched wave after wave of magic bombardment. The fires here hadn't been as severe as in the south, but the structural damage far exceeded that of any other district.

Lyra tilted her head back to glance at the somber sky, wiping the rain from the tip of her nose.

"Where in the world has Lion run off to? We've been searching for so long and haven't even caught a glimpse of her shadow."

Her voice was still hoarse.

After two days of searching without sleep, every drop of healing potion and every scrap of medical supply had gone first to the critically wounded. Lyra could only soothe her throat with warm water; every time she spoke, her voice seemed to catch in her chest.

Kaguya walked beside her.

Rain had soaked the Far East girl's black hair, the ends clinging to her shoulders. She didn't slow her pace, only turning her eyes to check every broken wall and alley along the way that might hide someone.

"Yesterday, when we ran into Shakti, she said she'd seen Ryuu near the north gate."

"That's half a day old information by now."

Lyra stepped over a fallen beam lying across the road.

"Counting from when she left the temporary camp, it's been almost a full day. Even if she really wanted to be alone, shouldn't she at least find somewhere to eat?"

After yesterday's clash with the residents, Ryuu hadn't broken down the way everyone had feared.

She'd admitted that the Astraea Familia had failed to protect Orario, and admitted that Lia's death was a failure they could never undo. But after finishing her wound dressing, she'd suddenly said she wanted to go alone and confirm the casualty lists for the northern districts.

Alise hadn't objected at first.

It wasn't until the evening shift change that anyone realized Ryuu hadn't returned on time — not even the adventurers relaying messages knew where she'd gone.

Alise couldn't leave headquarters, so she'd sent Kaguya and Lyra out on patrol to look for her.

"That elf's probably off in some alley helping someone carry bodies."

Lyra laced her hands behind her head.

"Or maybe she ran into someone crying for help and just forgot to come back."

"Or she was attacked by Evilus."

Kaguya added coldly.

"Her mental state isn't good, and her strength hasn't recovered either. If she ran into enemy troops alone, the odds of her making it back alive aren't high."

"Could you say something a little nicer?"

"Optimism doesn't improve her chances of survival."

"I get it. You're just worried enough that you're about to snap."

Kaguya turned to glare at Lyra.

The Pallum girl showed no fear; if anything, the corner of her mouth curved upward.

"Say, Kaguya."

"What?"

"How many days do you think it'll take before Lion's first runaway episode is over?"

"She hasn't run away from home."

"Vanishing without a word and making the whole city search for her — that counts as running away, in my book."

"Then once we find her, we'll break her legs and drag her back."

Kaguya stepped over a stretch of standing water, her tone as hard as ever.

"Orario right now is more dangerous than the middle floors of the Dungeon. If she dies in some corner somewhere, I will not be the one collecting her body."

"You really are terrible at expressing concern."

Lyra drew the words out with a sigh.

"I've always wondered — what kind of life did you live back in the Far East, that every word of worry comes out sounding like a threat?"

Kaguya's eyes sharpened at once.

"Lyra, since we're on the subject, let me tell you something too. I hate acting alone with you."

"Why?"

"Because those eyes of yours are always watching people. Let your guard down even a little, and you'll see things they never meant to show."

"I see."

Lyra nodded with exaggerated solemnity.

"You'd rather stick with someone you dislike than not go find Lion. You really do dote on her, don't you."

Kaguya's brow twitched.

She turned her face away, refusing to let Lyra see her expression.

"This is exactly why I hate you."

Lyra laughed twice and didn't press further.

The two of them really did have a lot in common.

One served as vice-captain, the other handled squad tactics. Both had endured life-altering hardships before joining the Familia, and both had long since learned to keep their emotions in check even in the worst circumstances.

Ryuu would keep questioning herself over a single life she couldn't save.

Kaguya and Lyra, on the other hand, would first confirm the number of survivors, the enemy's position, and the supplies on hand — and only save their grief for when no one was watching.

They weren't exactly optimists.

But they hadn't given up hope, either.

It was precisely because they'd seen the cruelest side of reality that the two of them understood, better than most, that hope needed someone to act on it.

"Someone's ahead."

Kaguya stopped abruptly.

At the end of the street, an open clearing came into view.

Dozens of makeshift tents were crammed among the collapsed buildings, crude rain awnings strung up outside them. A great crowd of homeless residents had gathered there — some huddled around braziers for warmth, some sat on soaked wooden crates, and some clutched the belongings of lost loved ones, staring blankly into space.

Lyra recognized the place.

"Isn't this the open-air camp where they threw stones at us yesterday?"

The smile faded from her face.

Several faces in the distance looked just as familiar. It was these very people who, only the day before, had blocked the Astraea Familia's path and hurled both fury and stones at them.

Kaguya's hand went to the hilt at her waist.

"Contact with these residents could easily spark conflict. Once we confirm Ryuu isn't here, we leave immediately."

"Agreed."

Just as Lyra was about to circle around the side of the camp, something at the center of the clearing caught her attention.

A large pot stood there.

Steam rose through the curtain of rain, carrying the smell of vegetables and meat broth. The residents, who'd had nothing but dry bread for days, crowded around the pot, wooden bowls in hand, waiting anxiously for food.

"Please, no pushing — there's enough for everyone."

A girl with pale gray hair stood before the pot.

She wore a simple long dress, a purple cloak draped over her shoulders, the hair tied back at the nape of her neck swaying gently with each ladle of soup. Her pale gray eyes carried a soft, constant smile.

"Children and the wounded first. Anyone who can still stand a little longer, please wait just a bit."

She handed a bowl of steaming soup to an elderly man, then crouched down to give a smaller half-bowl to a girl hiding behind her mother's leg.

"It's hot — drink slowly."

The girl cupped the wooden bowl with both hands.

"Thank you, big sister."

"No need to thank me. Once you're full, be sure to take good care of your mother."

The girl stood and moved on to greet the next residents in line.

Beside the pot stood a catgirl.

She wore a pale green serving uniform, a spear slung at her waist. Her face was full of impatience, but her ladling never slowed down for a second.

"Line up, meow! Push any more and I'll toss you all out, meow!"

"Anya Fromel, try to be a little gentler when you talk."

"You're too gentle, Syr Flover — that's exactly why they keep pushing forward, meow!"

"They're just hungry, that's all."

The girl named Syr Flover smiled and wiped a splash of broth from the tip of Anya Fromel's nose.

Anya Fromel's ears shot straight up.

"Don't just touch me out of nowhere, meow!"

Lyra watched the scene from a distance.

"Charity soup kitchen?"

"Doesn't look like it's Guild-organized."

Kaguya's eyes landed on the wooden crates stacked beside the pot. Printed on them was a tavern's name and the image of a harvest goddess.

"The food's from the Hostess of Fertility, on West Main Street."

"Willing to hand out food even now, with the supply routes cut off. That tavern's owner is quite generous."

Lyra crossed her arms.

"That gray-haired girl has some nerve too. Knowing the North District could be attacked at any moment, and she still comes out here with just one catgirl for backup."

Kaguya didn't disagree.

The residents' trust in adventurers had bottomed out; a regular escort of guards approaching would only be more likely to spark unrest. Handing out food dressed as an ordinary server was, in fact, far more likely to be accepted.

But the risk was just as clear.

This place was far from the Central Plaza, the surrounding buildings were a maze, and there were pitifully few hands available to keep watch. If Evilus struck now, one catgirl alone would struggle to protect everyone.

"This isn't safe."

Kaguya scanned the surrounding rooftops.

"Once we confirm Ryuu's whereabouts, we go find the Ganesha Familia and have them send more guards."

"Let's go ask first."

Lyra headed toward the camp.

The two of them had only taken a few steps when two more figures appeared on another street.

Adi carried a medicine box on her back, a bag of bandages just picked up from the Guild in her right hand. Artorias walked beside her, the wound at his waist still wrapped beneath his cloak, though he moved far more steadily than the day before.

They'd originally been headed to deliver medicine to the North District medical station.

The moment the smell of food reached him, Artorias's pace slowed noticeably.

Adi glanced back at him.

"Hungry?"

Artorias looked toward the big pot.

"A little."

"You only ate half a piece of bread this morning."

"I gave the rest to a wounded person."

"That was your share to begin with."

Adi sighed softly, pulled a wrapped piece of dried food from her pouch, and pressed it into his hand.

"Eat this first."

Artorias unwrapped the cloth but didn't raise it to his mouth right away. He'd spotted a young boy sitting near a tent, staring at the food and swallowing hard.

Adi followed his gaze.

"Don't give it all away."

Artorias broke the food in half.

"Is half all right?"

"Eat the half in your hand first."

He obeyed, taking a bite, then walked over to the boy and held out the other half.

The boy hesitated, glancing toward his mother. At her nod, he took the food and murmured a quiet thank-you.

Syr Flover happened to witness the whole scene.

She was handing a bowl of soup to a resident, her gaze lingering on the white-haired boy for a moment.

Pure white hair, red eyes.

His clothes didn't fit him well, and there was an unhealed wound at his stomach.

The boy was clearly hungry himself, yet he showed no reluctance at all when giving the food away. Stranger still, though he wore no Familia emblem, a clear, faintly luminous presence seemed to drift around him — something that made it hard for her to look away.

Syr Flover narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Who's that child?"

Anya Fromel followed her gaze.

"The white-haired one, meow? Don't know him. The one next to him should be Adi, from the Astraea Familia, meow."

"The Astraea Familia."

Syr Flover repeated it softly.

Artorias, as if sensing her gaze, looked up.

Their eyes met across the crowd.

Syr Flover didn't look away — instead she smiled at him and raised her ladle in a small wave.

Artorias turned to Adi.

"She's waving at us."

"I saw."

Adi led him over to the pot.

Syr Flover ladled a bowl of soup for Artorias first, taking care to scoop up a few pieces of meat that had stewed soft at the bottom.

"Here. The wounded need to eat properly."

Artorias accepted the bowl.

"Thanks."

"I'm Syr Flover. A server at the Hostess of Fertility."

Syr Flover bent slightly, her eyes settling on his red ones.

"What's your name?"

"Artorias."

"Artorias."

She repeated the name once.

"Easy to remember."

Adi stepped between the two of them, shifting the medicine box to her other hand.

"He needs to rest. We'll leave once we've delivered the supplies."

Syr Flover looked at Adi, her smile unchanged.

"You're hurt too, aren't you?"

"Just a minor wound."

"Minor wounds still need food."

Syr Flover ladled another bowl and held it out.

Adi meant to refuse, but the smell of the hot soup drew a faint, telltale rumble from her stomach.

Artorias glanced down at her.

"Adi's hungry too."

"You didn't need to say that out loud."

Adi took the bowl, the tips of her ears warming faintly.

Syr Flover covered her mouth and gave a small laugh.

"You two can rest over there. Just bring the bowls back to me later."

Artorias nodded and had started to move away when his footsteps suddenly stopped.

He turned toward the northern edge of the camp.

There was nothing there but a few collapsed houses and a waterlogged alley.

Adi noticed the shift in him.

"Hear something?"

Artorias didn't answer right away.

Rain, conversation, the clatter of wooden bowls, a child's crying — all of it blurred together. He closed his eyes and picked a string of quick, urgent footsteps out of the noise.

"There are people to the north."

He lowered his voice.

"At least ten. Metal on their boots. They're circling around a broken wall."

Adi set down her bowl, her right hand already gripping Sacred Oath.

Syr Flover's gaze fell on the boy again.

She hadn't heard anything at all.

Even Anya Fromel's cat ears only turned sharply north several breaths later.

"There really are people coming, meow."

Anya Fromel snatched up her spear.

"They're getting closer!"

Syr Flover spun around at once.

"Everyone, put down your bowls! Take the children and move toward the south exit!"

The residents didn't react right away.

A middle-aged man, still holding his soup, asked blankly:

"What's happening?"

"There may be enemies."

Adi drew her blade.

The words shattered the camp's order instantly.

"Evilus is here?"

"Run!"

"Get out of the way!"

The crowd began to push and shove.

Syr Flover climbed onto a wooden crate at once, her clear voice cutting through the chaos.

"Don't run! The south passage is narrow — if someone falls, it'll block everyone behind them! Anyone carrying a child goes first, everyone else leave in tent order!"

Her instructions were clear and specific, and the panicked residents finally had something to follow.

Adi stood with her blade crossed at the north entrance.

"Artorias, go with Syr Flover and evacuate."

"The enemy's on both sides."

Artorias opened his eyes.

"Eleven to the north. Four more on the west rooftop. Someone's carrying a magic sword."

Adi's eyes snapped west.

"Lyra! Kaguya!"

Her voice carried across the camp.

The two, already approaching, quickened their pace at once.

Kaguya drew her blade and leapt onto a broken wall. Lyra crouched low and slipped through the tents, closing the distance to Adi's side in an instant.

"Even we hadn't spotted anyone on the roof."

Lyra scanned upward.

"Artorias, are you sure about the positions?"

"Two behind the second chimney on the left. Two more lying flat under the broken ridge."

"Good."

Lyra drew two boomerangs.

"Adi, hold the north. Kaguya, take the front line. The roof's mine."

Artorias pointed toward the back of the big pot.

"There's one more who hasn't moved. He's waiting for the residents to pass through the south passage."

Everyone's expression changed at once.

The enemy had already anticipated the residents would flee south.

That seemingly safe route was actually the key to the attack.

"Anya Fromel!"

Syr Flover raised her hand toward the south.

"Go protect the people evacuating!"

"But what about Syr Flover, meow?!"

"The Astraea Familia is here."

Syr Flover looked at Adi, then glanced at Artorias.

"I trust them."

Anya Fromel gritted her teeth and shouldered her spear, charging toward the south.

The instant she left, the wall to the north exploded outward in flame.

Brick and thick smoke poured into the camp.

Kaguya leapt into the air, her blade slicing through the shockwave mid-flight. The Evilus soldier who came surging out through the blast never even saw her face before the flat of her blade slammed into his neck and shoulder.

"Evilus is attacking!"

Kaguya landed among the enemy, her black hair fanning out behind her.

"If you have the nerve to attack helpless civilians, then have the same nerve to face me!"

Several soldiers converged on her at once.

Kaguya met them head-on, her long blade sweeping three weapons aside in succession. She didn't rush to pursue anyone who fell — she kept her footing steady at the camp's entrance, holding every enemy on the far side of it.

"Upper right, magic sword!"

Artorias called out the warning.

Lyra's boomerang left her hand at the same instant.

The first one spun past the eaves, forcing the wielder of the magic sword to dodge sideways. The second followed close behind and struck his wrist.

The magic sword clattered onto the roof.

Kaguya spun and struck down the soldier who tried to reach for the fallen weapon.

"Not bad teamwork, kid!"

Lyra caught her returning weapon.

"Next position!"

"Someone's drawing a bow behind the chimney."

The moment Artorias finished speaking, Lyra had already ducked into the shadow of a tent.

An arrow struck the spot where she'd just been standing.

A heartbeat later, the Pallum girl sprang out from the other side. Her boomerang cut through the rain and sliced clean through the bowstring.

Adi stood guard in front of Artorias.

Two Evilus soldiers burst through a gap in the broken wall — one swinging a katana to draw attention, the other slipping along the edge of the tents toward Syr Flover.

Artorias heard the rustle of fabric and turned his head at once.

"Adi, right side!"

Adi didn't ask questions.

She stepped forward to block the katana, using the momentum of the clash to spin her blade. The broad flat of it drove the first enemy's weapon toward the ground; she then turned and slammed her hilt into the chest of the one trying to circle around.

The man staggered backward, hand reaching into his coat.

"Flame Stone."

Artorias called it out again.

Adi stepped forward, and Sacred Oath swept up from below to catch the enemy's wrist. The Flame Stone flew into the air; she kicked over an iron bucket on the ground and sent both the red stone and the bucket flying out into the open space.

The explosion went off well clear of the crowd.

Adi shielded her face with her arm and, as soon as the blast wave passed, hurried back to Artorias's side.

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

Artorias looked at the graze on her left arm, torn open by rubble.

"You're hurt."

"It's nothing that'll slow me down."

Adi held her blade steady in front of him.

"Keep listening. Stay within three steps of me."

Syr Flover had just helped the last elderly person toward the south passage.

When she turned back, she saw Artorias reach out and grab the sash at the back of Adi's waist, pulling her a step to the left.

A throwing knife whistled past Adi's shoulder.

Adi spun and knocked away a second knife, her gaze landing on the hand still gripping her sash.

"You can let go now."

Artorias released her immediately.

"Sorry."

"No need to apologize."

Adi pressed her lips together briefly.

"That was good work just now."

Syr Flover stood a few steps away, a flicker of curiosity crossing her gray eyes.

This boy had no powerful weapon, and his injuries limited his movements, yet his perception alone had already saved several people. What drew her attention even more was that every time he sensed danger, his first instinct was to look toward someone else.

His first reaction was always to warn his companions.

"Artorias."

Syr Flover called his name softly.

The boy turned.

"Can you hear how it's going to the south?"

Artorias focused.

"Anya Fromel's fighting. One enemy's down, two more are falling back."

"And the residents?"

"They're getting through the alley. No one's fallen."

Syr Flover let out a breath of relief.

"Thank you."

"I just heard it."

"Being willing to say what you heard already helped a great deal."

Syr Flover smiled at him.

Artorias didn't reply, only turning his gaze back to the battlefield to the north.

The remaining enemies, realizing their plan had failed, began retreating past the broken wall.

Kaguya gave them no chance to regroup.

Her blade slid along the edge of an enemy's weapon, severing a vambrace and a belt in the same motion. She reversed the blade and struck the flat of it against the leader's ribs, driving him into the mud.

Another soldier turned to flee.

Lyra dropped from the top of a tent, one foot landing squarely on his back.

"Attack helpless people, then try to run off?"

She crouched on his back, pressing her boomerang against the side of his neck.

"Stay right there and wait for the city's peacekeeping force to deal with you."

Up on the roof, the archer saw the situation turning and bolted north in a panic.

Artorias tilted his head, tracking their footsteps.

"Three heading north. One more ducked into the attic on the right."

Lyra raised her arm and threw.

The boomerang shattered the attic window; a scream rang out from inside at once.

"Leave the three who ran — don't chase them."

Kaguya sheathed her blade.

"Protecting the camp comes first."

The fight ended quickly.

Anya Fromel dragged three bound enemies back from the south. She ran straight to Syr Flover first, circling around the girl once to make sure she wasn't hurt before finally relaxing.

"Syr Flover, that was way too reckless, meow! If those guys had gotten to you, Mama Mia Grand would've torn the whole North District apart, meow!"

"I stayed hidden behind everyone the whole time."

Syr Flover straightened the catgirl's crooked collar.

"And you protected the residents in time — that's what matters."

"Of course, meow!"

Anya Fromel puffed out her chest, then quickly turned to glare at the fallen Evilus soldiers.

Reinforcements from the Ganesha Familia arrived a few minutes later.

The soldiers were bound one by one, and the injured residents received treatment. The overturned pot was set back upright, and though a little rainwater had gotten into the remaining food, it was still usable after inspection.

Syr Flover was the first to resume serving.

She relit the fire beneath the pot and laid a clean cloth over the lid. This time, the residents didn't push and scramble — instead, they formed an orderly line, letting the wounded and the children move to the front on their own.

The young man who'd lost his little sister stood apart from the crowd.

He watched Kaguya wipe the blood from her blade, then looked over at Lyra crouched beside a bound enemy, checking the knots. His expression kept shifting.

At last, he worked up the courage to step forward.

"Why did you still save us?"

Lyra didn't look up.

"Because we happened to be here."

"But we threw stones at you yesterday."

"I remember that quite clearly."

The young man lowered his head.

"I'm sorry."

His voice was barely audible.

The couple who'd lost Lia also stepped out from the crowd. The mother held the bloodstained little bear doll to her chest, her eyes full of guilt.

"We did something so terrible to Lady Alise, and to that elf lady too."

Kaguya slid her blade back into its sheath.

"The people you should apologize to aren't here."

"I know."

The woman held the doll tighter.

"We'll go find them ourselves."

Lyra finally stood up, brushing mud from her knees.

She glanced once at the young man and the couple, neither accepting their gratitude nor continuing to scold them.

"Kaguya, let's go."

"Without waiting for the peacekeepers to take our account?"

"Let Adi handle that. We still need to find Lion."

Lyra turned and left the camp.

Kaguya fell into step beside her.

Even after the two of them had walked a long way off, the young man and the couple stayed where they were, watching until the figures vanished into the curtain of rain.

"Is it really all right not to say anything?"

Kaguya asked.

Lyra checked that no one was behind them, then let a satisfied grin spread across her face.

"Of course it's fine. Saying nothing works better. Didn't you see the look on their faces just now? Let them stew on it themselves — it does more good than any scolding ever would."

Kaguya raised her kimono sleeve to hide the corner of her mouth.

"You really are a terrible person, you know that?"

"Don't act all high and mighty. You clearly enjoyed it too."

Kaguya didn't deny it.

Lyra walked a few more steps, then glanced back once more toward the camp, already out of sight.

"Besides, doesn't this make us seem more like agents of justice?"

"That title doesn't suit me at all."

"But the way you were cutting people down back there sure looked the part."

"Quiet."

The two of them continued on toward finding Ryuu, their steps a little lighter than when they'd first arrived.

Back at the camp, Adi explained the enemy's numbers and route of attack to Shakti, who had just arrived.

Artorias sat by the fire, holding a bowl of soup that had gone somewhat cold in both hands. Only once he'd confirmed every wounded person was being cared for did he finally lower his head and take a sip.

Syr Flover sat down beside him, carrying another bowl.

"How does it taste?"

"Really good."

"It's already gone cold."

"Still really good."

Syr Flover studied his profile.

"Can you hear sounds from very far away?"

"A little farther than most people."

"Even Anya Fromel didn't notice it as early as you did."

Artorias considered for a moment.

"After I turned into a white rabbit, my hearing got better."

Syr Flover blinked.

"A white rabbit?"

"I turned into a rabbit before."

He said it with complete sincerity.

Syr Flover was quiet for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"I see. No wonder your hair looks so much like rabbit ears."

Artorias raised a hand to press down the two tufts of white hair sticking up on top of his head.

The strands sprang right back up.

The smile in Syr Flover's eyes deepened further.

"Artorias, will you come visit the Hostess of Fertility sometime?"

"I don't know."

"You can come once you've healed. Today's soup was just something thrown together — the food at the tavern is much better."

Syr Flover pointed a finger toward his wooden bowl.

"Though you'll have to pay."

"I don't have any money right now."

"Then you can run a tab."

"Owing money isn't good."

"You could always come work off the debt instead."

Artorias considered this seriously.

Adi walked back over just as the conversation ended, catching the last line.

"Don't go dragging a wounded person off to work at your tavern."

Syr Flover looked up at her.

"I was just inviting him to eat."

"He hasn't even figured out his own past yet."

Adi sat down on Artorias's other side, draping a clean cloth over his still-wet hair.

"He needs to rest right now."

"I'll remember that."

Syr Flover laughed and stood up.

"Come find me whenever you have time."

Artorias looked up.

"At the Hostess of Fertility?"

"Mm-hm. Once you're on West Main Street, just ask anyone — they'll know the way."

Syr Flover walked back toward the pot, carrying the empty bowl.

Along the way, she glanced back once more.

The white-haired boy was letting Adi dry his hair for him. Adi kept scolding him for standing in the rain, even as her hands worked with unusual care.

Syr Flover looked away and quietly filed the name "Artorias" away in her memory.

Just then, hurried footsteps rang out from beyond the camp.

A member of the Ganesha Familia came running from the north.

"We found traces of Ryuu Lion! Someone saw her heading toward the old church!"

Adi got to her feet at once.

Artorias set down his bowl as well.

In the distance, Lyra and Kaguya, who hadn't gone far, both turned and immediately changed direction, running toward the district where the old church stood.

The fine rain of the third day was still falling.

Evilus's attacks hadn't stopped, and the city walls still remained in enemy hands.

And yet, in the open-air camp, the fire had been lit once more.

The residents lifted their bowls of hot soup again.

Some began carrying firewood, some tended to the wounded, and the young man who'd lost his sister picked up the wooden bowls scattered across the ground, washing each one clean.

Adi lifted the medicine box and looked toward Artorias.

"Can you still walk?"

"Yes."

"Then stay close. Once we find Ryuu, we'll go home together."

Artorias tightened the strap of his cloak and nodded to her.

The two of them stepped into the fine rain, following the direction Lyra and Kaguya had gone.

Syr Flover stood in the middle of the camp, watching the white figure grow smaller in the distance.

"Artorias."

She murmured the boy's name softly.

Then her gray eyes curved into a gentle smile.

"What a strange little adventurer."

"Or maybe... a strange 'important person,' after all."